Details: The Brooklyn Inn

I sometime feel people don't appreciate the City's unique and timeworn places because they don't take the time to look around and fully take them in. Toward that end, here are a few shots of The Brooklyn Inn in Boerum Hill.

The Brooklyn Inn Is Fine; Owner Not So Much

We've wrung our hands a bit over the fate of the beloved Brooklyn Inn of Boerum Hill during the past six months or so, beginning when rumors surfaced that the grand old corner tavern—one of the finest specimens of Little Olde New York drinking emporia in existence—was going to close or be bistro-fied.

None of those rumors proved true. And, according to a long, vociferous e-mail sent by the Brooklyn Inn's owner Jason Furlani to Eater, none of them will ever turn out to be true. Furlani sure is fed up with all the speculation surrounding his place. And, man, does he hate bloggers.

Since I guess I'm one of the "idiots who have contributed to the `Brooklyn Inn Conspiracy' that have no idea what the fuck you're talking about," I feel I should respond. First, I'd like to point out that, grammatically, I'm actually one of the idiots WHO have no idea what I'm talking about." Second, I'd like to remind Mr. Furlani that, over the past few years, bloggers like myself have watched some of our favorite New York City bars and restaurants go "poof," victims of greedy developers and businessman (now there are the speculators you should be hating!), never to be seen again. So, naturally, we're jumpy as cats! We hear one wisp of a rumor that yet another cherished, ur-NYC hangout is about to fall, and we assume the worst. Hence, the wildfire gossip mill.

Not exactly a defense of our behavior, mind you. But an explanation.

Third, I'd like to tell Mr. Furlani that he should not be so naive as to imagine that he runs a business. He runs a legend. He runs a piece of New York's heritage. He may think he's answerable only to himself when he considers making changes to the Brooklyn Inn. He's not. Put some beer nuts on the bar and you're going to get a reaction. Maybe an overreaction. But don't be disingenuous and imagine people don't care. You're not running a faceless Bennigan's.

Finally, about Mr. Furlani's final paragraph: "I have - and will AGAIN, maintain - that if you want to know what's going on with the Inn, come on down and ask ME. I'm there. I'll gladly answer any and all questions that you (or the dumb-ass conspiracy geek that keeps blindly posting this putrid bunk) may want to know. Come on down and talk to me face-to-face...but we all know - that ain't gonna happen."

I hereby promise that Lost City will, in future, check in with you before before posting any new news about the Brooklyn Inn. I welcome any excuse to visit the place.

The Brooklyn Inn Mystery Solved

Eater.com finally got to the bottom of the mystery of what is going to befall the beloved Brooklyn Inn when the joint's new manager Jason Furlani contacted them, responding to all the sound and fury on this site and others last week about the possible fate of the place. And it's all good, I'm happy to say. Here's what he told Eater.com:

Okay - here's the bottom line: the Brooklyn Inn is going to maintain EXACTLY the same vibe as it did before. How do I know...?

I'm the NEW manager.

My name is Jason Furlani, and for almost thirteen years I've worked for the individuals who NOW own/operate the Brooklyn Inn (as well as own the building it's housed in - that part was correct) and - for the record - they have NO PLANS to turn it into anything other than what it is... the Broooklyn Inn.

In fact - the only things that ARE being done to the space is a function of making it better/more comfortable for you - the Brooklynites that hang there. The NEW owners (who - by-the-by - currently have three very popular bars in the city, the oldest being twenty-five years old) LOVE the Brooklyn Inn.

They are making capitol improvements - like having the tap lines cleaned on a regular basis (and NO - they weren't before...) the bathrooms redone/cleaned up (and if you REALLY hang there you KNOW it needs it) and some pluming issues that are really boring to discuss. Anyone has a problem with any of that - feel free to call us on it.

All told - I am sorry the rumor mill has spewed out so much crap and caused so many such anxiety. Guess that's the legacy of the old management. Must have REALLY loved the place to allow that to happen, ESPECIALLY after we assured them it was never in the cards.

So here's the deal - I'm there - you wanna talk, come on by... Meanwhile the Brooklyn Inn - IS and WILL BE..."as-is."

Sincerely,

Jason Furlani
Manager, Brooklyn Inn

I can live with that. And, for my money, the rumor mill was all for the good, because it brought out the truth.

Brooklyn Inn Update

Alarmed by reports on the web that The Brooklyn Inn, the classic wood-tin-and-mirrors tavern on the corner of Bergen and Hoyt in Boerum Hill, was shuttering, I dropped by the place last night.

Turns out there's more to the story than a simple closure. The bartendress told me the tavern is not closing, but is changing hands. What's not clear is if the new owners plan to keep the Brooklyn Inn the Brooklyn Inn, or keep it going as a bar under a different name, or convert the whole thing into a different business, such as a bistro. (Ugh.) The woman also said the two owners are trying to make sure the bar isn't closed for the period of time during the handover. It's all pretty murky.

The building is within the Boerum Hill Historic District, so that may protect it from serious renovation. And a bistro would at least mean you could still go in and view the fabulous oak woodwork and the 20-feet-high tin ceiling. Still, the place feels like what it is, a bar, and would be ill-served by repurposing. The scene last night was heartening in its lack of pretense. Thirty-something and Forty-something Brooklyn schlubs being Brooklyn schlubs. One young couple getting to know each other better over several beers. A guy in the back room trying to impress a leggy blonde with his pool prowess. Guys regularly going out to smoke on the corner. Some musicians piling their instruments in the corner and grabbing a drink after a local gig. These guys don't need another hot brunch place on Sundays.

UPDATE: (1 PM April 26) A tipster who seems to be in the know has written into Eater.com confirming that The Brooklyn Inn will be a bistro, serving omelettes and the like. Also, that the owner of the Inn also owns the building. The motivation for the change: Mr. Owner wants more MONEY.

Holy Suffering Crap! The Brooklyn Inn to Close?

How did I miss the posts on this? The great old Brooklyn Inn, which have been on the corner of Hoyt and Bergen in Brooklyn since dinosaurs roamed the borough, is to close??!!!

It's news like this that makes me fearful that anything could happen in horrid li'l olde New York in today's real estate market under the reign of Mayor "What-Me-Worry-About-The-City's-Cultural-Legacy" Bloomberg. (Big pictures he's great at; small ones, he sucks.) The Old Town Bar to become a Duane Reade. Rao's to convert into a Dunkin' Donuts outlet. The Fraunces Tavern to be ripped down to make way for condos. It could all happen tomorrow, folks! Where developers have a will, they'll find a slimy, loophole-ridden way.

The Brooklyn Inn has been on that corner for a century or more. My 90-year-old landlord told me how he used to drink there. It's famous for having no signage to speak of, a la Chumley's, and for its high tin ceiling and massive wooden bar. It's has literary status, too: Jonathan Lehman made it one of the settings in "Motherless Brooklyn." I can't bear to think it's on the way out. I ask you people: What the fuck is wrong with this city?

Legs and Bars

Bar stools awaiting employment just before opening time at the old Brooklyn Inn at the corner of Bergen and Hoyt.