Corey Lichtman, Contributing Writer
Lukin's Bar on Varick Street in Utica, N.Y. Photo:/ Corey Lichtman
Varick Street in Utica, New York has been around for a long time.
The street has entertainment and food, and bars that help elevate the night life. Bars are filled especially on Thursdays and the weekends with people looking to enjoy themselves.
Since the 1980s and before, this street has been going strong. Bars have been making consistent money with reliable customers. From the Celtic Harp to pubs down the block, Varick Street offers people a lot of things to do specifically on weekends.
The longevity of the business owners, who have kept business strong through adversity, is what makes these places successful. To survive, “You have to change your style,” said co-owner of "The Stief" Michelle Klosek.
The average life of a bar is five to seven years, said Klosek. Her bar actually had a 35-year anniversary this year, and had a party with a "Roaring '20s" theme.
Many of the Varick Street bars have deals on Thursdays for football, and drinks. “The main days are Thursdays and Saturdays,” said Taylor Champagne from Saranac Brewery.
The Saranac Brewery has been around since 1888. It originally was Utica Club, but they changed in 1984 to Saranac. They recently added a “Beir Garten” to the Brewery which has been a big hit for them. It is a German term for an outside drinking area with benches and picnic tables.
“It has been a really nice upgrade to the place,” said Cody Cothrop. “It has been able to help bring in customers.
During Covid, Utica Club beer was 70% of the brewery's sales. Covid changed things for the bar. Before the pandemic, the brewery participated in “Saranac Thursdays," a summertime event that shut down the whole of Varick Street.
There would be 50,000 people gathered up and down the street, according to Saranac. The event hasn't returned as big since Covid.
But many bar owners revamped with “Varick Thursdays," where many of the bars on the street have music and entertainment at their own establishments.
“There is live music at different bars on the street,” said Devin Powers, a former barbacker at the Celtic Harp.
“Someone is performing at each bar on the street, and it's a really good atmosphere.”
The event has brought performers and DJs. Places such as Lukins, The Celtic Harp and Sickenberger Lane all participate in this. With live music and drinks, Varick Street tries to reel in customers on Thursdays.
Nightlife on Varick Street in Utica, N.Y. Photo:/ Corey Lichtman
Located in West Utica, Varick Street has been around for a while. It has adapted to the times, but mostly not much has changed overall, said Kelly. Business and sales haven't changed too much throughout the years.
“Business has been consistently good, and we have been making good money,” said Kelly.
Tom Powers, owner of The Harp, said the bar added live music every weekend to evolve. They also added a stage to their repertoire, allowing for the music to be on an elevated surface where people can watch and dance.
Times were tough for businesses after the pandemic began in March 2020. On Varick Street, the night life did not do well, but revenue was still being generated through food takeout.
The Celtic Harp began to see people again shortly after the start of Covid. People started to come back in the summer of 2020, when bars had dividers up and obeyed social distancing guidelines. They were closed for the winter of 2020, but returned after.
Summer of 2021 was when Varick Street returned to somewhat normality with no dividers and no masks.
“It started to get back to normal,” said Powers, whose uncle is the owner of the Celtic Harp.
And now, said Kelly, “it is getting like before Covid."
“The weekends are very packed," she said.
The Harp has tents throughout the winter, and they are able to stay open all year round. Sickenberger is an outdoor bar that is more of a summer spot. Life at the bar and on Varick has seemingly been almost like pre-Covid.
“The last few weekends have been very busy,” said Kelly.
After the Utica locals are done having fun at the bar, they head to Lukins pizzeria that’s open until 2 a.m.
“It gets pretty busy,” said Amber Cotto, a worker at Lukins. “It depends what bands are playing that night.”
Nightlife on Varick Street in Utica, N.Y. Photo:/ Corey Lichtman
Cotto explained how different bars on the block attract different age groups. Lukins has music during the night on weekends in the bar area, which attracts an older group. How much they sell depends on the time of the year, she said.
“Halloween, and Thanksgiving are obviously busy," she said. Pizza that is open late helps bring in business and customers before people want to go home.
This street has a lot of variety, as not only are younger people involved, there are older adults up and down the street as well. People are able to enjoy it, as times are getting back to pre-Covid.
“Varick Street is a great time for everybody,” said Powers.
Corey Lichtman is a student journalist at Utica University and is a part time sports broadcaster for Utica's radio station, WPNR 90.7. He is in his senior year at Utica and is working towards a degree in Sports Communication with a minor in Journalism.