Brooklyn Heights' Legendary Montero to Change Hands

Alex Pincus and his team will change little about the beloved bar.

Brooklyn Heights’ beloved bar Montero, founded by Galician merchant marine Joseph Montero in 1939, is going to be in new hands come spring. Owner and OG doorman Pepe Montero, who began working at his dad Joseph’s bar when he was just 13, is passing the torch to longtime friends Alex and Miles Pincus, fellow sailors and co-founders at Crew, the team behind Grand Banks, Pilot, Drift In, Holywater, and The Yacht Club.

The sale is epic; this is the first time in its history that operations will move outside the Montero family which they founded in 1939 and has since become a beloved bar and karaoke stage with a passionate neighborhood following.

Alex and his team are still nailing down the final terms of financing, so it’s not quite a done deal yet, but, as Alex wrote on Instagram: “What is done is one of the most touching community board hearings I’ve ever experienced. CB2 Brooklyn approved the liquor license transfer, and “Pepe” Montero, whose father opened the bar in 1939, closed the meeting with a beautiful speech that brought tears to my eyes and ended in a standing ovation. Never seen that before!”

Pepe and Alex at Montero

Alex continued: “Over the years, Pepe has become a dear friend to Miles and me, and all this time he’s been teasing us about buying the bar. Careful what you joke about ;)”

As a tribute to the history and indelible character of the bar and the family, Alex is keeping Montero, Montero, which means karaoke stays, the décor stays, cheap beer stays and the history stays. What he’s adding is free pool, good tunes, better cocktails. He’s killing the TVs. And in honor of Pilar Montero, the legendary matriarch, they will host a weekly Sunday dinner cooked by friends and chefs, and even Alex himself; Dinners will be $10 a head. First come, first served. And the best part, said Alex: “Pepe promised he’ll still man the door whenever he can. “This is an act of love. Love for Pepe. Love for the Montero family. Love for the neighborhood,” said Alex. “Love for the bar.”