Neir's Tavern

Neir's Tavern is a bar located at 87-48 78th Street in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Queens, New York City. It is one of the oldest bars in the United States, having been in nearly continuous operation since 1829.

Neir's Tavern
Neir's (then The Old Abbey) in the 19th century
Location of Neir's Tavern in New York City
Restaurant information
SloganThe most famous bar you've never heard of
Established1829
Owner(s)David Eng, Alex Ewen, Loycent Gordon
Food typePub, American steakhouse
Dress codeCasual
Street address87-48 78th Street
CityNew York City
CountyQueens
StateNew York
Postal/ZIP Code11421
CountryUSA
Coordinates40.689814°N 73.863360°W / 40.689814; -73.863360
Websiteneirstavern.com

History

Original operation
Union Race course detail

The bar was founded in 1829[1][2] and, according to the current owners, is one of the oldest bars in the country, having been in nearly continuous operation since 1829 (except during Prohibition), under various names such as Blue Pump Room, Old Abbey, Neir’s Social Hall, and Union Course Tavern. Local historians noted that it was during Prohibition that it became a speakeasy.[3] The bar was founded near the Union Course racetrack (extant 1821–1888) and hosted many track patrons during the track's existence.[4] The establishment was owned by the Neir family from 1898 to 1967, after which it went into decline and closed in 2009.[5] A various times in its history, it featured a ballroom, hotel rooms and a bowling alley.[6]

New management

New owners bought the bar and a major refurbishment followed, including restoration of the 150-year-old mahogany bar and the installation of a kitchen[4] serving a small selection of dinner entrees as well as pub fare,[7] and the establishment re-opened in 2010.[5] The bar was owned by firefighter Loycent Gordon,[8] but the building was owned by other people.[9] According to the Queens Chronicle, the restored mahogany bar was originally installed "when Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House."[10]

The Neir's 190 Committee was formed in 2019, the bar's 190th anniversary, to preserve the tavern.[9] In early 2020, it was announced that Neir’s Tavern would close on January 12 because the rent was too high.[11] In response, public officials vowed to take action, and Gordon called the radio show hosted by New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.[12] Three days before the closure was set to take effect, de Blasio and the Queens Chamber of Commerce negotiated an agreement with the landlords that would allow Neir's to stay.[3][13][14] The city also gave a $90,000 grant to the tavern.[14]

Preservation

Woodhaven residents and other preservationists have unsuccessfully petitioned the City of New York to grant the tavern official status as a New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.[15][16] Gordon points to the city's failure to bestow landmark status on the bar as evidence of "the oligarchy of the Manhattan-centric system."[16] Locals have rallied around the bar after its sale in December 2018 to an LLC whose managers reportedly professed unawareness of the bar's history.[17][18] A local resident and Woodhaven booster has said, "I do a lot of walking tours and I’m sick of saying, 'This is where something used to be.' [...] I don’t ever want to say 'That's where Neir’s Tavern used to be.'"[18]

Scenes from the film Goodfellas were shot in the bar, as were scenes from Tower Heist.[1] According to some sources, Mae West made her first professional appearances here,[2] although other sources dispute this as unconfirmed legend.[19] Neir's Tavern itself avers the Mae West connection[4] and offers a hamburger dish called "Mae West".[7] Locals claim that gangsters portrayed in the "Goodfella's" movie actually used the spot as a preferred watering hole, more recently it attracts tourists due to its celebrity status and is known for hosting youth breakfasts and fundraisers along with community meetings.[13]

  • Historical marker 2019
  • Mae West tribute alcove 2019

References
  1. Luis Gronds (March 27, 2014). "Neir's Tavern: 185 Years Of Greatness In Woodhaven". Queens Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. Lisa L. Colangelo (June 22, 2010). "Woodhaven bar Neir's Tavern gets a time-machine fix up". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  3. Kilgannon, Corey (January 10, 2020). "After 190 Years, the 'Most Famous Bar You've Never Heard of' Avoids Last Call". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. "A Quick history of Neirs bar". Neir's Bar website. Neir's Bar. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  5. "Oldest Bar in New York!". Project Woodhaven. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  6. Fletcher, Brekke (February 18, 2020) "The oldest, most iconic bars in New York City: Neir's Tavern" CNN
  7. "Menu". Neir's Bar website. Neir's Bar. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  8. "Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven targeted in burglary, fundraiser planned for 180-year-old bar". amNewYork. September 12, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  9. Mohamed, Carlotta (January 30, 2019). "Woodhaven residents form new committee to preserve and celebrate the oldest bar in Queens". QNS.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  10. "Aged in the bottle: old pubs, Around for decades, these Queens bars have passed tests of time and taste". Queens Chronicle. April 25, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  11. Tuder, Stefanie (January 9, 2020). "One of NYC's Oldest Bars Forced to Close After 190 Years in Queens". Eater NY. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  12. Honan, Katie. "'Oldest' Bar in New York City Avoids Last Call". WSJ. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  13. Greene, Anna Sanders, Leonard. "Last call averted: De Blasio and politicians help broker rent deal to keep iconic Neir's Tavern open in Queens". nydailynews.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  14. "Historic 190-Year-Old Neir's Tavern In Woodhaven Saved After Threat Of Closure". CBS New York – Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic And The Best of NY. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  15. Surico, John (May 20, 2016). "A Queens Bar Has a Rich History but Lacks Status". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  16. "LPC chair resignation welcomed in borough". TimesLedger. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  17. "Future of landmark Neir's in jeopardy". QueensChronicle. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  18. "Queens' oldest bar, Neir's Tavern, fights for 200th anniversary". AMNewYork. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  19. "Mae West: Neir's, Far From Truth". Mae West. June 24, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2014. Fact is, though one of the former owners of Neir's had hung up a Mae West poster on a door a long time, it is doubtful that Mae ever set foot in such a blue collar saloon. And was the tin-ceilinged corner bar serving alcohol at all during the 1920s, in defiance of Prohibition, when she was in the neighborhood?
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