Donovan's Closes For The Second Time As Part Of $7M Sale

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A beloved pub in Bayside permanently closed for the second time this weekend.

Donovan's Grill and Tavern, located at 214-16 41st Ave., served its last beer and burger on Sunday before permanently shuttering; an announcement that the establishment made on social media one day before closing.

This is the second time in the past two decades that Donovan's has closed: In June, 2007, after running his eponymous business for nearly three decades, Joseph Donovan sold Donovan's to Martin Picone and Mike Guinnane.

After a five month closure, the duo "resurrected" Donovan's, reopening with a new interior and, roughly, the same classic menu; a move that the pair also made at Port Washington's beloved seafood joint, "Louie's," which they re-opened as "Louie's Grill & Liquors."

On Nov. 17th, after more than a decade of ownership, Picone sold Donovan's — as well as two adjacent buildings that he bought from Donovan in 2016 — to the tune of $7.1 million dollars, documents show.

Patch reached out to the listed buyer, Bo Jiang, to find out what the plan for the row of buildings is, but didn't hear back. Patch also reached out to Guinnane, Picone's business partner, but didn't immediately hear back.

Jiang's attorney declined to comment on the sale, as did the general manager at Donovan's.

Baysiders were largely shocked to hear about the eatery's closure, with hundreds taking to Facebook to mourn the loss of a neighborhood institution.

"The people there knew us, knew what was going on with our families, told us their stories and always made my friends and I feel so welcome," wrote one neighbor, adding that she commemorated confirmations, graduations, and funeral luncheons alike at the restaurant. "Goodbye my friend I will miss you so much."

Many others echoed a similar sentiment, sharing that they celebrated baby showers and birthday parties at Donovan's and also gathered for more somber events.

"Only place on the list to gather after my dads funeral, my parents loved the place," wrote one. "Loved sitting at the bar with a pint of Guinness and chatting to whomever is close, thanks for the memories."

While most neighbors were surprised about the sudden closure — many said that they ate Thanksgiving dinner at the eatery the week before, or still had gift cards to spend there — some speculated that an earlier sale on the block was a "sign."

Last week, Patch reported that Donovan sold a parking lot across the street from his once restaurant to one of the proprietors at the nearby eatery Bourbon Street. That sale, however, was between two totally separate parties.

A document filed in Oct. shows a tentative plan to build a retail store, apartments, and an outpatient medical clinic in the old parking lot.