CHINATOWN — The comeback of beloved local dive Winnie's Bar — which is one step closer to reality after getting a green light for liquor from a local committee Monday — will stick to the friendly, stripped-down atmosphere that made the original 28-year legend a success while boasting some upgrades, according to the site's future manager.
Community Board 3's State Liquor Authority subcommittee voted to recommend that the re-launched venue planned for 58 East Broadway get a liquor license and a 4 a.m. closing time, spurring the bar's anticipated comeback.
Teddy Mui, whose mother Winnie Mui helmed the original bar at 104 Bayard St. before its closure in 2015, told DNAinfo New York the team will stay true to the simple model of karaoke and hospitality that drew diehard fans to his mother's enterprise.
"We're going to try and make it as comfortable as possible, how the old Winnie's was — we're not going to over-fancy the place or anything like that," said Mui, who will serve as on-site manager.
Winnie herself will still be in charge of the operation, he said, and will be present at the new location to chat with customers, just as she was at the old one.
"The thing about Miss Winnie herself is, she understands what a lot of customers want — yes, they like the atmosphere, but they also like to see her sometimes. They like having a drink with her. She’s her best mascot," Mui said.
"She likes a friendly atmosphere where people can just hang around. That’s really all she was looking for again — a place where people can just hang out after work."
But there will be a few key upgrades in the new location, said Mui — the most notable difference will be the replacement of the retro karaoke player that ran off LaserDiscs with a new, digital machine.
The new location will also have a more extensive food menu, said Mui. While the old Winnie's served up a few simple bar food items, the new and improved menu will include entrees such as chicken and waffles and braised beef short ribs, according to a questionnaire on file with the community board, though it will also still serve the original's classic chicken wings.
Locals aren't alone in anticipating the neighborhood staple's return — Mui said his mother was itching to get back to work not long after the shuttering of the Bayard Street dive.
"We gave Winnie a year off to see what she thought about retirement, and she absolutely hated it," he said. "She reminded me daily of how bored she was, that she had nothing to do.
"She felt retirement life was making her old."
It's still too early to say when the bar may open, said Mui, noting the new space must undergo renovations before it will be ready for business — the initial step towards a liquor license approval is just one small part of the re-opening process.
"We're just glad to get past this part, and the major planning's going to start now," he said.
The SLA subcommittee's vote is still pending approval by the full community board. Ultimately, the SLA itself will decide whether Winnie's gets to serve booze.
