Chinatown karaoke bar Winnie's reopens after four years

After a bunch of news about beloved NYC watering holes closing (Enid’s, SideWalk Cafe, Greenpoint Tavern, The Abbey), here’s some good news. After four years, Winnie’s Karaoke Bar has reopened. The original location, on Bayard St in Chinatown, closed back in 2015 but the original owners — Winnie Mui and her children Jaime and Teddy — found a spot they liked not too far away at 58 E. Broadway which is just off Confucius Plaza. (It’s been in the works for a while.) Here’s more from Eater:

The Muis started thinking about reopening about two years ago because they felt the bar was a loss for the neighborhood. “It was almost like a Chinese Cheers,” Jaime says.

The old Winnie’s, there for 28 years, was priced out by a rent hike, so the Muis took their time to find a sustainable new location. This one is on the second floor and is in a more commercial district, ensuring neighbors won’t be bothered by karaoke that runs daily until 4 a.m.

“We want it to be loud and people to come in, have a good time, and scream and sing their heads off,” Jaime says.

Eater also notes that the new Winnie’s uses a more modern karaoke system, but has recycled the old laserdiscs into chandeliers and, though there’s now a gold crooner-style mic on stage, the owners say it’s still got “that homely feel.” And yes they’re still making their signature punch. Winnie’s is open noon to 4 AM daily.