HOGELAND'S BAD HISTORY

Dive Bars

They're failing because people call them that.

William Hogeland's avatar
William Hogeland
Jul 01, 2026
∙ Paid
hang of yore

A recent story in The New York Times Magazine got my attention by showcasing one of my pet peeves. The online headline was “Ode to the New York Dive Bar: Is the Beer Cheap? Is the Bathroom Scary?” Online subhead: “Dive bars have a rich history, but they face an uncertain future with rising costs and changing social patterns.”

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