Sept. 21, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
A longstanding Woodside bar has undergone a makeover, and reopened under a new name as the Beerkeeper this week.
The bar, formerly known as Shelley’s at 58-15 Woodside Avenue, opened on Friday after a complete revamp, according to its Facebook page.
Dympna Rogers, who previously worked at local bars such as the Copper Kettle, McGuinness’s and the Station Bar, took over the lease earlier this year.
Community Board 2 approved the bar’s hours of 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days per week in March, as well as gave Rogers the thumbs up to keep its small rear yard space open until 10 p.m.
“Shelley’s has always been here and will always be here,” Rogers said in March. “It just needs a new lease on life. We want people to feel welcome, including the new people moving in.”
Rogers was unable to reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Apolloina Art Emporium, located at 48-14 Skillman Avenue, recently closed. The store, which opened in 2014, sold an eclectic mix of paintings, prints, photos, record collections, antique cameras and distressed furnishings.
Earlier this month the landlord took back the keys and threw many of these items in the dumpster.
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40 Comments
Your right the jar bar is like a senior center. I heard the reason they named it jar bar is because the woman that hang out there keep their teeth in a jar. Old woman who think their young
And, I like the decor and food (overall) at Aubergine. The owners are really nice, too. Not super crazy about their coffee, though.
The Kitchen might have better food, but it’s so sterile. Maybe try dimming the lights and painting the walls or hanging plants or something? Also, the service at the counter can be frustrating — standing there for ten minutes waiting for someone to ask if you want anything.
The food/drink scene in Sunnyside is totally bizarre. I moved here from Manhattan a year ago. Irish pubs and sports bars with mediocre food (if any food). A couple “nicer” places have opened — The Lowery, The Alcove — and they are okay, but they don’t inspire me to spend money there. I’d rather stay home and make my own martini. Speaking of, try finding a well-made cocktail in Sunnyside. It’s damn-near impossible. Claret wine bar is the closest I’ve come. Most of all, we need a great dive bar with good music. I stopped going to Flynn’s because of the terrible music and sketchy customers. The Jar can be fun, but it’s like drinking at a senior center. I’d say we need a great tiki bar, or something like that, but I’m sure whoever owned it would install flat-screens and play Hootie and the Blowfish songs.
Theres a new bar cliffs on laurel hill Boulevard and 63st. I saw a customer in there once.
We have better wings than the rams
But not a better team or coach.
I hate Buffalo. Whiny crybabies especially the coach.
Anonymous- its not a loser attitude from a loser bills fan. Its a realistic attitude from a loyal bills fan. I wish them luck and hope im wrong about them failing, but i just dont see it working. As far as going back to Buffalo,i was born in woodside, few blocks from shellys or whatever the name is now. See another problem, the name is not a memorable one. Terrible name. Good luck to them though
I like name im in business 19 years and sadly even in best of times its tough business! We are in bad times of stagnation. I hope they do well. I have vested interest to do well in this business but sadly its harder and harder to do so. Painstakingly so. Good Luck I wish you best but Bills fan may not be cruel just realist
BTW-Bills suck, GO GIANTS
Go bills- hope your wrong too. Unfortunately i think your right
Do they have a kitchen
This is a great bar, So well finished.
I wish them luck, they will need it. New bar, same old neighborhood =failure. Itll be for sale in 2yrs. Rents are too high. If the owner trys charging cheap prices , they lose, if the owner charges today prices, people cry its too expensive for the area. Cant win. If he gets shellys old crowd itll be a TKO in 18months. Why do you think the last 2 owners failed. Good luck though it would be nice if im wrong.
Sounds like a loser attitude coming from a loser Bills fan.
Go back to Buffalo.
Why did they copy the exact storefront as the lowery? Couldn’t think of there own ?
Zero resemblance to The Lowery, Zero.
Does the beerkeep sell food or is it just a watering hole
Glad to see that Woodside so consistently supports new ventures by people with long ties to the community. Good luck–I’ll drop in soon!
I went in to Shelly’s once and met up with the same Neanderthals that frequent Jack’s Fire Dept., The McGuinness Bar and Bar 43. I will give this a shot however to see if they are as welcoming and classy as Lowery 43.
Neanderthals is right regarding Jack’s Fire Dept.
Neanderthals? ha ha !!! what are you a sissy?
Hey John Wayne you were one of those chicken Hawks who was a draft Dodger but was tough guy in the movies. I would not be calling anyone a sissy if I were you.
You sissy commie
Sir Walter, you should be so lucky to have those Neanderthals as friends! Then again you’d be lucky to have any friends with such an English name in an Irish neighborhood!! And yes, it’s still an Irish neighborhood
Lowery 43 for me is the best bar right now in service food and beer options. As a native Woodsider I was excited about Beerkeeper. Everything from the wood decor, lighting, draft choices is exciting. With one caveat. Late night this bar becomes a very racist bar, mostly with the female bartenders not serving my own people. It was sad to see two gentlemen come in ask for a drink and leave because the bar didn’t want to serve them. I left immediately and won’t come back.
A-Rod, tell “your people” to stop coming in drunk off their asses if they want to get served. CASE CLOSED!!!!!
I was walking back from 61st Street on Friday for the first time in a long time, and this place was PACKED! It caught me totally off guard as I didn’t even know it had opened. It was really good to see so many people in there. Wishing them the best of luck.
Wishing the new owner all the very best of luck, all the way from Derry in Ireland…. Happen to know her very well, and I’m sure she’ll make a grt job of it☘
How about a decent Italian restaurant? Not a pizzeria, but a restaurant where you could sit and have a nice meal and a glass or two of wine? How about a nice soda fountain type of ice cream parlor luncheonette? How about a UPS or mailbox store??? How about a GOOD bakery? There are so many things we lack in Skillman, is it really that difficult?
I’d love a diner I could walk to, sit down and have a decent affordable meal.
Cafe 52 by train station
There are 3 good and at least 3 not good Italian restaurants within easy walking distance of Skillman Ave. I like them all (all the good ones) but I’m not sure the neighborhood can support more. With you on a good bakery–hopefully that French place going into the aborted new Uncle Jimmy’s location will bake or have good baked goods.
I’ve been saying that we need a good coffee place on Skillman forever. Duh.
Appoloina Art Emporium was by the far the weirdest, most random and unnecessary place I have ever had the misfortune of accidentally entering. How does a place like that even think for a second that they will survive and flourish when other places with substance can’t or won’t because of prohibitive rents? Let’s get some real stuff on Skillman for a change. Starting with a good place for coffee.
Ever hear of Aubergine? The best!
Absolute watered down garbage since the day it opened. Restaurant depot special blend.
Sorry, Aubergine is mediocre at best.
Aubergine has very good coffee. But sure, I’ll take another place, why not.
Except for the decaf… not so good