18 Industry Insiders On The (Mostly Bright) Future Of New York Nightlife

Everyone's probably saying, "Oh it's going to be fine, New York's coming back, it's going to be a really fun summer," and I agree - but I would even take it a step further and say it's going to be unbelievable. It's going to be great. The amount of new people that have come to the city... I'm personally very optimistic. From a business standpoint, the best thing that's happened to myself and my partners is that we've had the ability to sign some really great new leases in really desirable locations that we would have never had the opportunity to do pre-COVID. 

So for business owners who are able to go on the offensive in this situation, and who are bullish on New York, it's been a really unique opportunity to open some new concepts. So that's the stance I've taken, and I've worked harder than I have in the past six months than I ever have probably in my adult life, just because I've been going on the offensive. 

We're opening four new spots: Dingaling this weekend on Ave C, the sister bar to Kind Regards; Bandits in May, the sister bar to The Garret, and Froth New York in late April.

I think New York is ready for some fresh new concepts, a lot of tired concepts have now run their course, and COVID has been the final straw for them. 

[In regards to patrons], people want to meet people again. I think generally people feel safer now with the vaccine being out there and they're going to want to be in social situations where they're meeting like-minded, new people. And that's where my role comes in as a hospitality developer. I want to provide those concepts and those spaces for people to have fun and make new connections.

[Jack Mulqueen & Thatcher Shultz courtesy]