We continue to look at this month's CB3/SLA committee agenda. Here's another item of considerable interest: Nublu, the eclectic cosmopolitan music venue, is planning to move from its current home at 62 Avenue C to 151 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street, according to paperwork on file with CB3.
Plans call for a "restaurant/music performance space" with daily hours of 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week. According to the paperwork, "a sidewalk cafe license application will be made at a later time."
Starting in August 2011, Nublu had to temporarily relocate to under Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue ... it's a complicated story that features a liquor license snafu involving the club's proximity to the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall across the street. (You can read more about it at the Voice in this Q-and-A with Nublu owner Ilhan Ersahin.) Nublu, which opened in 2002 with a location now also in Istanbul, moved back to No. 62 in January.
Ersahin and three friends bought 62 Avenue C, as a feature in the Times from June 2011 points out, making it safe from the usual club killers. (High rents, etc.) However! "[I]t's my dream to move the club into a larger space nearby and then make Nublu into a recording studio. That's what we need to be even more productive," Ersahin said at the time.
As we noted back in August 2009, 151 Avenue C and its "4,186 buildable square feet of additional air rights" hit the market for $2.3 million. The space was billed as "a rare opportunity for ... developers."
City documents show that the two-story building at 151 Avenue C was purchased in June by 151 Ave C Holdings LLC (with an address of 62 Avenue C) for $1.75 million.
Cool. Glad they are staying the East Village...
ReplyDelete- East Villager
The people from Nublu have had no regard for residents nor the neighborhood when they were at 62 Avenue C. Long time East village residents, some of whom grew up here were contemplating leaving because of Nublu. Our neighborhood is to the point of extinction with natives holding on by a thread. It has been all about Nublu with no regard for the neighborhood and our people.
ReplyDeleteif you plan to do a recording studio at 62, seal up that back window/door ok. Shame, shame on you.
For the new space at 151, respect and humility is in order!
It's great to have a venue like this in the neighborhood. Hope the new place actually has clean bathrooms, though!
ReplyDeleteNublu is a class act all the way and they do a tremendous job keeping alternative culture alive and well in the hood. these are great guys and i support them all the way. yo go, ilhan! looking forward to dancing it up at the new space!!
ReplyDeleteAs a 25 year resident of Loisaida , married to a native villager and the father of another native and a long time friend of Ilhan,himself a resident of 20 years in the neighborhood; i can say unequivocally that no one cares more about his neighbors or his neighborhood. Although the noise from any place of nightlife entertainment can be spirit breaking, I know from direct observation all the improvements to noise reduction Ilhan has taken. Short of closing his business or ridding the east.village further of live music, I would say he's been nothing but respectful.
ReplyDelete"spirit breaking" It goes way beyond that. We never asked him to close just to close the back and clear the front and he didn't. Could be the case of staff members doing what they want to do. At any rate I do think it is a good move and just keep the back closed at both spaces and make sure that the front is clear and that doors are closed at the time they will be stipulated to close.
ReplyDeleteThey say that they are going for an outdoor cafe. I'm not saying don't do it, just that it can be problematic for any owner and residents. The neighborhood can not afford to lose even one more native.
Look, on the block you've got Esperanto. Esperanto has been in violation for their outdoor cafe for years. The cafe rule is aas such: There needs to be aan eight foot pedestrian sidewalk clearance and a cafe barrier with a three foot service aisle which waiters are to use, not the siewalk for serving. They do not abide by any of these rules and have been found in violation and fined. They still continue to violate the rules.
I am happy about the recording studio and the relocation. Do the right thing. Respect.
For what it's worth, there isn't an eight foot pedestrian passing anywhere there is an outdoor cafe east of broadway. Or for that matter in Manhattan
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThat's right, because #1 nobody calls them in. #2 they need to have three violations in one year in order to have the outdoor space temporarily or permanently shut down, or for a thirty day closing of the establishment. #3 inspectors do everything they can to inspect on rainy days and to ignore details and take longer than the 30 days to inspect.
#4 the person in charge of this at DCA does everything they can to not find businesses in violation. #5 the person running this operation is married to someone who works for Bloomberg News. #6 it's cheaper to keep paying the fines than to legally run the outdoor cafe, more seats more money. Profits over people. #7 they allow complainers to submit photos via the DCA website but they actually don't count, it's a waste of time.
The good news is that they can get shut down. I recently noticed a reduction in tables from a particular establishment that is a well known nuisance and now I see no tables, so I am wondering. It took a long time to get results.
The sad part is that some of these illegal cafe's are extremely dangerous for pedestrians as people are forced to walk in the street to get around their crowds.
I think that establishments that use public space as their own private space, i.e., illegal cafe's, patron holding areas, monopolization of bike racks for their delivery bikes, etc., is WRONG!
If an establishment can not accommodate their crowd then they should just move to a larger space and not subject pedestrians to a possible accident. It's also unfair that persons living above such establishments should have to deal with this. All I'm saying is Do the right thing. Respect.
@Glamma and East of A - before you rush in and support NuBlu you may want to spend a few minutes talking to the people who have lived above it and next to it. The owner might be a nice guy, but his business has driven residents crazy. One guy brought his wife and daughter to the CB 3 meeting and described not being able to use half his apartment because of the noise from NuBlu and their patrons out front. He was there for a very long-time. Why should he have to pack up his family and move-out of the neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteYes people do move into buildings that have bars/lounges/clubs/restaurants on the ground-floor, that were there before they arrived. Those folks are taking a serious risk. The vast majority of us though who raise issues here and at the Community Board moved in long before our greedy bastard landlords decided to rent to a place with a liquor license to maximize their rental income. I am not sure if either of you live above one of these types of establishments, or have ever been subjected to the noise that comes from living above an open rear yard or sidewalk café operated by a bar/restaurant/lounge. Basically you can’t use that section of your apartment for 7 months out of the year, until after midnight. But if you haven't experienced this, think twice before rushing to the defense of places like Nublu, because someday you might and then you will be singing a new tune, or in your case Glamma dancing to a new tune.
@ East of A
ReplyDeleteActually I don't agree with you entirely. For what it's worth you are wrong. Most if not all of the businesses on 2nd Avenue do have the 8 foot clearance, 3 foot service aisle and a barrier. I'm not saying that they don't drive people crazy, or that they care about the neighborhood. First Avenue doesn't have too many because there isn't enough space. Simone and Terraluci E Vino absolutely have the space. On A, Sidewalk, Benny's are fine. Avenue B has a few problems and some of the side streets. Avenue C, Zum Schneider and Esperanto are good examples of establishments that are audaciously in violation. I'm talking about places that have no regard, that spill out onto the street, they don't even try, get my drift. If the guidelines say you can have four tables don't try to squeeze in eight and then use the sidewalk to serve.
It's WRONG!
East of A - Since when is being a nice guy, living in the east village for over 20 years, and caring about the neighborhood, make anyone a good neighbor? From first hand experience I can assure you that Nublu is the most disrespectful and inconsiderate neighbor one could imagine!
ReplyDeleteAs Anonymous said to Glamma and East of A: until you have been subjected to the noise that comes from living at hearing distance of a bar/restaurant/lounge, you can't rush to the defense of places like Nublu!
hmmm that is odd the people of above nublu complained since they are the ones that own and occupy the building !!!
ReplyDeleteit is a shame the original nublu got caught up in a terrible and antiquated blue law that should be changed
I hope they move into the new space they are a culturally significant force in the East Village
At a recent CB meeting about Nublu about twenty residents showed up to raise thier concerns about the problems that they were having with Nublu. They lived in the building, the buildings next door and the buildings behind.
ReplyDeletegreat that nublu will stay on Avenue C and in the east village. This place has become an icon for the arts community, and reached global recognition for a reason. But it is essentially a real east village kind of place....and needs to stay here. If not we will only get trendier and trendier gentrification....we need this true and cool home for creative music to stay with us...!
ReplyDeletewhat a great club and beautiful people
ReplyDeleteworld class musicians, DJ's, artist. photographers, filmmakers...
one of those that make our city the cultural center of the world...
great to here they are expanding
best wishes...
@anon 7:15. I have not, despite my hyperbole, done an exhaustive study of every sidewalk cafe, but I would wager a bet that if you take a tape measure or note that sidewalk slabs are generally 4 feet wide, you will be hard pressed to find 8 feet of pedestrian space between most seating and the curb. Especially where there are trees, bike racks, lamp posts and muni meters. I say mostly 6 feet max and as little as a yard.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear Nublu is moving away from what sounds like a difficult situation. The energy, music and art that you guys have brought to Avenue C is superb. I remember when great places like Nublu were scattered throughout the east village. Our city is losing its culture and humanity by the day. Nublu is one of the last real landing spots in my city with some authenticity!
ReplyDelete@ East of A
ReplyDeleteLike I said 2nd Avenue is in the clear. First Avenue and A don't have too many. On A, Percy's only has very tiny tables and they serve from the inside, Table 12 has enough space, etc., etc.. Others on A do have enough space as well. If they are off by a foot, serve in the service aisle within the barrier and are respectful I don't have a problem with them.
I have taken notice because I find myself walking in the street at various places. Some of the most audacious places are, Westville, Zum Schneider, Esperanto, Poco, Peels and others.
Also, I do think that it's a crime to use the backyard. You have got to be some kind of real douchebag to use the backyard area. There's this place called Royale on the block that actually has an outdoor tv in the yard. At the community board they said that people from the building next door throw shit out the window into their yard. To me it doesn't really matter if you are a sports bar or a music venue. If residents tell you to shut the back door/window then just do it. What I heard from the people residing in the buildings next to or behind Nublu was that they spoke with them and that they pretty much said eff-u. There's also this other business on the block called Bikinis. They too want to use the back yard. Well it parallels Nublu's yard which is problematic because there is a court yard with a number of surrounding buildings, so why would they even use it.
In the end, once everybody moves out of those apartments and they are replaced by Androids then everyone will be happy. Property values for building owners will go up and no one will complain ever again. No respect!
All those people who are complaining , I probably know them all. I live right here next door . Nublu is just great , there should 25 Nublu's in NYC alone. The people that are complaining are the same 6 people ,not 20,that where at the last CB 3 meeting. I was there too. Those 6 people complains about the Paradise community garden in the back , about the chickens there, about the latin people that hangs out there, about the garbage trucks, about the deliveries to the super market,their own building board cant even stand them. And for sure those people have no clue on what is going on inside Nublu and it's great music and culture scene they have brought to the East Village the last 10 years.
ReplyDeleteThere are still shootings every other day , gangs , drug war basically still on those blocks in the alphabet city til this day !! + Economy is not the best around here in general. Places like Nublu just make the East Village safer and basically better... and those complainers talk about noise... gimme a break.
I really hope everything works out for Nublu.
Royale backyard parties go until 1 in the morning or more. Loud, Annoying frat parties. When you call to see if the patrons can go inside, they say something snarky and rude. You can hear loud and clear at least two buildings away where I am at. Fuck them, I look forward to NUBLU and hope they can be more respectful then Royale is, at least during the weeknights.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I've been at Royale, I've been forced to come in off the patio at 11pm the LATEST.
ReplyDelete@100% east villager
ReplyDeleteI am not sure where you get your information about the chickens and the latino community being a problem for neighbors... The only complaints I have ever heard neighbors making, wether it be at CB3 or precinct meetings, is with regards to noise and noise alone. Whether this comes from Nublu, or some other venue, it doesn't matter. The bottom line is that Nublu hasn't respected those neighbors who have voiced their dislike for being kept awake at 3 am by drumming beats... and eventually these east villagers will be driven away by their inability to live a peaceful life. And then what? Frat parties? Wouldn't you be sad if your neighbors are a bunch of students instead of 100% east villagers!?
Nublu can still operate as a great music venue, and respect it's neighbors... I don't see how these two things are exclusive.
With the city over run by commercial clones, Nublu is one of the few refreshing venues. Can't wait to enter the new space.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to completely avoid the noise from restaurants, bars, cafes, music venues, etc, is to completely ban all restaurants, bars, cafes, music venues, etc. from the city. It wouldn't be much of a city then, though.
ReplyDeleteTh really obnoxious - and changeable - noise of the city is that of vehicles, specifically car horns, car alarms, police and other sirens, and motorcycles modified to be as loud as possible. All of that can be changed legally and would significantly improve quality of life in the city.
Play on, Nublu!
- East Villager
I haven't been to Nublu in the last year, but I know they stop people from going out in the back after 11pm, there was a sign on the door that said so, etc... They did that because people had complained about noise. They were very conscientious about it.
ReplyDeleteOther than that.. shhhh... don't tell anybody about how cool NuBlu is. I don't want the "Woohoo" people to find out about it.
NuBlue is one of my favorite places in the world.
@everyone
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Royale is supposed to shut their backyard at 10 pm. It's listed in the CB3 minutes as a stipulation. They are also supposed to drag in that tv that they say cost them $10,000. Ariel Palitz defended Royale stating that they invested big money in the outdoor tv and what are they supposed to do with it? Herman Hewitt responded by saying...what do you mean what are they supposed to do?, just unplug it. How is the cost of the tv our problem.
In terms of Nublu, I had no idea that they even used the backyard. i thought that they refused to keep the doors and windows shut. How dare they even use the backyard. I don't think that any business should use the backyard, let alone a music club. A music club should keep everything inside. No resident anywhere can live with a business that uses their backyard. It destroys lives and causes rent stabalized residents to move. They know that, so why would they even use it at all. It's wrong and they are not cool, sorry.