Brooklyn Dive Bar Gets New Life
A cherished dive bar in Brooklyn, with a rich nautical background, is set to be revitalized by a prominent operator of maritime-themed venues in New York City.
Montero Bar & Grill, located at 73 Atlantic Avenue near the waterfront, has been purchased by Crew Hospitality Group, which manages 10 establishments in the city, boasting around 1,200 seats. This group recently opened a vast yacht club overlooking the Hudson River in the Starrett Lehigh Building.
Alex Pincus, who co-runs Crew with his brother Miles, takes over a bar that has been a fixture in the community, inherited from his father Joseph Montero, a merchant seaman from Macedonia and longtime friend of Pepe Montero.
“I’ve been going there for years,” Pincus mentioned, recalling how he would stop by Brooklyn Bridge Park on his commutes.
“Pepe told me, ‘I want to retire, when are you going to buy this place?'” he continued. Although he thought it was just a joke at first, Pepe brought it up again about six months ago.
“We’ve had a thorough discussion about its future. Our goal is to ensure it remains a living piece of history,” he added, mentioning that the crew would officially take over in March.
For generations, Montero has been a favorite among dock workers and more recently has attracted residents from Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, and the Columbia Street Waterfront District. The bar’s interior has largely remained unchanged over the decades, featuring vintage harbor paintings, travel keepsakes, ship’s wheels, and lifebuoys.
Pincus emphasized that they plan to keep the bar as it is, mentioning, “I don’t want to alter much,” with the exception of revamping the little kitchen that has been unused for years. The “grill” in the bar’s name hasn’t really been applicable for some time.
“It’s not in bad shape. It’s very clean and, honestly, quite beautiful. Our changes will be minimal,” he noted. “What we do is revive historical places and give them new purpose.”
Bistro Farewell
Chez Napoleon, one of the last historic French bistros in the Theater District at 365 W. 50th St., is set to close its doors on January 31 after 65 years. Owner Williams Wells made the announcement.
This warm, family-run restaurant has aimed to “transport visitors to the charm of old Paris” and has been operating since 1960, serving generations of French sailors during the height of the nearby maritime industry and feeding countless theatergoers and locals.
Wells, who ran the bistro with his mother Elaine Bruno, expressed a deep sense of loss. “Chez Napoleon was our life’s work,” he said.
While he didn’t specify the reasons for shutting down, he remarked, “A multitude of economic, staffing, personal, and structural issues ultimately led to the closure of small businesses.”
