"The Eighty Six claims to be the location - 86 Bedford St. - where the term '86'd' or 'to get 86'd' originated. It's not the first to make the assertion. For years, many others have corroborated the story. (Though some accounts don't agree. Merriam-Webster says the term comes from 1930s soda-counter slang, as employees would refer to an out-of-stock item as '86'd' because it sounds like 'nixed.')"
"As one story goes, if the proprietors of the bar caught wind that the police were coming, everyone would evacuate - or 86 themselves. Another similar take says the Chumley's owners would eject over-inebriated customers - or 86 them - to avoid catching the attention of the police."
"Since its origins in the 1920s, the term, which has been picked up by the hospitality industry at large, has become an ambiguous yet integral piece of American slang."
The Eighty Six is an exclusive steakhouse in Manhattan's West Village that has become one of New York City's most sought-after dining destinations. Located at 86 Bedford Street, the restaurant claims to be the birthplace of the slang term '86'd,' meaning to throw something out or be out of stock. The term allegedly originated during Prohibition when Chumley's speakeasy occupied the same location. According to local lore, either patrons would evacuate when police approached, or owners would eject intoxicated customers to avoid law enforcement attention. However, Merriam-Webster attributes the term to 1930s soda-counter slang. Regardless of its true origin, '86' has become integral American slang widely used throughout the hospitality industry.
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