(Buschenschank owners in front of CB6 Permit and License Committee last night)
Several members of the community had taken the time to show up at the meeting to tell the Committee that Buschenschank was a terribly noisy neighbor and that, on warm days, the eatery actually removes all of its windows, allowing loud music to escape from the establishment. One resident pointed out that the establishment was operating like an open-air beer garden. Another resident suggested that, with the windows wide open, Buschenschank already had a sidewalk café of sorts.
Noise complaints were not the only problem. It was pointed out that there are currently quite a few open NYC Building's Department violations noted for the building housing the bar. In addition, when asked, the owners confirmed that they do not have a Place Of Assembly Permit, though they clearly have more than 75 people (including staff) in their establishment on a busy night. (The owner denied that they exceed that capacity.)
Glenn Kelly, one of the Committee member pointed out to the owners of Buschenschank that, according to NYC Department Of Environmental Protection's rules, a restaurant or bar's doors and windows are to be kept closed at all times to prevent noise from escaping onto the sidewalk. Asked if they would keep those windows closed from now on, the owners seemed defiant and said "no". "If that was a rule, how come we never got a violation from DEP at Buschenschank or at our other place, P.J. Hanley's?"
Committee member Lou Sones asked if the owners intended to close the windows during the summer, when the air conditioner would be running. The owners again said "No." Sones informed them that that was a violation as well, which did not seem to impress the owners much.
Their cavalier attitude and their arrogance did not sit well with members of the Board. "You seem to be willing to make getting tickets part of your business strategy at the expense of the community," Committee member Joe Porcelli told them.
In related new, the Commmittee approved a sidewalk café license for both Café Bruno on Henry Street as well as for Marco Polo on Court Street.
The Committee also voted to renew a sidewalk café license for Abelene, but, since the Community Board had received several complaints about the bar, the owner was asked to follow DEP rules and keep its large windows closed.
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16 comments:
Headline is wrong. "Cranky CG Neighbors Hate Fun."
Trumbull Bully, take a look at some of the violations listed for that building! Joists and fireproofing materials ripped out? Exhausts improperly installed? I like fun just fine, but if the DOB isn’t going to crack down on the owners of Buschenschank, we’ve got to be on neighborhood watch. The problem is bigger than noise, it seems.
I was hoping that they'd get their license, if only to give the crank who's complaining about damico's something else to focus on.
Unlike damico's, this bar's owners are behaving like lousy neighbors.
"according to NYC Department Of Environmental Protection's rules, a restaurant or bar's doors and windows are to be kept closed at all times to prevent noise from escaping onto the sidewalk"
So according to this, Cubana Cafe, Zaytoons, Watty & Meg, and Bar Great Harry (just to name a few) can never have their windows open on a nice day or else they risk a fine? Don't they do this all the time?
I get the noise problem and it should be address but it's a little disingenuous for CB6 to trot out the "windows must always be closed" law when they don't hold the majority of bars and restaurants in the area or in Park Slope to it.
Trumbull Bully . . . why don't you move to the east village? If B'Shank closed their windows OR turned down the ridiculously loud music then everybody would welcome the bar to the neighborhood (like Jake Walk or BGH).
Haters gonna hate. What a lame neighborhood we live in.
I dont think anybody would mind if the windows were open if the music wasn't played at supersonic levels. And if you want a super cool 'hood, like the other guy said, move to the East Village or Williamsburg.
I was walking home the other night when I heard what I thought was a house party. I kept on looking up trying to see what apt it was coming from. It wasn't until I had walked over half a block to get to the corner of court st when I noticed it was not a party. It was coming from this bar. The music was really loud and people were yelling at each other because they couldn't talk. I was surprised at how loud it was and this wasn't even with all of the windows open. I'm not some old grumpy person who hates noise in general. This place is just super loud and I think an outside cafe would make it even worse.
This neighborhood is crawling with anti-Tyroleans.
I invite anyone to walk Down smith or court street on a nice day, it would take a couple pages to write down how many bars and restaurants have their windows open. Don't use some obscure rule that isn't followed or enforced ANYWHERE in NYC.
Hey katia, your reporting wreeks of bias, "pseudo-tyrolean". Have you ever even been to south Tyrol? And I see you failed to mention the hundreds of signatures on the petition I signed in support of the cafe. It's a shame that a few cranky complainers in front of a community board can spoil what obviously hundreds in the neighborhood support. Try to keep your pseudo reporting a little less one sided.
The music level has nothing to do with a sidewalk cafe
the owners are idiots and the people who defend them are bigger idiots. Move back to LI/NJ already.
Hey McGown/Trumbull Bully: No matter where you go, you leave in your wake yet another group of people stunned by your outrageous lack of courtesy. Let's all forget about the courtesy problem and focus on your pathological habit of IGNORING CITY LAWS! You can't get away with this forever!!!
Why is there even a debate about this? If they are in violation of city rules, and are too loud, they shouldn't be granted an sidewalk cafe license.
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