social club

We here at The Batavian heard from multiple sources over the past few days that the St Nicholas Social Club of Batavia had been closed down. We spoke this morning with Tim Walsh, a member who was on site at the Swan Street social club. Walsh is the current club manager.

When asked if the club was closed, Walsh replied: "No, not at all."

"It's mostly been rumors from disgruntled employees who were let go," said Walsh of all the talk that the club was shut down. The family that had been in charge of the place for the past ten to twenty years or so had been let go, he said. It's likely that they were responsible for spreading the rumors. Walsh figured it was a board decision to let them go. "It was time for a change."

St Nick's, as it's more commonly known, has been around since at least the 1950s, said Walsh. It's a membership-only Italian social club, in his description.

"We have 1,100 members," said Walsh. "We're trying to get most of them to come in and patronize the place. It's tough times right now."

"Friday nights we knock 'em dead here," he added. "We're open for lunch Monday through Friday, and for dinner on Wednesday or Friday. Lunch and dinner is not restricted to members. Friday nights are our busiest night each week."

Only members and their friends, however, can drink alcohol at the club because of state regulations. St Nick's also has a karaoke night once a month and hosts "a lot of benefits," he said.

"This is the best club in town," said Walsh. "Just about everyone in town knows we're here."