CB3/SLA committee highlights for August: mystery applicant for the Odessa Cafe; catering license for 51 Astor Place

[EVG file photo of the former Odessa Cafe from May]

Oh, the CB3/SLA Licensing Committee docket for August is out now.

The meeting is Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

And here are the East Village-related applicants. Find the whole agenda here. We'll have more on some of the applications when more information is available...

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Maiden Lane (Yardbird LLC), 162 Ave B (upgrade to op)

• The Comedians' Club, 120 St Marks Pl (wb)

The new comedy club is angling for the former Addiction Ink storefront at 120 St. Mark's Place. Club owners were previously looking at the former home of Tinto Fino on First Avenue.

• Box Kite Coffee (Tuck Shop Two Corp), 115 St Marks Pl (upgrade to op)

Looks as if the coffee shop, which opened last December, is applying for a full liquor license. Perhaps to pair with the coffee?

Sidewalk Cafe Application

• La Pizza Shop Inc, 110 Ave A

Black Market is applying to add 11 tables (24 total seats) out front.

New Liquor License Applications

• Honshu Ichi (Ichi 88 Inc), 188 1st Ave (op)

This is the Oyama reboot.

• Eurest Dining (Compass Group USA Inc), 51 Astor Pl (op)

Don't get too excited! This is a "catering establishment" liquor license. Compass Group North America is "the leading foodservice management" company based in North Carolina whose clients include IBM. And 51 Astor Place is officially called the IBM Watson building, so...

Items Not Heard at Committee (meaning they aren't up for public discussion)

• Luzzo's (Chito Inc), 211-213 1st Ave (op/corp change)

Paperwork shows that one partner is leaving and one is joining the corporation.

• Odessa Restaurant Inc, 117 Ave A (op/corp change)

No word on who the new applicant is just yet. Since the Odessa Cafe and Bar closed last Aug. 31, at least four different applicants kicked the tires on the space. Asking rent is currently $19,500.

• Milk and Hops (Astoria Cheese Inc), 63 E 9th St (b)

• Red Koi Inc, 57 1st Ave (wb)

• Red and Gold Crab Shack (Red and Gold Boil Inc), 30 St Marks Place (wb)

This is what's taking the former Japadog space.

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

February CB3-SLA highlights: I Cipressi, Sunshine Cinema and the Immigrant Tap Room

Hey now. The folks at CB3 have released the liquor license docket for February's meeting. Many of the applicants this time around are below Houston, so it's not really our fucking problem you can likely find more details on these establishments in the days/weeks ahead via BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down.

So.

Let's take a look.

SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Monday, February 11 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. 5th Street at Bowery

Applications within Saturated Areas

[EVG file photo from last June]

• 1st Street Ventures Inc, 44A 1st St (wb)

This is Julius Klein's former studio-gallery space ... he left back early in the summer after being Cromanized... No word just yet what this will be... we've spotted several prospective tenants check out this space going back to the summer...

• The Cow Theater (Stephen & Tyler Productions LLC), 21A Clinton St (wb)

• 154 Ludlow Bar LLC, 154 Ludlow St (op)

• I Cipressi Restaurant (Lidoalberta LLC), 189 Ave A (wb)

Lorella Innocenti, a former owner of I Coppi, which closed in September on East Ninth Street, is starting a new Tuscan-style restaurant here at the former Vampire Freaks space.

EVG reader J-Dough recently spotted sisters Maristella Innocenti (pictured left, who owns Matilda on East 11th Street off Avenue C with her husband Esteban Molina), and Lorella outside No. 189.

Alterations

• Peels Restaurant (Radley Realty Corp), 325 Bowery (op/alt/extend bar counter "L" shape, add 5-6 seats)

Outrageous!

• Cafe Katja (Graz Restaurant LLC), 75 Orchard St (op/alt/license to adjoin current business at 77-79)

• The General/Finale/Bow (Bakers Dozen Associates LLC), 199 Bowery (op/alt/move dance space to back half of the ground floor)

Heh.

• SakaMai (SakaMai LLC), 157 Ludlow St (op/alt/add stand up bar)

New Liquor License Applications

• Sunshine Lounge (Cinema Beverages Holding Company LLC), 143 E Houston St (op)

The Sunshine wants to add food and drinks to go along with their art-house cinema. CB3 hasn't been too receptive, per The Lo-Down ... and BoweryBoogie.

• The Immigrant Tap Room, 341 E 9th St (wb)

We wrote about this yesterday.

• Barzinho Inc, 48 Hester St (wb)

I don't even know where Hester Street is. (KIDDING.)

• Guayoyo (Highseyko Corporation), 67 1st Ave (op/upgrade)

• To be Determined, 266 Broome St (op)

• Retro Bar & Grill (Delancey Diner LLC), 148-150 Delancey St (op

Hope that's just a working title for the bar & grill...

