West Village's Long Gone George Herdt's Bar and Restaurant Circa 1972

George Herdt’s Bar and Restaurant, 1972
George Herdt’s Bar and Restaurant, 1972

Native New Yorker Katherine Towler is an award-winning author and photographer with several novels under her belt. In the early 1970's, Towler lived in Chelsea and documented many of the West Side favorites of the time.

George Herdt's Bar and Restaurant stood on the corner of West 12th St and West 4th St, where Cafe Cluny stands now. This photograph was taken in the evening, during a snow-covered winter, with a haunting empty feeling accentuated by the burnt-out neon signage.

For comparison, here is a Google Streetview of how the corner looks today.

George Herdt's Bar and Restaurant
Matt Coneybeare

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

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