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The owner of Lower East Side bar Barramundi has sued over the liquor license moratorium the State Liquor Authority enacted in Manhattan in September. The SLA has indefinitely halted new licenses for any establishments within 500 feet of other watering holes - and in the Lower East Side, it's like you can't trip without running into a place that serves a drink. Anthony Powe was given community board approval to take over the bar in the spring, so he closed on the 67 Clinton Street building - and took on a $4.15 million mortgage. The NY Sun reports that even four months after Powe applied for a license, the SLA hadn't done anything, so when the agency said no more licenses would be issued, Powe realized he might get screwed as his temporary licenses expired last month. That is a problem - we wonder if there are more establishments left in a lurch.
A judge approved a petition to keep Barramundi open until October 19. The SLA tells the Sun that they are going to contest the suit, but had no further comment.
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It's about time someone challenged this ridiculous policy. It's one thing to insist that the licensing process be less promiscuous in areas that are already too crowded with bars, and entirely another to categorically refuse to give licenses even to long-established places that have merely changed owners.
Another infuriating example is Blind Tiger Ale House, which recently reopened in a new location after having been evicted for yet another boutique--only to discover that it couldn't get a liquor license and would have to sustain itself indefinitely as a coffee bar. It had been known for having one of the best beer selections in the city. Thanks, guys.
Amen.
It's OBVIOUS that these already established places should of course be grandfathered in! Regardless of ownership. But I agree w/the halt on issuing new liquor licenses! It's ONLY to places within 500 feet of another bar. It's about time the SLA woke up and listened to people complaining about their neighborhoods being RUINED. MIne has been ruined as it's now a neighborhood known for it's "bar culture." Will you miss the bar that's not going to be 500 ft away from the one you're at? Well if you're on the Lower East Side there will be at least three across the street from you most of the time anyway. Do you need a fourth?
It's completely unfair that a good place like Barramundi which has been on the LES for a long time is getting the shaft, yet much, much newer places like Schiller's Liquor Bar are allowed to operate (and Schiller's is across the street from a public school).
Barramundi is one of the last bars in the city that should be shut down. It's never too loud, crowded, or wild in there, which is more than you can say for 95 percent of the bars in Manhattan.
It's the noise and riff-raff that's a problem, not the bars or the booze they serve. Young fools pack into these bars like sardines, and cutting the number of liquor licenses is only going to make the existing places even MORE unbearable than they already are. And they are pretty freaking unbearable already.
I'm 30 and have lived in New York for a dozen years, but the bars are pretty much intolerable at this point. If you're not looking to spend hours standing around (because there are no seats) while people make out and take camera phone photos of their jackassed behavior, you're pretty much out of luck in this city. When did the place become such a pit?
IS Bullsheet!
Should be same set of rules, regardless of age...
This is very similiar to what is happening with the blind tiger Ale house. They are also gettig screwed out of a liquor license they took over. It's a great place with nice guys running it, and one of the best places to get a craft beer in a good setting in NYC. check out the website and sign the petition,
www.blindtigeralehouse.com
I believe that any new laws or regulations should not be imposed over-night. Some hard working people invested their life savings to open their business...wether it's a bar or not; the new policies should at least regulate the current applications and i don't mean accept every applications; but process them for a yes or a no and not just over-night say that's it to everyone! restaurants are exceptions to this unfair rule... but for the advocates of peace and quietness, we all know there are so many very loud restaurants out there with outdoor seatings, or some even operating as club under the umbrella of restaurant status. The SLA is very irresponsible by making such a decision without giving a fair amount of time to people that had already signed their leases, the temporaries licences. I saw this poor man crying in front of me saying if he can't get his license... he will commit succide cause he's in such a crazy financial problem having invested all his money in that bar. Operating right now with a temporary liquor license. are we not people with families and responsibilities? how is it possible in America that elected officials take such a decision without giving people the time to adjust. 1 year... 6 months...something! As far as i' m concerned my life today has just stop! i owe to much without the chance to pay back.