Flying Saucer writes, "Spoke to Jimmy [McHale]--he has nothing to do with this new bar. It's the owners of Playwright's and McGee's... Jimmy was approached to go in with partners, but went against the idea. He told me he has no involvement. Sadly you can never have another McHale's."
That's for sure, but one reader is hopeful.
Wrote Anonymous, "I stopped in there a few days ago and asked about the connection to the old McHale's. The owner who I spoke with was very nice and despite the fact that he was busy working, was excited that I had stopped in to ask questions. Turns out the bar is going to be more of a tribute to the old neighborhood and a number of the old bars. The name might be McHale's, but I was assured that they are not trying to be, or compete with, the old McHale's. And I will definitely give the bar a chance. It looks amazing inside and based on the various owners' reputations, I am sure we will not be let down."
Lost City Brooks had this to say on his blog, "Listen, I can open up an eatery and call it Toots Shor, but it doesn't it make it so--any more than Gabe Stuhlman's Fedora has anything to do with the original Fedora; the current Hurley's is a patch on the original bar on Sixth Avenue; or John DeLucie's upcoming restaurant in the Bill's Gay 90s space will have any real connection with Bill's... McHale's without Jimmy McHale would not be McHale's."
more photos
P.S. Not for nothing, but the Playwright Tavern opened in the late 1990s in the theater building that once held the Eros XXX male cinema. After 35 years in business, it was one of the first adult theaters on 8th Avenue to go.
I have known the owner of Playwright and McGee's since McGee's was in the shadow of the Ed Sullivan theater(Hung out there late 80's early 90's, older friends went there when it was called the Social), he is a good Westside business owner so at least the name is in good hands.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Plawright was named in tribute to the authors of all those XXX films.
ReplyDeleteI second that emotion, Brooks!
ReplyDeleteI third Brooks' emotion and sentiments, this sounds like a cheap copy and someone looking to cash in on an old name a great bar that is long gone.
ReplyDeleteShame I never got to drink at McHales. Sounds like it was a good drinking bar.
ReplyDeletePeggy and Jimmy were the people that made McHales the Haven it was. I was privileged to wait tables and tend bar there for several years. Over 20 yrs later, across the country, ithink of them with a grateful heart.
ReplyDeleteThe sign's up. It's hard to take.
ReplyDeletehttp://therightprofile.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/mchales.jpg
thanks Fat Al. i just posted it. this place looks nothing like the original.
ReplyDeleteJimmy McHale IS McHale's. No Jimmy, no McHale's
ReplyDelete