Maggie’s Tavern, which closed in July, is scheduled to reopen sometime this fall.

‘As far as I know, Maggie’s is moving to where the Bunker BBQ used to be,’ said John Shahin, owner of Harry’s Bar on Crouse Avenue.

Maggie’s was especially popular among members of the Syracuse University greek community, and its former location on University Avenue is for sale. Owners of neither Maggie’s nor the Bunker BBQ could be reached for comment.

Jerry Dellas, president of the Crouse Marshall Business Association, said he heard Maggie’s chose not to renew its lease in the Marshall Square Mall.

‘The drinking age is 21, so for the marketplace, we don’t need an awful lot of bars up on the Hill,’ Dellas said. ‘It’s bad for the owner of Maggie’s, but I’ve heard people talk about it relocating.’

Jeremy Ferrara, a graduate student in education, was shocked to see the bar closed.

‘I’d been going to Maggie’s since my freshman year, and sophomore year I went about five nights a week,’ Ferrara said. ‘It would be great to see it reopen.’

Last spring, Faegan’s Caf & Pub and Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar were each raided once as part of Operation Prevent, the Syracuse Police Department initiative to curb underage drinking. Since Operation Prevent debuted in February 2003, Maggie’s has only been raided once, in September of that year. Lt. Shannon Trice, who heads Operation Prevent, could not be reached for comment.

Published on August 27, 2006 at 12:00 pm