On a latest Wednesday night time at Leyenda in Brooklyn, co-owner Ivy Combine bought behind the bar for one final shift. Alongside Leyenda’s regulars, dozens of previous and current bartenders, barbacks, managers and different staffers piled into the raucous area, bouquets in hand. They have been all right here to toast the ultimate days of the legendary coctelería, which can shut its doorways on the finish of this month, only a few weeks shy of its tenth anniversary.
Like Clover Membership, its sibling bar down the road, Leyenda has loved uncommon longevity in a dramatically altering neighborhood whose principal thoroughfare is characterised by a continually revolving roster of short-lived companies. A big a part of the bar’s long-term success was its capacity to cater to a various clientele: Critical lovers might go deep on lesser-known agave spirits akin to sotol and raicilla, whereas neighborhood locals had a go-to spot to impress a primary date or simply to seize a killer Margarita on draft. It was the form of unassuming hang-out that might make you neglect it was additionally house to a world-class bar program.
Whereas Combine is obscure about particular causes for the closing, citing each the altering neighborhood and points with the constructing, in addition to the overall hardships of the business, it’s clear she hopes this isn’t the tip for Leyenda.
As is at all times the case with the lack of a significant third place, she ponders what’s going to develop into of the relationships she’s solid through the years that exist solely inside these partitions. “With loads of my regulars, I don’t have relationships with them exterior of Leyenda,” says Combine. “Are these relationships going to finish now? I hope not.”
However for tonight, the tears have been extra candy than bitter, Sofi Tukker blasted on the audio system, and the employees shift drink was pictures of top-shelf Rey Campero Tepextate mezcal (“We’re closing, proper? Let’s drink the great things.”)
The Night time by the Numbers
Hottest drink:
Margarita
No. of bottles of tequila used:
24
No. of pictures ordered:
50
No. of former staffers who got here via:
20 to 30
No. of instances Combine cried:
“No less than 6”
Workers shift drink: “I believe we simply drank fairly a little bit of mezcal.” —Leyenda co-owner Ivy Combine
No. of Margaritas ordered: 42
What are you going to overlook most about Leyenda?
“Ivy at all times targeted on providing schooling, together with on topics like finance and the way to save cash in an business the place we spend cash as quick as we make it. Not each bar focuses on that. Working with that individual staff and never having loads of turnover, we have been all in a position to develop and be taught and share data collectively.”—Leanne Favre, former head bartender
“I’m going to overlook the very best Margarita within the metropolis, and the cool factors I get recommending Leyenda to individuals who hadn’t heard of it earlier than. And the [dulce de leche–stuffed] churros.” —Pran Bandi, common since 2021
“The cocktails and sangritas I really feel most happy with have been created at Leyenda. We have been severe about making drinks that felt approachable and thrilling… I believe I’ll miss the employees essentially the most. There’s nothing like getting via a Saturday Cinco de Mayo shift with individuals you belief to have your again.” —Shannon Ponche, former head bartender
What was the spotlight of this night time of service?
“The truth that all the previous employees have been in a position to put up up within the entrance window all night time was actually particular.” —Dylan Rhyder, common supervisor
What was the lowlight of this night time of service?
“I want I had had a little bit extra time not behind the bar and [instead] having conversations with individuals, particularly with my regulars. Once you’re that busy, it means you don’t get to speak with anybody since you’re within the weeds crushing drinks and I don’t get to hold.” —Combine
Favourite overheard line of the night time:
“I need my fucking Tia Mia!” —A staffer who got here in on his night time off to have a good time his birthday
Wildest/most unhinged name drink?
“Mauricio [Santana] from Clover Membership requested for 2 Ramos Gin Fizzes. Fortunately, he was joking.” —Combine
