For 76 years, family-owned Ruby’s Bar and Grill has been a Coney Island staple.
It’s also been home to mermaid-pirate weddings, Mermaid Parade after-parties and a time-capsule of photographs that date back as far as the bar does.
But the long-time proprietors of Ruby’s may be on the verge of losing their Boardwalk oasis forever.
In October, Melody Sarrel and Cindy Jacobs, daughters of founder Ruby Jacobs, received notice of eviction from amusement giant Zamperla USA, the corporation that took over the bar’s lease, and several others, in hopes of turning the Boardwalk into a cash cow.
The Ruby’s owners and staff threw themselves a goodbye party. And then another. And somehow never quite ended up leaving.
On December 10, the sisters are expected to appear in court to answer a summons for overstaying their welcome. Zamperla USA has sued the duo, citing lost profits caused by the owners’ refusal to vacate the building.
On the weekend before Thanksgiving, Ruby’s Bar and Grill threw a last, last hurrah. They were closing up for the season, not so much because of Zamperla’s threats, but because it was getting a bit cold to tolerate Ruby’s breezy, open-air bar setup.
The celebration was bittersweet, with patrons saying “goodbye” to the owners, but also declaring, with stubborn optimism, “See you next year!”
