I seem to recall that this happened before about a year or so ago. The owners of the building did it as a ploy to get the bar to agree to a higher rent. Not sure if that is the case here this time, but could be.

Hmm...good point. Sounds a bit shady to me. I hope it doesn't go anywhere.

They should just move out. The landlord sounds like a total ahole and there are quite a number of spaces which would be even better for them. Somewhere in North Slope would be ideal with all of the new people who will trickle down from the arena. No reason to continually put up with a landlord like that who sticks a for rent sign up to see if they can get more rent. If he kicks that bar out, that place will sit vacant for a year.

Many years ago, there was a great hair salon in that space!

guys just don't bug the bartenders about this. it's hard enough not knowing your job security much less answering questions about it while at work.
i've been through this before and it's stupid and miserable. SO gossip amongst yourselves but be sensitive to the people working there. please.
i don't know why i even give a shit but... try to remember that the people there have a much higher stake in this than your gin and tonic.

open letter to staff of Great Lakes:

Actually. i don't know any of the current bartenders at Great Lakes but for the record... everyone before you has gone on to great bars or great other ventures. The mismanagement of "Great Lakes" specifically and the weight it put's on you is an AMAZING opportunity to build forward. This "rental" thing is going to be annoying but don't let it phase you. Basically working there you know how to run any bar. Because there is no real owner presence you kind of have the ability to run ANYTHING! This is an asset.

So you are about to go through a few weeks of people scaring you. The owners will get their shit together and manage this situation.... or hopefully people will be sensitive enough to not grill you about it. (they won't be)
Just stay strong don't let it mess with you. it's a negotiating tactic and totally.... doesn't matter. If it happens to it kind of just means you are off to bigger and better things. No one has left there for anything but bigger and better. like i said the total idiocy of ownership has made all of you experts.
the more important thing is it has made you an army of friends in all different vocations or venues.
just so you know this stupid "for rent" thing has happened before.
stay strong.
Know that the community loves you. you are the heart and soul of that establishment.
OH it's so unfair that this is happening to you! it's all negotiation. so douchey. i bet the a hole owners didn't clue you in on what's going on yet expect you to answer questions every day!

people of the slope please be cool and try to understand and not make everyones job more difficult.

I saw a sign like this years ago too, and was scared that it was closing. Nothing ever came of it though. Still, once they redid the floors and added Big Buck Hunter, it kind of lost its charm for me. This was THE bar in Park Slope a decade ago, and I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for it, and for the nice ladies I would occasionally meet there.

Jim is correct. That space was up for rent about 2 years ago. The landlord was just playing games to try and force them into signing a more expensive lease. Obviously they signed a new lease...I am surprised they did not demand a long term. That was their mistake.

Great Lakes is the dead canary. It's official-- the North Slope is finnished. Unless you want to pretend your a character on some Disney chanell sitcom. Where the "dives" is a theme bar better suited for tourist on Times Square. Where the restaurants are overly precious and frankly not all that good. North Slope is the ugly dumpy rich girl whose at the party because she lives up stairs and if she wasn't invited she'd call the copsc. The North Slope is snarky "Smart" types that do the Times crossword puzzed but can't get out of the back office. North Slope, if your so smart why are you waiting for you parents to die?

I sure wish we all had idiot bosses , then everyone would be experts. Real smart thinking Mr. rfitz023. You're not just a deep thinker are you?...... "Oh, it's so unfair"...... Your sensitive too. Stand strong brave soul as you continue to bear witness to great injustices. You haven't even met the bartenders yet in your infinite wisdom and compassion know just what advice to give. I've never met you but I want you to know the "community" loves you. God your a flake.

RIP Great Lakes, so sad, I'll miss you. I heard the rent got too high and the hood slowed down, even slowing for Blue Ribbon whose rent is cheaper than Grt Lakes I hear. But the guys who owned Great Lks not only informed the staff, whom I know well, most of them are working at their other bars they own. That guy who called the owners idiots sounds like that guy who's a partial owner of Commonwealth and High Dive, a former disgruntled Great Lks employee. Tho he's a narcissist, he's nice (sometimes) and his bars are ok (no Great Lakes tho), but he even complained to me about the Great Lks owners, yet everyone else thinks they're awesome (I met them both once, totally cool). Issues fella, issues. (I'll be hangin at their other Slope bar more now, Buttermilk, and I'm hot so come by cute guys and buy me a whiskey!)