Jackson Heights Life

I don't remember them but it would be great if there was at least one good Irish pub left.

I remember many of the old Irish bars. Most of the ones I name below were still here in the mid 80's.  I will try to list some geographically and their approximate closing date.

76th and Roosevelt - Blarney Stone - Closes in the mid-late eighties
78th and Roosevelt - Unicorn - Closed in May of 1985 - Was my favorite bar around this time
80 to 81 and Roosevelt - Powers and Healy and Shea's - Both closed in mid-late eighties
81 to 82 and Roosevelt - Millbar - Closed in early 90's
81 to 82 and Roosevelt - O'Hanlons - Closed in early to mid nineties
82 South Side of Roosevelt - Green Blazer
82 and 37 Ave -  Bud's closed in April of 2005 - Was a regular here from 2000-2005
85 and 37 Ave - Gemini Bar - Closed in February 2000 Was a regular here form 1985-2000
90th between 37 Ave and Roosevelt - Brady's Bar -  Closed in early to mid nineties - Frequented here in the mid - late eighties
Northern 82 and 83 - Irish pub with food - Closed in mid nineties
Northern and Corner or 83rd - Lynch's and a few other names - Closed in mid - late 90's
Northern and 84 - Doonarie, later became a heavy metal bar - finally closed in early 2000's
Northern and 86 - Belvedere - Closed in mid - late 90's

After compiling this partial list I realized how the neighborhood has transformed.  There are still bars in some of these locations but none of them Irish Bars.  I also realized I drank in most of these bars at one time or another - that's a lot beer and money!!

Years, and years ago, the Readpenny Inn, 37-07 73 Street, was an Irish Bar.  Now, it's just a bar, but you can play billiards in there....

I remember the Readypenny. Pat was the owner, prior to that he was the bartender at "The Station Break" bar which was on Roosevelt between 73rd and 74th. I wonder if Pat is still alive?

The Green Blazer used to be Murphy's until Charlie & Tony Canning bought it in the late 60's or so.

The Liffey was on Broadway between 75 & 76. (Officially Elmhurst I guess.) They claimed to be the bar that sold the most Guinness on tap in all of NYC. I know I contributed with a fair share of pints.  I proposed to my wife there on St. Patrick's Day in 1977. (We just celebrated our 31st anniversary.)

Ryan's, on 83/Baxter, was the home base for the Jackson Heights Anglers in the early to mid 70's. We'd head out to Montauk on a charter bus every 3rd week for the grand sum of $25 which covered both boat & bus, tips for the  mate & bus driver, plus the pool for the largest fish. Beer or soda cost $.25 a can & the bar's owner, Jackie Ryan, would let us take cases of the stuff on consignment.

In the mid 70's there was also an Irish pub, actually more of a night club, in the Brunson Building for a year or two. I forget the name of the place but it featured some great Irish entertainers, including the Wolfe Tones.

Anyone remember Gibbon's?  It was a really big place at about 71st Broadway, I believe.  I think it must've closed when I was ten or so... which means just over a decade ago. 

Thinking about that place makes me happy.  Clearly, I never had a drink there, but my dad would take my sister and I there after school sometimes and he'd always buy us these really tasty chips from the bar store which was run by a amiable, vertically challenged (is there a better term?) man.  I think my sister and I entertained the idea that he was a REAL LIFE leprechaun  . We'd go for dinner sometimes too.  I remember having my first Shepherd's Pie there.  It was really sad when the place got closed down, but until now, I hadn't thought of the place in years.  It's kind of nice though, having places like this that live only in your memory...  Makes them seem magical.

How about STABLEMATES that was on 80st/30 ave,,,now is called Cassidys,,,,,regards Mugsy

your right,,,it was acros from Dantes,,,,,mugsy