There are plenty of opulent Greenwich Village bars that would suit one's needs for a first date, or a cosmopolitan evening out with friends, but few are as beloved as the Dove Parlour, which announced Tuesday in an email to its patrons and on its Facebook page that it will soon be closing its doors due to an unmanageable rent hike.
Patrons immediately took to Twitter to bemoan the development.
The Dove, which first opened its doors in 2004 and serves wine, beer, signature cocktails, small plates and cheeses in its red wall-papered lounge-like interior, was quickly recognized with a plethora of superlatives for its romantic atmosphere.
In a post on Gothamist, Dove patron Jen Carlson's eulogy to the space is most apt: "That red velvet wallpaper and smooth $11/glass wine made you feel like something special was going to happen that night. Or like you were an Adult. Or like you were really making some of the right decisions in life. Or like you were being romanced, even if you were drinking alone that night."
A Dove employee said on Tuesday afternoon that the bar's lease is current through February 2016, and additional information about closing dates is forthcoming.
The owners also said in the announcement that they're introducing a new food menu and daily happy hours that will be in place for the foreseeable future, so really, there's never been a better time to spend an evening there.