• Natori Saint Marks LLC, 58 St Marks Pl (wb)

The owners moved to Japan late last year. Despite word that the space would close, new owners took over the space. A tipster told us the new owner also runs Sushi Lounge and Noodle Cafe Zen on St. Mark's, and Zen 6 on East Sixth street.

• Long Xin Restaurant (Sunrise Restaurant 88 Inc), 50 Eldridge St (b)

• Luzzo's (Luzzo's 211 LLC), 211 1st Ave (op)

???

• Azize Cafe & Lounge (45 First Ave Corp), 45 1st Ave (wb)

• Pulperia on Essex Inc, 131 Essex St (wb)

• To be Determined, 138 Orchard St (op)

• Mediterrean Grill and Tapas (Izagara Gourmet Inc), 128 1st Ave (op/upgrade)

• 90 Third Avenue TC Restaurant LLC, 90 3rd Ave (op)

This was last Montein Thai Cuisine near 12th Street... the DOH closed them in January 2011, and they never reopened. We've lost track of the applicants here... last that we recall, a Mexican eatery had designs on the space. Will get an update.

• Bar Chevere (O & O Wine Corp), 181 Essex St (op)

• Ivrose B LLC, 137 1st Ave (wb)

This is the former Tara Thai Cuisine space

• Eastwood (Sivandrew Inc), 200 Clinton St aka 221 E B'way (wb)

From the folks who own B-Side on Avenue B. Been a challenging go here too.

• Rivington 155 Parlor Inc, 155 Rivington St (op) (St Jerome's)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

Things that are now saturated

Speaking of the CB3/SLA Licensing Committee... did you notice how they are now designating certain locations (starting with the February docket)? Before, CB3 used the expression "Applications within Resolution Areas."

But this is likely much more descriptive ...

"Applications within Saturated Areas."

I like "Applications within Woooooooo! Areas." But that is likely too large an area.

Here's a list of those areas via the CB3 website:

Community Board 3 has listed the following areas where oversaturation of licensed business has negatively affected the quality of life of residents. CB 3 believes these areas are problem areas because of oversaturation, and we have a policy to not approve new licenses or expansions in these areas unless the applicants show public benefit or strong support from residents living in the immediate area (adjoining, above, across the street from and behind the business).

An exception to this policy is applications for beer wine licenses for businesses that will close by midnight, agree to never apply for full liquor licenses and meet other requirements.

1. [ 99 - 192 ] Ludlow Street between Houston Street and Delancey Street.

2. [ 85 - 138 ] St. Marks Place between First Avenue and Avenue A.

3. 12 St. Marks Place, for which there have been persistent community complaints throughout its history as a licensed establishment.

4. [ 1 - 73 ] Clinton Street between Houston Street and Rivington Street.

5. [ 500 - 599 ] Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

6. Avenue A between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

7. [ 85 - 130 ] Rivington Street between Norfolk Street and Orchard Street.

8. Avenue B between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

9. Avenue C between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

10. [ 10 - 31 ] First Avenue between First Street and Second Street.

11. [ 144 - 202 ] Orchard Street between Houston Street and Rivington Street.

12. [ 1 - 37 ] St. Mark’s Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

13. [ 183 - 242 ] Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

14. [ 27 - 74 ] First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

H/T Shawn Chittle

Checking back in on Monday night's CB3/SLA committee meeting

[125 First Ave.]

We've written a little about Monday's CB3/SLA meeting, in which the committee denied a permit for a beer/wine license for BAD Burger on Avenue A. (This after owner Keith Masco wasn't interested in compromising the hours for the license.)

Otherwise, it seems as if the committee was in a pretty generous mood. Of the 11 agenda items that Eater reported on, 10 of the applicants were successful in getting a license/upgrade/sidewalk cafe, etc.

A few quick items of note from Sarah Rose's report (read the whole thing here):

• Yes to the seafood restaurant/seafood market/gallery at 125 First Ave. that we wrote about here.

• Yes to the Prune people taking over Belcourt that we wrote about here.

• Yes to an upgrade to a full liquor license for Goat Town on East Fifth Street.

And BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down have more on that monstrosity approved for 199 Bowery.

[EVG Flashback] The community board-State Liquor Authority drinking game

Originally posted on Aug. 16, 2010...


To help pass the time during the dull stretches of community board/state liquor authority meetings... we started getting stupid(er), like, given the boozy topic, maybe we should create a drinking game to play ...

So! You have to do a shot every time an applicant says:

"I just want to be part of the community."

"I'm just a guy from the neighborhood."

Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant says, "I like the concept, just not on this block."

Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant uses any of the following words: fraternity, sorority, hell, zoo, spring break, Bourbon Street or woo woo.

The applicant wears a Bluetooth throughout his or her presentation.

