The address 61-04 Woodside Avenue has a long and storied history, starting with its first incarnation as the Eleven O’clock tavern. The photo below shows this locale, as a celebration spot after the repeal of prohibition, December 1933. Men and Women are shown joyously imbibing. By 1940, 61-04 had become the longer lived 22 Club, a bar and eatery which featured musical entertainment. Later, the site appears to have transformed into a diner, perhaps two, before becoming Copper Face Jack’s, a neighborhood staple, until the highly popular Cuckoo’s Nest Bar and Restaurant hangout took over, until its closing in 2019 over a lease renewal issue. Fears at that time were that ownership were set to develop the space into a high rise, but the owners of Sunnyside’s Maggie Mae’s and Partners stepped in to create a new Cocktail and Craft Beer Spot, The Woodlot; initially applauded by the community. Then, the pandemic struck. According to a statement from Maggie Mae’s ownership, they were initially part of the designing, organizing, and planning of the venture, but the partnership dissolved during the pandemic, and they have no idea why The Woodlot closed for good in early March. Thus far, workers have been on scene doing break down work, but no official comment on the site’s future could be ascertained. In an area which has seen a spate of Irish-American bar closings as of late; Saints and Sinners, the Halfway Line, Paddy Duggan’s, Luke Kelly’s, P.J Horgan’s, etc, the chances of it being revived as a new Irish-American spot seems unfortunately unlikely.
James is the Vice President of the Newtown Civic Association, the Elmhurst Memorial League, and Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society.
