Coogan’s Bar and Restaurant was opened in 1985 and stayed open through many turbulent years and crises before it shuddered its doors finally during the pandemic in 2020. A Washington Heights staple, it was more than just a bar - it was a community gathering place that brought people together even in the roughest of times.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! From its opening pages, I was immediately drawn in and invested in the story of this bar. At times, I forgot that I was reading non-fiction, the story unraveling much as a fiction book would and hooking me with the different people and storylines. I was so invested that I literally held my breath at one point waiting to find out if a Coogan’s employee who had been shot lived or died. It's clear that a lot of care, love, and research went into this book and it had me flipping pages until I found I had finished the whole book in one sitting.

Though Michaud is presenting facts that just happened, he was able to wave them together with stories that make you understand how and why Coogan’s was so beloved. While I actually really loved every moment of this reading experience, I’m devastated that I will never be able to personally experience Coogan’s for myself.

Not only does Michaud do a great job of talking about the bar and its history, but he is able to weave in major different issues that still plague our country to this day, such as race relations and gentrification. A story about a bar is not supposed to raise such hot button issues or be as deep as it was, but Michaud is not only able to share the history of Coogan’s, but the stories of the people who loved it as well.

Jon Michaud's LAST CALL AT COOGAN'S is a powerful work. While it's the true story of a particular bar at a particular time and place, it reads like a fascinating, well-wrought fiction, bringing to life the creativity, courage, and the sheer guts it took to take a chance on a very long shot at succeeding with a neighborhood bar/restaurant in a dangerous, downtrodden area. I felt like I was there, witness to the inner and the outer workings of an extraordinary enterprise. I especially appreciated the tight, exquisite descriptions of the people and the settings. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

For lovers of beer, bars, Cheers (where everybody knows your name!) and a small outtake of NYC history, this is right up that alley. Coogan's established in 1985 near New York-Presbyterian Hospital smack dab in the middle of Washington Heights became a central feature in the neighborhood there, not only as a drinking and eating establishment for hospital workers, visitors, and residents of the Heights, but it became a refuge from the troubles that plagued the streets there. When a patron walked through the doors, the sense of welcome and good times drained away whatever bad was going on around them and that patron was likely hooked from that day on becoming one of thousands of regulars to the bar. Though the management changed a few times in the life of Coogan's, the heart of Coogan's never did and that is what gave rise to its legacy, popularity and loyalty. The owners were involved deeply in the neighborhood, its everchanging ethnicities and traditions and went beyond finding ways to help families and children by fundraising and working with non-profits to raise money for good causes that helped the neighborhoods of Washington Heights.
Last Call at Coogan's is a historical ride through this part of New York City during its very dark and turbulent times when crack, gangs and violence ruled the streets, to the AIDS/HIV crisis, to the turnover of various immigrant populations, the rise of police unrest, the fall of the Twin Towers to the push of gentrification of those once affordable neighborhoods. All the while, Coogan's was a mainstay and unchangeable rock always there for the people. It became the place to go for decades of politicians, actors, poets, sports figures and it wasn't weird to walk in and see Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family sitting at a table having dinner or Mayor Dinkins sitting with constituents at the bar or a gathering in the back room of a famous NY poet or artist. All were welcome! What a place!
The author shares the ups and downs that come with running a place like this over 4 decades, the infighting that may occur when owners don't always share the same vision but for the most part, until the inevitable close during the pandemic of 2020, those that lived or worked nearby, could always be assured that Coogan's was a place of calm, peace and respite and family behind the heavy brown doors off of 169th and Broadway.

Last Call at Coogan's: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar by Jon Michaud is a very highly recommended history. This neighborhood bar opened in New York City’s Washington Heights one block from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in 1985 and closed during the pandemic in the spring of 2020. For 35 years the beloved local landmark often called Uptown City Hall was a vital part of the neighborhood.

Librarian Michaud wrote an article in the New Yorker about Coogan's which was the impetus for this account, which is the very interesting, easy to read story about the history of Coogan's. From 1985 to 2020 the bar and neighborhood faced a plethora of serious issues and changes which are all recounted here. The wide variety of stories included cover the owners, some of the staff, and many regulars, along with the social history of the years Coogan's was open and the community it created.

This is an excellent, well-researched book that captures and brings to life the history of a place and the people who were a large part of the story. Last Call at Coogan's would especially appeal to anyone who knows the area or ever visited or frequented Coogan's over the years. A wide variety of readers will appreciate the interesting background stories of the history and the people, but the greater appeal is going to be for those who know the area or Coogan's. 4.5
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

This book is so much more than an accounting of a neighborhood bar from its beginning in 1985 to its unfortunate demise in 2020 due to greedy landlords and Covid-19. Coogan's became an integral part of the Washington Heights neighborhood as it responded to all the changes during that time span. I enjoyed reviewing the social, political and economic history of a fairly recent time period.

