Neary's Explained

Image Alt:A brick building with a green awning reading "Neary's".
Previous-Owner:Jimmy Neary
The Neary family
Street-Address:358 East 57th Street
City:New York City
State:New York
County:Manhattan
Zip:10022
Country:United States

Neary's was an Irish pub on East 57th Street near First Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, from 1967 to 2024. The pub was known for its traditional menu and its elite clientele, including political figures, prominent businesspeople, writers, and entertainers.[1] [2]

Neary's was founded by James Joseph "Jimmy" Neary (September 14, 1930October 1, 2021), an Irish emigrant to the United States. Jimmy Neary emigrated to the United States at the age of 24 from his birthplace of Tubbercurry, Ireland; he bought his boat ticket by buying lambs from gambling winnings, breeding them, and selling them.[1] [3] When he first moved to New York City, he worked as a porter at the New York Athletic Club. He was then drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany. When he returned he worked as a bartender at P.J. Moriarty's until he opened his own pub. In 1966, he married his wife Eileen Twomey. On Saint Patrick's Day,, Jimmy opened his eponymous pub with Brian Mulligan, who was also a bartender, at 358 East 57th Street.[1] In 1986, Jimmy purchased the building.[4]

Neary's was described as an upscale establishment. Jimmy Neary required male customers to wear jackets and barred t-shirts and shorts.[1] [4] [5] The bar had a traditional pub menu. Its most popular items were lamb chops with mint jelly and corned beef and cabbage.[1] [5] [6]

The pub was best known for its notable regulars, including political figures, prominent businesspeople, writers, and entertainers. Customers were drawn by Jimmy Neary's work ethic and personality,[1] as well as its long-time bartenders and waiters,[2] [5] [7] [8] including Jimmy's daughter Una Neary, who worked at the pub for most of her life and continued working there even after becoming a partner at Goldman Sachs.[9] The pseudonymous food critic Brooks of Sheffield, writing for Eater, called Neary a "faithful and attentive owner".[5] Neary worked every day of the year except for Christmas Day, when he closed the restaurant.[10] Jimmy was short in stature, and many customers referred to him as their "favorite leprechaun".[1] The New York Times wrote that Jimmy's "hospitality ma[de] everyone feel like a regular".[6]

Jimmy Neary died on .[1] The Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, presided over his funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The New York City Police Department shut down the FDR Drive, the Harlem River Drive, and the top level of the George Washington Bridge for his funeral procession.[3] Jimmy's children operated the restaurant until . Prior to closing, they announced that they had sold the building to two restaurateurs who planned to open an updated Irish restaurant.[2]

Notable regulars

Source: The New York Times[1] (unless otherwise noted)

Notes and References

  1. News: Vadukul . Alex . October 12, 2021 . Jimmy Neary, Whose Irish Pub Became a Power Brokers' Hub, Dies at 91 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240722181749/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/nyregion/jimmy-neary-dead.html . July 22, 2024 . July 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  2. News: Barron . James . July 18, 2024 . Regulars Mourn Neary's, an Old-Time Bar That's Closing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240723225726/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/nyregion/nearys-bar-closing.html . July 23, 2024 . July 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  3. News: Habeeb . Lee . September 19, 2022 . NYPD Shut Down City, Bridge for His Funeral and Named a Street After Him . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240723171558/https://www.newsweek.com/nypd-shut-down-city-bridge-his-funeral-named-street-after-him-1744250 . July 23, 2024 . July 27, 2024 . Newsweek.
  4. News: Davidowitz . October 6, 2021 . Esther . 'Everyone's Friend': Jimmy Neary of Demarest, Owner of Legendary Pub Neary's in NYC, Dies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528225143/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2021/10/06/nearys-nyc-irish-restaurant-pub-owner-jimmy-neary-dies/5997172001/ . May 28, 2023 . July 27, 2024 . . Woodland Park, N.J..
  5. Web site: Brooks of Sheffield . September 27, 2013 . Neary's, a Stately Irish Pub Near Sutton Place . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810170450/https://ny.eater.com/2013/9/27/6363769/nearys-a-stately-irish-pub-near-sutton-place . August 10, 2022 . July 27, 2024 . . Who Goes There?.
  6. Web site: Neary's Pub . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130415081713/http://www.nytimes.com/restaurants/1002207991350/nearys-pub/details.html . April 15, 2013 . July 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  7. Web site: Crowley . Chris . July 18, 2024 . Neary's, the Legendary New York Pub, Is Closing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240727200808/https://www.grubstreet.com/article/nearys-closing.html . July 27, 2024 . July 27, 2024 . Grub Street.
  8. News: Gurley . George . November 15, 2016 . Where Everybody Knows Your Name and Accepts Your Politics . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219074939/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/fashion/nearys-new-york-republican-bar-trump-supporters.html . December 19, 2022 . July 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  9. News: Carney . John . November 15, 2012 . Why Goldman's New Partner Waitresses at Irish Pub . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411050331/https://www.cnbc.com/2012/11/15/why-goldmans-new-partner-waitresses-at-irish-pub.html . April 11, 2021 . July 27, 2024 . . en.
  10. News: Simonson . Robert . December 20, 2018 . How Jimmy Neary, Irish Pub Maestro, Spends His Sundays . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221145312/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/nyregion/jimmy-neary-nearys-nyc.html . February 21, 2023 . July 27, 2024 . The New York Times.
  11. Web site: April 4, 2019 . Kathie Lee Gets Special Surprises from Her Favorite NYC Restaurant . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230220013822/https://www.today.com/video/kathie-lee-gets-special-surprises-from-her-favorite-nyc-restaurant-1472187971701 . February 20, 2023 . July 27, 2024 . Today.

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