Buddha Beer Bar Closes In Washington Heights After 11 Years: Report

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A popular bar in Washington Heights closed during the first week of May after more than a decade in the neighborhood.

Buddha Beer Bar, located at 4476 Broadway near West 192nd Street, permanently shuttered, Eater NY reported.

The bar was run by James Lee, a contestant on the seven season of the cooking show "Chopped," who is also behind the nearby American restaurant 181 Cabrini.

The 181 Cabrini restaurant is not expected to close, Eater NY reported.

Buddha Beer Bar did not respond to multiple requests for confirmation on the closure.

The watering hole first opened in 2012 and was best known for its 24-tap beer options, a selection of 30 bourbons, and routine trivia gatherings.

The news of Buddha Beer Bar's made its way into Upper Manhattan community Facebook groups.

"Huge loss," one uptowner wrote. "The joint was a no frills bar that had decent food, a great beer selection and a laid back, diverse clientele."

"Nooo, this was such a great bar," a different person wrote.

Other uptowners said that they had noticed the prices had gone up when it reopened from the pandemic, and another person who hadn't been for awhile jokingly wrote that they knew it would become hard for the business to pay rent once he "stopped drinking" at the establishment.