It may still look as though Chinatown dive bar Winnie's still exists on Bayard Street, as the new tenant of the space—hip SoCal spot Lalo—retained the wind-worn exterior and signage when they took over. But make no mistake: Winnie's is gone, gone gone...or is it?
An encouraging report by Bowery Boogie indicates that Winnie's may be staging a triumphant return to the neighborhood, with possible plans to reopen at 58 East Broadway. Winnie's owner's application for a full liquor license will go before Community Board 3's SLA subcommittee later this month. Start warming up now!
As with most reboots, the original flavor is often lost in replication. Not much of the fixtures would be replanted on East Broadway, which Bowery Boogies notes is a commercial stretch of shops and markets, compared to the homier digs across from Columbus Park back on Bayard.
Winnie's closed two years ago due to an "inability to attain a lease from the landlord."
