New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-20
B0WERY M0URNS LYONS
Famous Restaurant Closed for Re
pairs After Sherif's Visit.

NJ until after dark last night cid the Bowery
70 I'D to the fact that Mike Ilyons's res
.a-rant at Nos. 25s and 26l, was not open, and
-, he-e and there on the doors were small slips
= .o1oseG for repairs When the Bowery did
,:.oz-er this unusual occurrence 1t wondered what
=. the extent OF the repairs needed and how
- =, would take 10 make them.
S-,,a sl,perstitious ones shook their heads at
=. they deemed a bad sign. and wondered ~
- Mace would open again For In the old
- when Iyons's at the flood tide of its
.,oa;,srity and prosperity way was always found
. make any repairs needed without sending q
hungry patron away
George Washington Lyons. son of the founder OF
.bo restaurant. NJ F. Lyons. said last night that
-. renairs were badly needed, and announced
,.;.-elv that the restaurant would be open AGAIN
g. business by Friday or, say. Monday at the
t-.ss- A representative from the Sherif's office
-os On hand. however. at opening time yesterday
-.o-niuc to execute two judgments against Lyons.
-bich had been obtained in the Municipal Court
IN August Is. One Of them, for sg74Is was
t.s,ned by George ri Still an oyster dealer at the
end OF Bloomfield street, and the other was for
s9Sg7 IL favor Of the Mutual Milk and Cream
Company. Of No Pa East 22d street. The younger
rvons said that there had simply been q rnisun-
outstanding about the amounts due, and that the
,rnortunity had been taken to make the repairs
In the thirty-fve years Of the restaurants ex-
science last night the first that il gave no
response 10 the knock Of the hungry. The place
which has 4 national reputation. was started in
,S-g bv Mike" Lyons. He was fresh from I.ouis-
ga He found il rather hard going down there in
she reconstruction days, and though he had served
=, the Confederate side in the Civil War decided
N come North and Try his lot with the Yankees.
V-itb Harry Cunningham. actor, then playing
81 the Thala Theatre ne opened the eating house
at No. 80 BOwery-
Toan Kelly who was then the leader Of Tam
He'll tad 70 ra tia
freshman with q record. and spent much Of his
.i there LAYING out political plans and campaigns
EIth him came the politicians and Cunningham's
sunectson with the restaurant attracted the theat
-iosl folks. Delmonicos restaurant in a class
nv itself in those days and tire appeation Of the
Tlsrnonlcos Of the Bowery,' bestowed on Lyonss,
showed the caubre Of the place. The name has
clung TO it 70 this day.
gnong its patrons were Richard Croker Presi-
5sut Arthur President Roosevelt when he was
Peice Commissioner: William Travers Jerome
chief BIZ" Devery, the late William C Whitney
ana no end Of other politicians Henry Ward
Beecher Used 10 so there frequently. and SO did
Theodore Tilton.
Iyons's rroudest boast was that his place was
never closed Up to ten years ago great was the
crowd OF patrons that seats had be reserved
ahead and the late conner had to take his chance.
With the Transformation Of the Bowery. however,
there was a gradual dropping away Of the trade.
which even the friendship Of the Sulivans. who al
zzys had q table reserved for them. could not
stem The nea-ness OF Lyonss TO Police Head
quarters made II favorite place for the officials
stationed there, but that patronage. which was
counted even yesterday constant, was not
enough 10 stop the drift OF trade uptown.
The Bowery got shock two years ago last June
when Nike Lyons announced that thereafter the
restaurant would close at midnight. and the
Bowery so-rowed for the good old days In Janu-
ary Of this year Lyons who Is some years over
49, E-a hFS He
he was through with the game, but still kept bis
Irving apartments over the restaurant