Pony Bar UES closed after fire

#FDNY on scene at the Pony Bar on E 75th & 1st Ave. The bar is cordoned off with yellow tape. #Manhattan pic.twitter.com/fVmTMyGgA3 — Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) May 24, 2015

Some rather disheartening news from the Upper East Side over the holiday weekend: The Pony Bar UES (1444 First Ave. at 75th St., Upper East Side) suffered a fire on Sunday and the intent of the incident appears to be malicious.

According to owner Dan McLaughlin, early Sunday morning, someone broke into the bar, robbed it, and set the bar on fire using a ten-gallon gas can. The bar was an active crime scene for most of the day on Sunday as firefighters and police investigated the scene.

“We were extremely lucky that no employees or residents were hurt,” McLaughlin said. The building also has multiple apartment units above the bar, which did not suffer any damage. “That was truly an act of God.”

The bar will likely be close for at least a month, if not longer, as they clean up from the fire. We’ll keep you updated on the recovery and a reopening date.

