Nevada Smith's Regulars Vow Boycott Over Bartender Firing

Soccer fans outside Nevada Smith's

We've all spent countless hours sitting around a bar passionately vowing to boycott various injustices (right?), but does anyone ever actually follow through? Ask the inspiring patrons of Nevada Smith's, the rabidly popular East Village soccer bar, who have vowed to boycott the bar until two of their most beloved ~~enablers~~ bartenders get their jobs back. EV Grieve reports that the troubles began last week when the bar was shut down for a day due to alleged underage drinking.

According to an anonymous message board user who claims to have an intimate knowledge of the incident, the court order allowed the bar to reopen on the condition that four of the bartenders caught serving minors were terminated. But it's said that owner Paddy McCarthy "got his lawyer to see whether there was any way of keeping them and the court relented but doubled the fine. As a result the barmen were told that they had two choices: pay a share of the fine (after all the bar was shut down and the DA launched a case to close the bar *permanently* because they served underaged customers brought there by cops - not once but several times) or leave Nevadas."

Two bartenders paid up ($2,500 each is the number being bandied about) but two refused: Kieron Slattery and another bartender named Ken. Now there's an online petition demanding their return, and team Slattery are vowing to follow him over to his new gig at Lunasa's on First Avenue. Adding to the drama, Slattery was told not to show up for work Friday but he did anyway, and after he refused to get out from behind the bar, McCarthy had him arrested! It's hard to imagine this whole thing ending without an epic, bar-clearing brawl.

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By John Del Signore in Food on March 31, 2010 3:50 PM

Comments [rss]

The Edge

Why do I get the feeling that the only people defending this bar are people from Jersey?

WestHammer NYC

John Del Signore: You are so clueless, I am ashamed for you for even writing this article! I bet you're one of these "Internet Heros", who have nothing better to do than writing comments and articles about things they've picked up while browsing the Internet 24/7! First: Get the facts straight! Second: Get a life!

And for your information:

'chgirlnyc' brought facts! You? Gossip!

WestHammer NYC

Teddie Eddie: From my response you can see how easy I take this! But unfortunately, it's the age of the internet, where everyone can post shit in the security of his own home! So 'Gothamist' my arse...

Teddie Boy Eddie

Easy there, Thames Ironworks. Gothamist is a blog, and as such links to other websites of interest. There is very rarely original journalism conducted by the bloggers. You always have to take the posts with a grain of salt and consider the original source.

Malc the Glazer and Sons

Hey! I fire guys on match days all the time! No green n gold, and the club ain't being sold! Love Glazer Hate Red Knights ...... Go Bucks !!! Oh and PS the City is mine, fox trot oscar to Woodlawn, the City is mine!!!

Ragingsemi

I've been fired from quite a few bars...I wish my regulars were this loyal!

texinyc

I don't think their in the wrong for wanting them back, but the owner isn't in the wrong for asking them to pay a share of the court fees for their mistake that almost got the whole place shut down.

If they want their bartenders back so much, why don't they have a money pool to help the guy out with paying the owners back?

Kingpin

Dear America,

Please take some time to familiar yourself with football teams who aren't Manchester United. Yes, Man U aren't the only British football team.

We've got a wide and varied bunch. Man U are just a bunch of twats.

Spook

Are you calling the Nevada Smith's crowd nothing but A BUNCH OF POSERS!

Kingpin

Well, there's a popular claim that most British Manchester United supports are only there because they have such an inflated win record. ;)

I don't think I've seen another team get away with so much rampant cheating.

Teddie Boy Eddie

There are plenty of us here who hate the scum. They just happen to have their supporters club HQ at this particular bar.

handsomedevil

So they're like the Yankees of football. Got it.

chgirlnyc

Firstly, there are 2 owners of Nevada Smiths: one owner told Slattery to return to work, while the other told him not to. Despite knowing this, Paddy still had his employee of 8 years arrested. Secondly, Slattery's charge of serving underage was dismissed. Thirdly the other bartenders didn't pay the fine, they just kept quiet. Fourthly, when have you ever heard of a judge ordering the dismissal of one's staff? The DA pursued Nevada Smiths, because NS, as an entity, was at fault. If they wanted to press charges against the bartenders, they would have. Lastly, the other owner, the original creator of Nevada Smiths tells a completely different story from Paddy - and he sides with both Slattery and Ken.

WestHammer NYC

Whoever you are: Thanks for bringing facts, this whole article is a shame of some loser who has no life in first place! I am glad you responded to this.

FDTW

I live close by but have only been in there once or twice, it's an okay bar but too many pricks in man united and chelsea kits. If the cops want to bust bars they should concentrate on all the hookah bars and shady liquor stores in the east village where all the NYU freshmen go.

Teddie Boy Eddie

Well, this should be interesting to see how it plays out. I like Nevada's, but there are so many bars/pubs showing soccer from all over the world that everyone has options. And as a bonus, those other bars aren't home to the Manchester United supporters club.

FrankMartin

I don' get the enablers crossed out joke. What am I missing?

handsomedevil

Bartenders serve a liquid called "alcohol", which people often drink to excess. Some are even addicted to it. It can cause people to behave irresponsibly.

Is there anything else on the site you found confusing today? Let me know. I'm here to help.

Potty Boy

Well, heck, I had never heard the term "enabler" used until one of my coworkers got on Weight Watchers and called another coworker an "enabler" for bringing in snacks.

suziegoombs

The bartenders at Nevada Smith's are part of what makes that place great. I really hope the owners wise up and bring them back - clearly the problem here is more staff are needed to check IDs at the door all the time. It's not like this place isn't raking it in either, its often packed (with games starting as early as 8am) and soccer fans drink A LOT.