This morning EV Grieve nearly gave us a heart attack by rumormongering about the possible closure of gritty Midtown East oasis Subway Inn. The blog points to World-Wide Group's recent acquisition of 155 East 60th Street, completing their ownership of a 200-foot stretch of storefront space on the block that includes the bar and its iconic neon sign. According to The Real Deal, the firm is "active in the city," with two current construction projects active. OH GOD WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?
We rang up the bar—which opens at an alcoholic-friendly 10 a.m.—to see whether the wrecking balls were already positioned outside. Steven S., who happens to be the son of the bar's owner, seemed unperturbed by the news. "We're not worried about it anytime soon," he says. "As far as we know, everything is good." Well that's encouraging! "We're probably going to end up moving somewhere else pretty close in the area," he went on to say. Okay, less encouraging. "But right now it's not a concern, so we're not looking right now." Hm. Let's order some shots while we process all this.
At least it looks like the bar won't disappear without warning and even if it does eventually close, we're glad there's a least the idea of a contingency plan. Subway Inn has operated out of its pee-stained digs at 143 East 60th since 1937, just across the way from tourist and shopaholic mecca Bloomingdales. It's a bastion of the city's working class history, these days frequented by union workers, off-duty suits and folks looking for an unpretentious break from the glitzy shopping area.
Please God, just let us keep one good thing.
