The Spirit of Local 138

November 12, 2003 Stopping by Ludlow St. watering hole Local 138 last night (as chronicled in the main blog), we noticed frantic work underway in the dark back room, seemingly to brighten it up. But otherwise, the bar has changed little since the original owners were evicted back in the spring. Serendipitously, a tipster emails today: "After the owners of Local 138 were evicted by convicted felon Mark Glass' (who is still in the pen) son, two of them ventured into Williamsburg and opened another bar, Grand Press (on Grand Street, in an old printing factory). I went to the opening party last Friday, and damn... it's got everything: 40 foot bar, 10 beers on tap, pool table, great backyard space, brick walls... and very homey feeling." After the way their brand has been exploited since their eviction, karma demands that this place take off. We're hoping.

Grand Press is fab---very comfortable yet "nice", very chick friendly, and you can't beat the bar staff.

Posted by: ava at November 19, 2003 09:15 AM

i went to this bar last night, which was a friday evening. everyone piled in, stuffing their money into the juke, ready to have a night full of drinking.

pretty soon it became clear that they hired one of the worst bartenders ever! he was too busy talking to his friend to even notice that anyone wanted a drink. when he wasn't chatting away, he was busy looking at the ground, and looking as if his mother just passed away. there was a black cloud hanging over the entire bar.

2 of the taps were flat, just like his personality!
we tried to chat with him, but he was disinterested & grumpy.

the packed bar got up & left & went down the road to other watering holes.

i highly suggest they keep their staff in check.
if any other bartender had been there, everyone would have stayed.

Posted by: shannon at January 31, 2004 04:51 PM

The new bartender is so hot, and great at keeping everyone happy! Ask for him by name, Charlie! Sammy's kind of cute too...

Posted by: susie at February 9, 2004 10:54 PM