Williamsburg’s beloved Bedford Avenue dive bar, Turkey’s Nest, reopened last week with a clean bill of health after inspectors closed shut it down on Halloween.
“We passed our inspection!” said Nest co-owner Dee Ehresman. “Come on over!”
The 100-year-old watering hole, known for inexpensive beers and margaritas strong enough to turn boys into men, failed an inspection after mice droppings and poorly installed plumbing were allegedly found.
The Department of Health issued a $2,000 fine and closed the bar, forcing it to lose thousands of dollars more during the New York City Marathon, typically one of its busiest days of the year.
But the bar’s crack staff worked around the clock for the next nine days to remove pipes and wiring, caulk the walls, give the floors an aggressive wipe-down, and take out coin-operated machines that attracted the alleged mice.
It’s not exactly spotless — but neighborhood drinkers are relieved to have their old joint back.
“I tried to go here four times over the past week — it was shuttered,” said Williamsburg resident Drew Milliard, one of the first people to get a drink when the Nest reopened last Wednesday.
With the margarita machine still out, the crowd mostly stuck with 32-ounce Styrofoam cups of Budweiser — which cost only $4.
But it isn’t just the cheap drinks that attract neighborhood regulars who say the bar is “like family.”
“One time, I saw one guy puke in the bathroom, he came out with his pants down to his ankles — and then he said, ‘Where’s my next drink?’ ” said Nest patron Roger Tenfour.
Even neighborhood celebrities, including Councilman Steve Levin (D–Williamsburg) and Brooklyn Kickball League Commissioner Kevin Dailey visited the bar during its grand reopening.
“This place is a cornerstone of the neighborhood and it should remain open as long as Brooklyn itself,” said Dailey. “People took it for granted, but hopefully they won’t anymore, and now they’ll be thankful for it.”
Turkey’s Nest [94 Bedford Ave. at N. 12th Street in Williamsburg, (718) 384-9774].
Reach reporter XX at @cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-XXXX.
