Iconic Upper East Side Subway Inn Bar Is Saved

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Good news for the owners and patrons of the iconic Subway Inn: It is staying open.

The bar that opened 77 years ago on East 60th Street and Lexington Avenue  was facing eviction by developer The World-Wide Group.

Bar owner Steven Salinas and family fought the developer and started a petition to save the bar.

On Aug. 19, a judge issued a temporary restraining order and stopped eviction proceedings.

"On behalf of my entire family -- I have some wonderful news to share. Earlier today we signed a long-term lease on a new location which the Subway Inn will now call home," Salinas said Tuesday.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart that supported my family and stood by us as we fought tirelessly to save our current home. While at the end of the day it may appear we lost the battle, rest assured this is not the case. Losing would have meant our home and memories would have been bulldozed. While the four walls that will house our exact same contents may be changing—the heart and soul of what we call home will be the same. This will include the pictures of Charlie and my dad from years gone that will hang exactly where they are located now— just two block east."

On Dec. 2, the Subway Inn will close at its current location to begin its relocation and replication less than two blocks away on the same side of the street at 60th and Second Avenue.

The move is expected to take approximately 10 weeks to complete, Salinas said.

The Subway Inn wanted to stay in its current location until the end of the year but said the landlord denied their plea.

World-Wide owns much of the block where the bar is, across the street from Bloomingdale's. The real estate developer hasn't announced plans for the area but is constructing residential buildings elsewhere in the city.

The Salinas family said the company plans to build luxury condos there.

The Subway Inn once served Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

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