Owner, Bartender from Subject LES Open Gin Bar in New Chrystie St Building

Pickle Guys brine for the dirty martini is a clever touch.

Chin Up Bar, a new cocktail bar from a couple familiar faces, officially opened at 171 Chrystie Street on Tuesday, December 16th. The spot’s headed by Brian Gummert and Blake Walker, both of whom have long ties to the neighborhood. Brian owns Subject, the cocktail bar on the corner of Houston and Suffolk, while Blake bartended at Subject as well as at the pandemic victim Nitecap, whose Rivington storefront remains empty to this day. Brian’s also (likely) the first Omahan I’ve ever met; he moved here 10 years ago after staying at an AirBnB above Subject, meeting the original owner, and being offered a job there just a few days after returning home to Nebraska.

Because of their experience with the area, the location was no accident. Both were interested in areas they were familiar with and were also attracted by a rare chance to work with a blank slate space (the building is a post-pandemic build) that offered high ceilings. To pay homage to the neighborhood they’ve dedicated a good chunk of their working lives to, they selected Ori Carino, a life-long Lower East Side artist, to design the sky-like murals decorating the ceiling.

Note: this is a gin bar. That means that, along with the seafood oriented menu (to be released soon), it’s all about the martinis, the old-fashioneds, and the negronis here.

Best of luck to Brian and Blake!

Thanks for reading and I hope you’re enjoying the holidays.