Jon Michaud

Last Call at Coogan's: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar -- Jon Michaud, Hardcover

$29.00 $19.99 Sale Sold Out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

The uniquely inspiring story of a beloved neighborhood bar that united the communities it served.

Coogan's Bar and Restaurant opened in New York City's Washington Heights in 1985 and closed its doors for good in the pandemic spring of 2020. Sometimes called Uptown City Hall, it became a staple of neighborhood life during its 35 years in operation--a place of safety and a bulwark against prejudice in a multi-ethnic, majority-immigrant community undergoing rapid change.

Last Call at Coogan's
by Jon Michaud tells the story of this beloved saloon, from the challenging years of the late 80's and early 90's, when Washington Heights suffered from the highest crime rate in the city, to the 2010's, when gentrification pushed out longtime residents and nearly closed Coogan's itself; only a massive community mobilization including local politicians and Lin-Manuel Miranda kept the doors open.

This book touches on many serious issues facing the country today: race relations, policing, gentrification, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, readers will meet the bar's owners and an array of its most colorful regulars, such as an aspiring actor from Kentucky who dreams of bringing a theater company to Washington Heights, a television reporter who loves karaoke, and a Puerto Rican community board manager who falls in love with an Irish cop from the local precinct. At its core, this is the story of one small business, the people who worked there, the customers they served, and the community they all called home.

Author: Jon Michaud
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 06/06/2023
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781250221780

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2023 pg. 17
Publishers Weekly 04/03/2023
Library Journal 05/01/2023 pg. 94
Booklist 06/01/2023 pg. 12

Product Tags:

Biography & Autobiography, Business & Economics, Culinary, Hardcover, History, Hospitality/ Travel & Tourism, Industries, Jon Michaud, New York (N.Y.) - Social life and customs, St. Martin's Press, State & Local, United States

Find your next favorite

Welcome to Book & Mortar

Explore our extensive collection of contemporary and classic books. From the latest bestsellers to hidden gems, we have something for every book lover. Dive into the world of literature with our curated selection, and let your reading adventure begin.

Contact form

Fill this out if you need to get in touch with me!