Iconic East Village gay bar Boiler Room has closed ahead of move to a new location on 2nd Avenue

After nearly 30 years, the Boiler Room has closed (as of last week) at 86 E. Fourth St. near Second Avenue.

As previously reported, the no-frills LGBTQ+ bar is relocating around the corner to 45 Second Ave. between Third Street and Second Street...

The bar's Facebook page states that the new Boiler Room will open at the end of May in the space that was previously Timbuktu. 

According to management, the building's landlord at 86 E. Fourth St. had them in a two-plus-year court battle over pandemic-related back rent payments. A judge ruled in favor of the landlord, who requires a lump-sum payment without negotiations for current and future rent. 

Part of the new outpost will look familiar: Management said they were taking the well-worn bar from Fourth Street with them.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Iconic gay dive bar the Boiler Room is closing later this year ahead of a move to a new East Village space

Le Dive owners looking to take over the Boiler Room space on 4th Street

File photo by Stacie Joy

Restaurateur Jon Neidich, under his Golden Age Hospitality brand that includes the scene-y Le Dive on Canal, is applying for a new liquor license for 86 E. Fourth St. just east of Second Avenue — and the current home of longtime dive the Boiler Room.

On Monday evening, the Golden Age Hospitality reps will appear before CB3's SLA committee.

As for the unnamed new concept for No. 86, there will be food service with various sandwiches (turkey club, BLT, croque monsieur, etc.) and cocktails, according to the sample menu on the questionnaire here. The configuration shows 21 tables for 42 guests (with plans to use the unenclosed roadway space from 5-10 p.m.) The proposed hours are daily from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m.

After a two-plus-year court battle over pandemic-related back rent payments, the Boiler Room announced last summer that it was leaving its home of 34 years ... ownership will be moving to 45 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street (previously home to the Moroccan specialty shop Timbuktu) later this year.

Monday's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Find the Zoom link here. This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.  

Iconic gay dive bar the Boiler Room is closing later this year ahead of a move to a new East Village space

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After 34 years at 86 E. Fourth St. near Second Avenue, the Boiler Room will likely be closing by the end of the year, management confirmed to EVG. (H/T Queer Happened Here.) 

However, there are plans to relocate the popular gay dive bar a short distance away to 45 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. More on that later in the post.

According to management, the building's landlord had them in a two-plus-year court battle over pandemic-related back rent payments. A judge ruled in favor of the landlord, who is requiring a lump-sum payment — without any negotiations for current and future rent. 

Bar manager Randy Weinberg, whose brother Neil is the Boiler Room's owner, said they have a lease until September, with a month-to-month arrangement through the fall and, perhaps January, until the new space is ready.

Here's a look inside the space, which New York magazine described as a "friendly, unobtrusive, post-gay gay bar that helped put the queer East Village bar scene on the map."

The bar is collecting signatures of support for a new liquor license for the currently vacant 45 Second Ave., which was previously home to the Moroccan specialty shop Timbuktu.

At least one element of the new space will look familiar: Randy Weinberg said they'll take the well-worn bar with them...