Last month, we told you that Marcello Assante has plans to open a cafe-cinema at 44 Avenue A, the former home of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, as well as the Pioneer Theater.
The space on Avenue A, equipped with a movie screen, stage and theater seats for 100 people, seems suited to Assante's vision of creating a "big cinema culture" — a center for cinephiles to enjoy foreign and independent features.
Aside from new indie and foreign releases, Cinema Paradiso would also include a cafe for people to have a pre-or post-film meal and drink. He aspires to have the food and beverage service open during non-movie times too. (Assante, a Naples native, has owned and operated a handful of restaurants through the years, including Bella Ciao, Capri Ristorante and Marcellino in Little Italy as well as Local 92 on Second Avenue.)
He appeared before CB3's SLA committee on May 10 for a new liquor license for the venue at Third Street. Things did not go in his favor, as the four committee members and District Manager Susan Stetzer pushed back on the application, asking for more specifics about his plans. (Assante had said he wasn't sure if he'd serve drinks during the screenings, for example.)
In addition, the last tenant, UCBeast, only sold beer and wine, and the address was never fully licensed. They were also apparently a bad neighbor — at least the bar portion of the business. Stetzer, who resides nearby, said that the bar had a "horrible impact" on tenants living across the street. "The history of it was horrendous," she said during the virtual meeting. "I had constant complaints."
Given that, Stetzer, speaking as a resident and not the district manager, collected six signatures in opposition to Assante's application. (She said she only started gathering them the evening before the May 10 meeting.)
In the end, the CB3 committee wasn't opposed to the theater portion of the business. The space never being fully licensed, the UCBeast bar's poor reputation and the unanswered questions on the business plan moved the members to draft stipulations stating they'd approve a full liquor license for drinks before and during a movie or event. Alcohol sales would not be allowed during other times — thus nixing a bar-cafe service when a film isn't playing. (You can watch the meeting on YouTube. This application starts at the 20-minute mark.)
For his part, Assante didn't agree to the stipulations, opting instead to return before the group next Wednesday evening. (Zoom info is here.)
Ahead of that meeting, he wanted to share a letter with residents and the Community Board (it has been lightly edited for length and clarity):
My name is Marcello Assante. I am the applicant for Cinema Paradiso, attempting to obtain a full liquor license for our proposed location at 44 Avenue A.First off, please allow me to apologize for a misunderstanding with our presentation at the May 14 Community Board 3 meeting. It was not my intention to argue with the Board members about the misconceptions in their dialogue. Unfortunately, I am not the most practiced at presenting to community boards, and I hoped to clear up the questions.... we are a restaurant, café and bar that displays, creates, fosters discussion about and celebrates arts — not just a theater. Tragically, a theater cannot survive or thrive in this age of short attention spans and competing media.I am 65 years old, and I spent the last 30 years working my way up, from busboy to owner and operator of restaurants in New York City. These are small, family businesses, which I would not have had the ability to carry without the love and support of my wonderful wife, who is my partner.For the last 20 years, I have been involved in cinema, which is my passion... For the last 10 years, I have been working from creation to execution of Italian and French film productions and as a partner to a film festival in Italy.In the recent past, I have been involved in a cinema production with my friend and colleague Karl Bardoush, who is a professor of the arts at New York University, as well as with another friend, film director Abel Ferrara, who is known for "Bad Lieutenant," "King of New York" and many more.These, among other friends and colleagues of mine, directly lead to our conception and expectation to operate profitably, a European arts venue for fans of cinema, theater and jazz, in the face of so many theaters, who have had to close their doors.The Cinema Paradiso experience will bring together people socially around the film, theater and music arts, with food and wine, along with merchandise and cocktails. This is a unique concept ... and we are taking a risk.It is our hope that we will establish a base of serious fans of the arts for formal and informal presentations of these arts, along with lectures, discussions and community social meetings/debates about everything from the material presented to technical aspects of the making of these arts.There will be various formats for events, which we will find out about the financial viability of each as we go, and we hope to foster a sense that if you are not here, you might miss something a once-in-a-lifetime happening. At times, there will be special cuisine, which may be showcased with one of our other chefs or a guest chef. The main menu will be the cuisine of a lighter fare with an international but Mediterranean focus...Obviously, this neighborhood has culture and establishments on the agenda of many different locals and visitors. Still, we are not a place for the majority who come to this area looking to hit the bars. This is a restaurant and cultural establishment…we are not a comedy or rock club, we are not just a restaurant, and we are certainly not just a bar.Another example, so the board better understands the broad spectrum and breadth of our focus, is that one of our first planned programs will be a theater piece [that] involves one of the hottest up-and-coming writer-directors, Dustin Wills, doing a modern take on the Ancient Greek tragedy "Prometeo Incatenato" aka "Prometheus Bound." His recent endeavors include "Frontieres Sans Frontieres."To make Cinema Paradiso commercially viable, we need to have a full liquor license, until 1 a.m., as we requested, with no limitation of serving during events only, because this is a restaurant and café with a bar, serving brunch, lunch and dinner, that is creating and showing art pieces, and expecting to generate a loyal following of those in the film, theater and music art communities.To further prove that we are not a bar, we will be cutting down the bar from 20 feet to 10 feet to increase the number of tables.We look forward to your favorable response.
59 comments:
I thought he wanted to create a movie theater. The jazz is a surprise. Avenue A is overrun with establishments serving booze and creating noise. Too bad he didn’t stick to the movie theater concept. I would support that without the booze. He could also schedule talks and other movie related events and charge admission. So many possibilities to create a legit theater that would be a welcome addition to the area.
He is planning on scheduling talks and other movie-related events. Those details are in the original post. The jazz is the background music of choice for the cafe area.
This sounds a bit sketchy. How often will there be arts and is this guaranteed ? After he gets a liquor license he could show one movie a week and say he’s a theatre.
It is crazy how easy it is for NIMBYs to fight any new concept with alcohol attached. This is a unique space that is going to sit vacant forever unless a concept like this occupies it and given rents in NYC owners either need huge volumes of the product they are selling being sold or they need to sell alcohol. How do those of us that actually support things like this counteract the constant fight against them? Something like this particularly incenses me!
This is a good thing. The bros and their entourages won't go near a place showing foreign films or playing jazz. Consider it a safe space.
This is so twisted,snooty,disparaging,shallow and condescending. The number of derogatory remarks in this incoherent statement is laughable. I really like this one. "We hope to foster a sense that if you are not here, you might miss something a once- in- a lifetime happening." Something smells.
Dude sounds fine to me. This is on my corner. I wish they could take Poco's license and give it to them. The problem is people like Poco effect entire neighborhoods and it makes people not want more licenses. I wouldn't think this one would be a problem unless they'd be allowed to transfer it to a club or something if the business moved on at some point.
I believe this is a good business venture and it would be fantastic for our community. Interesting that officials only care about liquor licenses when they are personally affected. How many complaints have there been about the upper Ave A nightmare establishments, yet nothing happens to them. We finally get a concept that offers much more than a bar and it gets shot down. This is Sunshine Cinemas all over again.
Spot on and well said. We should be encouraging business with unique concepts to bring energy and variety back to the EV
The real problem here is Susan Stetzer. She rules by her personal agenda and needs to be removed from her post. Her claims are ridiculous. I live in her building and you cannot hear any activity that’s happening across the street. Also her claim that she started collecting signatures the night before the meeting is false. She hung up a petition in the building asking for signatures well in advance. I saw it on May 6.
What with all the business' that were forced to close in the last year...is now a time to really throw up road blocks to those that have the money and the balls to start new business'?
Let this guy have his theater cafe. If he fuc+s up then take away his liquor license. I'm sure there are louder and more rawkus bars on Ave A than this.
Also...the only business' that make money in the EV are those that serve booze to a night time crowd. You don't like the noise? Sadly that's NYC. You want quiet...move to the burbs.
