Considering that it celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month, Lou’s Pub and Package Store already gets their fair share of complements. It can also say that it’s received what many consider one of the greatest compliments possible – imitation, though we’re not quite sure how this story in New York’s Red Hook neighborhood will end.

At first glance you’d think it was what some consider typical New York – small business owner is being forced out by the big bad landlord and the neighborhood is suffering because of it. But this story that ran last week in The New York Times suggests that its not necessarily the case. LeNell Smothers’ latest situation has made her (and others) aware that sometimes the rough streets of the Big Apple may just be willing to welcome someone from The Magic City with open arms (along with a cool liquor store). Now she’s just got to figure out where her business will be next after her lease expires next summer after five years…

BTW, it was Mental Floss’ own Neely Harris (her bio is third from the top) who got to write the piece honoring LeNell’s inspiration as one of Esquire’s Best Bars in America for 2007. Go check out the list of all of the local bars that made it this year (and find out how to keep voting for them) over on Timetable.