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With all the craziness going on in South Brooklyn recently -- Jason Neroni leaving Porchetta (law suits, arrests, excitement!), and with recent news that the Brooklyn Inn may be closing (converting into a bistro?) -- it'd be easy to miss the little slip about Vegas. During a short message on the Brooklyn Record, a commentator "confirmed" that the rumors about the Brooklyn Inn were true and then added that "Vegas, on Smith st. is also closing soon."
We've got nothing but great things to say about the Brooklyn Inn, one of the landmark bars in the area, but Vegas . . . Situated between Dean and Bergen on Smith, we’d apparently been to every single bar in the area except that one. With the axe apparently looming, it seemed as apt a time as any to see what it was all about.
It may be called Vegas, but it doesn’t look to the great playground in the desert for inspiration. There is nothing gaudy or superficial about the space, which is accented with soft candle lighting, lots of space to lounge about, and a nice big bar. Did we mention the emormous space? It's one of the few places where a game of pool doesn’t mean you’ll have to keep shifting back and forth worring about getting knocked in the head by a large stick.
There is nothing particularly novel about the drinks they serve that would distinguish it from the other offerings along Smith Street, but the space is addictive. With so much room, it's easy to find a quiet corner, which the couple in front of us were using to their full advantage.
But is it closing? They won't tell. The bartenders we asked just kept their mouths shut, and all phone calls were not answered. If it's staying open then it's another great option on a street lined with them. But what if it's demise is close? That would mean two good bars in a one block radius were closing down and that we'd be forced to make the long slog one more block south to Boat.
Vegas
135 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
between Dean and Bergen Sts.
718-875-8308
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Vegas is neither good nor bad -- it's a little skeevy, but as you say, the extra room is nice, so it balances out.
Whatever you do, though, stay away from Apartment 138 across the street. Terrible place.
Went there for a birthday party a few months back, and really enjoyed, though mostly b/c of the space.
Smith Street is "south brooklyn?" I thought the story was referring to Sheephead Bay or a place like that.
Yeah, for some reason it is traditional to call the Carroll Gardens area "South Brooklyn." Doesn't make any damn sense.
South Brooklyn refers to many neighborhoods south of Downtown, including the BoCoCa area, Gowanus Red Hook and Park Slope.
It was named at a time when many areas of Brooklyn further south were farms.
From all indications, Vegas is indeed closing. However, the owners of the Brooklyn Inn have apparently decided to compromise and maintin its bar-like atmosphere. Last I heard they are taking out the pool table in back and will be serving bar grub there. The front will remain as is. Hope this is how it happens.
I've been in Vegas a few times and really, really wanted to like it, because of all that space. But the fact is, its a blah bar, usually dead unless there is an event. I think too much space can kill a bar, plus it opened right as the supergentrification of that area was beginning, too many suburban imports in an area will kill a bar.
Oh no! Vegas is one of my favorite places on Smith. Great place to hang out and play pool. Everyone's very friendly. I'm sad to hear it may be closing. I guess that leaves Angry Wade's if you want to shoot some stick. On a side note, just a couple blocks down is another favorite of mine, Ceol (at Smith & Warren). No pool table, but great atmosphere. Bingo on Monday nights, Pub Quiz on tuesday. Camp is a great bar too, situated between Ceol and Vegas.
Vegas has been great for teachers in the area becuase it opened earlier than the other bars on the Smith Street strip.
I think I've drowned many a bad day at work there.
Not really. I remember seeing something about Vegas on NYCTV or something and a bartender went on about how when Vegas opened there weren't any bars on Smith St. If I remember correctly, Quench, Boat, Smith St. Bar and The Roxy were all there for some time before Vegas.
I was all excited to tell my 81-year-old grandma Flossie to visit this bar, until I realized that "South Brooklyn" meant Smith Street -- and not her neighborhood, which is a block away from Coney Island.
Dudes, we MUST come up with a new name for this area, dudes. How about "South NewBrook" (South New Brooklyn)?
I live next door to Vegas and could not be happier that place has gone away. I've left my apartment a'Sunday morning for coffee and had to jump over a pool of barf on the front doorstep. Many's the day I've plucked cigar butts off my doorbell box and kicked aside small hills of cigarettes--and many's the night I've come home late to find packs of baseball-capped, loud young dudes lurking at my front door, a favorite haunt for the nicotine fix. And I didn't ask for it by moving to Smith Street by the by--it was a religious candle shop when I came to the 'hood. I'll take the wideload twin-babystrollers of Tea Lounge any day.