History in a Matchbook: Rum House

New York rips down and disposes of its history with such efficiency that sometimes the only evidence that a business, restaurant, bar ever existed lies it the flotsam and jetsam it produced whilst alive. Matchbooks for instance.

In my years of research, I've spent a good amount of time chasing down the relics of bygone landmarks. But, more often than not, those relics—menus, ashtrays, glassware, plates, flatware, etc.—are gone, and gone for good. For the completely vanished restaurants and bars of Gotham, two types of relic, however, endure: the postcard and the matchbook.

The Rum House bar in the Hotel Edison has not disappeared. The hotel is still there on W. 47th Street, and the Rum House is in it. But the bar was renovated a few years back, and turned into a swanky cocktail bar. I don't dislike the new version. It has a good vibe, offers live music and the drinks are well made. But I still miss the dive it replaced. Here's proof of the old Rum House that stood in its place—and that you once could smoke there. Notice the tiki-esque font used for "Rum House."

Old/New Rum House Gets Old/New Neon Sign

Some of us were concerned and dismayed when the wonderful old Times Square dive bar The Rum House, was chased out of its longtime space in the Edison Hotel in 2010. But the craft cocktail barmen who took over the space—they also own Ward III and other bars—were respectful inheritors of the location. They lovingly renovated the room and gave it a lovely post-WWII feel. The drinks are good and the live music is charmingly backward-looking.

Now, the owners have done one better. They have hung a beautiful, retro neon sign outside their already popular bar. Again, it looks like something that might have brightened Times Square in 1945. Well done, gents.

Rum House to Reopen

Some pictures came out of the revamped the Rum House, the beloved (in this quarter, anyway) Times Square watering hole that is being reborn as a somewhat swank cocktail joint. Can't say I'm unhappy about what's going on. The redo looks pretty faithful to the former look of the place, which its nautical theme. I'm thinking it may now look like the Rum House possibly did when it opened for business in the early 1970s. Certainly, it's good to have that grimy carpet gone. And it will be nice to be able to order a good rum cocktail in a place called the Rum House. Opening is Monday.

Dive Bar Death Watch

These are bad days for New York's dive bars. City Hall and developers do not see their charms. So they are on their way out. And in December, they've been falling like barflies. Let's count them down, shall we?

• The Rum House. One of the last surviving dives in Times Square, exited in late September.
• Ruby's Bar and Grill. Coney Island legend. Not quite out (it keeps stubbornly opening even though it's supposed to shutter), but definitely down, and probably a goner.
• Mars Bar. The East Village ur-dive. Due to close for two years in 2011 to make way for a highrise. The owner says it will reopen and be bigger than ever. Whether it will be better, or ever the same, is highly in doubt.
• Max Fish. LES mainstay. Victim of a rent hike. Owners says they will relocate. But where, at a reasonable rent, in today's pricey Lower East Side?
• The Stoned Crow. Beloved Village dump, calling it quits on New Year's Eve.
• Hickey's. The latest victim. Dead on 33rd Street after 40 years.

Station Cafe, Holland Bar, Holiday Cocktail Lounge, Subway Inn, Rudy's Bar and Grill and all the rest—watch your back.