Two shots if:

A priest speaks for the applicant.

The applicant's previous restaurant experience was working as a club DJ or promoter.

The applicant has 500 signatures in support, though only 3 of the residents actually live on the block in question.

The applicant says that his or her new place will be an upscale restaurant that will be open until 4 a.m.

The applicant says that the new place will be for the neighborhood, with entrees starting at $32.

They just want the license to pair wines with dessert.

The applicant's attorney says, "This is New York City -- it's supposed to be noisy."

Supporters of the applicant suggest that, if opponents don't like noise, they should move to, or move back to, [Ohio, Delaware, Schenectady, et al]

Three shots if:

The bar name is a nod to homeless people, welfare recipients, alcoholics or serial killers.

The applicant says that he or she is willing to work with the community, and to prove it, the restaurant/bar will close at 1 a.m. on Sundays.

The applicant uses the words "artisanal" or "gastro."

Four shots if:

The applicant uses the words "artisanal" and "gastro" together.

You're told dear old mom from the Old Country will be the chef.

The applicant says if he or she doesn't get approval, the space will likely become a chain store, bank or halfway house for pyromaniacs.

The applicant says that the restaurant will sponsor art classes for kids in the neighborhood.

Chug if:

The applicant gives each committee member an envelope with cash.*

The applicant promises to keep the spirit of the previous owner's establishment alive by having the now-deceased owner stuffed and mounted over the bar.

* We're not suggesting this has ever happened...

Early verdict on tonight's CB3/SLA meeting

We've heard from several people attending tonight's CB3/SLA committee meeting... early word so far:

• Yankee Pizza Restaurant Inc, 181 Ave C aka 647 E 11th St (wb)

DENIED

• Jane's Sweet Buns (DeRossi Chelsea LLC), 102 St Marks Pl (wb)

APPROVED, but not before David McWater apparently called the other board members fascists for trying to block this one, according to an attendee. Looking forward to hearing more about this tomorrow on Eater, The Lo-Down, and others.

• Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Ave C (wb)

APPROVED

This venture sounds interesting, from what we've heard... we'll have more on it later.

Your CB3/SLA agenda for September: A renewal for Heather's; a new bar for the Coop?

The CB3/SLA Licensing Committee agenda is now out (thought not yet online) ... the meeting is Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at Bowery.

Not the juiciest of agendas as far as juicy agendas go ... here's a look at some of the East Village-related items... we'll have more on some of these later... (And, for people curious about a new place from Mars Bar owner Hank Penza, there's nothing on this agenda that fits that description.) ...

Renewal with Complaint History
• Heather's (Ariel Inc), 506 E 13 St (op)

This was a scratch from last month's docket. Heathers went before the CB3/SLA committee in September 2009 ... and there was a lengthy discussion. The Times checked in with a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.

• Amsterdam Billiards & Bar (Corner Billiards Corp), 110 E 11th St (op)

Always classy!



Applications within Resolution Areas

• Yankee Pizza Restaurant Inc, 181 Ave C aka 647 E 11th St (wb)

Part of the growing Yankee Deli empire.

• Cornerstone Café (AO Café & Restaurant LLC), 17 Ave B (wb)

The newish cafe at Second Street that was once La Bonne Bouffe.

Alterations/Upgrades

• Diablo Royale (East Village Café & Restaurant LLC), 167 Ave A (alt/op)

• Hea Hea Bar & Restaurant (Friend Tri New York Inc), 145 E 13th St aka 106 3rd Ave (alt/op)

• Heartbreak Restaurant (Christos Restaurant LLC), 29 E 2nd St aka 37 2nd Ave (up/op)

New Liquor License Applications

• Cooper Square Hotel (CooperAB LLC), 25-33 Cooper Sq (op)

Hmmm... a new bar for the Coop?

• Ichibantei LLC, 401 E 13th St (wb)

The octopus ball eatery just east off First Avenue. Anyone ever eat here?

• Ciao for Now, 521-523 E 12th St (wb)

Key:
b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations | trans=transfer | up=upgrades

On the CB3/SLA July docket: the bakery bar; other stuff!

Oh my! We're still sorting through this month's CB3/SLA madness... and along comes the docket for July! Drowning... in... liquor ... licenses...

Kidding! ... So the fun continues on Monday, July 18 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at the Bowery.

Here are a few of the items on the agenda...

Renewal with Complaint History
• 1011, 171 Ave C (op)

Complaints? Teneleven? This is a fine neighborhood bar.

Applications within Resolution Areas
• Tozzer Ltd, 112 Ave A (alt/op)

Hmm... 112 Avenue A is the Niagara's address...

