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Clark's Ale House in Syracuse is closing this weekend

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hops are your friend
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Clark's Ale House in Syracuse is closing this weekend

Post by hops are your friend »

I got an email today that says Clark's Ale House is closing. The last day is this Saturday (Sept 25). By coincidence we are heading down this weekend, so we will get a couple more visits to this great beer bar.

Here's the message:

CLARKS WILL BE CLOSING - SATURDAY SEPT 25 LAST DAY OF BUSINESS

We are sad to announce that after 18 wonderful years Clark's Ale House will be closing. Our last day of business will be Saturday September 25 ! (Yes this week !) We apologize for the short notice but circumstances related to the expansion of the Landmark Theatre were beyond our control.

Words cannot describe how grateful we are for the 18 years of your patronage ! Great People respond to Great Ideas - You, the customers, have made Clarks the very special and unique place it has been. We will miss you all !

Please visit us this week and enjoy a sandwich and pint or two.... we have some special kegs that we have been cellering ... including a 2007 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot and 2007 Sierra Nevada Celebration .... SO COME ON DOWN AND HELP US FINISH OUR BEER ! ! ! ! !

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SteelbackGuy
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Post by SteelbackGuy »

I get really upset when landmark places like this have to close, despite having a strong support of the locals. TOo bad.
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mintjellie
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Post by mintjellie »

My favourite pub. :(

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Post by iguenard »

If this is true, it will end one of the premier pubs in North America, and one that was cherished by Michael Jackson.

I will GREATLY miss their sandwich and relaxed atmosphere. If this closing was in Ottawa I would be devestated. One less stop in Syracuse, one big blow for beer in Upper State NY.

The Tusk will inherit the earth.

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northyorksammy
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Post by northyorksammy »

this is most unfortunate, as it was a great bar that I enjoyed so much
The other places are bustling busy, the music is loud, and I guess that's where the money is. I hope these places at least have a quiet time where mature people can enjoy their beer, their thoughts, some good conversation instead of fighting over the music

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Post by G.M. Gillman »

Sorry to hear this. Fortunately I was there a couple of months ago, and the experience was as good as ever. It sounds like development in the area has caused this, and while not mentioned in the story, perhaps it means it will open before long in another location. The beer I had there was made by Matt's Brewing, called Prior, a dark lager which was one of the beers recognized for high quality prior to the craft revolution. Matt's bought the recipe from the brewery which had made it in Pennsylvania and usually sells it under the name Saranac Black Forest, but occasionally uses the Prior name (for some of the draft I think). The full original name was Prior Double Dark. In an old industrial town like Syracuse, it was appropriate somehow to taste a beer that was a bridge to the craft era. Clark's will be missed but one hopes it will arise again.

And by the by, I can't agree more with Sam regarding music. It seems almost unavoidable today, just recently in Louisville tasting craft beer I was disturbed by the inane pounding from the sound system. Music seems a part of most of our bars and pubs in Toronto today too. I wouldn't mind it so much if the volume was kept low, as background, but too often it is so loud. I dislike it in the extreme and cannot understand why bar owners feel they have to play this game. Whatever happened to listening simply to other people, ambient traffic when outside and other natural sounds?

Gary
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Post by Philip1 »

It sounds like development in the area has caused this, and while not mentioned in the story, perhaps it means it will open before long in another location.
That's what the article linked below says.
A note to customers from owner Ray Clark apologizes for the abrupt closing, and says it’s due to the need for the Landmark Theatre, which houses the bar at 122 W. Jefferson St., to begin work on its planned expansion project.

Clark’s had nearly two years remaining on its lease, and Ray Clark had previously said he would continue to operate at that location through the end of the lease while seeking new quarters for his bar. The Landmark Theatre bought out the remainder of Clark's lease.
Perhaps it'll re-open at a different location.


http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/ ... meric.html

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northyorksammy
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Post by northyorksammy »

well, this is a nice twist to the story
someone should give the bar a call and pass on this thread

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Tapsucker
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Post by Tapsucker »

G.M. Gillman wrote: And by the by, I can't agree more with Sam regarding music. It seems almost unavoidable today, just recently in Louisville tasting craft beer I was disturbed by the inane pounding from the sound system. Music seems a part of most of our bars and pubs in Toronto today too. I wouldn't mind it so much if the volume was kept low, as background, but too often it is so loud. I dislike it in the extreme and cannot understand why bar owners feel they have to play this game. Whatever happened to listening simply to other people, ambient traffic when outside and other natural sounds?

