There are some that are missing from the base of the bar because they came loose, and we even had to replace four of them that were stolen at one point.
We can’t date the Basset Hound footrests but they are definitely very old and for the most part, have survived throughout the years. Because we are the third oldest bar in New York City in constant operation under the same name, the Prohibition bartender story also doesn’t make a lot of sense. That’s the story I like to believe and why we pretty much use the Basset Hound dog as our logo. People say that the original owner’s dog was a Basset Hound named Julius and that is why there are all these Basset Hound footrests. One is that during Prohibition, the bartender’s name was Julius, so people starting saying, “Oh, let’s go see Julius.” Another one involves the solid brass footrests, the Basset Hounds at the base of the bar. The name Julius’ has different stories attached to it. Some say that the original owner’s dog was a Basset Hound named Julius and that is why there are all these Basset Hound footrests at the base of the bar.
TALE GAY BAR BROOKLYN COM LICENSE
It cost $200 for the license to be issued under the name Julius’ Restaurant The bar holds the original liquor license dated June 30, 1934. During Prohibition and even during the Gay Bar raids in the 1960s, the tunnel served as an escape route.
TALE GAY BAR BROOKLYN COM CODE
It’s been bricked up due to newer fire code regulations, but when all these neighboring buildings were erected in the 1800s, tunnels were put into the basements for coal delivery purposes. In the basement, there was an old tunnel that led across the street. Unfortunately, we had to take the door down and replace it during the renovation but Helen still has it at her home.
Until around fourteen years ago, we still used the original back door entrance, which even had a peephole in it. When the City would shut down one door during a Prohibition raid, people would just use a different entrance or exit. At one point this corner was a stagecoach stop and between the two buildings was a courtyard where they would bring in the horse and carriages.ĭuring Prohibition, this was a popular speakeasy and there were seven doors that functioned as entrances or exits. Julius’ is actually comprised of two buildings and when you are inside you can see a little dip in the ceiling where the two buildings were connected. This space dates back to the 1840s when it originally operated as a dry goods store. The following is transcribed from an interview with long-time bartenders, Tracy O’Neill and Daniel Onzo.