Irish pubs have followed the city's delis and diners disappearing acts in the restaurant scene as more upscale eateries emerge. Upscale eateries in New York are said to replace the dying Irish pubs in the restaurant scene.
As reported in Irish Central, Tim Tully who was in-charge of the bar in Blarney Rock Pub on Wes 33rd street for 11 years explained how the business got a boost when the neighbouring pub and rival Hickey's Bar closed after 44 years of long existence.
"The rent got jacked, and the owner walked away," said Tully told Crain's New York Business.
Meanwhile the restaurant next to Blarney Rock, ,Stout NYC is the largest Irish pub in the city, offering dozens of fancy dishes some which are labelled "organic" and "gluten-free".
Along with rising rents and changing taste preference, upscale taverns such as Stout NYC are slowly pushing out New York's old line Irish pubs. Notably, some of these Irish pubs are becoming less Irish just to stay in the business.
The recent pubs that have closed down include the Blarney cove on East 14th Street, Dewey's Flatiron on Fifth Avenue, Druids on 10th Avenue and O'Flaherty's on Restaurant Row in the theatre district.
Paul Hurley, President of the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners of New York and the former owner of Kennedy's, agreed to adapt with the changes in the dining scene. "You've got to change with the times," he said. Kennedy, an Irish pub on West 57th Street closed down after a year when the landlord doubled the $20,000 monthly rate as reported by the magazine.
The rising rent isn't the major culprit however. The changing tastes of consumers are also killing these old Irish pubs.
Some of the pub owners have tried to adapt with the "health trend" in the restaurant scene offering craft beers and gourmet food to their menu however, they are still having difficulty in trying to change the perception of consumers about Irish bars.
The most successful pub owner in the city, Martin Whelan, has toned down the Irish elements at this establishments, a mini empire of nine pubs including the 17,000 sq feet Stout NYC as reported in Crain's New York.
Pub owners trying to stay in the business should realize that Irish pubs are based on stereotypes and changing the perception of the consumers could lead to saving the Irish pubs in New York City.
