A closer look at the Windmill Tap & Grill in Dutch Kills

A while back we wrote about the Windmill Tap & Grill, a tavern opening up on the corner of 39th Ave and 29th Street in the Dutch Kills area of LIC (38-40 29th Street – GMAP). They have come a long way with their exterior renovations, and the new look is a gorgeous blue color (though we’re told that the paint can indicates that the color is green). The difference between where they started and where they are now is striking. Here’s a before and after matchup to better illustrate it:

Image source: Windmill Tap & Grill

Here’s a bigger picture of the structure as it stands now.

We were fortunate to meet with Paul Cohen, one of the partners in the business. He brought us inside the building and we saw that the insides are still under construction (we wore a hard hat while there).

The floor is full of this hex tile in this sort of (abstract) flower decoration:

It’s all over the place. The bar sits on top of it, actually, which makes the owners believe the tile was there before the current bar was installed – and the bar is quite long, over 27 feet. Behind the bar is a place for two mirrors that they found while digging through the property. They unearthed some interesting things in that process – including the mirror, signs for corned beef and cabbage dinners, as well as a handgun buried in the wall.

There is a second frame for a mirror – that one was discovered broken. They have been searching for a way to replace it. If you look above the mirror in the wooden frame, that same layering of four rounded pieces is found also on the outside of the bar. See below:

Not the tile patterns, too. It all seems sort of art deco-like. If you have suggestions as to what style this might be, we are all ears.

Another cool thing is an old fashioned walk-in where the beer kegs would have been stored. It’s made of wood and brass. Seriously old style. It still lives in the basement and they plan to use it for storage.

Also if you notice the back wall, it’s a made of big rocks and concrete. We even spotted some quartz! All the walls down in the basement are made like this. It really feels like another world down there.

Back on the ground floor – in the southwest corner they’ve installed some very effective spray insulation (apparently the city is thrilled with this kind of insulation), which will keep noise from coming in and out. This space will eventually become a seating nook which can be converted to a stage where live acoustic music will be played.

So yeah, some cool stuff is going on here. They also have new windows installed, which look great. Along the edges of the space – next to the windows – will be tables and chairs. Then between that and the bar (well, there will be room for the bar stools, of course) will be their “Viking table” which will serve as a place for communal meals once a week. It will be a long, heavy, wooden table.

As for food, they will serve coffee (likely Porto Rico beans) and breakfast tacos, easy and fast to make for those heading to the train just up the street. Later in the day they plan to served “global Grandmother dishes”  – comfort food of varying kinds. Among the offerings will be a burger, a mac & cheese pot pie, and a ploughman’s lunch – meat, cheese, pickle, and bread. We expect they’ll come up with a whole variety of things. As for beer, a lot of it will be local – made in NY – and on tap. Wine will also focus on NY State wines.

They also plan to have wifi, which is good news in this tech-obsessed world we live in.

The owners are really excited about this venture, and it shows. They have incredible enthusiasm for the space and the neighborhood, and they tell us that the neighbors have only embraced them. We can’t wait to see the final reveal, which should be in early 2013.

Many thanks to Paul Cohen for meeting with us and walking us through their labor of love!

Windmill Tap & Grill, 38-40 29th St, Long Island City, NY 11101; (718) WINDMILL 946-3645; windmillnyc.com and Facebook

The Windmill Tap & Grill will open later this year in Dutch Kills [QNYC]