 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius |
| Defunct | 2024 |
| Headquarters | 135 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 |
| Area served | East Village, Manhattan, New York City |
| Key people | Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius |
Lucy's was a dive bar located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Owned and operated by Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius, the bar was a staple of the community from 1987 until its closure in 2024 due to eviction.
History
Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius, originally from Poland, became a bartender in the East Village in the early 1980s. She took over the bar, originally named Blanche’s, in December 1987. The establishment was later renamed Lucy's in her honor. Lucy's was known for its unchanging, no-frills atmosphere. The bar featured dim lighting, worn linoleum floors, pool tables, and a jukebox, retaining a vintage aesthetic that appealed to both long-time patrons and newcomers. Lucy's played a crucial role in the East Village's social scene, providing a sense of community in a neighborhood that underwent significant changes over the decades. It survived the Tompkins Square Park Riot in 1988 and the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it temporarily closed but reopened in May 2020.
In December 2023, the building housing Lucy's was sold to a new landlord, West Lake 135-139 Avenue A LLC / RYCO Capital, for $19 million. Following the sale, Mickevicius faced a significant rent increase from $8,000 to $25,000 per month. Despite her efforts to negotiate and even pay the increased rent temporarily, the financial burden was unsustainable. In addition to the rent hike, Lucy's faced other operational challenges, including issues with health department permits and a temporary closure in late 2023. The bar was ultimately closed in early 2024 when Mickevicius received an eviction notice demanding she vacate the premises within 30 days.
References
- Orlow, Emma (2024-05-02). "Is Beloved Dive Bar Lucy's Reopening in the East Village?". Eater. Archived from the original on 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ Khalifeh, Ramsey (2024-02-05). "Legendary East Village dive bar Lucy's faces eviction". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ Kilgannon, Corey (2012-02-24). "Where Cash Is King and Lucy Is Queen". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ Joy, Stacie (2024-01-22). "Why we may have seen the last of longtime East Village bar Lucy's". EV Grieve. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- Kussin, Zachary; Reilly, Patrick (2024-02-07). "Lucy's, beloved NYC dive bar since 1980s, faces being shut down by new landlord". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
40°43′37″N 73°58′59″W / 40.727043°N 73.983033°W / 40.727043; -73.983033