Last Call at Coogan's tells the rise and fall of Coogan's Bar in New York City. It begins with the troubles starting the successful neighborhood meeting place and continues until the end during the pandemic It became a place where people from all walks could meet for drinks, dinner, and a sense of community.

I liked the book, but it may be too advanced for my students to read. It is definitely a non-fiction narrative, but can be difficult to read at points. I did find myself struggling to keep my attention.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Yes this is ostensibly about an improbably successful bar in NYC but it's really about the family we make. Michaud has interviewed the owners and regulars at Coogan's, a watering hole that brought together all sorts of people to tell a NYC tale. These real people are what makes this entertaining. Darn you COVID which was at the root of destroying this community. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Last Call at Coogan's
By Jon Michaud

This is the true story of the life and death of a neighborhood bar in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. The story begins with an idea and a group of young men who strive to make it happen. What starts out to be just a neighborhood bar becomes so much more.

As the cast of characters changes – owners, investors, servers, bartenders and patrons – so does the dynamic between Coogan's and its neighbors. The neighbors all work together to rid the streets of drugs and crime. In their place, Coogan's supports various philanthropic endeavors to benefit the ever-changing makeup of families living there. The arts; opportunities for children to participate in sports and other activities; 5K runs; building relationships with politicians to benefit all the residents – these are the types of things Coogan's supported. Many of Coogan's patrons went on to become standouts like Manny Ramirez and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

When gentrification threatened to force Coogan's out of business, the groundswell of support in response from thousands of people who had been touched by their exposure to the Heights allowed Coogan's to remain in business. Alas, what greedy landlords and real estate developers could not accomplish, Covis-19 did. But through this book, Mr. Michaud is doing his part to make sure Coogan's and the Heights and other neighborhoods like them should not be forgotten.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Last Call at Coogan’s releases June 6, 2023

This non-fiction novel is split into 4 parts and has themes including: community, race relations, policing, gentrification, the pandemic, and small businesses.

The origins of this Irish saloon / neighbourhood bar are incredibly interesting, with some of the source funds coming from a case in the 70’s where individuals sued the Mets for millions over an injury.

I think only a very small niche of people will truly find this interesting, but all in all I had a good time.
The restaurant industry is very close to my heart, and I love anything set in New York.
Admittedly, it did take me a while to really get into the book, and most of it does center around Washington Heights as a whole.

It’s tough knowing that Coogan’s survived so many historical events like the AIDS epidemic, riots, 9/11, 2008 financial crisis, gentrification, and Trump’s presidency, but ultimately covid19 was the nail in the coffin for them.

The big takeaway here is how important building a community is.

Last Call at Coogan's is a impressively researched book about an iconic neighborhood bar in Washington Heights, NYC. While I had never visited Coogan's, the idea of a NYC neighborhood bar felt deeply interesting and I was very excited to read it's story. The author has provided an impressive amount of detail and even introduces some of the regulars. As the community changed around the bar, we see the bar change as well. While the book is more history and fact based then is my personal taste, I am glad that I learned about this interesting neighborhood figure.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Any good neighborhood bar is depended on its neighborhood. Coogan's was no different. A neighborhood watering hole and eatery that was as much a part of its neighborhood as the neighborhood was a part of Coogan's. A bar that changed the neighborhood and changed with the neighborhood. This is the tale of that legendary bar, as well as a glimpse at the evolution of the neighborhood that embraced this bar.

An interesting book that tells of the inception and dissolution of Coogan's. It's life and death. We are also treated with getting to meet a few of it's regulars. Some being regular people who either worked at Coogan's or made Coogan's a staple in their lives.

Besides learning about the history of Coogan's, you'll also learn about the changes that took place in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood known as Washington Heights. Everything starts in a period of time when Washington Heights was essentially a ghetto where many low income residents settled, many being from the Dominican Republic. From being a down and out location full of drugs and crime, the area around Coogan's eventually both gains in its success and loses to that very success.

Admittedly, there were some aspects of this book that I personally didn't care for, only because I found a little of it boring. But that's solely a personal reading preference for me. This is actually quite a good book and should be interesting to many others. Especially anyone who has an interest in Coogan's and the history in that time period of Washington Heights. For anyone who frequented Coogan's, or maybe just had a few drinks that trickled through their heart, this would be required reading.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the eBook in exchange for a review.

There was a lot the author could have done with this book, but I felt as though nothing ever got off the ground.

This book never got going for me. The writing was too slow and I ended up not caring about the story at all.

I am very picky about the books I read. I need them to go at a quick pace and don't care much for a ton of details and this book just bogged down. Yes, even the memoirs.

I do appreciate how hard it is to write,

When I picked up this book about the life of one bar, Coogan’s, in upper Manhattan, I was expecting to be mildly entertained. I was not expecting to be fully engaged in the life of the bar, it’s owners and patrons, and the entire neighborhood of Washington Heights. As the book progressed, I began to anticipate each major event that I knew that was coming the bar’s way…9/11…COVID 19…and found myself in dread of what would happen. Honestly, I know nothing about New York City. I live and grew up in the mid-west and have only visited New York once for a work conference new Wall Street. I know nothing about the neighborhoods and the establishments that inhabit them, but this book brings it all to life. I really enjoyed spending time with this neighborhood.

