Uptown stogie haven Lexington Bar & Books might go up in smoke after failing to work out a cope with its landlord.
The NYC smoking ban started in 2003 and a few bars had been grandfathered in, however we’re advised a license is hooked up to the situation. A spokesman for the bar, David Wilder, explains, “landlords have lengthy used the present restriction on transferring tobacco bar licenses to extract exorbitant business rents.” He claims the owner has “confirmed us no mercy or reduction.”
The spot, that’s been on the similar location for the reason that ’90s, has had prospects together with Sean Penn, Kiefer Sutherland and Rudy Giuliani. The bar left the house April 30, however we’re advised proprietor Raju Mirchandani is petitioning native pols for assist “getting a dispensation so we are able to get our [tobacco] license.”
“I do know some individuals say ‘yuck’ while you say smoking, but it surely’s part of town’s historical past,” Wilder mentioned. “At one time there was smoking in all places. Regularly these locations are going, going, gone, mainly. These locations signify pre-Bloomberg New York.”