October 2023: Volume 24 - Issue 1 - - Continuing Down Memory Lane

 Continuing Down Memory Lane

As I continued my trip down memory lane, I needed to enlist the assistance of several people, search through old newspapers, websites, and the State liquor sale approvals, and came up with the list below.

I noted that many bars have been at their locations for many years, although names have changed. They were neighborhood bars that catered to the local residents. They were mainstays in the community as early as the 1940s and operated for many years, including Jabby’s Tavern before it was sold and became PJ’s Place and Pugsley’s. It is now a restaurant.

Pugsleys Pub

Other mainstay bars and pubs were the old Hicksville Fire House. After it was moved across the street from its current location, it became Jean & Joe’s Firehouse Inn, then just the “Firehouse Inn,” before Tommy Colwell bought it and kept the name. It was the “Uncle Albert’s” before it became known as the “Wind Whistle,” and for thirty years, it has been known as “Peppercorns.”

Firehouse Inn

Wind Whistle Pub

Peppercorns

The “Alpine Bar” on Jerusalem Avenue became the “Harmony,” then “SB’s before settling in as “Gentry’s.” The southwest area of Hicksville has made this a neighborhood bar for many years.

SB's Bar

Gentry's Pub

In the Northwest section of Hicksville, the West John Street Bar brought up memories even as a child. My dad frequented the bar on his way home from work. Al Lombardi owned the bar, and he treated the patrons like family. There were the children’s Christmas parties where Al played Santa and had gifts for the neighborhood children. I remember sitting in the chair with my Coca-Cola with three cherries while Dad talked with his friends. A quarter here and a quarter there would keep me entertained with the Imperial Shuffle Alley Puck Bowling Arcade Machine. That bar would be sold and called the West End Pub, Frankie and Johnnies, and finally Captain Jacks before closing its doors after 50 years as a bar entertaining the neighbors.

During the 70’s, my dad Marty & Gary Schweitzer would serve as the West John Street Bar Softball Team Managers. Most games were played at Drexel Field in Westbury on Sunday Mornings. Over the years, some players were Bill Delaney, Pete McLoughlin, and Bobby Bergin. Kenny Ulbricht, Steven and Dennis Mezzapesa, Greg Moore, Danny Hearon, Jerry Rizzi, Don Swallow, George Bennett, Pete Veijo, Bill “West” McCormack, Marty Schweitzer(Jr), Brian & Barry Vevante, Kevin Sweet, Frank Volpe and Jimmy Schmidt. I know I’m missing a few………

Over on East Barclay, the old Horseshoe Tavern from the turn of the century remained in place for almost 100 years. It would become the “Tower Bar” and the “Off-Broadway Pub” until it was sold and knocked down to make way for JVC Auto Body Shop.

Some may remember Rudy Bouse.  He owned and operated Rudy’s on Charlotte Avenue and Duffy Avenue for many years before it was sold to Doug Dwyer, who named it Ebbets Field Café, before its last owner, Ernie Hupfer, named it Sidelines.

Ebbets Field Cafe

Sidelines

 The West Village Green off Newbridge Road has been the home of the Fantastic, Crazy Jester, the Curiosity Shop, and finally, the Double L Pubs.

Crazy Jestor

Double L Tavern

Over on Woodbury Road, just west of the old Hi-Way Tavern, was Fred’s Inn, Charles Avenue, and Reinhardt’s.

Charles Ave Cafe

Reinhardts pub

 Broadway had its share of bars, pubs, and taverns through the years, but in one area by Botto Bros was Molly McGuires, Chaplin’s, Buster’s Ale House, and 247 Broadway Sports Bar, and next door to Botto Bros was Shipwrecks.

As you moved over to the Centerview Shopping Center at the intersection of Newbridge Road and Old Country Road (the old Bohack and now CVS area) was the home of the Plaza Bar, Beeftater Lounge, Flagstaff, Prime Tyme Pub, Stack O’Barley II, Cheers, Wickers and now the Cancun Bar & Grill.

Cheers Restaurant Bar and Grill

Wickers Restaurant

Cancun Restaurant

One of the more popular places from the early 1900s through the 1970s was next door to the old Reinhardt Hotel on Broadway. It was between St Ignatius and the now Town of Oyster Bay Athletic Center. It was Charlie K’s Night Club, the Hicksville Tavern, Mystic Lounge, Rainbow Lounge, Spa Lounge, and Tavern Bar.

As you traveled west on Old Country Road, The Capri, Little Country Pub, Rembrandt’s, and now The Headliner Pub.

Rembrandts Bar and Grill

The Headliner Bar and Grill

Some of the more notable establishments that were brought up by many folks I chatted with, both young and old, were Frank’s Albi on Old Country Road, the Hi-Way Tavern on Woodbury Road, the Shady Maple South Broadway, Tony Hoda’s on East Carl Street, the Log Tavern on Herzog Place, just a few stores away from Bills Bar & Grill and the Bottom’s Up Pub in the Sutter Building center on Nelson Avenue.

Franks Alibi	Hi-Way TavernHi-Way Tavern
Tony's Pub

Having searched the records of the Hicksville Fire Department, I was also able to note that there were six

fires that happened to strike local pubs, bars, and taverns.

John's Bar Fire

Pub Fire