New White Horse Tavern Owner Insists Bar's 'Spirit' Will Remain

WEST VILLAGE, NY — After a flurry of fears over the future of the nearly 140-year-old White Horse Tavern, the historic bar's new owner tried to curb neighbors' worries the bar would turn into another pricey watering hole at a Community Board 2 committee meeting Thursday night.

Last week, news broke that Eytan Sugarman, a well-known restaurateur who co-owns a Midtown steakhouse with ousted White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, will take over the tavern — known for once being frequented by the likes of Dylan Thomas and Jack Kerouac.

"Anything that Dylan Thomas might have breathed on will remain the same," Sugarman told CB 2's liquor licensing committee.

The restaurateur's business partner at Hunt & Fish Club, Scaramucci, won't be involved in the White Horse Tavern venture. Sugarman's other eateries include a barbecue restaurant Southern Hospitality, where Steve Bannon reportedly attended a fundraiser for Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York, and an Upper West Side pizza shop Made in New York Pizza, which Eater called a knock-off of SoHo's Prince Street Pizza.

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Now that Eddie Brennan and James Munson will no longer own the famed bar, Sugarman must apply for a liquor license under a new company.

He plans to keep the hours, occupancy, and a sidewalk cafe the same as its current owners. Aside from modernizing HVAC systems and fixing leaky pipes, the aesthetics will remain, he said.

A few new menu items and cocktails could be added. Prices could increase — but Sugarman emphasized that's the only way to keep the doors open.

"I have every intention of keeping the integrity and the history and the legacy [of the bar]," Sugarman said. "The truth is, I bought this to be the White Horse Tavern. I didn't buy this to change it."

But some West Villagers feared Sugarman's intentions won't overcome the reality of the building's reported new owner, Steve Croman — a notorious landlord who went to jail for tax fraud and is known for harassing rent-regulated tenants out of their apartments.

The rent of Sugarman's 15-year lease or how much it may have increased remains unknown.

"I'm glad that it's gonna be run by a person who swears there's gonna be no change," said West Villager Kat Georges, but "the visuals are not the same as the spirit of the place."

Georges hopes the White Horse doesn't turn into another Minetta Tavern — another historic haunt where prices increased and a bouncer arrived.

Author of Vanishing New York who's been blogging the changes in the Village for years feared the "Minetta Tavern treatment" in a tweet Thursday night as well.

Others lauded Sugarman's reputation in the industry.

CB 2 member Scott Sartiano said, "I think that we couldn't find a better person to take on this new project."

The full board will vote on its final recommendation regarding the license next Thursday — an advisory vote that is sent to the State Liquor Authority.

In the wake of new ownership, neighborhood preservation group Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission to consider landmarking the inside of White Horse Tavern to protect it from any interior changes. The LPC is reviewing the group's letter.

Sugarman was open to the idea of an interior landmark, he told the committee on Thursday, but wants the specifics of such a proposal first.

A neon Coors Light sign from 15 years ago perhaps warrants less historic treatment than a painting of Dylan Thomas from 50 years ago, he said.

"In terms of keeping the spirit of White Horse alive, guys, that's why I'm doing this," he said.