• Solo Pizza (Solo Pizza Inc), 27 Ave B (wb)

• Duke's (Lime 673 Inc), 129 Ave C (op)

• The Cardinal Restaurant #1 Inc, 234 E 4th St (wb)

• U2 (Joy Café Inc), 6 St Marks Pl (3rd & 4th Floors) (wb)

U2 (or 2U) karaoke is looking to make a comeback here at the former Mondo Kim's.

• TDD & G LLC, 126 St Marks Pl (op)

The former Why? Curry space which is now called what?

Alterations/Upgrades
• The Toucan & The Lion (Type A Goods LLC), 342 E 6th St (alt/up/op)

The former Mara's Homemade.

• Bowery Tech Restaurant LLC, 327 Bowery (alt/up/op)

An alteration of some sort for the Bowery Electric...

• Pangea (Judex Enterprises Inc), 178 2nd Ave (alt/op/sidewalk café)

• Vandaag (Better Living Food Corp), 103 2nd Ave (alt/op)

New Liquor License Applications
• Asian Chef Express Inc, 96 3rd Ave (wb)

• Shima Japanese Restaurant (H&T Restaurant LLC), 188 2nd Ave (wb)

• Phoenix (Hughes Murray Walsh Corp), 447 E 13th St (op)

• Sweet Boutique (Sweet Boutique NY Ltd), 85 2nd Ave (wb)

Ah! The bakery bar moving into the former Sin Sin space...

• Company, 242 E 10th St (op)

• To Be Determined, 700 E 9th St (op)

Hmm, this is the address of Banjo Jim's ...

• To Be Determined, 308 E 6th St (op)

This is Zerza, the Moroccan place...

• To Be Determined, 81 E 7th St (op)

This is Krystal's Cafe 81, with the shamwow sign.

Seems like old times, except older: 34 Avenue A and 200 Avenue A back on the SLA docket

The folks at CB3 have posted the May meeting schedule, including the docket for the SLA licensing committee... Lots of action again this time around... First, the meeting place and time: SLA & DCA Licensing Committee, Monday, May 16 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 East 5th Street at Bowery

A few highlights. (The whole caboodle is here.)

Applications within Resolution Areas

• To Be Determined, 34 Ave A (op)

We're not sure just yet who is looking at trying to revive the former Mo Pitkin's/Aces & Eights space this time around... the same crew with their "performance venue"? A new crew! We'll find out...

• Solo Pizza (Solo Pizza Inc), 27 Ave B (wb)

• Ave B Caffe Buon Gusto Inc., 545 E 5th St (aka 76 Ave B) (wb)

[Whistling....]

• Paradiso (Paradiso NY LLC), 105 Ave B (wb)

This is the cafe/coffee shop near Seventh St.

• Boxcar Lounge (Oops of New York Inc), 168 Ave B (op)

• Bat Yam Food Services Inc, 97 St. Mark’s Pl (wb)

• To be determined, 14 Ave. B (op)

Well! At one point, various people were going to combine 14-16 Avenue B at Second Street for some massive club bar-restaurant with mama from the old country cooking, etc. However, CB3/SLA always shot down those plans ... and now Discovery Wines is taking the space at 16 Avenue B. And now someone is giving the smaller space at 14 a whirl...

Sidewalk Café Applications

• 26 Seats (Paris Cuisine Inc.), 168 Ave B

• Peels Restaurant (325 Bowery Restaurant LLC), 325 Bowery

• Cacio & Pepe (Peprico Inc.), 182 2nd Ave

Just realized that I've never eater here.

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• To be Determined (Not A Bookstore LLC), 200 Ave A (trans/op) (Superdive)

The art gallery with a full liquor license is back. Last month, the committee told them to do more (and better!) community outreach.



• To Be Determined (Epicurean Management), 11 E 1st St (trans/op) (Bowery Wine)

Something new in store for the Bowery Wine Company? A quick flashback to the BWC protest in 2008.

• To be Determined, 500 E 11th St (trans/op) (Angels & Kings)

Another reject from last meeting. The committee told them to do more (and better!) community outreach.

• Hop Devil Grill, 125-129 St. Marks Pl (trans/op)

• To Be Determined (Evir Corp), 117 Second Ave (trans/wb)

Dunno what's going on here... this is now 7.2 at the corner of Seventh Street... onetime home of the Kiev...

New Liquor License Applications

• Led Zeppole (Arti Restaurant & Catering Group), 328 E 14th St (wb)

• The Toucan & The Lion (Type A Goods LLC), 342 E 6th St (op)

What's with the names these days? And this is the entity taking over the Mara's Homemade space.

A CB3/SLA recap: 'Everyone wants a piece of the EV gold rush'

Here's a little more on Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting... We heard that the whole thing ran eight hours... and a good crowd was present.

"The place was packed," East Village Dale Goodson told me later. "So many applicants. Everyone wants a piece of the EV gold rush."

Indeed. Meanwhile, EV Grieve reader Mike sent along his account from the four hours or so that he spent there...

