the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Long time Ridgewood Restaurant Smith Brothers is rumored to be closing February 1st. It will become an Italian restaurant.
We are not surprised. As much as we always tried to like the place you never knew what you were going to get when you ordered. We checked and they only got 2 out of 5 stars on Yelp.
Most of the complaints echoed ours over the years were about service and then the food.Sources tell us not 1 employee will be retained, even those working for over 10 years.Seems the new place will be starting fresh.
Readers remarked that they felt management was the problem, they treated everyone like crap. Another Reader said , the wife and I had dinner there some years ago near the table by the bar. Owner berated a poor 16 year old busboy right in front of us.
Lets do a community intercession Campaign. Save the Smith Brothers !, let’s build them an oversized non conforming Mega Garage…Had to be the main reason despite being across from the main train Station. Classic watering hole location. Late night hours all sorts of transit options and visibility like the other poor downtrodden restaurants in the CBD north
So maybe the supposed lack of parking wasn’t the reason for no customers?
Great location but I think the business concept is a thing of the past. It’s mostly a bar (who goes to a bar in Ridgewood?) and the food is not what people are looking for these days.
Food at best was mediocre as for bars in the village look at Fish and Park West the bars are busy.
Please, lack of parking!
Thanks Paul Nice Try
Please, this is not do to a lack of parking. What a poor excuse when a business is lacking. Seedy bar, terrible wine list. Fire could only save them for so long…
The simple fact is that after almost 35 years in the same location the owners of Smith Bros are moving on to well deserved retirement. They have sold the liquor license and the lease and the new owners will do what they believe to be best for that space. Over the years the Smith Bros have employed countless local staff, including younger employees first job.
While not a food critic I am surprised that an establishment that have been a staple in the town for that length of time is not bid a fond farewell with well wishes. Have we all become that jaded
Well wishes to Smith Bros Thank you for 35 years in Ridgewood
The food sucked for over 35 years, let’s be real!
How quick the people of Bergen County are to judge these businesses. The restaurant industry is cut throat – 24/7 – 365 NO DAYS OFF. I would love to see how others would react if people openly disrespected them anonymously on their own career or anything they’ve worked their entire lives for. If you insist on being rude, at least open yourself to the same kind of criticism!
The fact of the matter is, Smith Brother’s has not only survived but earned a reputation as a Ridgewood staple for over 35 years! They deserve nothing but a happy & stress free retirement – Ridgewood will always remember you! Thank you for the memories and ENJOY!
I’m going to miss Smith Brothers, I’ve been going there for years, its always been nice to have it as an option. Always liked the music. Wish they would have taken wall down and made it a bigger bar space. Best wishes to the family in retirement, thank you!!
Witnessed the owners berate employees, some young ones, probably 1st job experience were reduced to tears. I stopped going there, it was very uncomfortable to see people treated so poorly. Over the years the this place steadily declined, the food was awful, drinks were overpriced and watered down, and the facilities were filthy. I wondered how they stayed in business. Fish rots from the head down, very poor mangement.
Large parking garage with snack bar will fill the void.
918….After the fire it went from Saloon to steak and chop house (supposedly)….Ronnie made a good buck in spite of the way he treated employees… he did okay but he could have made a bundle… kind of like snatching a tie from the jaws of victory with a location like that… but hey he put in his time and I hope he enjoys the life of leisure…
Smith Bros is not closing Feb 1st. Maybe end of Feb or early March
I love Smith Brothers..good drinks..good food..good staff..good times..will miss this great establishment..all the best to Ronnie and Eileen
I like Smith Brothers. It has a local bar atmosphere. It’s friendly, inexpensive, and I will miss it when it’s gone
Closed? Sitting here right now having a cold beer. Should check your facts before announcing this. Fairly irresposible.
James I would appreciate you confirm the fact that Smith Brothers restaurant is still open. I realize that you rely on rumors and Yelp always credible sources. The damage you have done is reprehensible.. Perhaps if you realize that people work there and customers actually enjoy coming there. If you look at the restaurant industry 35 years is an accomplishment. Yes the Restaurant is under contract but we will be there for a few more months and it should be Ronnie’s decision to say goodbye to his customers in his way. Keep on reporting about the parking garage that obviously you don’t want but the area needs. Before you put out anymore hit pieces perhaps you should look and see the taxes that those .places pay. Next time you want to write about a rumor perhaps you could do some checking,
When Geoff Smith had a piece of the action, thats when the place was hopping making money. Geoff would say show me the money
As a former employee – Yes, it’s true. He, Ronnie, embarrassed me one night, or tried to. he embarrassed only himself.
the kitchen was deplorable. The staff was nothing more than alcoholic drug addicts. My wallet and other things were stolen from my purse.
The manager – Mary, was a bulldog, rude – right from the gutter. No wonder she and Ronnie were there together for so long. Cut from the same cloth
I didn’t last there very long as an employee. Prior to that, as a patron – I was not impressed.
Went there once thought it really sucked compared to NYC restaurants and others in Ridgewood. Good riddance it won’t be missed.
It was never the same after the fire. I loved the ambiance of the place, it reminded of the “Cheers” bar on television. The old tavern bar and booths were so beautiful. Never liked the new Smith Brothers, didn’t have much of a menu either.
The steak and chop house sign was over the top… But Terry, you’re right, the pre fire “Saloon” was a blast… but hey, he had a great run… good for him… James, you didn’t blame the suck part on the unholy 3 running against the kumbaya korner…
Ron and Eileen were pigs that treated their customers and staff horribly.
Eileen was a white trash waitress who married ugly Ron. Ugly Ron did not know how to run a business. Glad this place didn’t survive! Ridgewood deserves better. Bye bye smiths. You truly sucked.
I was sad to see that Smith Brothers was closing. Since moving to Wyckoff in 1997, Smiths was a regular stop for my friends and me on Friday nights, for many years. We went there for community, friendship, and fun. And great drinks, and live music. We knew exactly what we were getting, and my friends (who are mid to upper middle class professionals, in their Middle Ages…and second childhoods all at once) had great times there. We shared stories, and celebrated birthdays, we made friends, got together at parties, celebrated holidays, shared our woes and worries and laughed and cried together . We still do. A whole network of people who celebrated life at Smith Brothers on a regular basis. And they let us. They gave us a place to dance, to sing, even badly and loudly, to hang out, and as Billy Joel sang….to forget about life for a while.. Nothing wrong with that. Thanks for the memories.