#bar-culture

#bar-culture

"I can't believe it was already a decade ago. I've done a lot of dumb things in my life, but by far, the smartest one of them was running for mayor."

Eric Berchtold, longtime manager of the Cinch, reminisced on the bar's bustling past, stating, "We used to have three bartenders, a barback and a cocktail waitress on Friday nights. Now it's like, you're lucky if you have 30 people in the bar." He reflects on the crowd size diminishing drastically post-lockdown, indicating a significant change in the bar's atmosphere from its vibrant history.

The 11-seat bar was salvaged from the Brooklyn location of the Knitting Factory; the club closed in 2022. Friends of Friends co-owner Kevin Heisner spotted the opportunity while walking by.

If you've purchased the Ocean Organic Espresso Martini, you can revive it by shaking it with a fresh shot of espresso to enhance the coffee flavor.

"I stepped out for a cigarette and I met this guy outside. He was wearing this white leather jacket and just seemed really, really fun."

In the late 1970s, Ludwika Mickevicius left Poland for NYC, becoming a beloved East Village bar owner known as Lucy, who ran the establishment for over 40 years.