1) Team New Superdive showed up, but they didn’t have a representative so they had to wait a while. When they finally did come up, they decided to define the word “salon” and talk about how they were an art gallery that just needed to stay open really late at night for no apparent reason. They gave endless introductions about who they were, to the great non-interest of the audience, and then were asked, by both the Community Board and the audience why they were presenting the same plan they presented five months ago with no modifications after making no effort to communicate with the community about their concerns. They responded that they were “advised not to.” Their lawyer did some quick backpedaling about how he had certainly not suggested such a thing, and then they were forced to withdraw their application. The audience, who was out for blood, was disappointed, but victorious.

2) Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop at 129 Rivington St. brought along a bunch of supporters who talked about how much they liked to eat sandwiches after work and wished they could have a glass of wine. After a bit of wrangling, it was granted, with restrictions on the hours it could be open.

3) Percy's Tavern (210 Ave A) was requesting an outdoor cafe. There was significant community opposition because Percy's has apparently not kept its promises to the residents of the community about reducing the noise level. Its owner kept saying the noise was not his fault and talking about how he moved the stage, but neither the neighbors or the Board were impressed. They were denied, and told to try again when they’d proven themselves to the community.

4) A restaurant whose corporate name is “133 Essex Restaurant LLC” wants to take over the Mason Dixon space that apparently houses a bunch of frat boys and a mechanical bull. The budding restaurateurs wouldn’t accept a midnight closing time during the week and a 2 a.m. closing time on the weekends. They told the community members that if they didn’t let them operate later into the night, the community would continue to be saddled with Mason Dixon (which is apparently closed right now for some sort of violation) and that there would be vomit everywhere. So in any case, that was a bit ugly, but they withdrew.

5) Angels and Kings is closing so that a restaurant can open. But wait, Angels and Kings has a kitchen? Apparently they even have a menu. Who knew? They are going to hire the chef from the troubled Forbidden City on Avenue A that is now called the Fat Buddha. The neighbors opposed the transfer because there wasn't any community outreach. Neighbors also complained about their proposed hours (4 p.m. - 3:30 am sounds a lot like bar hours) and one Community Board member questioned why they planned on having one security guard inside and another outside, which sounds like bar security, not restaurant security. One also wonders why a small restaurant needs a full liquor license anyway, but that’s another story. Anyway, they withdrew to go meet with community members.

6) Finally, the owners of the Tonda space wanted to get the stipulations about closing time and a coffee window taken off their license (a transfer). They got their coffee window (they will now apparently have pastries and coffee starting at 7:30 a.m.), but the residents of East 4th Street won the hours battle: 12 p.m. closing on weekdays, 1 a.m. on weekends.

One further note on Angels and Kings. Another attendee told me about a letter from a social worker who works with the elderly residents of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Apartments that face the bar on 11th Street. The social worker said that some of the residents are feeling depressed and anxious — aided in part by sleepless nights courtesy of noisy nearby bars.

Also, a few weeks ago we mentioned that South Brooklyn Pizza is expanding to open a restaurant — serving beer and wine — next door at 122 First Ave. in the former Ruben's space. The South Brooklyn folks have been collecting signatures in support of the move, and showed up at the meeting with more than 2,000 signatures.

As Eater's Jackie Goldstein reported, the owner started his presentation by saying that South Brooklyn Pizza was known as the "best pizza place in New York City right now." To Jackie's recap:

Then someone mentioned "Fondle Parties," an event that has occurred at South Brooklyn Pizza which basically sounds like a grope fest. But it was okay, one committee member even said "nothing's wrong with a little fondling as long as it's consensual." The board voted to deny unless they agreed to stop serving booze at 1 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends.

No word on whether the EV location will host Fondle parties. You can read more about them here.

Find more recaps at Eater and The Lo-Down.

A quickie CB3/SLA recap

We were unable to attend last night's tonight's CB3/SLA meeting... Several people said that the meeting lasted eight hours ... and that an exchange involving Hitler took place...

Anyway, we posted this pic last night... Residents had "Enough is Enough" signs up while hearing about a sidewalk cafe for Percy's on Avenue A and 13th Street... The committee denied this request, and several others...

One other note... the folks looking to take over the Superdive space had to withdraw. As one meeting attendee noted, they came in "with this huge art complex idea of classes and gallery and grants for studio and a live-in artist in residence — oh, and of course a bar/restaurant that will be open until 4 in the morning."

They forgot one detail: Getting together with residents and neighborhood block associations before the meeting.

We'll have more later...

The Lo-Down and Eater have more on the Mason-Dixon portion of the meeting.

A new era for CB3 liquor license approvals

There's good news on the future of Lower East Side/East Village nightlife after Community Board 3 approved revamped liquor license policies on Tuesday night. I've been following this story, and have attended several preliminary meetings. However, I wasn't able to make Tuesday night's meeting in which the full community board voted on the topic.



