Bowery Boogie | A Lower East Side Chronicle

First of all, nothing 'culturally significant' has come out of New York City since Giuliani was mayor. I know that's a cliche but if you were around back in the day, you'd know that. It's about exciting a place as Geneva now. Secondly, a place doesn't have to be famous to be great. (Since the late 90's after CBGB's had been made 'culturally signifciant' it was nothing than a ridiculous tourist trap. (I hate to say it but they should have closed that place long ago.) Once something gets discovered, it's as good as dead in this city. Good World was never truly "discovered". (Though it was on it's way). When Good World opened, there was nothing below Delancey. (169 East Broadway was a junkie bar back then) The fact that Good World has been driven out because of a Chinese Billionaire is a disgrace. (An American investor can NOT buy a building in China, not to mention, evict all the tenants, raze the building and flip it. If we can't do it there, why should they allowed to be able to do that here?) Good World WAS a special place to those of us who lived down here, and nothing is going to replace it. Since the U.S. Bond market has collapsed, wealthy Chinese ("trinket billionaires") are buying up the Lower East Side with the sole ambition of creating a greater Chinatown. Maybe that's better than the greedy American landlords we have now, but where does that leave those of us who are not Chinese? I grew up down here, and have seen Chinatown jump across Bowery and move East and South. Once the Chinese move into an area, they become very territorial. It's not uncommon for a cashier/waiter/clerk to help the Chinese customer standing behind me, serving them first while I'm standing there feeling ashamed for having the wrong color skin. (This is not true of the American-born Chinese but the Off-the-boat it is) I feel like a second class citizen in my own neighborhood which is very disturbing when I see the Chinatown expanding in every direction. Back when the neighborhood was mixed, it had a sense of diversity. Just like Good World, that's gone too.

sadness. i live right down the block.

Max's KC, CBGB's it was not. Still, a good place to get drunk and dance on a friday night without the BS. I'll remember it fondly.

i had the same reaction, grieve.

Is this letter for real? The owners compare themselves with Studio 54 or Max's Kansas City? I don't recall the Good World Bar having so much cultural significance.