Iconic GV pub faces yet another legal hurdle

Still, Chumley’s could reopen this summer

86 Bedford Street
86 Bedford Street

Legendary West Village speakeasy, Chumley’s, is facing yet another legal roadblock on the path to reopening.

The bar — a favorite dive of literary giants like Norman Mailer and F. Scott Fitzgerald — closed back in 2007 when work at an adjacent building caused a shared wall to collapse.

Since then, attempts to reopen have been repeatedly blocked by lawsuits from noise-sensitive neighbors.

Last August, a Manhattan judge has tossed a lawsuit that attempted to block Chumley’s at 86 Bedford Street from reopening. Nearly 50 locals argued that the bar attracted noisy, late-night patrons. They are now appealing the case, according to the New York Post.

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They argue that because the bar was closed for more than two that it loses its right to be grandfathered into the location.

“It’s not the old F. Scott Fitzgerald crowd,” said lawyer Barry Mallin, who represents the neighbors. “It’s the bridge and tunnel crowd and they’re very, very noisy.”

Nevertheless, the bar is going “full steam ahead” on construction and could reopen “before the fall,” said William Poppe, a lawyer for owner Jim Miller. [NYP]Christopher Cameron