Historic Woodhaven Tavern Is Renovated & Reopened

Andy Bigan, Alex Ewen and Loycent Gordon (shown from left to right) are three of the five individuals that have recently taken over Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven and infused new life into the historic establishment. Revamping a rapidly deteriorating bar wasn’t too tall of a task for a group of enterprising music producers who recently reopened historic Neir’s Tavern to the delight of several Woodhaven residents.

to being taken over by new ownership, Neir’s Tavern, located at 87-48 78th St., was suffering from years of neglect, which prompted proprietor David Eng to call together a few of his friends and make some big changes.

“The person who managed this bar just allowed it to go downhill. It could not be run properly with an absentee owner, who was going through a divorce and other personal issues,” described Alex Ewen, who along with Eng, Loycent Gordon, Andy Bigan and his wife Melanie looked into the preservation of the 181-year-old establishment.

Ewen, 52, who in addition to working in the music business is also an expert woodworker, saw potential in the old watering hole and soon began working on the tavern’s 20-foot mahogany bar.

“This had to be 150 years old because the furniture of 100 years ago didn’t have mahogany like that. I can tell you what’s original and what isn’t,” he told the Times Newsweekly.

But beyond necessary structural renovations, Ewen and his partners wanted to make Neir’s into something more than just a place where people drown their sorrows.

They looked to make the old tavern an extension of the recording studios that were already in the two-floor edifice, which also served as an inn and a bowling alley during its existence.

Considered to be the oldest tavern in continuous operation in New York (excluding the Prohibition era), Neir’s Tavern opened in 1851 as the Old Abbey. In 1898, Louis Neir bought the tavern and subsequently named the bar after himself.

The Woodhaven location was the first venue where Hollywood starlet Mae West performed. In later years, the tavern gained fame as being part of the setting of the Oscar-nominated Martin Scorcese film, Goodfellas.

In its latest incarnation, Neir’s has evolved into an entertainment venue featuring a host of musicians ranging from veteran performers to those who are hoping to break through and make a name for themselves.

The music professionals that now operate the site are no strangers to young talent. In fact, the likes of Eminem, Salt ‘N Pepa and Kid ‘N Play all performed at one time or another inside the adjoining studios.

“This is a place where the vibe for music just oozes out the door; it’s a place where people get discovered. Terry Brock from Kansas (of “Dust In The Wind” fame) popped in here and said, ‘I want to come play here,’” recounted Ewen.

In addition to their weekday jam nights, Neir’s is also the place to be for fine jazz on Sundays.

Wednesday night is when the local neighborhood tavern becomes a makeshift movie theater, showing motion picture classics like Jaws.

Ewen and company have also turned their business into an outlet for writers and poets who wish to recite their material to the public.

“We want this to be a place where people from the neighborhood come in, hang out and feel comfortable,” said the master craftsman who once built cabinets for the Museum of Modern Art.

“We’re getting people in here that we normally wouldn’t get. We’re in a very diverse area … we [usually] get a very diverse crowd, so we wanted to make it open to everyone.”

Gordon agreed and spoke of how the installation of a see-through window at the entrance has many people peeking in to see what’s going on at Neir’s.

“We wanted this place to reflect the makeup of the neighborhood and, to a large degree, the makeup of New York City,” observed the business owner, who also puts out fires as a member of the FDNY.

In addition, Neir’s caters to the sports fan who can stop in and watch the big game on the tavern’s big, flatscreen television or place a bet on a couple of horse races.

Those who may be in the mood to burn some calories can walk on over to the pool table in the rear.

Currently, Ewen is focusing on ways to make Neir’s an attractive option for non-drinkers by serving tropical drinks, ice tea, coffee and a variety of desserts.

Neir’s Tavern has certainly come a long way since it’s beginnings in the 1800’s when it was surrounded almost exclusively by stables and farm land.

For a complete history of Neir’s Tavern, visit www.neirstavern.com.