Gary
I had a server once tell me, when asked to turn it down, that they like the music to work to. I suggested they serve themselves and I left. Do people go to bars or restaurants to talk to each other anymore or is it just to be blasted or watch a stupid game on TV? Why don't they just stay home if they have no social skills to exercise?
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Cass
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Post by Cass »

This is a great spot and it's sad to see it close. Love their "25 beers, 1 sandwich" line. So simple but so effective. Glad I was able to make it there.

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Post by Cagiva650 »

Tapsucker wrote:
G.M. Gillman wrote: And by the by, I can't agree more with Sam regarding music. It seems almost unavoidable today, just recently in Louisville tasting craft beer I was disturbed by the inane pounding from the sound system. Music seems a part of most of our bars and pubs in Toronto today too. I wouldn't mind it so much if the volume was kept low, as background, but too often it is so loud. I dislike it in the extreme and cannot understand why bar owners feel they have to play this game. Whatever happened to listening simply to other people, ambient traffic when outside and other natural sounds?

Gary
I had a server once tell me, when asked to turn it down, that they like the music to work to. I suggested they serve themselves and I left. Do people go to bars or restaurants to talk to each other anymore or is it just to be blasted or watch a stupid game on TV? Why don't they just stay home if they have no social skills to exercise?
I know the topic is about bars/pubs, but some of these tips should apply.

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/2 ... -part-one/

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/0 ... do-part-2/

100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do

Number 91 "The music is not for the staff — it’s for the customers"

If Clark's Ale House opens in another location I hope someone will post it in the local guides forum.

Cheers
Frank

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Tapsucker
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Post by Tapsucker »

Thanks Frank, That NYTimes list is great. I've had the pleasure of eating in some fantastic places, but I don't think I have ever had a server who got all of those right. It just goes to prove how service is a true profession that the dedicated may end up taking a lifetime to perfect.
Brands are for cattle.
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The herd will consume until consumed.

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Post by JesseMcG »

Tapsucker wrote:Thanks Frank, That NYTimes list is great. I've had the pleasure of eating in some fantastic places, but I don't think I have ever had a server who got all of those right. It just goes to prove how service is a true profession that the dedicated may end up taking a lifetime to perfect.
I'd never want to eat at any place where the server got all of those "right". Sounds like Nazi Germany to me.

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Post by SteelbackGuy »

JesseMcG wrote:
Tapsucker wrote:Thanks Frank, That NYTimes list is great. I've had the pleasure of eating in some fantastic places, but I don't think I have ever had a server who got all of those right. It just goes to prove how service is a true profession that the dedicated may end up taking a lifetime to perfect.
I'd never want to eat at any place where the server got all of those "right". Sounds like Nazi Germany to me.

Agreed.


I'd never patronize a place that enforced all of these. Anyone that expects most of this is a pretentious foodie with an ego problem.

Some of them are common sense........maybe 15-20 of them. The rest can fuck right off. In most cases, it is the customer who is doing something wrong, not the server.
If you`re reading this, there`s a 15% chance you`ve got a significant drinking problem. Get it fixed, get recovered!

JesseMcG
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Post by JesseMcG »

SteelbackGuy wrote:
JesseMcG wrote:
Tapsucker wrote:Thanks Frank, That NYTimes list is great. I've had the pleasure of eating in some fantastic places, but I don't think I have ever had a server who got all of those right. It just goes to prove how service is a true profession that the dedicated may end up taking a lifetime to perfect.
I'd never want to eat at any place where the server got all of those "right". Sounds like Nazi Germany to me.

Agreed.


I'd never patronize a place that enforced all of these. Anyone that expects most of this is a pretentious foodie with an ego problem.

Some of them are common sense........maybe 15-20 of them. The rest can fuck right off. In most cases, it is the customer who is doing something wrong, not the server.
Bingo.

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