Photos by Lilian Chan
New York City‘s Community Board 2 turned downs multiple requests for liquor license by two restaurants occupying the same block in Nolita. Community members gathered in the Cronin auditorium at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday for the SLA licensing hearing. Community members spoke out against the saturation of restaurant and bars with liquor licenses in their neighborhood.
In February, Raymond Lee, chair of the CB2 Business and SLA licensing board, granted a liquor license to 88-92 Kenmare Street, a restaurant that spans two thirds of the block. On Tuesday, neighboring Hoomoos Asli, claiming to be the only kosher restaurant in the neighborhood, asked the board for its liquor license for the first time in ten years. Hoomoos’ original owners’ son, Liore Milstein, acquired the restaurant two years ago and wants to keep up with demands for kosher wines and spirits. A waiter for Hoomoos Asli took the podium to let the board know that he often gets requests from customers for wine and cocktails. Liore also wants to keep the restaurant open until 4 am. Currently, Hoomoos Asli is closed for renovation. They are replacing the old kitchen area with more seating. The board turned down their application and suggested that Liore communicate with the community and draw a compromise.
Village Tart, currently under construction and looking to open its doors in the upcoming months, applied for a license to serve beer and wine after being turned down twice for a full liquor license. Their third attempt was also turned down by the community board. A resident of 86 Kenmare Street, the apartment building that Village Tart occupies, stated that he does not look forward to having a restaurant on each sides of his building entrance that serves alcohol until 4 in the morning. Partner and pastry chef Patti Jackson says she does not have plans to reapply. “We have already invested too much money in construction,” Jackson said, “we will still open without the license.”
Just down the block from Village Tart, Cinema Nolita, a DVD rental store on Mulberry Street, applied for a full liquor license but did not go before the SLA Licensing board. Their application was automatically denied. The community was prepared to speak against their request.
Noble Food & Wine, at 7 Spring Street, requested to renew their liquor license. “It’s the most quiet place on the block,” Noble Food & Wine’s attorney Randle Cutler stated, “we have had only one complaint and that has been solved.” Nonetheless, several neighbors voiced their complaints. One angry neighbor noted that there has not been more complaints because the residence were mostly Chinese and do not communicate their annoyance. Their renewal was denied. CB2 suggested they make a compromise with the individuals that opposed.
Stephan Jauslin, a partner and owner of Spread, is hoping to serve open-face sandwiches at 209 Mulberry Street and offer at the very least a wine and beer menu. Last September, CB2 turned down his third application. “Our lawyer said we may still get a wine and beer license,” Jauslin said, “but this is a very hard community”. Jauslin waited outside of St. Vincent’s Hospital’s entrance to speak with restaurant entrepreneur Lesly Bernard. Bernard has three restaurants opening this year, one of which is Village Tart.
Nolita restaurants are fighting a battle but hope to win the war. “In this economy,” Milstein said, “we have to do everything to stay in the competition.”