Liquor License Denied for Diner

DSC01892Stephanie Butnick Angry neighbors of Table 12 hold up signs in protest of the East Village diner’s application for a liquor license. The application was denied.

Amid protests from angry neighbors, a Community Board panel refused Monday night to recommend that a new liquor license be granted to an East Village diner.

The diner, Table 12, a 24-hour eatery at 188 Avenue A, had applied to the State Liquor Authority committee for a new wine and beer license. The committee regulates liquor licenses in the East Village for Community Board 3.

But those who live near the bar – including about a half dozen residents who held up red signs reading “No More” – asked the committee to reject the request citing concerns about, noise, vandalism and alcohol-related violence.

The owners of Table 12 attempted to deflect such concerns saying that they were committed to taking measures to prevent violence and that the restaurant has not had any major problems in the neighborhood in the past.

Local resident Jill Ackerman, who attended the meeting on the licensing request at the Green Residence on East Fifth Street, argued that there are already 19 establishments with liquor licenses within 500 feet of Table 12.

Others wondered what additional benefit would be gained from granting a liquor license to a restaurant already known for its 24-hour diner fare.

“Granting them a license offers no benefit to the immediate community,” said Andrew Coamey, who lives nearby.

Mr. Coamey also said that he was concerned about the possibility of violence and cited the Aug. 22 shooting death of 37-year-old Devin Thompson outside the Sin Sin Lounge on East Fifth Street and Second Avenue.

“Table 12 today could be Sin Sin tomorrow,” Mr. Coamey said. “We can’t take that chance.”

Others said that they’ve witnessed vandalism and violence in the area — even without the presence of alcohol.

“Add liquor, beer or wine to that situation, I can only imagine,” said neighbor Ana Chaney. “It can only get bad.”

Another contentious application was a request for a license transfer to Dorian Gray, at 205 East Fourth Street, from the previous establishment Cannonau.

The application was for a pub serving Irish-Anglo cuisine, but community members pointed out that the quiet side street was never zoned for commercial use – the transfer would allow the new restaurant to be grandfathered in.

Some community members were vehemently opposed.

The neighborhood does not need “more idiots on Fourth Street, treating the world as their ashtray,” said Christopher Erato, 20-year resident. “We don’t need any more alcoholic traffic.”

The transfer request was approved, provided the restaurateur had the windows closed by 10 p.m., only played pre-recorded background music and stopped serving alcohol at 12 a.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends.

In all, the liquor authority committee recommended the approval, upgrade or transfer of 13 liquor licenses to neighborhood businesses. The complete list appears below.

Via Della Pace, 48 East Seventh Street

Dorian Gray, 205 East Fourth Street

Residencia, 225 East Houston

One & One, 12 First Avenue

Cafe Mocha, 116 Second Avenue

Justified LLC, 103 First Avenue

Hirai Mong, 12 St. Marks Place

Bar 82, 136 Second Avenue

83 St. Marks Place

Porchetta LLC, 110 E. Seventh Street

Noodle Republic, 536 East Fifth Street

Prime & Beyond NY Inc., 90 East 10th Street

Blarney Cove, 510 East 14th Street

Were you at Monday night’s meeting? Do you agree with the committee’s decisions?