'Boxers' Awaits Landlord's Knockout Blow
Trick or treat: Has Mr. Hyde struck again on W. 4th?
Fans of free happy-hour hard-boiled eggs are in mourning, as complimentary embryo haven Boxers Bar & Grill is about to get booted from the corner of Barrow and West 4th streets.
"WE'VE LOST OUR LEASE," according to signs posted in the bar's windows. "IF YOU'VE EVER ENJOYED BOXERS PLEASE SAY GOODBYE. THANK YOU FOR 18 YEARS OF PURE JOY."
Its last day has yet to be determined. "We're just basically waiting to hear," Boxers manager Kimberly Oehling told The Observer. "We're hoping we have at least 'til December. But it could be, once they give us notice, we have only a week."
For years, Boxers and its landlord, Lowell Associates, have battled in court over several issues, including tax escalation payments and a questionable extension of its lease.
The bar has continued to operate under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but a Manhattan Appellate Court judge recently awarded possession of the property back to the landlord.
What will become of the former egg enclave's empty shell? "As far as we know, Jekyll & Hyde is moving in here," said Ms. Oehling.
In fact, Jekyll & Hyde owner Donald Finley, who also founded the adjacent Slaughtered Lamb Pub, has maintained a "pending" liquor-license application for Boxers' address since 2004.
- Chris Shott
This article by Chris Scott about Boxers as I was surfing for the fine estab. that I've not visited in many years. Chris indicates that it existed for 18 years. I believe this is the same pub I frequented on business trips to NYC going back as far as the early 1980s (more than 18 years). Is the article in error or maybe a different place or have I lost all track of time?