Big things are in the works for the former Porch on Avenue C between Eighth Street and Seventh Street. People behind the LES soap opera the DL (formerly Ludlow Manor) at 95 Delancey are aiming to open a bar-restaurant concept, according to paperwork on file with CB3.
"Apartment 13, 115 Avenue C" is on the October CB3/SLA docket. Behind the new venture is Paul Seres, president of the New York Nightlife Association and a member of Community Board 4 (serving Chelsea). Ludlow Manor/DL (and The Delancey) partner Aleksandra Drozd is also listed as an applicant.
The application (PDF) lists a "restaurant-bar" opening here with 36 tables (and 80 seats) and 1 bar with 12 seats (plus a patio on the second floor). No opening time is listed, but closing time is midnight Sunday-Tuesday; 2 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Food will be served during all business hours, and sample menu items include small plates of bone marrow gremolata ($14) and lobster brulee ($15).
How is the DL? Here is BoweryBoogie on it in July: "Scourge is probably the best word to describe the new party palace at 95 Delancey Street." A Yelper called the DL "one of the douchiest, skeeviest places I've ever visited."
There's not enough time to get into all all the history with the pre-DL incarnation, the Ludlow Manor, which included the involvement of Lady Gaga ex Luc Carl.
Seres came into the operation earlier in the year, and he gave his side of the story to The Lo-Down back in March. Read that here.
10 comments:
RIse up and oppose this Avenue C. You will be sorry otherwise.
Wow, how nice of them to close at midnight on Sunday and Monday when they don't have any business anyway, and insist on being open until 4 AM on Friday and Saturday to take full advantage of the douchebag-du-jour crowd. Sounds like a real piece of crap.
Yes Paul Seres and CB3 SLA board member Ariel Palitz are in business together as nightlife lobbyists. Their goal is to transform the East village from underground culture to cocktail lounges catering to the new wealthy demagraphic. I guess the Porch is just another location that's "ripe for the picking"
Isn't this a conflict of interest that Ariel Palitz is on the CB3 SLA committee. Dominic Pisciotta Berg didn't think so. CB3 unaminously voted for Paul Seres to take over the former Ludlow Manor. David McWater endorced the application stating that if anybody can do it Seres can. Ariel abstained from voting on this one because it was already in the bag. She however was not going to abstain from voting on a new venture that Seres was the consultant for, the restaurant BUGS on east 12th Street. Residents had to request that she recuse herself from voting.
That place is cursed. It seems nothing stays there very long.
MUST STOP THIS!
Paul Seres is the new Ben Shaoul. He's behind more and more bar/restaurants. It's insidious how he's seen by CB3 as the voice of reason because he's also on CB2 and "understands" the fears of residents. Throw Ariel Palitz in the mix and it's 'screw you' to the neighborhood and 'money for us' for them.
JUST SAY NO!!!
Seres, Seres, Seres. Why does everyone kiss this guys ass, like he is saving communities instead of destroying them. Check out his resume and his new business with Ariel Palitz, they are using the playbook of the Tea Party or Ralph Reed of the old Christian conservative party days. They know all politics is local so they get themselves elected to CBs, PTAs, etc and then start taking them over to push their agenda. Here is their plan - from an interview with the man himself back in April of 2010 “As a board member of Community Board 4 (Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen), the charter reform seems to be the big x factor that no one really knows which way it will go. We are getting more owner operators of nightlife venues on community boards to help create a balance between small businesses and the NIMBY’s that want to turn New York City into a bedroom community.” A bedroom community, you got to b f******* kidding me - the EV has more licenses than some entire cities.
They get a little momentum and they start getting chummy with the real estate crowd. Then they pounce and start flaunting their power and money. When residents were invited to hear about the plans for BUGS, the owner wasn't even present, but who was Paul Seres. When he was asked what his role was in the business, he stated that he was a consultant for the owner to help them "get through the community board". When asked if there was a lawyer involved he said "just to do the paperwork, I'm representing them at the community board". He then proceeded to trash the lawyers who normally represent applicants and how they charge exorbitant fees, of course not willing to disclose his fee. Then when residents asked if he knew who the landlord was (it's Shaoul), he said "I don't know", despite being very knowledgeable about the details of the lease. Anyone who does business with the likes of Ben Shaoul is not to be trusted that’s for sure.
I'd like to see more places like Duke's and Ten Eleven. More casual places that cater to the residents here.
I will not patronize this place nor will anyone else I know in the neighborhood.
I feel bad for this part of EV if this goes through. DL has to be the absolutely WORST business in the LES. Do everything you can to STOP this from approval or you'll regret it for years to come. Good luck.
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