The sun., 1907-08-20
MIKE LYONSS PLACE CLOSED
FAMOUS OLD BOWERY RESTAU.
RANT QUITS FOR A TIME.

FAMOUS OLD mOWERf RESTAUs
RANT QUITS FOR A TIME.
II HasRr nsne Well since Mike started
n Two Years AEo 60 Close Up nj Md
night May Open Soon Again. says
Son oe Old Proprietor. VINO II IN Charge.
Mike Lyons's famous old restaurant ON
the Bowery near Houston vstreet was
closed up yesterday by Deputy Sheriff
Cullen, and in consequence the Bowery,
which has stood some hard knocks since
that part Of town was crusaded against in
earnest q dozen years ago, felt 40 II sone
one had planted IL one between the eyes and
kicked II in the ribs at the same time.
The eating house which Michael =. Lyons
opened up at 2Se Bowery In 1877 always has
been considered pretty fair indicator Of
how things were going with the Bowery.
In the old days Mike Lyons's place was the
centre Of everything. and the Bowery used
to point with pride to the fact that Lyons's
was never closed. He can't close because
he threw away the key when he irst opened
up
Two years ago Mike found his key. and
the Bowery was shocked one night to find
it's favorite eating place closed up at mid
night No one hated to have business stop
even for q few hours . night moro than the
genial little white haired man. who 10 known
almost a. far - the Bowery is known,
and no ono was able to explain the mid
night closing more accurately than English
Harry, the head waiter, who started in with
Mike - boy.
Times was whom you couldn't get .
seat here at Q o'clock in the morning. and
We had room for 800 at that. We kept SIX
walters busy until breakfast time Now
there's only one waiter on the dog watch
and he spends half his time asleep. My son,
the Bowery's on the blink"
The old restaurant man. who used TO take
pride In being around his place for about
twenty hours out OF the twenty -four. seemed
to lose heart after he saw the lights go down
and got out Of the business last January.
when he sold out to his eldest son. Geor &c
Washington Lyons. After his son took charge
Mike went down to his old home in Lou.
isiana for long visit. and after he returned
he spent most Of his time on little farm
he owns on Long Island. The restaurant
which Mikes good management caused
to be known as the -Bowery Delmonico's'
saw little OF it's founder after he turned
his back on 1t.
Neither the present proprietor nor any one
else would say yesterday how the Bowery's
favorite eating house got into financial
difficulties. Long before the deputy
sheriff got around to the place early yester-
day morning word spread along the Bowery
that something had happened at Nike
Lyons's. First the walters were told TO
come around at noon and get their pay.
Then q man went in and cut out the tele-
kA I'd naia
was going to be closed up only for day
or so for repairs Then some one started
the story that because Police Headquarters
couldn't do business very we'll without
Lyons's restaurant close by new restau-
rant was to be opened up half block away
from tho new Police Headquarters building.
At about noon Deputy Sheriff Cullen went
to the restaurant with two executions
against George W: Lyons, one for 3374 in
favor Of George NJ. Still. the restaurant
Mutual Milk and Cream Company. The
deputy sheriff said he would have TO close
up the place. Then a man was stationed
at the door to see that no more customers
came in. and when the last one went out
the bars were dropped on the inside Of the
big. doors. Then a little sign. Closed for
repairs, was hung In each OF the four
front doors.
II was learned yesterday that the res
taurant has had trouble with its creditors
assured that the bills would be settled in
the fall as soon as business picked up, and
they consented 70 wait. In the case OF
the two mentioned executions were en-
tered George w. Lyons told Deputy Sheriff
Cullen when he took possession that he
hoped to satisfy the executions before the
Sherif's Office closed, but he wasn't able to
do so.
When George W. Lyons bought the busi-
ness last January the purchase price was
$1,000 Of which 81 500 was in cash and s.. 500
in notes payable in instslments Of $500 each.
OF the 81 500 cash IL was said that George
W. Lyons borrowed IS, ,0OO from Henry We'll
and gave the latter q chattel mortgage on
the hxtures as security. payments on the
On July Is ohattel mortgage for 900
! was given to g. j. Hess. The Lyons Res
! taurant Company was Incorporated on
| June Z, with capital Of SIS. 900, to take over
the business later on.
George w. Lyons said last night that the
| restaurant was closed UP through a misun-
I derstanding over the two suits brought
| against him and declared that he had
seized the opportunity to make some re-
! pairs. He said that the restaurant would
be opened up by Friday, or by Monday at
! the latest.
Old patrons who went TO Lyonss after
the deputy sheriff had stepped in didn't
know just which way TO turn because there
aren't many eating place in the neighbor-
They looked through the barred doors and
saw Mike sitting a one Of the tables in his
shirt sleeves. Then they felt that the
trouble would be settled some way because
the old boss had taken a hand
STROLLED OUT ~ HER KINONO.