Marie's Crisis

Marie's Crisis Cafe is a piano bar and gay bar located at 59 Grove Street in the West Village of New York City. Constructed on the site of Thomas Paine's home, the location originally served as a brothel before gradually transitioning to a bar. By the early 1970s, the bar had become an established presence in the West Village for the nascent gay community and, over time, also became a popular piano bar. Today, the bar is known for its boisterous sing-along culture and popularity among Broadway industry participants and fans.

Marie's Crisis
Marie's Crisis venue in 2023.
Address59 Grove Street
LocationWest Village, New York, United States
Coordinates40.7332°N 74.0036°W / 40.7332; -74.0036
Public transit
OwnerThe Grant Family
Type
Construction
Built1839 (1839)
Opened1929 (1929)
Website
www.mariescrisiscafe.com

History

The bar occupies the same location as Thomas Paine's former residence and the location where he died.[1][2] The building currently occupied by the bar was constructed in 1838 and originally served as a brothel and boarding house.[3][4] By the 1890s, the establishment had become an early gay bar (referred to at the time as a "boy bar").[4][5][3] In 1929, the bar was acquired by Marie DuMont and renamed "Marie's".[4] The word "Crisis" in the bar's name is an acknowledgment to Thomas Paine's The American Crisis.[4][3]

At some point in the mid-20th century, the bar acquired a Works Progress Administration glass etching of the American and French revolutions that now sits behind the bar.[4][3] In 1972, the Grant family acquired the bar.[4][3]

Current operations

Today, the bar is a notable gay bar and sing-along piano bar.[4] The bar is particularly popular with fans of Broadway musicals and industry professionals.[6][7][8]

In media

Marie's Crisis has been featured in several television programs including The Politician, High Maintenance, and Younger.[2] The cafe also appears in the 1950 film noir Side Street.[9]

See also

References
  1. Feldman, Adam. "Breaking: NYC's beloved Marie's Crisis will reopen next week". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  2. Morris, Bob (April 3, 2020). "Marie's Is Closed, but Its 'Dominatrix' Pianist Still Takes Requests". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  3. O'Neill, Joseph. "History". Marie's Crisis Cafe. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  4. "Marie's Crisis Cafe". New York. 20 February 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  5. Ogden, Tom (2012). Haunted Greenwich Village. Globe Pequot. pp. 86–93. ISBN 9780762789085.
  6. Peikert, Mark (April 15, 2020). "How Famed Piano Bar Marie's Crisis Is Keeping the Sing-Alongs Alive Online". Playbill. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  7. Bruni, Frank (2010-09-30). "Getting a Kick From Piano Bars". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  8. Moran, Karsten (2022-10-06). "36 Hours in New York City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  9. "Side Street", nycinfilm (1950)
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