Foleys Pub in NYC Closing

Plantiers Wart

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Oct 16, 2002
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west hartford
Not sure this belongs here or not, but Foley’s Pub, a New York landmark, MSG watering hole, and one of the best baseball bars in America announced today they are closing for good. The place was full of memorabilia and a great spot for the past 16 years.
Spent more than a few hours there over the years. It will be missed.
 

vtred

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Jun 9, 2007
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Central NJ
People wanted to start a gofundme to raise money but the owner said it wouldn't matter and to just give the money to charity...sad
 

RedOctober3829

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Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
I love that place so much. Shaun has one of the biggest autographed ball displays you'll ever see. Everyone is so nice there. I would go there every time before going to MSG for a game or concert. I would also go there whenever possible one of the first days of the NCAA's too. It was a big Iowa State bar too IIRC.
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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That’s a shame. Great spot. Would always stop there when in NY, and spent more than a couple Friday afternoons there before heading up to the Bronx for a Sox/MFY series opener. Would often see Joe Castig and O’Brien there. Even caught one of their Irish baseball HOF induction lunches a few years back. I’ll really miss the place.
 

brs3

sings praises of pinstripes
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May 20, 2008
5,200
Jackson Heights, NYC
This might be the only place in the heart of touristy NYC that was decidedly not touristy. Despite the tons of memorabilia and plethora of famous people that filtered through here, you could almost always go here and have a few drinks and watch any game. Postseason would be peak, but that was it. This is a huge loss, but I am hopeful it will pop up somewhere else...but IMO this is a loss on the level of Littlest Bar in Boston. It can move, but there's zero chance it will recapture what it was. If Foley's can't survive across the street from the Empire State Building, I think we will be seeing many, many, many great pubs that will not be around soon.
 

oumbi

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Jun 15, 2006
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Based upon the posts in this thread Foleys seems to have been a popular place. If so, then why is it closing? Is the owner simply ready to retire and not feel like selling?
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,247
from the wilds of western ma
Based upon the posts in this thread Foleys seems to have been a popular place. If so, then why is it closing? Is the owner simply ready to retire and not feel like selling?
A friend who lives in the city, and went there fairly regularly, told me the owner had relayed to him that business had been off for the last couple of years, for whatever reason. Neighborhood changing, relative lack of success by the NY teams in recent years, etc. Particularly the teams that occupy MSG. Just speculation, but the COVID shutdown may have been the last nail in the coffin, rather than the primary cause.
 

hatchibombotar

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Jul 14, 2005
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Very sad news. Such a friendly place. Shaun's a great guy (as was his father who was always there schmoozing with the clientele) and Ailish poured a generous martini.

Aside from the baseball/memorabilia collection, I hope those magnificent urinals end up in a worthy home...