The Lo-Down has been all over the story. Here's their take:

Last night Community Board 3 voted to put in place comprehensive new policies that could have a dramatic impact on the nightlife industry on the Lower East Side for years to come. The revised rules, governing how CB3′s SLA Committee evaluates liquor license applications, are intended to streamline and standardize a process that has been harshly criticized by bar owners and community activists alike as inconsistent and capricious.

In particular, the full board voted to phase out "the controversial practice of automatically transferring licenses from one operator to another." (Be sure to read the Lo-Down's post on last week's epic bar policy meeting in which CB3 member David McWater said to another board member: "That is the most bullshit thing you could ever fucking say. You want to see ballistic? This is ballistic.")

Here's the view from Rob at Save the Lower East Side!:

A momentous vote last night at Community Board 3: they voted, in effect, to curb the trend of commercial real estate speculation that has been decimating local-serving businesses and speeding up yuppie gentrification, which, unlike family-gentrification, creates neighborhoods of upscale transients displacing community without replacing any community at all. CB3 voted to phase out automatic liquor license transfer approval. It may be the most significant vote they've ever made.

Under the old dispensation, when a bar owner decides to sell the business, a new owner of that business can 'buy' the liquor license. The CB, treating the bought license as if there were no change in management, effectively guarantees the financial value of the license. That sends a message to prospective bar owners everywhere that a license is guaranteed — insured — in this community district. You don't have to face the community, you don't have to face the Board members. If the street on that business has over time filled with new bars, you don't have to worry about increased community objections.

Jill at Blah Blog Blah has been closely following the issue too... Read her post on the topic from last week that inspired a good deal of conversation.

For more on this story, here are nice recaps from Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo and the Local East Village.

One important note on all this: CB3 is going to grandfather all current licenses, meaning that a current active license may still be transferred.

In any event, I'm still wrapping my head around all this. Don't expect to see shops selling, say, yarn, records, zines, junk and what not popping up on Avenue A tomorrow now in place of bars as a result of this. It took years for the East Village/LES to get into this nightlife mess; it will take a few more before there's a noticeable difference. But there's hope....

March Madness! Takers for the former Kurve, Tonda and Aces and Eights spaces; music returning to old Mo Pitkin's?

Here we go with the docket for the SLA & DCA Licensing Committee, Monday, March 14 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street at Bowery



And here are some items of interest from the agenda (the whole shebang is here):

• Review of 2010 goals and accomplishments/committee goals for 2011

• Resolution to SLA regarding undue burden on Community Boards of waivers for 30-renewal notices, and undue burden to businesses of penalty of closing businesses if renewal is late.

Applications within Resolution Areas

• Table 12 (188 Ave A Take Out Food Corp), 188 Ave A (wb)

Oh boy ... this didn't go so well last time... in September...

• Coyi Café, 42 Ave B (wb)

• 34 Avenue A, corp to be formed, (Aces & Eights) (op)

CB3 said No to Jevan Damadian, the owner of the former Aces and Eights space, during the November meeting. He was looking to open a tapas bar ... with no beer pong. The rumors have a former associate of Phil Hartman's at the Two Boots empire opening a music venue here. A return to its previous Mo Pitkin's roots?

Sidewalk Café Applications

• Café Cortadito (Café Cortadito LLC), 210 E 3rd St

The Cuban eatery near Avenue B is looking for some sidewalk tables...

• A&D Wine Corp, (Wine Bar), 65 2nd Ave (alt/increase number of tables and chairs from 6 tables and 12 chairs to 10 tables and 22 chairs)

• 157 Brick Oven LLC (Plum Pizzeria), 157 2nd Ave

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• 4AB LLC (Tonda), 235 E 4th St (tran/op)

A-ha! All this explains the crazy non-hours of operation of late.

• Le Cave LLC, 64 E 1st St (alt/op/correction of original application)

Hey now! During January's meeting, one of the owners of LaVie, the hookah-flavored club at 64 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, called Susan Stetzer a "racist." How can they top that?

• Woody's (Prince 28 LLC), 31 2nd Ave (alt/op/adding second bar upstairs and other work)

• Sa Aming Nayon LLC, (Wai Café) 201 1st Ave (wb)

Something amiss with the Wai? Cafe?

• 133 Essex Restaurant LLC, (Mason Dixon) 133 Essex St (op)

Maybe they're just moving their mechanical bull?

New Liquor License Applications

• Lucky's Famous Burgers (Lucky Burger Houston LLC), 147 E Houston St (b)

BoweryBoogie has been covering the return of Lucky Burger to the East Village.

• Corp to be formed, (Kurve) 87 2nd Ave (op)

Corpse to be formed? We're curious to see what happens with the old Kurve/Rhong-Tiam space.

