With great sadness, we said farewell to longtime UES dive bar Subway Inn, whose longtime battle with landlords saw the bar shutter its East 60th Street location last fall. But like a battered phoenix rising from some pee-soaked ashes, the bar has shuttled its operations, knickknacks and iconic neon sign over a few blocks to 2nd Avenue, where they'll open their 2.0 version of Subway Inn on Friday.
Photographer Sai Mokhtari stopped by last evening when construction crews were still hard at work installing televisions and putting the final touches on the mostly-complete bar. As promised, many of the same elements from its original location have been either replicated or been brought from the old space.
Design-wise, the layout is quite similar to the original, with a long bar lining one wall and rows of booths on the opposite. Many of the decorations—like framed portraits of Marilyn Monroe and the diamond-shaped mirrors—are also relics saved from the wrecking ball, along with a checked black-and-white floor, which was a hallmark of the original. As a tribute to their hard-fought battle, they've also put up some of their signed posters by regulars hoping to save the business from extinction.
Upgrades include a handsome pressed tin ceiling and new banquettes and seats for the booths. The bar top has swapped out for a glossy, wooden version, on which they'll serve a very similar lineup of draft beers including Sam Adams, Brooklyn Lager, Guinness and Bud Light. Owner Steven Salinas tells us beers will still be priced between $5 and $6, which is exactly what they were going for back on 60th Street. Salinas also reveals that they've kept the Atomic Wings connection at the new spot, with a kiosk window serving up spicy chicken for hungry bar patrons.
1140 2nd Avenue, website
