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04/29/2008
Chelsea's Food Bar Closed
NYC blog Eater reports that as of this morning, Eighth Avenue's long-lived gay eatery Food Bar has been shuttered...
Posted 11:42 AM EST by Andy Towle in Food & Drink, New York, News | Permalink
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Okay well that truly sucks! If we're lucky maybe they'll put a Bankofamericachasewachovia there thus truly enhancing the neighborhood and improving the quality of life of all : (
Posted by: Giovanni | Apr 29, 2008 11:54:38 AM
Or a John Varvatos store.
Posted by: daveynyc | Apr 29, 2008 12:28:58 PM
Most likely another Starbucks.
Posted by: David | Apr 29, 2008 12:47:10 PM
Well, they have almost succeeded in removing all the 'gay' influence from Chelsea now. I guess Rainbows and Triangles will be next.
Posted by: Dan | Apr 29, 2008 1:16:53 PM
I waited tables there, 2000-02. Unlike any job I'd ever had before or since. Never a dull moment. Busy every single night with the neighborhood who's-who, and the wildest staff... A fun way to make money and meet people in my mid-20's.
Posted by: Jaimie | Apr 29, 2008 1:19:30 PM
They have a Starbucks at 16th, 19th, and 23rd. So another one on that strip sounds like a great idea.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 29, 2008 1:41:34 PM
Well if I recall the food there was better than the Food Bar DC which also closed, though I think was not really missed by any of the gays here in DC. Chelsea isn't alone in the commercialization of traditional gay neighborhoods. Dupont is hardly gay at all these days and Logan is quickly becoming straight before the gays could even really take it over. :)
That's what comes with not needing the ghettos anymore and being so cool.
Posted by: Vince | Apr 29, 2008 3:01:30 PM
Well, its a single story free standing structure in Manhattan in a vital community, so it has to be razed for a high rise to house straight douchebags from suburbia who need to ram their baby strollers all over everyone's feet. Hurry up and tear down, money grubbers! ya fucks.
Posted by: Tim | Apr 29, 2008 3:57:38 PM
I appreciate the Vonnegut reference.
Posted by: davitydave | Apr 29, 2008 4:39:56 PM
Tim, I'm in total agreement with you. Sadly, friends of mine who have been looooooooong-time, die-hard New York City residents, have had enough of what's happening in this city and are beginning to relocate out of state. No normal person (or small business) can afford to be here any more. I wonder what the douchebags will do when they're left with thousands of empty, over-priced apartments and business spaces? There's only so much they can charge for rent before it all caves in on them. Greedy f*ucks.
Posted by: Matty | Apr 29, 2008 5:50:48 PM
It started going downhill when the Riss Diner closed...I loved that place!
Posted by: Myackie | Apr 29, 2008 6:01:13 PM
25 years ago that neighborhood was just starting to take over as the place where us queers were moving, after the straights started to take over the village. It was a blast, but started to lose all the flavor when the yuppies started creeping in in the 90's.
Sadly there is little left of a gay hood outside of Hells Kitchen and it wont be long before the high rent drives bleeds that dry too. And so it goes indeed.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Apr 29, 2008 7:51:36 PM
Dude, that bites.
Posted by: James | Apr 29, 2008 9:24:29 PM
All that is posted is true regarding straight douchebags taking over former queer nabes. That being said, the queers haven't really been up for finding the next new frontier (not that it is going to be that easy in this real estate market). Nonetheless, I fear that there is a bit too much complaining and not enough acting in the queer community these days. I'll put my money where my mouth is and invest in a new hood... but where?
Posted by: Joe | Apr 30, 2008 4:47:41 PM
MYACKIE, who mentioned about the Riss Diner closing. Love you.
Posted by: SeantNYC | May 1, 2008 3:55:10 AM
Whaaaa! I loved that place. I always went when I was in NY and told all my friends about it. I loved the food, the people, the place (and the prices). Good bye friend.
Posted by: John Beene | May 1, 2008 8:30:25 PM
Hold on guys!!! Wait for me! I am a gay Italian entreprener who tried to avoid the closing of Food Bar(I flew from Italy 4 times already and the cute staff can confirm) but some "insane" situation that I can not explain did not allow me to. I am still the only one trying to close a deal with the landlord as I love that place as much as you do (...but euros today can make the difference). Should we succeed, soon a huge sign will cover the windows saying "we'll be back in ..., after renovation" and a website will be given. In the meantime, please e-mail me and please let people know. See you soon.
Posted by: angelo | May 5, 2008 9:42:55 AM
I mysteriously received this email from Angelo today:
Sorry to bother you but if you want to save Food Bar location please go
to
www.foodbarnyc.com and you'll understand.
Please forward this link to anyone you know
Angelo Taglieri
Posted by: Tim | May 9, 2008 11:23:17 AM
I'm Brit who moved to the East Village 6 years ago. I'd been in love with the city for years - it was where I had my first gay sex, where I would come to escape what was then a very dull London. And now? Rapture Cafe closed. Florent closing. Boys Room closed. The original Cock a vile mosaic covered French restaurant. No decent Saturday night dance club in NY (I'm not a clubber, but my London friends just laugh when I tell them that).
And instead, what do we have? Bachelorette parties on Avenue A. Stretch Hummers cruising the East Village streets at weekends. Banks on every corner. The closure of small, quirky stores and businesses, gay and straight. A city that gets ever fuller of dull, tedious, dispassionate corporate drones of all sexualities.
Fuck it. I'm out of here. And I'm not the only one saying that these days.
Posted by: Will | May 9, 2008 12:05:09 PM