Close Menu
News

Blacktail closes as site proves to be ‘stretch economically’

New York bar Blacktail, the second venue from award-winning duo Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, has closed due to financial issues as a result of its “challenging location”.

Blacktail in New York was founded by award-winning duo Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry

Blacktail first opened its doors in 2016, following the success of Muldoon and McGarry’s award-winning Dead Rabbit venue.

The venue took inspiration from the American bars found in Havana, Cuba, during Prohibition, but closed on 11 January.

A statement published on the bar’s Instagram page on 4 January said: “On January 11, Blacktail in New York City will serve its last cocktail. We thank our guests, our devoted team and our colleagues in the bar world, who have demonstrated their enormous support for Blacktail over the years.

“We have much to be proud of and enough fond memories and stories to fill a book. Operating a bar, especially in a challenging location, proved to be a stretch economically, despite our best intentions and our deep love of the bar.

“We are still 100% behind Blacktail’s concept of channelling an American bar in Cuba and look forward to reopening the bar in a new location, whether in New York City or elsewhere.”

Following Blacktail’s final night, the team posted a message on The Dead Rabbit’s Facebook page thanking patrons for their support and assuring guests the bar would be back in a new location.

“Thank you everyone who came out last night to say goodbye to our sister bar Blacktail,” the Facebook post said. “The place was jammed and the bartenders and entire crew worked non-stop.

“We laughed, we drank, we told stories and some of us may even have had a quiet little sob when we thought no-one else was looking.

“This beautiful bar will find a new home and be back one day, we’re sure of that. Until then, we want to give a shout out to the amazing Blacktail crew and indeed every guest who visited us over the years. Until we meet again, viva the lush life! And above all, viva Blacktail.”

Dead Rabbit expansion plans

The Instagram statement published on 4 January also revealed further plans about The Dead Rabbit’s expansion to New Orleans this year.

The statement said: “In the meantime, we are devoting our full attention to The Dead Rabbit’s expansion to New Orleans, which is scheduled to open in October. If you’re in the Big Easy this fall, we invite you to swing by the historic French Quarter for the same Taproom experience you’ve come to enjoy in the Big Apple.

“We are also considering rolling out The Dead Rabbit to other cities over the next few years, including Boston, Nashville and Washington DC, and perhaps even going overseas to Dublin, Ireland.

“Rest assured that our relentless commitment to excellence and exceptional hospitality will continue to be the bedrock of all our bars, now and forever. Stay tuned…”

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No