KGB is a Soviet era-themed ("Communist chic"[1] ) bar located in the East Village of New York City at 85 E. 4th Street, New York, New York 10003.
Location | 85 E. 4th Street, East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States |
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Coordinates | 40°43′36″N 73°59′24″W / 40.726580°N 73.989923°W |
Type | Bar |
Opened | 1993 |
Website | |
Official website |
Before its present incarnation, the building had been the Palm Casino, a speakeasy controlled by Lucky Luciano. From 1948 to 1988 it was a private social club for communists and socialists.[2] On the bar's walls are "Stalinist woodcuts, World War II posters, a picture of Valentina V. Tereshkova, hammer-and-sickle flags and the odd Lenin bust and balalaika."[3][4]
Inspired by the Soviet-era memorabilia stored in the building,[5] KGB Bar opened in 1993,[6] and became one of the most popular book-reading venues in New York City.[2] Popular authors read here pro bono on Sunday evenings (fiction), Monday evenings (poetry), and most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.[7] KGB has been named best literary venue in New York City by New York magazine[citation needed], The Village Voice[citation needed], and others.[3]
The bar hosts several regular reading series which include: