[Photos by Stacie Joy]
Updated 9/12:
Maiden Lane had their liquor license reinstated, and they also have new menu offerings.
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Maiden Lane, the bar-cafe on the northwest corner of Avenue B and 10th Street, is temporarily closed after a visit by State Liquor Authority operatives on Thursday evening...
According to the legal documents affixed to the cafe's door, "patrons were observed sitting in the licensee's sidewalk cafe with no food other than crackers." The paperwork doesn't cite any other infractions.
As we understand it, there wasn't any warning here. The SLA agent made his or her observations Thursday evening and Maiden Lane was ordered to close later on Friday.
---Updated 8/11---
Here's the official allegation via the SLA:
On August 6th, investigators with the state's multi-agency task force observed the restaurant selling alcohol for consumption on the premises and 'to go' with just a 0.5-ounce package of oyster crackers — in flagrant violation of state requirements that substantial food be served to limit mingling in bars. Investigators documented six customers being served at a walk up bar at an outside window, approximately seventeen patrons drinking on the premises with only crackers, and another patron ordering two margaritas served with straws and no food, who then proceeded to walk across the street and get in a car.
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Gov. Cuomo's recently enacted mandate directs that bars and restaurants must offer a "substantive" amount of food for patrons sitting outside their establishments ... including bars who previously didn't offer a full menu. Cuomo expounded on what constituted a meal — more than wings! — during a July 23 press conference...
Earlier today, Governor Cuomo said chicken wings are not substantial food for bars to be allowed to sell alcohol. He added that sandwiches were the "lowest level" of substantive food. #Buffalo His comments: pic.twitter.com/zaSXgfEq6S
— Stephen Marth (@StephenMarth) July 23, 2020
As some bar owners have said privately, the SLA agents don't even seem to know what the rules are (is a salad a meal?) ... and the enforcements can be at the capricious whim of the agent.
Even before the COVID-19 PAUSE, Maiden Lane had a European-style food menu that included small plates of spreads and dips served with toast or crackers, salads, sandwiches and retail tinned seafood, which they sell through an advertised Tin Shop.
We reached out to Maiden Lane founder Gareth Maccubbin for further comment.
With reporting by Stacie Joy
This is ridiculous. This outdoor seating situation was an emergency measure, and is temporary (in its current state). The affected businesses had this thrust upon them without warning and have had to bend over backwards to make things work. The majority probably won't make it anyway, so why continue to punish bars by going to such extremes like suspending their license for not serving food when they likely don't have the ability to do so in the first place? It's really becoming a lose-lose situation.
ReplyDeleteThey "follow the science," obviously.
ReplyDeleteCuomo's execute orders, you know where he just decides that he gets more power, are basically on auto-renew.
And if their full food order arrived 5 minutes after the agent left?
ReplyDeleteI also want to know the full story here. These rules squeeze all of us on the owner/operator side into a very difficult position. Either we ask too much of our customers and they go elsewhere where the interpretation of the rules are less demanding OR we get closed down for not asking enough.
ReplyDeleteI feel sick for Maiden Lane. We are all trying so hard out here, our expenses have only grown and the revenue is down well below 50% for us and I’m certain it’s worse for others.
Most East Village spots are small business run by people just trying to make a living and feed their families.
Cut us a break, Cuomo!
They were supposed to be serving food prior to Covid-19...
ReplyDeleteYeah, this place was a shitshow from the very first weekend it was allowed to open for "grab and go" booze. The sidewalks in front of it have been clogged with people crammed together, sitting or standing anywhere they could, drinking and maskless, to the point where it is difficult to navigate between them to pass. and this was during the day, not even at night where it might be a little more understandable. No attempt was being made by the folks at Maiden Lane to make the people who had grabbed their booze to actually go, so everyone just grabbed and hung out.
ReplyDeleteMaiden Lane has always been a bad actor. Check the CB3 minutes. They initially opened as 'purveyors of fine tinned seafood' and were allowed an outdoor space and a beer/wine license with the stated intent that they will NEVER apply for a liquor license. Just a few months later, Maiden Lane applied for a liquor license and was turned down by CB3. Somehow they got one anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me how angry people get at businesses applying for liquor licenses. Unless you own that space and are leasing it out to them, it’s none of your business. This is NEW YORK CITY, and the only way a restaurant can afford its rent is by selling drinks. You clearly never owned or operated a restaurant. If you want them to survive without liquor, then please continue to be a customer when they jack up their price of food by 100% to survive NYC rent prices. Bitch to the landlord for charging an arm and a leg, but not the business for doing everything it can to survive.
DeleteIn my opinion, it ONLY becomes your business when the restaurant/bar does not care about its neighbors and allows their clientele to be reckless. I personally have walked into a bar the next day on Saint Marks because they are extremely loud the night before. If you have issues with a certain bar, contact the owner and share your concerns because I guarantee they will listen and respect your wishes.
I want to support our local small businesses and restaurants but I have little money to spend on outside food. Cuomo’s edict makes it impossible for me to have “wings” or a p&j sandwich at my local bar to support them. Not everyone has $30-40 for full meals. Is it another attempt to push out the less than wealthy?
ReplyDelete@10:48am: I feel for all the small owners who are trying to make a go of it, but as an East Village resident, I say: "Give ME a break, b/c I'm just trying to literally STAY ALIVE while a lot of bar owners and patrons are acting in ways that ignore or threaten my health and the health of others around them."
ReplyDeleteHuman life is more valuable than any business.
Respectfully, there is ZERO evidence that this virus is spread outside. Certainly not by walking past a group of people.
DeleteInside can be dangerous, like a crowded restaurant. Outside by all accounts seems safe. That’s what the science says.
Blocking the sidewalk is obviously not cool, kind of annoying and a bit of a jerk move, but that’s not what they were cited for.
This completely random rule is a joke, the city wants all pure bars to go under, basically.
ReplyDeleteI've said it once and I'll say it again. Punish bars, restaurants, and anywhere else for being irresponsible but there is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SITTING AND EATING AND SITTING AND DRINKING. Give our local business owners a chance to survive. It's easier for many to support these owners by buying a beer than buying $40 any time they want to lend some support.
ReplyDeleteWow. I wonder what the background is on this? Did SLA respond to a complaint? I feel like I've seen much worse, for example 100 people gathered outside Hairy Lemon last weekend to watch a soccer game. Hardly any food.
ReplyDeleteThis is a shame for all business owners who are trying to survive and respect social distancing and masks. I have never seen Maiden Lane not follow any of these rules. The sidewalks will have people but not so packed where it is hard to navigate. It is a sidewalk after all.
ReplyDeleteI hope all businesses in the east village can survive this storm.
I go to Maiden Lane several times a week and have never seen people standing around and drinking. I have seen the staff ensuring that customers are seated and practicing social distancing while queueing.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there are still some bad actors in the East Village and they spoil things for everyone. Maiden Lane is not one of the bad guys. This is a real shame.
The problem with Maiden Lame (pun intended) is that they are way too visible, located right on that corner opposite from the park, and it has been pretty obvious what’s been going on there for a few weeks now. That giant white cocktail sign probably didn’t help either
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of restaurants selling drinks without food on other side streets, but I won’t tell you where they are because I don’t want them shut down either. I found one spot with the best cheap
Daiquiris and margaritas, mixed up by a couple of friendly punks and hippies, that I’ve ever had.
And for those who are saying it’s none of anyone’s business, this would’ve never happened if Life Café was still here.
@Kel - Bar owners willingly pay exorbitant lease prices because they can do so by serving liquor. What about about other types of business - clothing, delis, unique stores that make our neighborhood interesting ? If the SLA enforced the 500 foot rule when issuing licenses then we would get other types of business because the landlords would be forced to do so and the rent would go down. I'm not anti bar - just anti over-saturation of bars. Community input is part of the licensing process so it IS my business.
ReplyDeleteI live on this block and while patrons sometimes clumped up on the sidewalk, it was nothing like St. Mark's Place. This seems more like harassment or retaliation than a geniune public safety issue.
ReplyDelete"It never ceases to amaze me how angry people get at businesses applying for liquor licenses" -no, @Kei, people get angry with establishments that come to CB#3 SLA meetings and go on record as swearing to every deity known to man that they will only need beer & wine, and that they will NEVER EVER EVER apply for a full liquor license, and then within months apply for full liquor. I spent five years on the SLA Committee and wish I had a dollar for every applicant that pulled this bait and switch; some of them did so even after stipulating in writing that they would not do so, showing what bad actors they really were. And the state SLA doesn't give a damn about the impact of so many licenses on the EV/LES, meaning unless there is some really egregious reason not to, they simply rubber-stamp all upgrade requests, since they never have to deal with the resulting crowds, noise, etc. in their upstate suburban enclaves.
ReplyDeleteyet somehow poco is still with us. shoulda seen the standing crowd there yesterday
ReplyDelete@Anon 6:27 If you have a problem with the way poco is operating, put in a SLA complaint!
ReplyDeleteAgreed 6:27 - Poco continues to forever be a fucking nightmare, and CB3 and SLA do nothing. Hairy Lemon now an issue too but only due to Covid and their thought to have sports events to standing crowds like someone mentioned above. Poco has ruined that corner for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to read these comments. We are in the middle of a pandemic and the MOST important thing is going to a bar? I walked around last Saturday and was shocked by the recklessness.
ReplyDeleteWhy are grown adults acting like 14 year old brats about the "high cost" of bar food when 2 blocks over there is a line at the church's food bank. Immaturity or is this more entitled, privileged behavior. Let's be a little more compassionate and maybe have some gratitude.
I hate to say it because I am unemployed without a lot of savings, but maybe Trump is right and people really dont need an extra $600 if it's getting pissed up the side of a wall outside a bar.
Ever consider that people spending money at bars actually prevents more people needing to go to food pantries?
DeleteYep been in that food line... getting judgy looks from people maskless drinking over priced cocktails
DeleteIt is undebiable that Maiden Lane hasn't been the best neighbor but wouldn't want them to go out of business. Why can't we go back to Crowbar, Life Cafe and Lakeside Lounge? Things were nice then. But maybe we are loving in the past. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a complicated issue with few if any winners. We are in what I hope will be a temporary situation. If the customers attending our neighborhoods bars and restaurants are being careful, staying healthy, taking their temperatures, being considerate, and tipping generously, I want them here to support our local small businesses.
ReplyDeleteSeveral decades ago I lived in Southern Spain. In the evenings we barhopped rather than going to restaurants. We ate tapas and drank slowly. It just takes some creativity to put together a delicious tapas menu. And serving food can prevent (some) people from getting sloppy drunk.
I hope it's ok to call out a few bars that I think are doing great at making lemonade out of lemons during this crappy time for small business - The Immigrant, Big Bar, The Scratcher. The bulldog has had vegan cupcakes, hot dogs from local butchers, and toasted cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches thanks to these establishments.
I bought an inexpensive air fryer during the shelter in place and the bulldog has been enjoying sweet potato fries and samosas.
It would be really cool to see an article of a Summer 2020 East Village bar food crawl so we can all celebrate how creative and resourceful our local bar owners have become.