Assante's letter does sound a bit sniffy, especially the part about a "European arts venue" as if that somehow makes the concept more refined and high minded. Doesn't one get automatically *cancelled* for these sorts of statements, in this case Euro-centric superiority, these days? Personally I'd go with the terminology 'a comprehensive arts center'.
Aside from that I see nothing wrong with the project. I vote aye.
This pisses me off to no end. How out of touch with reality can you be? This would be a welcome institution, and I think the concept as stated sounds great. Having a place to discuss the film you just saw over drinks makes perfect sense. Otherwise this storefront will remain vacant until it’s gutted and replaced with another Duane Reade, which is exactly what the neighborhood needs right? The people who are fighting this are fighting for the death of the East Village.
Took the words right outta my mouth. Thank u!
There are enough bars on Avenue A, obviously. That being said, you would have to have no understanding of the world as it exists in reality to not be able to differentiate between a regular bar and an art house movie theater with a cafe that has a liquor license.
Hairy Lemon and EastPoint are easily way grosser than Poco.
@anon10:17 Once someone gets a license it will be there in perpetuity. Its a sellable asset that will likely morph into something else. Liquor licenses have rarely been revoked. In case you didn't know. Poco is still there even after a slew of violations and residents and public leaders challenging it.
We need adult entertainment focused on culture in this neighborhood. How is it possible that the CB3 people don't know the difference between a cafe in a cinema that shows foreign films, and a comedy club filled with young drunk kids and bros? This is precisely the type of venue that could bring mature consumers of culture into the area. Why are our representatives on CB3 so totally unrepresentative of the vast majority of us in the area? What is this odd puritanical fixation on alcohol and its prohibition? Why does alcohol always have to be horrible in all situations and circumstances without any subtle appreciation of the nuances and differences that exist? Who are these people??? Is there something the rest of us can do to support this man and this fabulous idea to bring jobs and adult sophisticated culture and entertainment to our neighborhood?
Stetzer is very conflicted here. She lives across the street, not just nearby, and was a leading opponent of UCB from the beginning. She has been in her position much too long.
Where do you find "sketchy" here? It's like you didn't read a word he was saying
If he wanted to go "sketchy", he could just play a movie on a loop and serve drinks at all times.
Poco is a fine establishment during the week (weekends:eww). It has decent food, pleasant servers and is far less offensive and gross than the Hairy Lemon and Eastpoint.
We apologize for being more cultural, with our 3000 years of history than the newly conceived burger nation.
So every bro and brah can open a frat house anywhere in the neighborhood, but someone who wants to put the east village back in the east village is being pushed back by one woman.
If she lives across the street, and has concerns of being personally affected by this place, then she has personal interest and can't appear as the board chairperson. She has to recuse herself from this case!
Of course someone says "you want quiet move to the burbs". So ignorant and such binary thinking. You don't understand the neighborhood or the nuances of the issues.
The new Chair of the SLA committee has no idea what she is doing and is simply doing what Susan tells her to. Actually that pretty much describes the whole SLA committee. This is clear if you watch the recordings of the meetings, they constantly defer to Susan. They seem eager to approve full licenses elsewhere, even in unlicensed locations, regardless of the community objections. They now state at the meetings that they only acknowledge the 311 calls that the police verify. We all know how often the police don't show up or show up hours later and there is nothing going on. That should not invalidate the call itself as a record of a problem. There needs to be some major changes to the Community Board.
I work in the movie industry and would love to see a theater like this in the neighborhood. But I feel for the neighbors who are exhausted by the bar culture. I personally don't need booze to entice me to sit down and enjoy a film or attend a talk. Serve expensive coffee and treats. Plenty of businesses survive without selling liquor.
"We (Euros) apologize for being more cultural, with our 3000 years of history than the newly conceived burger nation."
Does that include 3000 years of bloody wars, crusades, torture, persecutions, colonization of foreign lands and a failed attempt at global political and military dominance? Do tell.
This sounds like a fantastic arts addition to our neighborhood!
It is not the type of place that the annoying yahoos, bros, generic college partiers or whatever you call them will hang out. It will attract an interesting more well behaved group of people so will not be a threat to the neighborhood.
Give them the liquor license. We need more businesses like this. Hopefully, it will come through.
No the comedy club was able to make it with beer and wine and people of all ages.I have no idea if it was rowdy but bros didn't go there.They buy cheap beer and go on the roof or party in their apartments. We do not need mature consumers of culture. That's not us. Anyone should be able do go and enjoy. We need an easy going movie theater with a concept along with a small cafe, for the people in the neighborhood and the neighborhood. Not to bring in a bunch of mature cultured who? Keep it low. Keep it fun.I happen to like most of the theaters in the neighborhood and village. I like the new design of Quad Cinema with the little cafe.
"Let this guy have his theater cafe. If he fuc+s up then take away his liquor license" - Much easier said than done. And even if this place doesn't work and closes, the license is there in perpetuity, meaning a frat bar can come in and take advantage of it. Imagine how lovely THAT would be.
"You don't like the noise? Sadly that's NYC. You want quiet...move to the burbs" - Seriously? For God's sake, grow up or move back home.
So totally Agree the concept is a terrific use of that space and great addition to our community i'd def bbe a patron, but is a full liquor License really necessary for it to be a profitable business?, beer and wine won't satisfy the crowd that will go to events and eat and frequent there? kind of suss on the full LL
It's the Liquor License that's causing the issue and should be due to the grandfathering of Liquor and cabaret licenses which are essentially forever and valuable So NO to full LL and yes to the space with Beer and Wine
Wish Susan would take this advocacy for tenants right to quiet enjoyment of our homes to those who suffer under the constant din of shed dinners and frat bros but she doesn't live across the street or above one i guess
I'd think beer & wine & a cafe at all times would suffice. I'd also like to know how many screenings there will be in a given day. One? Two? I hope it's more than just a few times a week. I understand why the committee members wanted to know more specifics on the business plan. It seems a little loosy goosy now.
I thinks it's the spin of the PR that is putting people off, not the concept in general and, as noted why is a full service liquor license required? That seems to be at least to me a red flag.
What duplicity Susan, you personally advocated at the community board meeting at the Public Hotel when Bin 141 was on the agenda for a beer and wine license, it served your purpose to rent an empty storefront in your coop building. But no rent from this one to help keep your monthly maintenance payment down. So of course no!
Guys, a full liquor license is required because people have different tastes, liquor has great margins, and they are trying to maximize revenue/profits so they can actually cover their rent and make money. I would be willing to bet this space will never be occupied without a liquor license. As someone nearby who wants more interesting stuff in our neighborhood I think we should be giving them a shot at opening and staying open which means they need a liquor license.
It's amazing how people ignore simple economics.
I love movies and am happy to sip on a beer or drink a glass of wine. I don't need full-on liquor service. I am not going to be drinking shots while watching an Italian classic.
These business owners want to maximize profits. But those profits are coming at the expense of a neighborhood saturated by bars and restaurants with liquor licenses.
We all have to live and work too.
She’s not the Board chairperson. She is the District Office manager.
The owner describes this as a European arts venue but if the place does open, I hope he will show films by filmmakers from all around the world. He also name drops all dudes. Maybe he could broaden the scope with help from guest curators, including some people from our neighborhood. There are so many creative people here so why not take advantage.
NYC in general and in particular the stretch of Ave A between 3rd and 4th street needs new small business. Even prior to the pandemic this stretch had many vacant storefronts. And it’s not like he’s proposing a reincarnation of the Limelight! His proposal sounds like it would be a delightful addition to the neighborhood.
I live on the block and would be happy to have this business open up there. There are so many empty storefronts in the immediate vicinity, it feels as if the neighborhood is dying. I have heard complaints about Susan Stetzer for years.
Does anyone know how to get her out? I found this... https://www.cleanupcb3.com/
The power to change things on Community Board 3 runs through the office of the
borough president and the District 1 and District 2 city council reps.
Will writing letters or making phone calls help?
Unbelievable to read all the comments from the Carrie Nations who oppose this. If this doesn't become a movie theater it will be a Duane Reade, a Starbucks or, yes, another noisy bro bar. The drunk crowd is not going to gather in a movie theater to get sh*t-faced at midnight. They will go to one of the 300 bars in the 'hood. If you oppose a theater showing foreign films then you are a philistine and you need to move to Uranus! The 'burbs are too good for you thumping bores!
How can we get this nightmare woman out of our hair? I live a block away from this place but would travel by train, bus and taxi to get to a place like what is being proposed. I have lived in the general vicinity of this location for 30 years. I have never met, let alone encountered a person with the set of values represented in CB3. These people have to go. There is something seriously wrong with them, and with her in particular. If the proprietor of the new place starts an online petition, I would sign it.
A wonderful concept! The first thing anyone does after watching a movie is look for a bar. Could have a reserved table ready for you right on premise. Interesting discussions would be had from like-minded movie buffs. I imagine a gorgeous candle lit café with posters of Fellini collection adorning the walls. Perhaps even old films playing on a projector.They could also rent out the theater to local groups. This could be the next Angelica if we'd give it a chance!
"It's amazing how people ignore simple economics" - no, what's amazing is how the state SLA has for decades ignored ITS OWN RULE about how there can only be three liquor licenses in a 500-foot radius, jamming as many in as is inhumanely possible. (At one point, Avenue A between 1st and 2nd Streets had NINE licensed establishments.) What's amazing is how the long-suffering residents of the EV, who already put up with roof ragers, garden beer pong parties, outdoor sheds playing loud music until all hours, and an endless rotating series of out-of-control bars, are supposed to just grin and bear it so others can make a profit at the expense of their mental health, ability to sleep, and on-the-books Warrant of Habitability in the living spaces that are supposed to be a refuge from the insanity of the city. What's amazing is that those who prefer not to have yet another full liquor license are chided for their shrt-sightendess, and told to go live someplace they might not have ever even been to. What's amazing is the arrogance of the chiders, who somehow think they know better. THAT'S what's amazing.
The irony is that this isn't the point of view that people are up in arms about regarding Susan. It's when she does support support people who are pro nightlife like the BID, it's a contradiction. I would have to agree with the community boards decision to deny. He was offered a full liquor license to serve while shows are scheduled.
Anon 10:17 AM, Obviously you have not lived in the neighborhood long. It used to be pretty quiet here. It was a working and creative class neighborhood where people generally respected their neighbors. People did not usually shout, scream and vomit all over the streets. Sure we had the junkies but they were usually passive, unlike the aggressive drunk bros that run rampant and party on rooftops broadcasting their music until dawn. Now it is considered over-saturated with liquor licenses and has become the the NYC bar Disneyland.
What can be done about this, who can we contact? Has anyone watched the Community Board meetings lately? They are embarrassing. They are not well run. At the last meeting they announced that all of their elections are invalid. It seems like no one has any idea what they are doing. They argue amongst themselves and try to limit public input with new and excessive rules. I think all of this starts at the top with the Chair and the executive committee.
The cafe and bar should be ancillary to the movies. Not the other way around.
WHY must this poor soul who is trying to create something unique be raked over the coals by members of the "Community" Board who are deathly afraid of opposing UN-elected and therefore UN-accountable co-op owner Susan Stetzer?
It is unfortunate that liquor income is required to cover insane commercial rents being charged in NYC, but that is the economic reality here. In civilized countries in Europe, especially Italy, where the applicant is from, having a drink with a meal, or while taking a stroll outdoors, or while watching a theatrical production or a film is completely NORMAL. WHY is it an issue in the US? I can only imagine how NUTS they must think we are here. I am not a drinker, but who the hell am I or anyone else to dictate to others the terms under which they can serve or consume alcohol?
Let's be clear: "Community" Board Three does not "represent" our community. Half of CB3 members are appointed by the Manhattan Borough President - the other half by the district City Councilmember. CB3 members either own or have an interest in business(es) in the area and/or are aspiring politicians and/or represent a political group. The others are friends or political allies of those appointing them. In short, few, if any, CB3 members are your neighbors.
