Community Corner
Beloved East Village Dive Bar The International Closes
The longtime East Village bar has closed its doors and is re-opening one block south.

EAST VILLAGE, NY — The International Bar has closed its doors at 120 1/2 First Ave. after more than three decades to reopen at a nearby storefront.
The longtime East Village dive bar has served its last round at the location where it's existed in various forms and under different owners since the 1980s. Its owners are moving the storied bar in with another watering hole they own, the Coal Yard, just one block south on First Avenue. Coal Yard is reopening as the International at 102 First Ave.
The co-owners of the International, Shawn Dahl and Molly Fitch, re-opened it in 2008 after the space had sat vacant for several years, bringing the beloved neighborhood spot back to life after its previous owners shuttered it several years earlier.
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The bar first opened on St. Marks Place in 1979 before moving to its First Avenue home shortly after, according to Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.
The reason behind the International Bar's closure was not clear and Patch was not immediately able to contact the owners for comment.
Find out what's happening in East Villagefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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