If you’ve lived in New York City you’ve probably heard of or been to Continental Bar NYC. It’s a bar located in East Village on the very busy intersection of 9th street & 3rd avenue. It was the perfect pre-game spot for those nights where you didn’t have money or didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Their drink special of 5 shots for $10 was the hook (now it’s 6 shots for $12, or 5 shots for $10 with the purchase of a drink).
As you know, NYC is an expensive city. A night of drinks typically costs no less than $100, especially if you’re going to non-dive bars. Continental provided the financial relief that young, broke New Yorkers who wanted to drink outside of their apartments needed.
Unfortunately, most of the block is going to be demolished and developed into “boutique office buildings” so Continental will be gone forever in the next few days. My friend @jeffbukhari* & I wanted to stop by and pay our respects with 1 last round of shots.
Here’s the post from the owner Trigger from the Continental website:
“It is with heavy heart that I have to inform everyone that Continental’s days are numbered. Shortly after June 30, 2018 this entire corner will be knocked down and developed. It’s truly heartbreaking that we and so many Old Skool places are falling by the wayside but unless you own your building that’s how it goes. This Bar has been my life. First as a Rock Club and then as a Dive Bar and I’ve loved every minute of it (mostly speaking). Don’t hate my landlords. They’re older now, got a great deal and I can’t blame them and I want to thank them; Eddie, Ruth and Jack (RIP) for treating me like Family and always giving me an affordable rent and I also want to thank Jeff Bezos for not selling Beer. Special Thanks to my Staff- especially Noel and Bingo, the Bands, the Regulars and the rest of you lunatics for coming to my bar all these years! I’m grateful and honored that we’re part of NYC Rock History and I’m also very proud of this incarnation, what I call a Classy, Dive Bar. When I was bartending my way through college- this was my Dream and it happened! I will always be so deeply grateful for this experience…Trigger”
Good bye Continental. Thanks for the memories … at least the ones we can remember.
*Jeff is single and an eligible bachelor. You can find him on Instagram & DM him here.
