Gilbey’s (QueensPost)
Jan. 15, 2018 By Tara Law (Updated Jan. 16)
A longtime Astoria Irish pub with roots dating back to the 1920s will close at the end of February in response to a rent increase.
Gilbey’s, a quintessential Irish bar located at 32-01 Broadway, will shut down at the end of February or in early March, said Joe Roberts, the bar manager.
Roberts, who has been managing the bar for 11 years, said that the lease was up for renewal and the landlord wanted to “double” the rent. He said the owner was unable to afford to the hike.
Gilbey’s has operated on that Broadway/32nd Street corner for 30 years, and prior to that the space was occupied by a different Irish bar called The Clover. That bar opened in the 1920s, Roberts said.
The 32-01 Broadway property was purchased in June 2016 for $3,550,000 by Crescent Management Associates LLC. Eugene Lavin, from New Jersey, sold it after owning it for well over 40 years.
Crescent Management’s co-owner Steven Evans, located at 325 East 52nd Street, signed the deed. He could not be reached for comment.
