Neir's Tavern

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox restaurant | name = Neir's Tavern | logo = Neir's_Tavern_logo.jpg | logo_width = 200 | logo_alt = Silhouette of a jockey on a horse with the word Neir's superimposed | image = The_Old_Abbey_-_19th_century_bar.jpg | image_width = 325px | image_alt = Photo of some men in 19th century garb in front of a bar | image_caption = Neir's (then The Old Abbey) in the 19th century | pushpin_map = USA New York City | map_alt = Map of New York City with red dot showing location of Neir's Tavern | map_caption = Location of Neir's Tavern in New York City | established = 1829 | current_owner = Loycent Gordon | food_type = Pub, American steakhouse | dress_code = Casual | street_address = 87-48 78th Street | city = New York City | county = Queens | state = New York | postcode = 11421 | country = USA | coordinates = {{coord|40.689814|-73.863360|type:landmark|display=inline}} | reservations = | website = {{URL|http://neirstavern.com}} }} {{Coord|40.689814|N|73.863360|W|display=title}} '''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.

== History ==

=== Original operation === The bar was founded in 1829<ref name=QueensTribune/><ref name=DailyNews/> and, according to the current owner, is one of the oldest bars in the country, having been in continuous operation since 1829 (even during Prohibition<ref>{{cite news |date=January 5, 1926 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45041937/the-standard-union/ |title=Rum Dealer Gets Six-Months' Term |work=The Standard Union |location=Brooklyn |access-date=May 27, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>), 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.<ref name=":0" /> The bar was founded near the Union Course racetrack (extant 1821–1888) and hosted many track patrons during the track's existence.<ref name=NeirsHistory/> The establishment was owned by the Neir family from 1898 to 1967, after which it went into decline and was ready to close down in 2009, but was saved in the eleventh hour when purchased by new owners.<ref name=ProjectWoodhaven/> At various times in its history, it featured a ballroom, hotel rooms and a bowling alley.<ref>Fletcher, Brekke (February 18, 2020) [https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/new-york-city-oldest-bars/index.html "The oldest, most iconic bars in New York City: Neir's Tavern"] CNN</ref>

=== 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<ref name="NeirsHistory" /> serving a small selection of dinner entrees as well as pub fare,<ref name="Menu" /> and the establishment re-opened in 2010.<ref name="ProjectWoodhaven" /> The bar is still owned by FDNY Lieutenant Loycent Gordon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/news/neir-s-tavern-in-woodhaven-targeted-in-burglary-fundraiser-planned-for-180-year-old-bar-1-14149010/|title=Neir's Tavern in Woodhaven targeted in burglary, fundraiser planned for 180-year-old bar|last=Colangelo|first=Lisa L.|date=September 12, 2017|website=amNewYork|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> but the building was owned by other people.<ref name="Mohamed 2019">{{cite web|url=https://qns.com/story/2019/01/30/woodhaven-residents-form-new-committee-to-preserve-and-celebrate-the-oldest-bar-in-queens/|title=Woodhaven residents form new committee to preserve and celebrate the oldest bar in Queens|last=Mohamed|first=Carlotta|date=January 30, 2019|website=QNS.com|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> According to the ''Queens Chronicle'', the restored mahogany bar was originally installed "when Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/aged-in-the-bottle-old-pubs/article_33b3d19b-9491-53f2-90c0-b888f1fd4b0b.html|title=Aged in the bottle: old pubs, Around for decades, these Queens bars have passed tests of time and taste|last=Shain|first=Michael|date=April 25, 2019|work=Queens Chronicle|access-date=May 1, 2019}}</ref>

The Neir's 190 Committee was formed in 2019, the bar's 190th anniversary, to preserve the tavern.<ref name="Mohamed 2019" /> In early 2020, it was announced that Neir’s Tavern would close on January 12 because the rent imposed by the new landlord was too high.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ny.eater.com/2020/1/9/21058579/neirs-tavern-closed-nyc|title=One of NYC's Oldest Bars Forced to Close After 190 Years in Queens|last=Tuder|first=Stefanie|date=January 9, 2020|website=Eater NY|language=en|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> In response, public officials vowed to take action, and Gordon called the radio show hosted by New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/oldest-bar-in-new-york-city-avoids-last-call-11578697825|title='Oldest' Bar in New York City Avoids Last Call|last=Honan|first=Katie|date=January 10, 2020|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/nyregion/neirs-tavern-closing.html|title=After 190 Years, the 'Most Famous Bar You've Never Heard of' Avoids Last Call|last=Kilgannon|first=Corey|date=January 10, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 11, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-de-blasio-neirs-tavern-woodside-queens-last-call-oldest-bar-20200110-eyzhivglunf77gaoxbljwy6cke-story.html|title=Last call averted: De Blasio and politicians help broker rent deal to keep iconic Neir's Tavern open in Queens|first1=Anna|last1=Sanders|last2=Greene|first2=Leonard|date=January 10, 2020|website=nydailynews.com|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="CBS 2020">{{cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/01/10/neirs-tavern-to-close/|title=Historic 190-Year-Old Neir's Tavern In Woodhaven Saved After Threat Of Closure|date=January 10, 2020|website=CBS New York|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> The city also gave a $90,000 grant to the tavern.<ref name="CBS 2020" />