Wisconsin transplant Susan Stetzer, the CB3 District "Manager," has served for several decades at the pleasure of City Councilmember Rivera. As "district Manager," which is a glorified title for a CLERK, she abuses her position, reportedly terrorizing other members into submission, forcing HER agenda when she likes or dislikes something. Incredibly, she continually claims that members of the community call HER to complain about "quality of life" issues. Not 311. Not 911. She says they call HER. Really? When pressed for PROOF of her claim by the ninth precinct, Stetzer has failed to show them ANYthing.
So here we are, faced with a self-serving tyrant who lives across the street from a long vacant space that was originally built as the Pioneer Theater that included food and drink, who is DETERMINED to KEEP it vacant.
We at The SHADOW have heard that Stetzer, who has approved many sketchy liquor licenses for other venues that have paid a price, was the force behind the denial of a liquor license for the Sunshine Theater, which had been lovingly renovated and restored from the abandoned warehouse it had become to the historic theater it had once been, leading the owners to make the tough decision to close the Sunshine and move on. Now we have a new nine story building going up on the site. Thanks, Susan. One less theater - one MORE yuppie complex, made possible by the up-zoning that CB3, Stetzer and our elected "representatives" have supported.
The entire "Community" Board system should be abolished in favor of direct contact with elected "representatives" and this man should be able to go forward with his wonderful plan to breathe life back into the former Pioneer space without having to kiss the asses of those who do NOT have our community's best interests at heart.
@ Chris Flash. I am a Community Board Member and I am insulted by your portrayal of Community Board members as I fit none of the categories you allege are a pre requisite for membership on the CB. I am your neighbor living in a tenement walk up for 30 years and investing my time for free to participate in the CB. I am born and raised in NYC, and lived through the NY of the 70s and 80s. I have no ties to any elected officials, in fact I have not voted for Carlina or her predecessor Rosie. I spend my days providing housing and services for homeless NYers, not further gentrifying the neighborhood as youv allege. I have supported your right to throw concerts in the park. Attacking the CB and those of us who serve on it is a cheap and easy way to bring attention to yourself. If you took a minute to research this application you would see it has nothing in common with the Pioneer Theater which did not have a liquor license and had popcorn and pretzels like a real movie theater. This is a lounge/restaurant attached to a theater. Your beef with Susan Stetzer goes back years which is between you and her. Hurling insults at your neighbors is childish.
I'm sure no would would object to a legitimate theatre that plays movies and drinks served while the movie is played, intermission or directly afterwards. However, the community has been burned many times by applicants who promise one thing and when they open it is completely different. Once a license is approved, unless someone dies in the bathroom doing drugs it is very hard to get a licenses revoked. It is a legitimate question to ask when movies will be shown and if alcohol will be served when the 'arts' are not in effect.
Well the 849 response if actually from a community board member is hugely concerning because they are outright saying it's unacceptable for a theater to have a liquor license and would thus rather have vacant space than an actual functioning business driving tax dollars, employing people, and adding diversity to our neighborhood. If this is who is representing us on the community board we really need to make changes.
This would bring much needed creative energy back to the neighborhood. You need alcohol sales to make ends meet in the age of astronomic rents, high labor costs, Amazon and Netflix/YouTube. As long as the opening hours are reasonable, this is a no-brainer people. It's a 65 year old small business owner with a creative vision, let him have his lifelong dream and let us enjoy something non-douchey in the hood for once again.
Jeez - this is supposed to be the East Village/NYC, why is this even an argument? Get some ear plugs like the rest of us who've lived here for decades and decided we live here for a reason rather than move to Oklahoma where it is nice and quiet with limited alcohol sales. (No offense to Oklahoma, I'm sure it is lovely).
Your support of the events we do in the park is appreciated. Please note that I said "few, if any, CB3 members are your neighbors." You and a few others on CB3 fit that category. As you must be aware, many do not. One such person that comes to mind was an owner of several LES bars in charge of the SLA committee who voted approvals for liquor licenses for his bars - how convenient for him. Stetzer went right along with that.