• Aegis Atlantic LLC (Peet’s Coffee/Preserve 24), 175 E. Houston St.(op)

Interesting... A Peet's Coffee & Tea shop is slated to take over this space on Houston at Allen ... this space that includes the Foam & Futon Center has been on the market ... And maybe Peet's will change the name from coffee and tea to beer and whiskey... ?

East Village soon to be home to restaurants called The Beagle and Marry the Ketchup

I couldn't attend Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting. However, Eater's Jackie Goldstein was there ... here are a few highlights:

• Heartbreak Cafe on Second Avenue and Second Street gets the OK for a sidewalk cafe. This, though, after the Heartbreakers apparently agreed that they wouldn't seek a sidewalk license... Regardless, they were OK'd for eight tables and 32 seats on the Second Avenue side. This whole episode put a committee member in a snit.

• Momofuku Milk Bar gets the OK for a new location across the street from their current 13th Street digs. The booze will only be served in the desserts or something. And they'll have two beers on the menu. Rather, two different kinds of beer.

• Marry the Ketchup is approved at the old Permanent Brunch space on First Avenue. They'll seafood and oysters.

• I've heard the most about The Beagle, which is OK'd to take over the Orologio space at 162 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. One resident told me their menu had entrees priced between $26-31. But, a Beagle rep said that was an old menu, and of the 31 items, 20 are $12 and under. Still, one resident told me how unhappy he is with menu items such as whole pigs and foie gras.

Read the full Eater post here.

More on last night's CB3/SLA meeting

Here's my recap of last night's sometimes contentious CB3/SLA meeting right here.

You can read more coverage at:

The Lo-Down

Eater

The Local EV

'Making or breaking dreams' at Community Board 3

Here are excerpts from today's Wall Street Journal article on Community Board 2 and 3....

The owner of a new tea lounge in the East Village wanted a liquor license. After her community board denied the request, she started crying, "shocked by the backlash," according to one board member.

Welcome to Community Board 3. The restaurant and night-life industry may be buzzing downtown, but some of the biggest fireworks take place in dreary meeting rooms where tempers flare, tears are shed and the back and forth can stretch on for up to eight hoTrs. Confrontations have gotten so bad that some businesses have just given up and withdrawn applications.

Now, a group of high-profile restaurateurs are trying to form a trade association. One of their main gripes: Community boards are unfair.

"In a way, we're making or breaking dreams," said Ariel Palitz, who has straddled two roles, as nightclub owner and member of Community Board 3's committee. She said she was speaking as an individual, not for the committee.

And!

Some restaurateurs say community boards can be the biggest obstacle to doing business in the city. "They should call them communist boards instead of community boards," said Keith Masco, whose application for a liquor license for a proposed seafood restaurant and market in the Lower East Side was denied several months ago. "What they're doing is really unfair."

And!

Community Board 3 District Manager Susan Stetzer says a real concern of residents in her district is having a diversity of businesses, not just bars and restaurants. "It's about having services for people who live here," she said.

Roastown Coffee aiming for a liquor license

The CB3/SLA agenda for October is out... and it looks pretty... quiet... Only 18 items as of right now... Here's the whole shebang....

SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Monday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. — JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street at Bowery


Renewal with Complaint History
Spur Tree (LLD3 LLC), 76 Orchard St (wb)

Applications within Resolution Areas
Ichiban 71 Clinton Inc, 71 Clinton St (op)
On the C Pub Inc, 185 Orchard St (op) (removal from 129 Ave C)
JujoMukti Tea Lounge (JujoMukti Inc), 211 E 4th St (wb) (Mamlouk)
Totale Pizza (Totale Pizza Inc), 36 St Marks Pl (wb)
Tre (Jersey Boys LLC), 173 Ludlow St (alt/op/addition of tables & chairs to back patio)
Habibi Lounge (Zaika Restaurant Corp), 198 Ave A (alt/op)

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
Roastown Coffee St Marks (Roastown Coffee St Marks Inc), 133 2nd Ave (trans/wb) (Pizzanini)

Hmm, so the incoming coffee place wants to serve booze too? Only to pair with desserts, right?

TKR Planners Inc, 108 E 4th St (trans/rw) (Knife & Fork Rest & Wine Bar)
Corp to be Formed, 58 E 1st St (trans/op) (The Elephant)

New Liquor License Applications
Project 6 LLC, 87 Stanton St (op)
Wackywok (Panasia Kitchen Ltd), 129 Ave D (wb)
Rivington Parlor LLC, 155 Rivington St (op)
Amazing 66 Restaurant (Amazing 66 Group Inc), 66 Mott St (wb)
Yuba Group LLC, 105 E 9th St (rw)
Mama Juana Cafe, 107 Norfolk St (op)

Hey, the old Tonic place. What happened to that restaurant with blind waiters that was gonna open here?

