Binghamton's Royal Lounge Destroyed in Blaze

[RJones6901]

For former Binghamton & vicinity residents who may once have frequented the
famed Royal Lounge on Washington Street, there is very sad news as we enter the
year 2000:

Sometime around 6:30 or 7PM December 31st, a fire began in the back of the
Royal Lounge, destroying the building it was housed in, formerly the New
Washington Hotel. At this time, no one seems to know how the fire started.
Luckily no one was injured, but Binghamton has lost one its most unique night
spots.

I used to go to the Royal nearly every weekend when I was studying at SUNY
Binghamton, and I was visiting friends in the Binghamton area this weekend with
the hopes of ringing in the new year in "Royal" style. I was sorely
disappointed when I learned of the bar's ill fate.

The rumor is that the owner might try to reopen across the street; if that
proves to be the case, perhaps the new establishment can recapture some of the
magic that the old Royal had that kep so many of us coming back. Today, many
regular patrons were seen walking by the burnt out husk of the New Washington
Hotel. If you used to go to Royal and listen to Harvey play, Joanie Buckley
sing, or sang there yourself, or just liked to sit there on weekends and have a
few, I encourage you at your next toast to remember the Royal.

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[Trudi Marrapodi]

In article <20000101223100...@ng-cc1.aol.com>,
rjone...@aol.com (RJones6901) wrote:

> For former Binghamton & vicinity residents who may once have frequented the
> famed Royal Lounge on Washington Street, there is very sad news as we
enter the
> year 2000:
>
> Sometime around 6:30 or 7PM December 31st, a fire began in the back of the
> Royal Lounge, destroying the building it was housed in, formerly the New
> Washington Hotel. At this time, no one seems to know how the fire started.
> Luckily no one was injured, but Binghamton has lost one its most unique night
> spots.

I've never been in the place, but I saw it burn. I had come back downtown
during the First Night celebrations and saw the smoke and the fire and the
trucks pouring water relentlessly into the building.

> I used to go to the Royal nearly every weekend when I was studying at SUNY
> Binghamton, and I was visiting friends in the Binghamton area this
weekend with
> the hopes of ringing in the new year in "Royal" style. I was sorely
> disappointed when I learned of the bar's ill fate.

Wow, what a coincidence. Too bad for you.

> The rumor is that the owner might try to reopen across the street; if that
> proves to be the case, perhaps the new establishment can recapture some of the
> magic that the old Royal had that kep so many of us coming back. Today, many
> regular patrons were seen walking by the burnt out husk of the New Washington
> Hotel. If you used to go to Royal and listen to Harvey play, Joanie Buckley
> sing, or sang there yourself, or just liked to sit there on weekends and
have a
> few, I encourage you at your next toast to remember the Royal.

I never realized it had such a history.
--
Trudi

"What did we as a species do to deserve such a superlative skater?"
--Lorrie Kim, on Brian Orser

Wishing everyone a "Happy Bri-2K"