After a nearly 25-year run as a neighborhood staple, the Pencil Factory bar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, will be shuttering its doors. The owners, Louise Favier, Sean O'Rourke, and Brian P. Taylor, announced that their landlord would not renew their lease, prompting the bar's closure on July 27. Greenpointers reported the impending closure, alongside a message from the owners that shared their mix of gratitude and sadness over the end of the bar's long tenure.
The Pencil Factory has been a favored hangout at the corner of Greenpoint Avenue and Franklin Street since its opening in December 2001. Known for its lively atmosphere, it has provided a venue for dance parties, jazz nights, and casual meet-ups among friends and locals. According to Eater New York, the Greenpoint area has seen significant redevelopment over the years, but the Pencil Factory has remained a relatively affordable nightlife option.
The story of the Pencil Factory begins with Brian Taylor moving to Greenpoint and his quest to bring a Manhattan-style bar to the Brooklyn neighborhood. Recruiting the talents of construction specialist Sean O'Rourke and hospitality expert Louise Favier, the trio established the Pencil Factory bar, with Taylor's love for the neighborhood at its foundation. This history was outlined in a detailed backstory provided by Greenpointers.
With plans for a series of farewell events, the owners aim to honor the bar's staff, customers, and the Greenpoint community in the upcoming months. "It is with much gratefulness & a tinge of sadness that we announce the closing of the Pencil Factory Bar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Our landlord has informed us that he will not be renewing our lease after twenty-five years. We plan on a number of events to celebrate the bar, our staff, our customers, our community and Greenpoint over the coming months," the owners conveyed in a message shared by Greenpointers. Patrons can expect to enjoy the bar's offerings until the July closure. The building, according to who owns the website What, is owned by Guy Smilovich.