CB3 says no to monster bar on Avenue B; plus, good news for Blarney Cove fans

Speaking of bars... last night, Community Board 3 passed the docket from the Sept. 20 subcommittee meeting ... (The one item that we reported on from that meeting: No liquor license for Table 12 on Avenue A and 12th Street.)

A few items of note:

• Justified LLC, 102 1st Ave (alt/op/extend to backyard):

As we reported, the International Bar crew, Molly and Shawn, are taking over the Lilly Coogan's space down the way. CB3 approved the use of the backyard for seating. However, as part of the conditions, they must close the outdoor space by 10 every night — including any time needed for clean-up.

• Corp to be Formed, 14 Ave B (trans/op) (Butterfly Butterfly)

This is the newly ginormous space on the southwest corner of Second Street. The owners wanted to open a "restaurant tavern" ...with hours of operation from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Wednesday; from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday and Fridays; and Noon 'till 4 a.m. on Saturdays. And! They'd employ DJs Friday and Saturday nights.

History didn't help this space. Remember Butterfly? According to CB3, they had a history of citations for unlicensed security, unlicensed cabaret, unlicensed sidewalk cafe (was anything licensed?). You get the idea. The owner of the new space, in the eyes of CB3, has "failed to demonstrate that he has sufficient experience to operate a restaurant-bar of this size in this area or addressing any of the prevailing noise or traffic concerns." Plus! He was unwilling to close earlier than 2 a.m.

REJECT.

• Blarney Cove (510 E 14th Pub Inc), 510 E 14th St (op)

Remember the hyperlocal East Village blogger who nearly shit the bed about what might be happening with this? Fool!

This is a transfer from the Blarney Cove's now-deceased owner to his daughter-in-law. According to the CB3, the Blarney Cove will continue its current method of operation and retain its name.

OK!

Reminders tonight: Helping change the CB3/SLA policies and procedures

Per the CB3 website.

Policy Meeting of the SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Tonight at 6:30 — University Settlement at Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery (at Houston)

We will review and evaluate changes to Community Board 3's existing policies and procedures guiding the Board's approvals/denials of all types of liquor licenses for establishments within the CB 3 district. All previous "resolution areas" will be reviewed.

We want to hear from YOU!

Please fill out a “Request to Speak” form by 7 p.m. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.
Testimony can be also be submitted to info@cb3manhattan.org or submitted at meeting

• What are your plans/visions for the area?
• What are your concerns, problems?
• What do you want to retain in our neighborhood?
• Read current policies & facts.

It would be helpful if you could address the following questions in your testimony.

• License applications are subject to 500-foot rule (no new full licenses if 3 or more within 500 feet). New licenses should not be issued unless they provide a public benefit. Also, CB 3 does not issue new licenses in certain areas unless there is
overwhelming public support and public benefit. What would you consider a public benefit to your immediate neighborhood?
• If you are an applicant — what do you think a licensed establishment could provide that would be a public benefit? How would you approach the community to decide this?
• If you had a choice of one kind of new license on your block — would you prefer
a) upscale restaurant? B) affordable restaurant? c) combination restaurant/bar?
(or bar with menu) c) eating/drinking with entertainment? D) bar? e) Other?
• Do you think the impact of a pizza place with beer is any different than pizza place without beer? Does closing hours make a difference?
• What kind of licensed establishment causes most impact in your immediate area in terms of crowds on street, underage drinking? rowdiness?
• Do you know if people come to your immediate area for nightlife from a) local residents b) public transportation or walking c) cab d) private cars.
• For residents — what kinds of licensed establishments in the neighborhood do you visit? How far do you have to travel? What would you like to see more of or less of in your immediate area? Do you travel out of your area to visit eating/drinking
establishments? If so, what neighborhood?

Here's the survey.

Avenue A mystery bar/restaurant off tonight's CB3 docket

For me, one of the most interesting items on the CB3/SLA docket was:

10. Corp to be Formed, 150 E 2nd St (wb) (aka: 24 Ave A)

As you recall, Frank Prisinzano, who owns EV Italian empire Frank, Lil' Frankie's and Supper, came before the CB3/SLA committee on June 14 with his plans to turn the former grocery at 24 Avenue A and Second Street into what he described as fast-food Italian. The board never approved the application.

Anyway, the future of this corner inspired some spirited debate hereabouts. (78 comments or so.) Read some of that here.

So is someone else looking to take over the former Graceland space (and not a bank or 7-Eleven then!)? Plus, 24 Avenue A was Graceland's address; 150 Second St. is the address of Nicky's and the former barber shop next door. More mystery!

I asked district manager Susan Stetzer about this "corp to be formed." She said that she wasn't sure on this one — she didn't pursue because the application was withdrawn.

Anyway, it appears the real-estate listing for this space is still active.