SKANEATELES - There was plenty of laughter, tears were shed and comforting hugs were given during the final call at Morris's Grill Sunday night.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Evelyn Marble and Dana Pickering, of Skaneateles, chat outside Morris's Grill in Skaneateles. Many people gathered at the bar Sunday for its last night open.
Evelyn Marble and Dana Pickering, of Skaneateles, chat outside Morris's Grill in Skaneateles. Many people gathered at the bar Sunday for its last night open.
While the night was a chance for people to say good-bye to their favorite bar in the village of Skaneateles, it was also a chance to say good-bye to old and new friends alike, Skaneateles resident Myron Steen said.
Whether people were doctors, police officers, a mayor or a cashier, everyone was on the same social level when they walked into Morris's, he added.
“The hardest part is the people I have met here that I will probably never meet again,” Steen said. “This place gave me a chance to meet people that I would have never met elsewhere in life, and that I may never get to meet again.”
While there was resentment among some patrons because the bar is being evicted from it's location on West Genesee Street after Morris's and the new landlords, Emanon Equities, were unable to finalize a new lease agreement, Bryan Hess, a bar-back at Morris's, said most people were sad they had to say good-bye.
As soon as the doors opened for the bar's last call at noon, at least 150 people constantly brimmed out the door and flowed out onto the sidewalk in front of the establishment. Cars and motorcycles constantly cycled in and out with fresh patrons making their final appearance.
While Skaneateles does have an open container law, many patrons applauded the village government and police for allowing them to stand outside the bar as long as everyone remained on their best behavior.
“This is unprecedented in Skaneateles, that's why I give them credit,” Steen said. “Police come by and check on everyone then go. It's great that they do that, and that they check on everyone.”
Because Morris's is famous for bringing the community together and fostering friendships, Hess said he was not surprised there were no problems within the first several hours of business that might be associated with other bars.
But then Morris's wasn't the typical bar, Hess added.
“It's Morris's; it's an everybody's bar,” he said. “It doesn't matter what you do, everybody is the same. They are all sad and all of them keep coming and hugging me and saying bye, but there isn't anyone more sorry than us.”
With Morris's closing, Larry Minet said he was afraid Skaneateles will lose its appeal to “the average person” with newer businesses aiming for a ritzier class of citizens.
While he was concerned about the impact on the community, Minet also said he was sad to say good-bye to the place where he met his wife, Marlesha “Marty” Minet, in 1991.
“I worked here in town and stopped here for a beer after work and the rest is history,” said Minet as he wrapped an arm around Marty. “It has been a great old place.”
While people have been left wondering what will replace Morris's after the bar moves out Monday morning, Emanon Equities has said their renovation plans call for another bar to fill its location.
Even if a new bar does come in though, Steen said nothing will ever replace his favorite watering hole.
“No place in the world will ever replace Morris's,” he said. “But the world moves on. Great establishments close all the time; and we move on. The best part is that we got to be a part of this one.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Whether people were doctors, police officers, a mayor or a cashier, everyone was on the same social level when they walked into Morris's, he added.
“The hardest part is the people I have met here that I will probably never meet again,” Steen said. “This place gave me a chance to meet people that I would have never met elsewhere in life, and that I may never get to meet again.”
While there was resentment among some patrons because the bar is being evicted from it's location on West Genesee Street after Morris's and the new landlords, Emanon Equities, were unable to finalize a new lease agreement, Bryan Hess, a bar-back at Morris's, said most people were sad they had to say good-bye.
As soon as the doors opened for the bar's last call at noon, at least 150 people constantly brimmed out the door and flowed out onto the sidewalk in front of the establishment. Cars and motorcycles constantly cycled in and out with fresh patrons making their final appearance.
While Skaneateles does have an open container law, many patrons applauded the village government and police for allowing them to stand outside the bar as long as everyone remained on their best behavior.
“This is unprecedented in Skaneateles, that's why I give them credit,” Steen said. “Police come by and check on everyone then go. It's great that they do that, and that they check on everyone.”
Because Morris's is famous for bringing the community together and fostering friendships, Hess said he was not surprised there were no problems within the first several hours of business that might be associated with other bars.
But then Morris's wasn't the typical bar, Hess added.
“It's Morris's; it's an everybody's bar,” he said. “It doesn't matter what you do, everybody is the same. They are all sad and all of them keep coming and hugging me and saying bye, but there isn't anyone more sorry than us.”
With Morris's closing, Larry Minet said he was afraid Skaneateles will lose its appeal to “the average person” with newer businesses aiming for a ritzier class of citizens.
While he was concerned about the impact on the community, Minet also said he was sad to say good-bye to the place where he met his wife, Marlesha “Marty” Minet, in 1991.
“I worked here in town and stopped here for a beer after work and the rest is history,” said Minet as he wrapped an arm around Marty. “It has been a great old place.”
While people have been left wondering what will replace Morris's after the bar moves out Monday morning, Emanon Equities has said their renovation plans call for another bar to fill its location.
Even if a new bar does come in though, Steen said nothing will ever replace his favorite watering hole.
“No place in the world will ever replace Morris's,” he said. “But the world moves on. Great establishments close all the time; and we move on. The best part is that we got to be a part of this one.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 8 comment(s)
hoopes_dt wrote on May 4, 2009 7:36 PM:
rmg13021 wrote on May 4, 2009 2:51 PM:
childofthekorn1318 wrote on May 4, 2009 2:05 PM:
former resident of auburn wrote on May 4, 2009 1:11 PM:
To blueyankee443: Has this country become so 'politically correct' that, for a few hours, people can't just ENJOY themselves, say Goodbye to a few old friends and be on their way while the police give them a break? Have we become too obsessed with being our 'brother's keeper' that we can't just use a little commonsense sometimes and just enjoy being alive on our world, have a few laughs, shed a few tears and share a Beer? You should relax and have yourself 'a cold one'. "
A Voter wrote on May 4, 2009 10:59 AM:
brew1234 wrote on May 4, 2009 8:58 AM:
interested wrote on May 4, 2009 8:12 AM:
blueyankee443 wrote on May 4, 2009 6:36 AM:
e where people met and became life-long
friends.It appears that the owner did
not do his home-work,and preserve the
future,for him and his customers.After
the death,the Estate probably notified
the owner of the lease agreement.Its very possible,the owner decided then to
let things remain as they were,so he
could leave without a penalty,from brea
king the lease.Usually these things are
covered in a lease in case of a death.
This should have been no surprise to the owners.
Now it will have a new bar,perhaps mo
re upscale,and not necessarily a new
clientel.Not completely exactly.Then th
e police were so kind and went on their
way,after checking the customers,and was allowing them to drink on the str
eet.This is great,considering,the will
of the Village was promoted through the
police officers being so considerate.
Its another case of,"Its Okay To Br
eak The Laws",when at other times its
not fine to drink out of an open cont
ainer. Selective Law Enforcement at its
best,and no paid permit was to be obtai
ned. This is incredible. "