Neir’s Tavern emerges after struggles to celebrate 195th birthday — with help of dedicated ‘ambassadors’
At 195 years old, Neir’s Tavern is having a renaissance.
The iconic Queens pub is getting ready to mark its milestone anniversary after weathering a rough stretch brought on by skyrocketing rent and a global pandemic — with a little help from a core group of dedicated regulars who call themselves “ambassadors.”
“Neir’s Tavern is still here,” Loycent Gordon, who has been owner of the Woodhaven tavern for 15 years, told The Post.
“The road to 200 begins. We’ve been through so much, we’ve had to pause, we’ve had to pivot … What we’re doing now is coming out of recovery mode and actually start building a new foundation so that Neir’s can reach 200 years and beyond.”
Gordon is celebrating the Herculean birthday with a blockbuster party Oct. 5 — which will serve as the launch for his “Road to 200” campaign to carry one of the country’s oldest bars its next milestone birthday.
The 195th birthday officially marks a major turning point to a “phase of growth,” and Gordon hopes that will include buying the 78th Street and 88th Avenue corner building the bar has occupied since 1829.
The lofty goal would solidify the future of the local slice of history — and is a far cry from what was thought possible for Neir’s even just five years ago.
The historic spot was nearly priced out of Woodhaven in January 2020 when its landlord tried to impose rent hikes so outrageous that then-Mayor Bill de Blasio stepped in to broker a deal that bought Gordon another 10 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic came just months later and was anticipated to be the storied tavern’s kiss of death — but the resilient saloon managed made it through and transformed into a community hub, ambassadors said.
Today it’s nearly unrecognizable from the bar that served as a scenic backdrop for movies like “Goodfellas.”
“Neir’s Tavern, when I got here was a very different place, but I felt like it didn’t really reflect the neighborhood, it was a huge disconnect,” said Gordon, who bought the bar in 2009 when it was under threat of being turned into a convenience store.
The barkeep gave credit to a “dedicated few” ambassadors, a core group of regulars who can be found sharing a drink at the centuries-old mahogany bar most days of the week.
“It’s the warmth and it’s the historical part of it,” said Richie Salmon, 70, the president of the Neir’s Ambassadors. “I’ve developed so many friendships. I don’t call Loy the owner, I call him my friend, and we try to help him out in any way to keep this place going.”
The Neir’s Ambassadors are responsible for using the tavern’s brand to host regular fundraisers and donation collections for their sponsored charities — the first of which was to save the bar itself.
The group of 17 banded together during the pandemic to keep their beloved tavern alive. They helped Gordon brainstorm a rotating schedule of activities like trivia and comedy shows to drum up business until the tavern slowly crossed over into the black.
The ambassadors, who pay dues to be in the posse, serve as the community and customer voice so that Gordon and his staff can accurately fulfill the needs of the neighborhood, he said.
“The spirit in this place is amazing,” said ambassador Cecilia Vaicels, 72, who makes the trek from Bellerose at least twice a month — and particularly for every karaoke night.
“I don’t call it a bar, it’s not like going to a bar. It’s like going to a social club. You come in here by yourself, by the time you leave here you have at least three new friends.”
That sense of community is what Gordon hopes will propel Neir’s Tavern toward its 200th birthday in 2029 — which comes just one year before his city-brokered deal with his landlord is set to expire.
Rent cannot be raised under the conditions of the current lease, but all bets are off once the pivotal anniversary comes along — unless Gordon can acquire the building in time.
“The destiny shouldn’t be controlled by someone else. This place, we believe, is too important. We need to control that destiny,” Gordon said.
