Photos by Gunner Hughes
In New York City, on the Southwest corner of Spring and Mulberry, you’ll find some damn good characters. You’ll find construction workers, secretaries, lovers, doctors, trapeze artists, musicians, models, mailmen, teachers, CEOs, motorcycle types, account executives and pretty much every other conceivable individual that enjoys a good drink, a laid-back atmosphere and the notion that pretentious designer shops with weird playlists aren’t the only things that belong in SOHO.The Spring Lounge has been operating at this location for 40+ years with no signs of slowing down. Before that name, in the ’60s, it was Wilson’s 10:30, for the starting time of the nightly craps games held in the basement. Before that, it was Chappy’s in the ’40s, and before that, the bar originally opened illegally in the 1920s as a “to-go” shop, filling buckets of beer for take-out. But currently it is Spring Lounge, and it brings along a cast of characters from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily.
About that 8 a.m. thing, the E.M.D.S. (EARLY MORNING DRINKERS SOCIETY)—real life—is alive and well, and most days you can find regulars waiting outside for the place to open at 8 a.m. After the morning rush, the bar runs through until 4 a.m., heavily supported by a cast and crew of irreverent but hospitable regulars, irregulars, randoms, bartenders and an owner that seems to carry more in common than they all would have you believe.
The following is a glimpse into some of these characters you might run into on your next visit to 48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012.
Bryan
Occupation?
Bar owner.
Go-to drink?
I’m a beer drinker.
How’d you get this place?
The story is the lady who owned this place was married to a guy in the mob, and he was killed. But I’ve heard like three or four different versions. It took a year to put it together, but you’re buying history, you know?
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
As far as one story. *throws up hands* I think it’s not only the length of time it’s been open, but this place—it’s hard to get a cross-section for all these types of people. It’s really a mix and they all seem to get along here. Like I said, I had a chance to buy history and people recognize that.
Jay
Occupation?
Bartender here at the Lounge for 20 years.
Go-to drink?
Wine. I love wine.
How long have you been coming here?
Twenty, but the bar’s been here since the ‘30s.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
One day in the morning the guy who used to work upstairs comes to the door and tells me to come here. We go around the corner and he’s like, “Look, look!” I look and there’s a laundry bag full of cash in the garbage outside. I came in here and called the police. They showed up with three cars and they said, “Well did it come from here?” No. In the ensuing weeks, three separate pairs of treasury agents came in and asked about it. I said, “What’s the story with [the cash]?” They said it was counterfeit … $88,000. I should have taken $100.
Patricia
Occupation?
Bartender. I’ve been working here 20 years.
Go-to drink?
An extra dirty martini with Ketel [One] or a Moscow Mule.
How long have you been coming here?
I had never been here until I worked here.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
I was here for Hurricane Sandy. The blackout, it was insane. I think it was like 24 hours. I made a ton of money that night cause we were the only place open. *laughs* We were using flashlights and candles.
Franky Dee
Occupation?
Retired union carpenter.
Go-to drink?
Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks.
How long have you been coming here?
Since I was 18. I’m now 59. I used to manage the bar, and I actually met my wife in this bar.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
Mid-afternoon back in the day, Billy Joel walked in the door and sat right here in this chair, ordered a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks and was looking around, writing stuff down. Then he came out with an album, I forget the name, but the song on it was called “Big Man on Mulberry Street.” So he obviously walked around the neighborhood, sat here and started writing the words to it.
Chris
Occupation?
I am a captain on the Staten Island Ferry.
Go-to drink?
I would say Basil Hayden’s or any good bourbon.
How long have you been coming here?
Since 2003. I live down the block.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
How alcoholic are these stories supposed to be? *laughs* There was one incident, actually a friend of Patricia’s. “Karen” was all fucked up, and I didn’t really know her well at the time and there was a big group here of her friends. She was laying on the ground outside [the bar] and everyone was just staring at her laying there. In my mind I was like, “She’s laying here drunk on the sidewalk in the daytime, let’s pick her up and get her outta here.” But they didn’t know me. After that [years later], I went to Karen’s wedding with her husband. It was the beginning of a long-term friendship really, we look after each other.
Ryan
Occupation?
Graphic artist in textiles. J. Crew and other companies.
Go-to drink?
When it’s this hot out, I drink ciders.
How long have you been coming here?
Eight years on and off.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
I try to stay away from all the people around here, that’s why I come in here. *laughs* Like I don’t wanna go have cocktails at the rave whatever it is. But I haven’t seen anything too crazy cause I come here early.
Mark
Occupation?
I work in Australia in industrial relations. So looking out for employees and their rights between the companies and the unions.
Go-to drink?
It’s a mood thing. I love a pint, but nothing says a party’s breaking out to me like a margarita on the rocks.
How long have you been coming here?
I found this place like a week ago. I’m actually here right now lookin’ at properties and stuff, lookin’ to move to New York.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
Well, I got here and the flight is long. Fourteen hours to LA [from Brisbane], three hours layover, by the time you get here you’re pretty tired. So you go out and have a quick drink and a bite to eat then crash … and then you get your second wind. You find this place, get on the sauce and suddenly one quick beer turns into 11 or 12. Then you think “I’m a bit beered out, I should go home … but I’ll have a few vodkas instead.” Then it’s closing time and you haven’t slept for a day and a half. The only reason I know what happened at the end of the night is cause I called my wife.
Christina
Occupation?
Analytics manager for digital marketing campaigns.
Go-to drink?
Tito’s martini.
How long have you been coming here?
Two months.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
This is why I love this bar. I moved here from Chicago, and right now I’m very nostalgic about college. The first time I came here it was a Saturday night, the crowd looked very young and I assume most of them had fake IDs and I was like, “How old are you?” *laughs* It’s just a fun bar to go to. It depends on what time of day the crowd you’re gonna get.
Sam (Alias is Mike Horowitz)
Occupation?
I work in digital advertising. I am basically a telemarketer in the digital age. When you see advertising on a website, it’s the fucking worst, and I’m responsible for putting it there. We’re playing hooky today.
Go-to drink?
It’s a combination of a few drinks. I love a Manhattan or tequila on the rocks.
How long have you been coming here?
I actually haven’t been here in a long time, maybe 3 years.
Got any great stories or moments from this place you’d like to share?
Honestly, we just came here to like pound a few drinks. We were literally supposed to be working, and we straight up lied to the people at the office about what we are doing right now. *his partner in crime objects* I don’t give a shit. Do you think I care? They can’t fire us. *his PIC says something about staying employed* So my name is not Sam, it’s actually Michael Horowitz. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. This is the most unusual time I’ve been to this bar … at 3:30 in the afternoon.