Neir's host local fundraisers, including food drives and collections, throughout the year. Every October, there is a block party to celebrate the anniversary of Neir's on its "Road to 200" (years); its bicentennial will be celebrated in 2029. Having saved Neir's Tavern not just once in 2009, but again in 2020, owner Loycent Gordon has proclaimed that "Community conquers all!" <ref name=":1" />

== 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.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/nyregion/a-queens-bar-has-a-rich-history-but-lacks-status.html|title=A Queens Bar Has a Rich History but Lacks Status|last=Surico|first=John|date=May 20, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=June 14, 2016|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news|last=Hallum|first=Mark|date=April 26, 2018|url=https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2018/17/lpc_2018_04_27_q.html|title=LPC chair resignation welcomed in borough|work=TimesLedger|access-date=May 20, 2018|language=en|archive-date=May 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520124252/https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2018/17/lpc_2018_04_27_q.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gordon points to the city's failure to bestow landmark status on the bar as evidence of "the oligarchy of the Manhattan-centric system."<ref name="auto" /> Locals have rallied around the bar after the sale of the building in December 2018 to an LLC whose managers reportedly professed unawareness of the bar's history.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shain|first=Michael|date=January 24, 2019|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/future-of-landmark-neir-s-in-jeopardy/article_c1d61d4b-ce97-58e1-967d-3f70fc8cc6b5.html|title=Future of landmark Neir's in jeopardy|work=QueensChronicle|access-date=April 18, 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref name="AMNY-Neirs">{{Cite news|last=Pereira|first=Ivan|date=February 11, 2019|url=https://www.amny.com/news/queens-neir-s-tavern-1.27139979|title=Queens' oldest bar, Neir's Tavern, fights for 200th anniversary|work=AMNewYork|access-date=April 18, 2019|language=en}}</ref> 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.'"<ref name="AMNY-Neirs" />

== In literature and the arts ==

Scenes from the film ''Goodfellas'' were shot in the bar (14% of the film is set in Neirs){{citation needed|date=April 2024}}, as were scenes from ''Tower Heist''.<ref name=QueensTribune/> According to local legend, the gangsters portrayed in the film Goodfellas did actually gather at Neirs. It attracts tourists due to its connection with the movie, and its history. Anthony Bourdain visited Neir's in 2017 and featured Neir's on his show ''Parts Unknown''.

According to some sources, Mae West made her first professional appearances here,<ref name=DailyNews/> although other sources dispute this as unconfirmed legend.<ref name=MaeWest/> Neir's Tavern itself avers the Mae West connection.<ref name=NeirsHistory/> Neir's offers a cocktail called "Mae West Punch".

==Gallery== <gallery class="center" widths="267px" heights="250px"> File:UnionClubHouse 1873Beers.jpg|Union Race Course detail File:Neir's Tavern Historical marker 20190208.jpg|Historical marker 2019 File:Neir's Tavern (Mae West tribute) 20190208 01.jpg|Mae West tribute alcove 2019 </gallery>

==References== <references>

<ref name=DailyNews>{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/woodhaven-bar-neir-tavern-time-machine-fix-article-1.184603 |title=Woodhaven bar Neir's Tavern gets a time-machine fix up |first=Lisa L. |last=Colangelo |date=June 22, 2010 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=MaeWest>{{cite web |url=http://maewest.blogspot.com/2010/06/mae-west-neirs-far-from-truth.html |title=Mae West: Neir's, Far From Truth |date=June 24, 2010 |work=Mae West |access-date=November 2, 2014| quote= 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?}}</ref>

<ref name=QueensTribune>{{cite web |url=http://queenstribune.com/neirs-tavern-185-years-of-greatness-in-woodhaven/ |title=Neir's Tavern: 185 Years Of Greatness In Woodhaven |first=Luis |last=Gronds |date=March 27, 2014 |work=Queens Tribune |access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=ProjectWoodhaven>{{cite web |url=http://www.projectwoodhaven.com/2010/June/neirs-reopens.html |title=Oldest Bar in New York! |work=Project Woodhaven |access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=NeirsHistory>{{cite web |url=http://neirstavern.com/category/talk-about-neirs-history/ |title=A Quick history of Neirs bar |work=Neir's Bar website |publisher=Neir's Bar |access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=Menu>{{cite web |url=http://neirstavern.com/food/# |title=Menu |work=Neir's Bar website |publisher=Neir's Bar |access-date=November 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223051545/http://neirstavern.com/food/ |archive-date=December 23, 2014 }}</ref>

</references>

==External links== {{Commons category|Neir's Tavern}} *[http://neirstavern.com/ Neir's Tavern website]

Category:1829 establishments in New York (state) Category:Taverns in New York City