The Redwood, R.I.P.

The Times sent Valerie Reitman to cover the last rites at the Redwood, which began Friday night and spilled over into Monday. Turns out the old bar closed because business has been declining and the owner of the building on 2nd Street lacked confidence in the Redwood's relatively new Korean operators.

Landlord Avi Florentine of Broadway Civic Center said the tavern's "B" and "C" health ratings didn't help matters — a factor that contributed to his refusal to issue a long-term lease. In addition, the restaurant challenged the skills of the Parks, Korean immigrants who had no experience running a tavern.

Ho Park said he had found a buyer for the bar, but Broadway Civic refused to transfer his lease, citing a legal technicality — Park had given only 57 days' notice of the proposed sale, rather than the 60 days required.

Florentine said the prospective buyer, also a Korean immigrant, had little experience running a bar, a situation he did not want to repeat.

Anyway, for the wake, 86-year-old retired waitress Alice Broude came back to swap stories over one last Jack Daniels on the rocks.