Where's the Bacon

Danny DePamphilis said this over the roar of the crowded dive bar in Hell’s Kitchen one hot night in August. This question had come up a lot lately after several publications—including the New York Times, Village Voice and L Magazine—published that the 76-year-old Rudy’s might be kaput. But, it’s not the end for this neighborhood institution. Not all such places have been so lucky. It was recently announced that the owners of the storied Upper West Side Café des Artistes, located at West 67th Street, would not re-open.

“Though any small business like this would have been closed by now,” said DePamphilis, about the bar. “It’s only though the grace of Jack that we have been able to be open.”

Jack Ertl has owned Rudy’s, and the building located at 627 Ninth Avenue, since the 1940s. Because he’s the landlord, rent isn't an issue. So, despite the 35 percent of revenue lost due to the closed backyard, Rudy’s iconic pig statue still greets clients and the bar can continue to churn out $3 pints and free hotdogs.

The reason for the upheaval at Rudy’s came about because DePamphilis, the bar's manager, wanted to let more people into the bar—legally. He had applied for a public assembly permit in November 2008, which he got in March 2009. The permit was given on the stipulation that Rudy’s meet the safety conditions by adding more bathrooms and another exit. Once he got the permit, DePamphilis started construction on the backyard immediately. But, by the first week of April, the bar got a stop work order from the Department of Buildings.

“We were told it was what the city calls a ‘routine audit,’” said DePamphilis. “They have been looking at the job ever since.”

The Department of Buildings confirmed that the permit had been revoked due to, “issues that weren’t addressed.” Though the spokesperson with the DOB wasn’t clear what those issues were.

Rudy’s plight first gained notice from the imbibing political meet-up group Drinking Liberally, who claim Rudy’s as their first home and continue to meet there weekly. The group started a petition to the Mayor’s office and Robert LiMandri, Commissioner of the Department of Buildings. It read: “Rudy's—a small business with a long history in Hell’s Kitchen—has become ensnared in a tangle of confusion, misunderstanding and red tape. This situation has closed the backyard, one of the bar's greatest features. It has hurt an establishment with long community ties and deep neighborhood support.”

“What we said to ourselves was, ‘Well, there is clearly some disconnect, some miscommunication that caused a small business to lose its revenue,’” explained Justin Krebs, a member of Drinking Liberally. “We did the petition to expedite the conversation.”

Within four days they had over 1,000 signatures.

“It was mind blowing,” said DePamphilis. “Not only the signatures,

And it appears to have worked. DePamphilis had another hearing on Aug. 20 with the Department of Buildings and, this time, he felt confident that they got somewhere.

“They agreed to lift the stop work order after I fill out more paperwork,” he explained, giving kudos to the Mayor’s office for helping him get his voice heard. “They were willing to listen in part, because of the petition.”

It’s not surprising Rudy’s had so much support. The bar’s history stretches back to prohibition. Rumor has it that the bar was a haven for Al Capone before he hit Chicago and, later, the likes of Frank Sinatra and Greta Garbo—who shared an apartment nearby—also graced the joint with their celeb presence. Other notable celebrities included John F. Kennedy Jr., Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Norman Mailer and an underage Drew Barrymore.

Back in the days when Rudy’s had a kitchen and served German food, musicians would frequent the bar after recording at the Film Center across the street. Steely Dan even mentioned Rudy’s in their song “Black Cow.” Now, many of the celebrities have gone, but DePamphilis said once and a while they still come in. But it’s the regulars that keep the bar alive.

One wrote on the petition, "I love Rudy's, and with the backyard gone it just feels like there's a hole in my heart every time I go."

Now, if everything goes well, the outdoor haven will return and Rudy’s can go back to normal.