Our bar was founded to be a third space for our local Brooklyn neighborhood - somewhere other than work or home where friends could gather, have a drink and connect more deeply. Our business model was built around earning the trust of repeat guests from our community, not charging tourists $22 for a cocktail. But today, tariffs are making that model more difficult to sustain.
Clara Greenstein, a 28-year-old who lives in Queens, New York, can be found several nights a week at her local bar, The Seneca. The spot serves good burgers and drinks for a good price, but the main draw is a pool table. Greenstein entered a tournament about two years ago, and now she's inherited the role of running it. "I get a free hamburger every week and get to basically have office hours for all my friends," she tells me.