My post is clearly directed at those who stand in the way of positive developments in our community, esp Stetzer and her control over members of CB3, which is her abuse of her position as "manager." I have had friends on the board recently and they all have told me about her, so it's first hand info.
At the end of the day, what is wrong with a lounge/restaurant attached to a theater? If the doors are closed, HOW would that disturb neighbors?
It seems to me that CB3 has been focusing on the WRONG issues since I became aware of its existence after the August 1988 police riot in Tompkins Square Park in which our community was attacked by an army of cops in furtherance of a non-existent curfew "approved" by CB3 members. A BIG question here is WHY Stetzer is permitted to sit in on and seemingly RUN committee meetings when that is NOT her job.
I'm not looking for attention, by the way - I simply use my NAME when I post, unlike all of the "annonymouses" I see here....
Well said. Sounds wonderful, I hope it happens. Nothing sketchy about the letter. Sounds sincere to me, and an exciting concept that suits the neighborhood.
This is a business that is not just your run of the mill bar, it would provide something else to contribute to the neighborhood, to give us something else to do but because it is across the street from Susan's apartment, all of a sudden she is opposed. This inconsistency is the problem. In response to the community board member above. Yes, there are a few good members on the community board, but not one of them will stand up against Susan, that is what needs to happen. They all just sit back and let her run the show. The current Chair and executive committee all support her, she has carefully orchestrated that. Anyone else was driven away. Yes the community has been burned many times by an applicant that promises one thing and does another. I have been lived here for almost 40 years in the same walkup apartment, and have seen many changes. However the current SLA committee, including Susan, now is not giving that as much consideration, they don't care about the community, about how we have struggled to make this a better place for everyone. They would rather put a new owner that has not held a license in the community in any spaces, even unlicensed spaces because they want to be nice to applicants and to fill vacant storefronts. They side with the bars, not with residents. They would rather have every storefront filled with a licensed establishment. I love bars and restaurants as much as the next person, but we have enough, We have to live here and we need other businesses.
Thanks for your self congratulatory rant and insult to mostly everyone other than yourself. I agree that The Sunshine should have gone through,a great theater but people on the other side of Houston didn't want it. The NYSLA is run by the state.The rule is no license within 200 feet of a school or a place of worship and no license if there are three within 500 feet unless there is a public benefit. The scam is that you could say your public benefit is having bozo the clown perform on Tuesdays and the SLA will accept it. The state gets a fee for a liquor license. A liquor license is a sellable asset even though the NYSLA denies that fact. That's why once a location is licensed it essentially remains licensed forever. Odessa will be selling for $400,000. Corporate nightlife scoops them up like candy.If there was no opposition to licenses then practically every single storefront would be a bar or restaurant and likely in time a corpirate one. I don't think that every license should be denied. Politicians take money from nightlife. Being on the SLA Committee is a good starting point for those with political aspirations. Just push through every application at the expense of the neighborhood.
This comment by the CB member @8:49 PM perfectly illustrates how out of touch and unrepresentative of the community they serve they are. ..." had popcorn and pretzels like a real movie theater."
In what decade/world is this person living?
People serving on CB3 need to be current with the way we live in the 21st century. They need to be able to distinguish between a venue that host beer pong parties for frat bros, and art house cinemas that serve adult drinks to an audience interested in foreign films. They also need to know that these 2 venues attract different types of patrons.
Another comment that leaves one in disbelief. "...This is a lounge/restaurant attached to a theater" What exactly is the problem with his? In any other context this would be seen as innovative and interesting and another example of how culture is evolving in the 21st century.
CB3 members need to get out more. The uninformed assumptions and generalizations they make are staggering. If they can't discern subtle differences between people and are not willing to venture out to see how people live today, then they need to move on to something else.
And it is now obvious that Susan Stetzer has to go. This post explains the signs popping up all over the LES calling for her removal. See the story in Bowery Boogie and the photos of the posters.
Well said, 10:40am. Does anyone have the contact details for Marcello Assante, the would be proprietor of this space? It feels like a petition in support of his efforts is very much in order here. I, for one, would happily sign it.
EV Grieve, any chance you have his contact details?
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