‘Cafe Henrie’ Denied in CB3 SLA Committee Hearing

Nearby tenants and long -time neighbors turned out to say ‘no thank you’ to Cafe Henrie’s request for a full liquor license. They listed a number of key reasons.

“Our long- time experience as a community has been that when a full liquor license is given, things change. I do not believe that our neighborhood needs more fully-licensed establishments with 7-day-a-week, 2AM closing hours.

  • There are at least 3 OP licenses already on the Chrystie street side of the park, and their revelers can be heard late into the morning as they wait to gain entrance
  • Happy Ending was a disaster, and Louie and Chan has similar noise issues from patrons gathered outside.
  • In addition to the hotels, the number of businesses within 750’ of CH suggests that rampant proliferation of licenses in our community is not an exaggerated concern
  • Every additional bar or OP business that opens has a significant impact on the quality of life of the residents who live nearby
  • An over-arching concern is this: as one of the small streets located just west of the much-discussed over-saturated area, and just east of several new large hotels on Bowery and Chrystie – all of whom have (or will have) several OP licenses within them – we run the risk of being squeezed as the next area ripe for businesses that cater to transient visitors looking for pub-crawls and bar-hopping.

…This site does not have [a full liquor license] currently, and if approved it becomes such a space ever after.

– There are families with school-aged children who would thank you for this.

– There are seniors who like to go to bed early, and they will thank you, too. 

– There are workers who live the 9-5 grind who would appreciate being able to enjoy their quiet time at home.  

CH’s owner is internationally known as a nightclub developer, a graffiti artist, style and fashion maven. As he stated, to become this successful: “Everything I do comes from the freedom” he embraced as a grafitti artist: “if I want to do something, I do it. If I want to paint this rooftop…this train…or a place that is difficult to access..I’m going to do it…. and I’ve kept this attitude with everything I do…I want a night club, I’ll do it.” **

Andre wanted a coffee shop, and he got it.

We ask that he work with the community to make sure that we get what we want and need, too –  the peaceful enjoyment of our homes and neighborhood, and a continued successful coexistence with the café.”

These issues and…

  • the venue is required by their lease to close at 12midnight
  • the Pentecostal Church (which one of the attendees is a member of) is within 200 ft

 

For future reference:

Community Groups in Community Board 3: CB3 keeps a listing of all nearby community groups to help get the word out for venues requesting licensing. It helps…democracy. It means venues have easy access to reach out beyond the, at times, insular world of their own clientele. It keeps us communicating openly and honestly as neighbors.

BoweyBoogie covered the preliminary issues here. (Thank you BoweryBoogie)

 

 

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