‘To the tables down at Mory’s’

Before it was a Yale fixture, Mory’s was a waterfront tavern. Basie Gitlin ’10 and Penelope Laurans reflect on its enduring pull and shared place in Yale life.

From Civil War–era tavern to beloved Yale institution, Mory’s has been pulling up a chair for the Yale community for more than 160 years. Few people know this storied place better than Basie Gitlin ’10, senior director of library development, a longtime Mory’s Board of Governors member, and the club’s Curator of Arts and Memorabilia. In this conversation, he reflects on Mory’s history, traditions, and what keeps him coming back.

Describe Mory’s in a nutshell.

Mory’s is a dining club affiliated with Yale that has existed for more than 160 years and has functioned as a club for more than 110 years. Unlike some peer institutions, Yale does not have a faculty club or a dedicated gathering place for returning alumni.

As a result, Mory’s has become something of a de facto gathering place for the Yale community. It serves as both a center of Yale life, past and present, and a place people love to gather around sporting events, singing events, and major university or alumni occasions such as commencements, reunions, Family Weekend, and the Harvard–Yale game.

Can you give a brief history of Mory’s

Mory’s began life around the time of the Civil War as a tavern run by Frank and Jane Moriarty. The name Moriarty’s was eventually shortened to Mory’s. At that time, it was located closer to what is now Wooster Square and nearer to the waterfront, which was much closer to the heart of the city than it is today.

Legend has it that Mory’s became popular after a group of Yale rowers “discovered” it because of its proximity to the boathouse. Over time, it developed into a kind of pilgrimage site for Yale affiliates. It moved several times, gradually relocating closer to downtown New Haven and the Yale campus. Throughout this period, Mory’s functioned as a homey, informal place for community and fellowship.

One of its most significant figures was Louis Linder, a German American proprietor mentioned in “The Whiffenpoof Song” as “the tables down at Mory’s, where Louis dwells.” Among his many legacies, Linder actively encouraged singing at Mory’s. During his proprietorship, the Whiffenpoofs were founded there in 1909.

Mory’s moved to its current location at 306 York Street in 1912. It soon became an association governed by an alumni Board of Governors, ensuring a sustainable future beyond any single proprietor. That transition formally established Mory’s as a club. Since then, Mory’s has primarily served members of the Yale community, and today it also includes members from outside Yale.

What are some things a first-time visitor should know about Mory’s?

One important thing to know is that the dress code has become much more relaxed over time. Casual attire is now entirely acceptable.

Because Mory’s is a club, members can either pay at the time of purchase or charge food and drink to their account. Members are assigned a member number, which allows them to charge purchases and settle the balance at the end of the month, as is common at private clubs.

It is also helpful to know that while the main dining room and the private rooms upstairs may feel more formal, the Temple Bar at the rear of the building provides a more casual gathering space. It is well suited for drinks after work or for watching sports.

You may also have heard about Mory’s famous cups. About a century ago, the Mory’s Cup was first awarded to football coach T.A.D. Jones “for conspicuous service to Yale.” It predates the Yale Medal, which is awarded by the Yale Alumni Association, by roughly 25 years. The Mory’s Cup continues to be awarded today and now recognizes current or former university employees and others who have enriched the fabric of life and work at Yale — and by extension, Mory’s.

Separately, another longstanding Mory’s tradition is the ability to order a “cup.” These date back to nineteenth-century collegiate drinking culture and consist of a shared alcoholic punch served in a silver chalice that is passed around a table without being set down. Cups are often champagne-based and come in a variety of colors. Each participant drinks as much or as little as they wish before passing it on, and the cup continues to circulate until it is empty. Cups are typically ordered for celebrations such as birthdays, victories, or group gatherings.

How has Mory’s changed over the decades?

For much of its history, Mory’s was primarily open to Yale College alumni. In recent decades, however, it has increasingly welcomed alumni from all of Yale’s graduate and professional schools, as well as Yale staff and faculty.

There has been a particular effort to keep dues for Yale staff and faculty extremely low, to the point that cost is effectively not a barrier to membership. In addition to individual memberships, Mory’s offers departmental memberships intended for university business. These memberships can be used for meals and private events connected to Yale business and are distinct from personal, out-of-pocket use.

Mory’s has also become one of the best options in New Haven for small- to medium-sized professional gatherings, such as lunches, dinners, meetings, or retreats. The availability of multiple private rooms upstairs, combined with relatively reasonable costs for both food and space, makes it an especially attractive and affordable venue.

What is your favorite part about being a member of Mory’s?

I usually give two answers. The first is feeling connected to a long and lively tradition of Yale people stretching back several generations. The second is that Mory’s is a space that feels like home.

There is a “Cheers”-like quality to the place — people know your name, and the staff knows your preferences. That feeling of belonging, whether stopping by for lunch with someone or for dinner before an event or happy hour — creates a sense of community that, for me, is unlike any other restaurant in New Haven. I have many happy memories from my time as a student here, as well as from spending time with library and development colleagues over the last 14 years as a staff member.