WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 25
Neir’s Tavern celebrates 190 years of business
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Woodhaven’s legendary Neir’s
Tavern, which opened
in 1829 during Andrew
Jackson’s fi rst term as president, is
gearing up for its 190th anniversary at
87-48 78th Street. The community will
celebrate with a huge block party on
Saturday, Oct. 5, from noon to 6 p.m.
“This party is a reminder to all that
Neir’s is still a community gathering
spot for those who believe in the value
of supporting historic community
businesses,” Neir’s Tavern Owner Loy
Gordon said. “Without people actually
coming in, instead of putting it on their
to-do list, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Neir’s is the oldest pub to operate
continuously in the same location in
the United States. Other time-honored
establishments such as Manhattan’s
Fraunces Tavern and McSorley’s Old
Ale House and the White Horse Tavern
in Newport, Rhode Island, moved or
closed down temporarily in the past.
The Greater Woodhaven Development
Corporation is sponsoring and
organizing the all-volunteer Neir’s 190
Committee which will throw the sixhour
celebration featuring a bouncy
castle, street games, raffl es, speeches
by elected officials and surprises
from the Fraunces Tavern Museum,
a Manhattan-based nonprofi t that promotes
understanding of the past. The
Queens Historical Society will present
a commemorative plaque.
“Aft er 10 years as owner, I attribute
the continued existence of Neir’s to
our customer crusaders,” Gordon said.
“Customers such as the all volunteer
Neir’s 190 Committee members who
believe and campaign for us because
they, like me, believe Neir’s Tavern is
a worthy cause.”
Gordon, an immigrant from Jamaica
who is an FDNY lieutenant, and some
friends purchased Neir’s Tavern in
2009 just as it was about to go out of
business. Those who attend the Oct.
5 celebration will fi nd a restore mahogany
bar that was installed when
Ulysses S. Grant was president and
they’ll marvel at photos depicting
scenes from the fi lms “Goodfellas”
and “Tower Heist” that were shot at
the saloon.
Visitors can also view images of
Mae West who is said to have made
her fi rst professional appearances
there in the 1920s when she lived a
few blocks away on 88th Street off of
89th Avenue.
“In my heart I dedicate this 190th
milestone to William Burlingame,
a World War II veteran who got
married at Neir’s Tavern over 70
years ago, immediately aft er WWII,”
Gordon said. “He recently passed
away. Although I love ‘Goodfellas’
like anyone else, it’s the regular supporters
and their stories, like Bill, I
remember the most.”
The block party will take place on
88th Avenue between 78th Street and
77th Street, right in front of Neir’s
Tavern.
BUZZ
Marco Cerbone Jr. takes a customer’s order at the satellite location of Corato Pizza. Photos: Max Parrott/QNS
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