New Tenement-Themed Bar And Restaurant To Arrive On Ludlow

Hopefully it will be less crowded than an actual Tenement.
Photo: Google Maps

Some sad news recently arrived for lovers of fun. No Fun, the cheekily-named nightclub that operated at 161 Ludlow Street since 2011, shuttered its doors for good last August. Local bar hoppers have remained vigilant for news about the bar’s return, but the space has remained vacant.

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Thankfully, it won’t remain vacant for long. Tenement is a brand new bar concept from restaurateur Mark Osborne that is slated to replace No Fun at 161 Ludlow. Themed after the immigrant experience that defined turn-of-the century New York, Tenement is a tribute to the Lower East Side and the many communities that defined it.

Before Tenement, Mark Osborne previously operated Kush, a Moroccan-themed lounge that earned serious acclaim for its intriguing design and exotic cuisine and cocktails. Mark has been operating Kush for over 23 years, first at 183 Orchard Street and then a second at 191 Chrystie Street. He also operated Lefferts Manor and The Fairview, two popular Bed and Breakfasts that were forced to close last year due to the pandemic.

Tenement will be arriving in a busy neighborhood with abundant nightlife. When No Fun first opened nine years ago, its presence was contested by LES locals concerned about the impact another nightclub would have on their community. Originally billing itself as tapas restaurant, locals felt betrayed when No Fun began operating as a nightclub, hosting late night parties that would spill out into the street and cause occasional disturbances. Since then, new bars in the neighborhood have faced increased pressure to demonstrate their value to the community while ensuring not to create additional problems.

Thankfully, Mark and his team have taken these concerns close to heart and have set up a series of safety nets to ensure that the new space doesn’t intrude upon the peace of their neighbors. For starters, they will not be installing any sub-woofers or large cabinet speakers to enhance the volume of their music, which they expect to consist of mostly ambient jazz and era-appropriate ragtime. They’ve also dedicated staff to direct traffic and congestion at the front door to ensure a smooth operation that doesn’t clog the street.

Frankly, having to fight off overcrowding is a pretty good problem to have. The tenement team is expecting to attract a lot of crowds, and that’s a sign of great things to come in a neighborhood so beleaguered by the recent pandemic.

Jake Rogers

Jake Rogers

Jake Rogers is an author and playwright based out of Brooklyn, New York. A lively performer who is deeply passionate about history and literature, outside of his reporting he also produces short films and plays with his theatre troupe, the LSTC. He is currently producing a web series about a butterfly and moth who are roommates that will be released later in the year.
Jake Rogers

Jake Rogers

Jake Rogers is an author and playwright based out of Brooklyn, New York. A lively performer who is deeply passionate about history and literature, outside of his reporting he also produces short films and plays with his theatre troupe, the LSTC. He is currently producing a web series about a butterfly and moth who are roommates that will be released later in the year.

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