Slainte! A brand new Irish Pub is coming to the Upper East Side from one of the neighborhood’s most experienced bar operators.
Barry Spellman and J.J McHugh have been operating bars and restaurants on the Upper East Side for over two decades. The two are perhaps best known for founding Biddy’s Pub. Established in 2003 at 301 East 91st Street, Biddy’s Pub has become a neighborhood staple over the past twenty years, and Zagat once described the pub’s owners as “the most charming guys on the planet.”
Spellman and McHugh were also behind the popular DTUT cafe and bar. Part coffee shop and part tavern, DTUT was known amongst locals as the ideal spot to get some reading done and work on art projects with friends. Sadly, Spellman recently announced that DTUT was not able to renew its lease and will be permanently shuttering its doors in the near future.
Thankfully, the team is getting ready to debut a brand new bar that will certainly help to liven our spirits. The bar, which has yet to be officially titled, is operating under the name BJROCK 1664 INC, and will be opening up at 1664 First Avenue. The new tavern will be replacing East End Bar & Grill, a popular sports bar that has since moved to 1672 Third Avenue since closing its original First Avenue location.
Styled as a traditional American tavern, the new pub will feature high quality drinks alongside classic pub fare, like burgers, fries, and American small bites. They are also hoping to serve brunch to patrons on Saturday and Sunday. At the moment, Spellman and McHugh are proposing operating hours of 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday, and 12:00 PM – 4:00 AM on Thursday through Saturday. While the board expressed concern about the potential for noise disruptions after midnight, Spellman and McHugh assuaged those concerns with a well-constructed soundproofing plan. While the new pub has no active social media presence, Biddy’s Pub is still going strong so curious readers are encouraged to visit Biddy’s and offer them your well wishes for the new project.