I received a digital Advance Review Copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley.

Last Call at Coogan's The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar by Jon Michaud was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I have never knowingly been to Coogans but I have drank a few beers in New York City Irish pubs, so I may have been there. Neighborhood bars from yesteryear are true community meeting places where more got done than ever got done at the work sites or in political places. As I read this, I imagined the characters and I imagined all of this taking place at neighborhood bars in St Louis, San Antonio, Berlin, Germany, or wherever I was located at the time. Then to read the COVID over reaction is what killed this particular bar was kind of heartbreaking. If you like interesting stories of people and events that took place since the 1980's, certainly give this book a read.

4 Stars

This was an interesting book filled with facts that I had not known about the pub. This was highly researched and written very well.
I just reviewed Last Call at Coogan's by Jon Michaud. #LastCallAtCoogans #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Enjoyable read about a neighborhood bar and the impact it had on the Washington Heights community.
Connections formed during the thirty-five years of business were life changing.
 #LastCallatCoogans #NetGalley

Jon Michaud has created a pleasing cocktail of diverse ingredients in his recounting of the life and untimely death of a great American neighborhood tavern. “Last Call at Coogan’s” can be savored as a social history, a business case-study, a portrait of an ever-evolving upper Manhattan precinct, or just a lovely, elegiac celebration of public drinking places and the dreamers who sustain them. I recommend Michaud’s book to all who love New York City, unpretentious drinking and dining spots, and first-rate reporting in the tradition of Joseph Mitchell’s enduring classic, “McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon.” I’m grateful to NetGalley for making an advance copy available.

I grew up in a small coal-mining town in southwestern Pennsylvania. I learned as the years went by the importance of our local bars to the communities they served. The larger ones housed a restaurant serving comfort food and providing a forum for entire families to socialize or burn off some of the stress of a day’s work.

These businesses provided jobs. They sponsored sports teams. They often housed banquet rooms where celebrations were held. They acted as information highways where the latest news was shared with a pre-internet, news-hungry populace.

In Last Call at Cougan’s: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar, Jon Michaud provides a rich history of one such social hub: Cougan’s. Located in Washington Heights, at the upper reaches of Broadway at 169th St., Cougan’s became much more than an Irish bar and restaurant. Michaud shows how during its almost four decades of existence, “…it became a beloved community hub so essential that it was sometimes called Uptown City Hall”.

Cougan’s provided a place where people from varied walks of life and different ethnicities and races were able to have a drink or a meal in harmony. It provided a haven for doctors and nurses working at the nearby hospital, for police from the nearby precincts, for downtown workers blowing off some steam at the end of a tough workday, and many others. Well-known personalities walked through its doors from New York City and beyond: Lin Manuel Miranda (“In the Heights” means in Washington Heights), Mayor David Dinkins, and Gerry Adams of the IRA are just three.

Michaud provides a historical review of Cougan’s existence overlaid with most of the important local and national issues of the time: the AIDS epidemic, the crack epidemic, stop and frisk, race riots, the various financial meltdowns, 9/11, and finally the COVID crisis.

He demonstrates how Cougan’s management was versatile and open-minded in its out-of-the-box thinking. Cougan’s held book launches, mounted plays, staged poetry readings and karaoke, facilitated community outreach and arbitrated conflicts when they arose outside its doors. It helped resurrect the use of an armory building and began an annual 5K run fundraiser.

Any business that exists for almost forty years will have challenges and changes. Cougan’s was no different. Bars and restaurants tend to have more than their share. Michaud illustrates how Cougan’s navigated those challenges and changes, and mostly accomplished them in a moral way.

Through his extensive research and straightforward writing style, Michaud brings Cougan’s, and everyone who walked through its doors, alive. I could imagine sitting at this neighborhood gem, drinking a cold beer, and hearing about all the interesting people who graced its history. Last Call at Cougan’s provides a slice of Americana that you should discover for yourself.

This book was fascinating. While it is a story about the history of Coogan’s, it’s also about Washington Heights. The stories of the two are so intricately entwined that it is impossible to separate them. I was expecting a non-fiction version of Cheers, but Coogans was so much more. It was not just a community staple, it actively worked to benefit the community. This was an enjoyable read!

The only thing that I could ever love more than sipping on an ice cold Jameson and Ginger is reading about others enjoying the safety and sanctity of sipping in their favorite Irish Pub.
I enjoyed This book immensely. While it may appear to be a lighthearted read, it is anything but. The Bar opened in 1985 and closed after 35 years during the horror of the Pandemic. We learn of the problems of NYC race relations, the regular customers , and how the Pub survived during the extremely high crime rate of Washington Heights. I loved every word.