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A LOOK BACK
April 22, 1947: Zinck's Returns to Ithaca, Opens After Two Years' Absence
A Look Back...
April 22, 2005
The following is the text of an article, written by Joe Foreman, that ran on
this day on 1947 about the re-opening of Zinck's, a popular downtown bar,
mentioned in "Give My Regards to Davy."
"We'll all have drinks at Theodore Zinck's," will once again be reality on the
Cornell campus when Zinck's reopens on the former site of Tony's Bar, 109 South
Aurora Street Thursday. Two and a half years ago, Aaron Wells, well-known local
character, closed Zinck's, which he had brought back to Ithaca after
Prohibition. He ran it for almost 10 years. Tony Maiera, former proprietor of
Tony's, will be Wells' partner in the new venture.
Hardly anything in Ithaca is as deeply steeped in tradition as Zinck's. Long
before Prohibition, Cornell students were frequenting Theodore Zinck's. After
the death of the beloved original proprietor, Zinck's dropped from view, only to
be opened by Wells in 1934 after 25 years of extinction.
In the old days, it would have been impossible for any coeds on campus to enter
Zinck's. let alone make merry. One of the better known incidents occurring in
bygone years occurred when some of the more daring of the female students
disguised themselves as men and strolled up to the bar.
All went well until certain of the men became suspicious and being to sing one
of the more bawdy songs. The girls screamed, put their fingers in their ears and
ran for the exit, leaving the men to their revelry.
Coeds need not worry now, however, as no such rule is being enforced and the
fair ser will be welcomed. Previews of the new barroom show that Zinck's will
have it bar in the rear, as always, and an early colonial interior.
-- EJF
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