You are reading

Elmhurst street co-named in honor of former Grandstand bar owner John Browne

An Elmhurst street corner has been co-named after John Browne, the former owner of the Grandstand Pub and Restaurant, a beloved Irish American bar that closed last year. Attendees at the event (Photo provided by Donie Carrol)

June 13, 2023 By Michael Dorgan

An Elmhurst street corner has been co-named after the former owner of the Grandstand Pub and Restaurant, a beloved Irish American bar that closed last year.

The intersection of Simonson Street and Grand Avenue is now known as John Browne Way, named after the publican John Browne who died early last year.

Councilman Shekar Krishnan joined Browne’s family and friends, as well as local residents and former customers of the bar, for the co-naming ceremony. Many of the attendees were of Irish descent.

John Browne (Provided by Shekar Krishnan)

Browne, an Irish immigrant from County Cork, was the face of the pub, having established it in 1988. Locals credited Browne for turning the bar into a gathering place for immigrants in search of a helping hand. It was a neighborhood staple for nearly 35 years.

Under Browne’s stewardship, the bar became known for its welcoming atmosphere and often hosted Irish music sessions and karaoke. Well-known Irish musicians Mick Moloney and Donie Caroll often performed at the bar.

Carrol, who played a number of Irish traditional songs during the June 10 ceremony, remembered Browne fondly, and said the co-naming was deserving of the Cork man. He said Browne was very generous and gave back to the local community.

“It was a great idea to co-name that street because John was an icon and one of the most compassionate, decent people you could ever wish to meet,” Carrol told the Queens Post. “I played music for him for 25 years and he was very supportive of everything artistic, and the local community as well.”

The bar was often used for community events and family events, such as birthday parties, or after religious celebrations such as Holy Communions. It was also known for its Christmas breakfasts and Browne would buy toys for the children who attended, according to Krishnan.

Browne, Carrol said, was a tremendous advocate for Irish immigrants who arrived in New York in search of a better life. The Grandstand was often the first stop for many immigrants looking for employment, as well as housing — and John would always do his best to help them.

Browne was an advocate for the Irish Immigration Reform Movement (IIRM), which sought to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants from Ireland in the late 1980s.

The movement was initiated by the County Cork Benevolent, Patriotic, and Protective Association, an organization that aims to maintain roots between Cork and people who have immigrated to America from Cork.

Browne was a member of the organization for nearly 50 years and a past president, Carrol said.

“He supported new immigrants to New York and was also a terrific leader of the Cork Association,” Carrol said.

Browne also served in the U.S. Armed Forces, from 1960 to 1962, as part of the 3rd Aviation Company of the 3rd Infantry Division. He was also active in the labor movent as a shop steward.

Krishnan said that Browne was an extraordinary person whose actions, deeds, and words will live on. He said Browne was also an exemplary business owner, and that his legacy will leave a lasting impact.

“Each and every one of you … has had a personal connection with such a wonderful human being, whose story and history will live on permanently in our community, marked by a street today.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Repeat hate crime offender charged in anti-Muslim subway attack in Forest Hills: DA

A Southeast Queens man is being held without bail after he was criminally charged with assault in the first degree as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly punching and kicking a Muslim woman on an E train in Forest Hills during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 18.

Naved Durrni, 34, of 106th Avenue in Jamaica, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday and additionally charged with aggravated harassment in the first and second degrees.

Hate Crimes Task Force investigating bomb threats against Mamdani: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched a probe into multiple death threats made against Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani after his district office at 24-08 32nd St. in Astoria received four expletive-filled phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual, including a threat to blow up his car.

The calls were made from an untraceable number and labeled the mayoral candidate a “terrorist who is not welcome in New York or America” in a message phoned in on Wednesday morning.

Seven teens indicted for attempted murder in brutal Kissena Park gang attack on two girls: DA

A Queens grand jury indicted seven teenagers for attempted murder, gang assault, robbery, and other crimes for an attack on two girls inside Kissena Park in Flushing in early May.

The defendants, who are all 17 years old, were variously arraigned in Queens Supreme Court between June 4 and Wednesday in two separate 25-count indictments with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree. If convicted, they face up to 25 years in prison.

Queens Defenders founder charged with stealing nonprofit funds as second scandal unfolds

The founder of the Queens Defenders and her husband have lawyered up after they were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization.

Former Queens Defenders executive director Lori Zeno, 64, surrendered Wednesday at the Brooklyn federal courthouse. Zeno was arraigned on an indictment charging her and Rashad Ruhani, 55, with wire fraud conspiracy, theft, money laundering conspiracy and other crimes.