Beloved New York Dive Bar Faces Uncertain Future

Loyal patrons fight to save Jimmy's Corner, a neighborhood institution since 1971.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:28pm

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Jimmy's Corner, a beloved dive bar in New York City's Times Square neighborhood, is facing an uncertain future as the area undergoes rapid redevelopment. Opened in 1971 by former boxer Jimmy Glenn, the bar has long been a gathering place for locals and a vestige of an older, grittier New York. Now, its loyal patrons are rallying to try to protect the bar from being displaced.

Why it matters

As Times Square continues to transform into a more corporate, tourist-oriented district, establishments like Jimmy's Corner that reflect the neighborhood's working-class roots are increasingly under threat. The fight to save Jimmy's Corner highlights the broader struggle to preserve the character and community of New York City in the face of gentrification and development.

The details

Jimmy's Corner, a dimly lit, cash-only bar, has been a fixture in Times Square since 1971 when it was opened by former professional boxer Jimmy Glenn. Over the decades, the bar has maintained a loyal following among local residents, theater workers, and others seeking a respite from the tourist crowds and commercial glitz of the surrounding area.

  • Jimmy's Corner opened in the summer of 1971.
  • The bar is currently facing an uncertain future as the Times Square neighborhood undergoes rapid redevelopment.

The players

Jimmy's Corner

A beloved dive bar in New York City's Times Square neighborhood that has been in operation since 1971.

Jimmy Glenn

The former professional boxer who opened Jimmy's Corner in 1971 and ran the bar for decades.

David Gladman

A loyal patron of Jimmy's Corner who is part of the effort to try to save the bar from being displaced by redevelopment in the area.

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What they’re saying

“It holds a lot of memories. It's a place where you can go and be yourself.”

— David Gladman, Patron of Jimmy's Corner

The takeaway

The fight to save Jimmy's Corner is a poignant example of the broader struggle to preserve the character and community of New York City in the face of rapid gentrification and redevelopment. As iconic neighborhood institutions like this beloved dive bar face an uncertain future, it underscores the importance of protecting the spaces that give a city its unique identity and sense of place.