West 44th Street bar fights to maintain tradition
It happened before, when landlords raised the rent in Jack Dempsey’s restaurant in 1974, not far from Jimmy’s Corner, established in 1971. For three years, both existed, but both are victims of New York economics, or at least for Jimmy’s corner, temporarily.
Jimmy’s Corner — the legendary boxing bar on West 44th Street just off Sixth Avenue in New York City — is currently fighting eviction. The situation has escalated into a very public battle between the bar’s owner, Adam Glenn, and its longtime landlord, the Durst Organization.
What’s happening now
• The Durst Organization is trying to evict the bar, arguing that the lease became void after founder Jimmy Glenn died in 2020.
• Adam Glenn (Jimmy’s son) disputes this, saying the bar has the right to stay until 2029 and has filed suit to enforce that.
• Durst says they kept the rent below market for nearly 20 years out of respect for Jimmy Glenn, but now the building is being sold, and they want the space vacated.
• Patrons and legislators have rallied in Midtown — including right outside Durst’s headquarters at 44th & 6th — to support the bar and push for small‑business rent‑stabilization legislation that could help places like Jimmy’s Corner survive.
Why it matters . . .
Jimmy’s Corner isn’t just another bar — it’s one of the last true Times Square dive bars, famous for $3 beers, boxing memorabilia, and a loyal community that spans decades. Losing it would mean losing a piece of Midtown’s old soul.
Current status
As of the latest reporting (April 2026), the bar is still open, still fighting, and still drawing crowds — but the eviction threat is very real, and the legal battle is ongoing.
We need everyone’s help!!
Jimmy’s Corner is still open, but the fight around it has intensified. The most recent developments show three parallel fronts: public rallies, legislative pressure, and an active court battle — all centered on stopping the Durst Organization from evicting the bar.
Latest developments
• Large rallies outside Durst’s headquarters (44th & 6th)
Around 100 supporters gathered on April 10, 2026, protesting the attempted eviction and calling out Durst for trying to void the lease after Jimmy Glenn’s death. Adam Glenn, Jimmy’s son, led the rally and emphasized that the bar is “fighting for its home.”
• State legislators are now involved
Multiple lawmakers — including State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher — publicly backed the bar and used the rally to push for commercial rent‑stabilization bills (S.8319/A.5568). These bills would cap rent increases and guarantee renewal rights for small businesses. They explicitly cited Jimmy’s Corner as the kind of institution the law is meant to protect.
Jimmy’s Corner is now the “test case” in Albany
Advocacy groups and elected officials are using the bar’s situation to argue for statewide protections against small‑business displacement. The Durst Organization maintains it kept the rent far below market for decades and offered $250,000 to help relocate, while Adam Glenn’s lawsuit argues the lease should run through 2029.
Where things stand now
Jimmy’s Corner remains open and operating, but the eviction case is active. The bar has become a symbol in a much larger fight over commercial rent laws in New York, and the next major movement will likely come from the courts or from Albany’s legislative session.
Please keep in touch, and if anyone has any new developments, please contact [email protected]


