Is Crown Street Dying?

Saying Goodbye to the Nightclub

Black Bear Saloon closed down this week, after 7 years at the corner of Crown and Temple Streets. It had taken the place of a bar/club that I don't even remember, and it was located right next to another large bar/nightclub that has seen its fair share of name changes over the years.

Vios Con Dios, Oso Negro

I'm not really lamenting the disappearance of another large bar/night club from this formerly notorious stretch of city blocks. Until somewhat recently, it was most known to me as the first place my wife and I went for a beer and bite to eat, when we first moved back to New Haven from college. This memory stuck with us not because it was a significant moment at the start of our next life phase, but because the food was so god-awful we agreed that, the next time we considered going there, we'd settle for a microwave Kraft Singles quesadilla at home instead. 

Black Bear's was a slow death, and during this time I'd grown to appreciate it a little. Recently, we'd been there a few times with friends. Late at night, maybe for a last beer before heading home. I'm not sure why, it's a little fuzzy, but we wandered in at one point and found it no longer to be the crowded, cologne-fogged late-night dance club it'd once been. Instead it was almost barren; we had no problem reaching the bar to order a beer from a selection which desperation had lead them to expanding to include craft-esque beers we actually appreciated; The DJ played whatever we asked, as we were the only ones asking; and we always found an empty table to occupy. Had we gotten old? Or, were things around us changing?

Millie, are they playing our jam?

Turns out, both might be true. According to this 2012 article in the Economist, nightclubs started losing steam as far back as 2007. However, whereas the club owner featured in that piece blames pre-gaming ("guzzling cheap supermarket booze before going out"), I think that it can also be surmised that trends have changed. The state of denial the article's subject seems to be in is probably exactly what did in most of the now-closed nightclubs that once lined Crown Street; New Haven's club district.

Let's take a look around town:

Exhibit 1: clubs that have closed since 2007 (in addition to Black Bear)

Nay

G.O.A.T. I don't know what the acronym stood for and I don't care to look it up. Now it stands for you ain't going here anymore. A sign in the window says that something called the Standard Tap Room is opening up soon...this further supports the point I make in Exhibit 2.

Y'all wanna get lazy? or lizardy?

Lazy Lizard. This place used to advertise "Sophisticated Saturdays." It was called Lazy Lizard. Before that it was called Hammer Jacks. It was a nightclub that went out of business twice. That's all I know.

I'm starting to see an animal theme.

Nikkita then Naked Oyster. These weren't exactly nightclubs, but rather "lounges" that gave food an honest shot and tried to clean up the mess with a club feel. Like the Lizard and the G.O.A.T. and the Bear, they too are no more.

Hula Hanks then Nyx: Goddess of the Night. I have friends who speak of Hula Hanks as a fond memory. No one says bupkis about Nyx.

Of course, there are a few clubs left. Alchemy/Elevate has been around since I was in high school. Gotham Citi moved to a location outside of downtown, but the old location is now a club called Empire. This past year, the Russian Lady has set up where the Playwright used to be (right next to Black Bear Saloon) and started pumping up the jams; they didn't even bother to redecorate the Catholic Church/Irish Bar interior. And then there is always BAR, which is many things to many people, including (at times) nightclub.

There are a few others, blips on the radar. For example there was a series of clubs in the spot where Cask Republic now serves up pints from over 50 taps.

Which brings me to Exhibit 2:What's moved in (or stuck around)?

Hi. I'll have one of each, please?

Cask Republic opening on Crown Street a few years back was in defiance of most of it's neighbors: 50+ beers on tap, sweet wooden interior, decent food, no dance floor. Craft beer is super trendy right now, and this place seems to have successfully rode (if not brought) that wave into town.

Cue super hero music

Karaoke Heroes opened in 2012 right next to the above-mentioned Hula Hanks/Nyx scar, and it's pure cheese. People have varied reactions when someone suggests a  Karaoke outing--some groan, some pant with excitement, some tag along out of sheer curiosity--however, once they're there, EVERYONE participates. This place is unique for a few reason: it's a karaoke bar, it doesn't accept cash (what?), and it has these weird beers that fill up from the bottom. We'll see if it's got longevity.

116 Crown was opened by my friends John and Danielle Ginetti. The decor is conversation-inducing, the drinks are pricey but well thought out (you can always get a can of 'Ganssett!), and the music is basically my iPod. Last year, they got a pretty sweet review in this little rag you might have heard of called the New York Times, which pretty much gives you the idea.

I've definitely barfed on that fire hydrant

Cafe Nine has marked the very beginning of Crown Street since...well...the very beginning. I know it's changed hands at least once, but it's pretty much the same place: dive bar with an emphasis on any and every kind of live music. Granted, not everyone is always into a live band, but places like this are few and far between in NHV these days. I don't know exactly how long it's been there, but I will say this: All through my childhood, my grandfather used to take the Metro North into town to come visit us. His routine was to get off an afternoon train, and post up at the Nine until my mom got out of work at the hospital to come collect him. He died in 1994.

But now the question is: Where am I gonna get my grind on?