Upper East Siders may recognize the corner of First Avenue and E. 63rd St. as the site of the original TGI Fridays, which opened in 1965, or from Tom Cruise’s 1988 film Cocktail. Now, the storied space is getting a new lease on life as another beloved New York City destination prepares to move in.
Ship of Fools, owned by Glenn Treacher and his wife, Owen, will return after a 16-year hiatus at 1152 First Ave. The reopening will be a family affair, with Treacher’s children, Jack and Emma Treacher, joining the business this time around.
The bar originally operated at Second Ave. and E. 82nd St. from 1996 to 2012.
“Ship of Fools originally was not going to be the sports bar that it turned into. It was actually going to be like a place I knew in London. It was the week the Yankees made it back into the World Series, the first time in ages. We had three 21-inch TVs, you couldn’t move in the place. Owen and I looked at each other and decided to become a sports bar,” Treacher told Whatnow New York City.
Treacher brings decades of industry experience, having operated The Australian for 13 years and The Liberty for about 15 years before the latter closed in March following the sale of its building.
He began searching for a new location before The Liberty closed, knowing he wanted to open another spot. When he came across the Upper East Side space, it felt like kismet, as he had first considered the same location in 1996.
While the original Ship of Fools had more of a sports bar atmosphere, the new location will embrace a neighborhood bar feel with Welsh influences reflecting Treacher’s heritage.
“We’re looking to have people come to us two, three or four times a week. We’re not looking to be that destination spot, rather a community bar and restaurant. People often in their apartments have small kitchens and living rooms, so we want to become their kitchen and living room,” he said.
The interior will retain the original structure and character, with updated finishes and a maritime-inspired aesthetic featuring wood and brass accents.
“The bar and bar back, along with the floors, will need sand down. The ceiling is a tin ceiling, so it can’t get better than that for an old-style bar. And funny enough, I still have the furniture from the original Ship of Fools from 30 years ago. It’s old, worn and looks like it fits in,” Treacher said.
Treacher plans to bring back staff from the original location and longtime industry friends, including Kristina Radulovic and Colby Cacek. Executive head chef Miguel Silverio will also return, helping the menu recapture the original Ship of Fools’ nostalgic appeal with its famed wings.
“Our wings are known to be outrageously good. Everyone still recognizes them from the original days,” he said.
Additionally, Chef Silverio will prepare steak, steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and bangers and mash, a traditional British dish featuring sausage and mashed potatoes.
“We’re going to start with a small menu and gradually build. There will be a fair amount of comfort food. We’re going to largely look at what the neighborhood wants,” Treacher said.
The kitchen will remain open as late as the bar to serve the entire neighborhood, including hospital workers nearby who keep nontraditional hours.
Treacher looks forward to “getting the band back together.”
“Everyone’s excited to come back. The friends we’ve made [over the years], a lot of people got engaged and married through Ship of Fools—those are my fondest memories,” he said.
Ship of Fools is planning a January 2027 return.
