Subway Inn to Shut Down After 87 Years Due to Pandemic, Rising Costs, and Red Tape!
It’s last call for Subway Inn, a bar that’s been serving New Yorkers for 87 years. The family-run Midtown East landmark has announced it will be closing its doors for good on December 28.
Owner Steven Salinas shared the heartbreaking news, attributing the closure to several challenges, including the pandemic, rising costs, and a bureaucratic system that makes it tough for small businesses to survive.
Salinas, who took over the business after his father’s passing in 2016, explained how the neighborhood has changed drastically over the years.
“Manhattan isn’t what it used to be,” he said. “Nobody hangs out here anymore. The costs, red tape, and lack of foot traffic are just too much.”
The Subway Inn first opened in 1937 at 143 East 60th Street, earning fame as a hangout for celebrities like Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe, and Tony Bennett.
Over the years, the bar moved to different locations, with its most recent relocation being last year. Despite adapting to the times, the business couldn’t keep up with the challenges of running a small establishment in a changing Manhattan.
Salinas also pointed out the impact of bureaucracy on the bar’s struggles. At one point, the Subway Inn waited eight months to secure its liquor license.
During that time, employees struggled to find work, and the business suffered significant losses.
For locals, the closure represents more than just losing a bar—it’s losing a piece of the neighborhood. “This area used to be thriving, but now it’s just construction sites and struggles,” said Tyler Hollinger, a local business owner.
Longtime resident Stephanie Hochman echoed the sentiment, calling the Subway Inn a welcoming, unpretentious spot to unwind after work.
As the family prepares to shut the doors, Salinas says the future of small businesses in Manhattan looks bleak. “If things don’t change, only big chains will survive here,” he said. “Even they are struggling. Unless you own the building, it’s nearly impossible to stay open.”
For now, the Subway Inn will serve its final rounds, leaving behind decades of memories and a lasting legacy in New York City’s ever-changing landscape.
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