Paul's Bar no more for the movies, Double Down Saloon returns to service

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Top photo and text by EVG

After serving as a set for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed 1990s-based crime thriller "Caught Stealing" in recent weeks, the Double Down Saloon reopened on Oct. 2 here at 14 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street.

During the week of Sept. 9, we noticed a Pauls Bar marquee behind a temp-looking Double Down Saloon banner.

We thought someone uncovered ghost signage. (We recalled previous tenants like Julep and Mekka.) 

Then, an EVG reader told us this was for a set, and Zendaya would be filming here. Made some sense, as Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus shot a music video here in October 2020. 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by the (suspiciously clean) bar on Sept. 14 and was told the DD would be closing for a few weeks for renovations and a refresh. A staffer told us, "We'll be back and better than ever," saying not to expect "big changes; most of the work will be in the basement and with the taps." And fear not, as the adult films would be back on the TVs, and the DD's infamous Ass Juice would still flow from wherever it flows from. Multiple DD staff at the time said they knew nothing about filming. 

Later, after the film notices arrived up and down Avenue A, DD management confirmed the movie part but wouldn't disclose any details. (We heard that locations had to sign a strict NDA. And DD didn't tell us that as it would break said NDA.) 

Anyway, these are photos from Sept. 14... the day before the bar temporarily closed on Sept. 15 so crews could set up for the interior filming ...

Here's how the place looked during late-night filming on Sept. 20...

Based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, "Caught Stealing" stars Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Will Brill, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson. 

This outpost of the 24/7 Las Vegas fixture opened in 2006.

Last night at Paul's Bar on Avenue A

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Despite the sometimes menacing undercurrent, it's a decent spot here at 14 Avenue A for cheap-ish drinks ... though we can do without MTV's "Celebrity Deathmatch" on the TV and the person who kept playing every track from Celebrity Skin on the jukebox.

Anyway, as you may have noticed ... the Double Down Saloon between Houston and Second Street is currently serving as a set (Paul's Bar) for "Chelsea Honeymoon," aka the Darren Aronofsky-helmed 1990s crime thriller "Caught Stealing" starring Austin Butler ... and an impressive cast (Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Will Brill, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne and Vincent D’Onofrio). 

Filming will continue tonight, and we have more photos to post showing how the set dressers gave the immediate area a late 1990s vibe.

Reopenings: Double Down Saloon on A

Double Down Saloon, the dump (said in a loving way!) that serves bacon martinis and Ass Juice at 14 Avenue A, has reopened for the first time since March 2020. (The space was put to use for a video shoot with Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus back in October.)

The bar, the sibling to the Las Vegas original, is now open from 4-11 p.m. under the current 50-percent capacity and other COVID protocols here between Second Street and Houston. 

This post has a list of some other recent reopenings.

Week in Grieview

• The East Village storefront art of Delphine le Goff (Thursday)

• A new era for indoor dining in the East Village (Friday) 

• Sophie's, Josie's and Mona's reopen (Wednesday) 

• Black & White is closing, with plans to relocate in 2021 (Wednesday) 

• Fresco closing this week with hopes of reopening early next year (Friday) 

• New hours for the city's free meal pick up (Tuesday)

• New York Sports Clubs permanently shutters Avenue A location 2 days after reopening (Friday) 

• This week's NY See panel (Thursday) 

• Public Access debuts on St. Mark's Place with show by legendary skateboarder Mark Gonzalez (Thursday) 

• Il Mattone space now going as the Pizza Spot on East Houston (Monday) 

• A new front window era at Le Fournil (Thursday) 

• Kyuramen bringing ramen to 210 E. 14th St. (Monday)

• 2nd Avenue closings: Spiritea, Dia and Atlas Cafe (Wednesday)

• Pado is closing on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Construction watch: 11 Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• C & C Dry Cleaning closes on 7th Street (Thursday) 

• A return for Tokio7? (Tuesday)

• 45 E. 7th St. now with its perforated cornice parapet (Monday)

... and to wrap up our coverage of the neighborhood's first film shoot notices in six-plus months... As you may already know, there was a video shoot at Double Down Saloon on Avenue A between Houston and Second Street. It was a collaboration between Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa. 

Top photo of Ink on A

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[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Double Down Saloon on Avenue A

[Photo via @brain_floss]

After a visit to the Double Down Saloon on Avenue A yesterday, inspectors closed the bar and affixed the familiar yellow sticker of doom on the door... Inspectors haven't filed the report online yet.

Updated:

The inspector's report is now online... 68 total violation points, per the DOH... the usual 4-legged things... plus! " No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment."