William Barnacle Tavern/Scheib’s Place
Scheib’s Place, the 1920’s Speakeasy at 80 Saint Marks Place, was where the New York City Council drank during Prohibition.
After Prohibition, Scheib’s Place became a major jazz venue. Frank Sinatra began his career here in 1939. Monk, Mingus, all the jazz greats played here. Lord Buckley performed here in 1960. The vice squad took his cabaret card, leading to his death and the drive to end the cabaret card system.
In 1964, when present owner Lorcan Otway was nine years old, his father Howard Otway purchased the building from Walter Scheib, the front man for the gang behind the speakeasy during Prohibition. That year Howard found two safes hidden in the basement. He called Scheib to come and open the safe, and inside they found two million dollars in 1928 Gold Certificates. Scheib used the money to build a new hotel in Florida in 1967.
In 2009, Lorcan Otway found a mass of rotting material in the basement, uncovering the story behind the two million dollars found 45 years earlier. We now know the money was connected to a Jazz age murder . This murder had gone undiscovered and is the subject of Lorcan’s upcoming book and film,“The Girl in the Safe.”
Today Scheib’s Place is the William Barnacle Tavern, named for a local merchant sailor and friend of the bar, William “Barnacle Bill” Scott. With a full menu of beer, wine and liquor and a specialty in Absinthe (17 varieties from around the world served traditionally with caramelized sugar and ice water) the Tavern is now also featuring several brands of mead. Enjoy Happy Hour specials daily from 1-7pm. While you’re visiting, note the many historical features still in place from the 1920’s, including the original bar itself!
Learn more about the history of Prohibition in New York City at the Museum of the American Gangster. Explore the museum’s historical exhibits as well as the building at 80 St Marks Place itself. A tour guide will escort you through the theatre and tavern, back through time and history.
