Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
You may have noticed that the newish new sign at Ben's Deli (and now with a & Grill) disappeared this past week.
Owner Sammy Ksem (pictured above) told us that the sign (see below) that went up in February at the under-renovation shop at 32 Avenue B was "too deep/too big." Aside from levying a $6,000 fine, the city made them remove it.
So Sammy and company ordered a new one, which they hope will arrive within the next week. Sammy seemed philosophical about the fine but eager for the store to be approved and opened.
It has been slow going to date. The market between Second Street and Third Street temporarily closed this past September for renovations, including new shelving and lighting. Longtime owner (40-plus years!) and Avenue B legend Ben Gibran sold the business last year to his cousin Sammy.
Ben is still around ... and oversees the work and watches wildlife videos from his office van.
2 comments:
Wow, six grand for an out of code sign? The city really doesn't care about the health of small busineesses.
The electrical sign board located on 31st Street in Astoria is a mysterious organization whose rules appear subject to change at whim. I have tried to predict what they will and won't approve and in 50 years have not been able to get a handle on it. I've installed stainless steel Channel letter signs with blue neon behind them and ruby red neon script hanging from a club awning and never heard a word. FYI this was on First Avenue and 64th Street. You're getting a little bit more than reasonable inspection out of these people. That looks like a very nice sign but it looks like a sign probably made in an immigrant shop from imported goods. Those are always going to get closer inspection then a sign made in a local union shop that has a lot of empirical experience with the electric sign shops rules.
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