Tipping A Glass To 116 Crown

The illuminated bar. The welcoming, gorgeous garden in the back. The carefully crafted cocktails, which were worth the extra time they took. Over its now-ended 17-year run, 116 Crown was a singular sensation.

John and Danielle Ginnetti built a fabulous fortress in 2007, which the New York Times deemed ​“excellent.” To the many regulars, it was our place to unwind, spoil friends and family with the finest drinks and surroundings, and just chill at a home away from home.

Truffle Fries. Cocktail classes. Igloos each winter, filled with heaters, Bluetooth speakers and games. My favorite drink? The Jolly Roger: Four Roses bourbon, passion fruit and bird pepper.

It was a personal ​“go to” for milestones like my wife’s 30^th birthday, New Year’s Eve celebrations and the one-of-a-kind 116 Crown anniversary parties. 

At the 10^th anniversary bash, current and alumni Whiffenpoofs gathered at a table and broke into song throughout the party. Still to come, The Crown had something extra up their sleeve, besides the strong, batched cocktails, endless shellfish, and smoky brisket to wow us that night. John jumped up on a table to thank us for supporting them, ending his speech with ​“Strike up the Band!” Behind the fence that circled the garden, the Yale Marching Band magically appeared. I have never seen such a joyous, raucous performance descend so suddenly and boldly for a small, private audience. It is what John and Danielle could only pull off.

I was there one night with the owners in mid-March 2020 as we all looked down the street and saw the wasteland that downtown New Haven had become. The bar that roared was especially reliant on Bulldog business and 116 Crown never fully recovered from the pandemic. Over the years, Yalies shared their love for the place with ensuing classes.

Yale won the Division I national title in lacrosse in 2018 and was runner-up to Virginia in 2019. The team returning in 2020 was stocked as full as the Ginnettis’ bar and was poised to dominate their opponents. The Covid-19 outbreak cost the Ivy League the next two full lacrosse seasons and Yale stars transferred to other schools. Like that Yale lacrosse team, a hard stop of nearly two years meant that folks went elsewhere. Nearby stretches of Orange and Chapel turned into temporary one-way streets, and that hurt 116, too. Many found their way back to The Crown, but the numbers never approached its heyday.

On March 4, suddenly via social media, 116 Crown announced that ​“Everything ends.” Shockingly to its many devotees, its doors closed for good.