Brightening Light at the End of the Holland Tunnel

Even after learning that the Holland Bar might just be closed for renovations, the idea that the grand old dive might have closed for good rattled me so that I had to go and take a look at the place.

The Ninth Avenue saloon was gutted, as advertised. The bright orange awning remained, as did the elaborate interior neon sign reading "Holland." Three men were busy ripping up the floor. They didn't seem too inclined to talk to me. But one did say "Hope so" when I asked if the bar would be returning. I got a more solid reply next door at a deli, where the owner said the bar would be returning "in January." I'm beginning to feel sanguine about the Holland's fate.