by Geoff Cobb 
The headlines said: “The Palace Café in Greenpoint is closing its doors on Saturday September 3rd after eighty-three years,” but whoever wrote those headlines was certainly no Greenpointer. Although a sign on the side awning advertised the restaurant as the Palace Café (206 Nassau Avenue), locals never called it that. To a generation of born-and-bred Greenpointers the place was always known as Goodman’s on Winthrop Park—which is actually the…
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My sister and many friends had their wedding receptions there.
Would meet with family and friends to sing with the legendary Piano player Vernon. Who would play any tune from any Era that was requested. From the roaring twenties to at that time the 80’s. He played there until he was about 83 yrs old. It was a place where you knew all the local people. Had my children s Christening parties, family funeral dinners and birthday parties there. I still pass it on my way home. Sad to see it go. A part of my history will disappear.
Does anyone know why was it called Goodman’s?
I know! It was called Goodman’s because my dad, Dan Goodman was the bartender there for over 50 years. He was partners with Billy Ryan. But sadly for whatever warped, strange reason unbeknownst to me or my family – his memory is being erased in all these blogs posts about the closing. It’s truly heartbreaking. xo Erica Goodman (p.s. my family has lived in Greenpoint since the 1880s)
Trust me, anyone that ever hung out in Goodman’s knows who Uncle Dan was. He could never be forgotten.
My grandmother, Anna Grimes Gorman, was a suster to Mary Grimes Goodman. Their father was Jeremiah Grimes. My dad Sonny was Dans cousin. We moved to NJ a long time ago but I’ve stopped in every once in a while. I miss Greenpoint. Sorry to hear the bar is closing.
I remember Uncle Dan very well! ALL the Goodmans!! Michaele Mary was my bff in HS, my maid of honor and life long friend. My bridal shower was there in 1968 and every visit back home to Greenpoint has included a visit there!! An end of an era but it will always be remembered, with love, as Goodman’s!!!
PRIOR TO GOODMANS OWNING THE BAR AT 206 NASSAU AVE IT WAS KNOWN AS SMITTIES OWNED BY HARRY SMITH…..DAN GOODMAN WAS A BEVERAGE SALESMAN FOR SCHAFFER BEER IN THE FIFITIES….BILL RYAN WAS GOODMANS BROTHER INLA A RETIRED NYC POLICEMAN AND THEY BOUGHT THE PALACE TOGETHER…..