Some good news is on its way to Manhattanite cocktail lovers, a beloved neighborhood cocktail bar is finally preparing to open back up after a temporary closure.
Middle Branch was a popular Murray Hill cocktail bar from cocktail legend Sacha Petraske. Having founded the iconic Milk & Honey bar in 1999, Sacha is often credited with launching New York’s speakeasy craze, a well-established trend that is still defining new concepts to this day. As Milk & Honey quickly became the definitive cocktail bar of the new millennium, Sacha would go on to establish recognizable bars like Little Branch in 2005, White Star in 2008, and Attaboy in 2013, among many others.
Sadly, Sacha passed away in 2015, leaving behind a long legacy of some of New York’s most innovative new bars. Many locals wondered what would happen to Middle Branch, which appeared to have closed indefinitely at the outbreak of the pandemic. Now though, owner John Bonsignore has acquired the necessary licensing and will once again be reopening the space with his son Thomas Bonsignore and business partner Luis Gil.
Located at 154 East 33rd Street, the bar that was once known as Middle Branch will be reopening later this year under a new name, LB33. The new name better establishes the relationship between the bar and its sister location, Little Branch, which was also recently rebranded to just LB. The owners are hoping to preserve everything that locals loved about Middle Branch, intending to only make a few minor changes that will not drastically alter their operation.
Like Middle Branch, LB33 is envisioned as an upscale cocktail lounge with a special emphasis on its beverage program. Thomas and the management team are still trying to figure out an appropriate menu for the bar, as they want to ensure that whatever they offer will equal the pedigree of their cocktails. Thomas says that it is important for the bar to do things properly, to make sure that all concepts engage with each other seamlessly instead of distracting from one another.
Excitingly, Middle Branch’s revival will also feature live music like acoustic jazz on special occasions. When meeting with the community board to apply for the necessary liquor license, LB33 representatives requested permission to host live music events as well as to extend their closing hours from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM. While Thomas and the team are hoping to have the bar operational once again within the next few months, potential setbacks could delay the launch further. In the meantime, you can check Middle Branch’s Instagram page for future updates about the space or visit one of the team’s sister restaurants like LB and Seaborne.
