Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
A Visit To Mars Bar, Where A New Mural Mirrors Cooper Square Hotel
By
Melanie Jane Parker
Published Apr 22, 2011
Modified Apr 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Melanie Jane Parker
Published Apr 22, 2011
Modified Apr 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The facade of soon-to-be demolished Mars Bar has seen a few changes in recent days. The words Thanks for the memories have been painted above the entrance, and the latest addition is a mural painted next to the entrance, which depicts a sleek, modern building closely resembling the controversial Cooper Square Hotel.
You'll recall the debut of the Cooper Square Hotel sparked a sensational clash between the hotel and its neighbors, who mounted a spirited protest against a rooftop bar that drew hoards of chattering d-bags under their bedroom windows. Whether or not the new building planned for Mars Bar's location—supposedly a mix of affordable and market-rate units— will have similarly divisive effects remains to be seen. But dive barflies and Mars Bar regulars are bracing for a downtown solar system with no life on Mars.
According to one of Mars Bar's neighbors, locksmith Joe Fiandaca, the demolition will begin anytime between June and September, and the developers have assured him that both the Fiandaca family and Mars Bar owner Hank Penza will be able to continue renting space in the new building—although he emphasized that this understanding is based on "just words, no contract."
Just after noon today we stopped by the bar and found Mangina, a.k.a Patrick Bucklew (who calls Mars Bar his "office") holding court. He said he isn't so sure that Penza will stick around, telling us, "He's old-school, he doesn't want to be in a new building." Among the illustrations, paintings, and collages that hang above bottles of liquor behind the battered countertop of Mars Bar is a handwritten sign that reads: "MARS BAR / The end is near ART SHOW, Sunday 4-24 / hanging / BBQ / 2 pm - 4 pm / Bring art!!!"
When we asked bartender Jessica about the future of this LES institution, she simply said, "Nobody really knows. It's up in the air." But regular Ray Gustus Bell, a Vietnam vet who has frequented the Bar since 2000, offered up a bit more, stating, "From what I hear they're going to tear the whole building down in a few months and turn it into a yuppie bar. Then the drinks will cost twice as much, with less ambiance!" Where's the "Die Yuppie Scum" crowd when you need them?
Melanie Jane Parker/Gothamist
Tagged
cooper square hotel
mars bar
Melanie Jane Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .