Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Report: CB3 OKs liquor license for a David McWater-owned d.b.a.

As we reported earlier this month, David McWater, a local bar owner and former longtime member of Community Board 3, emerged as the new proprietor of d.b.a. at 41 First Ave.

And last night, he went before CB3's SLA committee for a new liquor-license approval.

As BoweryBoogie reported: "Nothing about the bar is changing; it’s the same name, same method of operation, and same staff."

CB3 OK'd the new license, though there was debate about the legality of the bar's backyard. (You can head to BoweryBoogie for the back and forth about that issue.)

Paperwork (PDF!) on file at the CB3 site shows that McWater, who also owns part of The Library, Doc Holliday's and Milano's, and Tower Brokerage's Bob Perl as the principals for d.b.a.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

According to BoweryBoogie, the heirs of d.b.a. had reached out to McWater about taking over the ownership.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

One big change: I was informed last night by one of the new managers that the bar would no longer be dog friendly.

IzF said...

@ 12:36pm
WHAT?!?!?!
Now what am I supposed to do?
My dog LOVES going there.

DaveyMac said...

This is David McWater, I don't know who you spoke to, no manager has been chosen.
I haven't even thought about dogs much less changed a rule.

IzF said...

Hi Davey Mac,
Thanks for checking in but I did hear from someone that was at Dba last night that the dogs were going to be out.
FYI.
I wasn't there so I don't know...

JAZ said...

David,

I understand you are considering banning dogs, but can you at least keep it biscuit friendly?

They go really well with .drunk.

Anonymous said...


Regarding the DBA yard,enclosed and out door area closes at 10PM SHARP! As a tenant of the building please respect this David M.

Anonymous said...

I was told the same by management when I tried to bring my little guy a couple weeks ago. I really hope it's not a permanent policy shift - I've patronized dba over other local spots for years because I could bring my pup. I know many other people in the neighborhood choose dba for the dog friendliness as well.

Anonymous said...

You all realize that any bar or restaurant can be shut down immediately (and possibly permanently) for allowing non-service animals....right? You shouldn't be hard on food service establishments (bars included) when all they are doing is trying to obey city regulations and keep their doors open.