Down the Alleyway... In the fall of 2004, Taavo Somer and William Tigertt happened upon a perfect cozy space at the end of an unused alley off the Bowery, and Freemans Restaurant was born. The idea of the restaurant was to make a rugged clandestine colonial American Tavern. The cuisine was also imagined to early American: Simple, Rustic, and inspired by Old World traditions. END of Freemans Alley Freemans Alley is off Rivington Street between Chrystie and the Bowery on the Lower East Side of New York City.