Hell's Kitchen Battles Boxers, A Gay Bar That Would Open Near Schools

Somebody's a little overdressed! (Via Boxers)

Hundreds of people packed a Community Board 4 meeting in Hell's Kitchen last night to debate Boxers, the popular Chelsea gay sports bar that wants to open on 10th Avenue near 52nd Street. That's just down the block from Public School 111, and many parents are concerned about its proximity to their children—because of the "alcohol exposure," not because it's a gay bar, of course. All that firm, rippling gayness has nothing to do with it! Please let area resident Nivia Cefello, who has lived in Hell's Kitchen for 65 years, explain:

"These kids are curious," Cefello said last night, DNAinfo reports. "They'll want to look into this, they're going to go in there. I'm upset they can meet these people. Their mind will be working and they'll be working hard, and that's where the trouble's going to start real bad." Goodness, will these children even be able to walk home from school without getting seduced into a glitter makeover and a pair of leather chaps? "They should change the name of the bar to Schoolyard," many locals said last night, according to City Room.

After a lively debate—in which supporters of the bar and some community board members complained of an undercurrent of homophobia—the board voted not to recommend a liquor license for Boxers. But the board's ruling is purely advisory, and the SLA could issue the license anyway. In the event that that happens, the board also urged the SLA to require that the bar stay closed during school hours, and put up walls around the bar's rooftop patio so that the children won't be corrupted by the sight of men socializing.

Boxers has already agreed to that compromise, and the owners also insist the establishment does not violate a law prohibiting bars from opening 200 feet from a school. While it's true that a small part of the establishment is within that zone, that part of the bar won't sell booze, just tacos! Oh, and cock rings. But those are free for kids under 10.

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By John Del Signore in Food on October 6, 2011 3:21 PM

Comments [rss]

Preston Burford

I'm more concerned that these people are raising their children right in the middle of manhattan only blocks from what used to be the scummiest part of town and are somehow complaining about a decent establishment being built, that contains alcohol, just like the rest of the restaurants around... but happens to be gay. These people chose to live in an area with millions of people, and they need to learn that the area is going to cater to a bunch of people. It's not a quiet neighborhood, so it boggles my mind how this blatant homophobia is somehow being pawned off as a plea to keep children away from alcohol and lurid behavior? If that's the case, shut down all the bars within walking distance (that's half of manhattan) or teach your children right and wrong... easy solution.

Also a wall for the roof deck??? Really? Because the 100 foot tall billboard of a mostly naked David Beckham is obviously a sight for children.

maatthias

I live around the corner and I'm cool with it. However yaknowwhat? I don't think that woman quoted is being all that homophobic. I can just hear her voice... complaining about 10th Ave becoming a late night playground instead of her old neighborhood. I just hear her being reactionary not homophobic.

JAB84

It is not possible to walk down any street in Hell's Kitchen without running into a gay bar. These are NYC kids; what HAVEN'T they seen before? And I agree with grandeur-- when I was a kid, I too was excited by McDonald's, not the COCKtails at bars.

xXxMExXx

Can you imagine the promo flyers blowing around that schoolyard? Yikes!

izzy isou

Blowing?

seattlesnow

I would worry that the school kids would make fun of the bar patrons... kids can be cruel

Kevin

The bartenders they hire tend to be mathematically challenged. Hot but mathematically challenged. So I'm seeing a great opportunity here with a school in close proximity!

Dirk

Oh noes! The gays are coming! Hide your children!

robingee

Gays? IN NEW YORK CITY???

edgie168

hide yo husbands too

grandeur1

when I was a kid I was most certainly not interested in going into bars. McDonalds yes, gay bar no.

TheOtherBob

I don't even understand the concern. Do gay bars even have people in them between 8am and 4pm? Are the kids going to be going home and decide to just drop in to see what this "gay sex" thing is about? I mean, what do they even think will happen? The place will be either closed or empty when the kids are around.

And even if it wasn't...hello?! These are NYC kids, raised in Hell's Kitchen. What, exactly, do people think these kids haven't seen before? If one of these kids were to wander into this place, and to somehow see something they shouldn't, their most likely reaction would be that ridiculous, affected NYC "over it" look -- the one that says "yeah, so it wasn't anything worth talking about, I've seen that a million times and I'm kinda bored with it, but I know you haven't been here as long as I have so it might be new to you. Yawn."

robingee

I know, that lady makes zero sense. "They're going to go in there and meet these people"?? So kids wander into bars during the day all the time? What a country!