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...
