All stories about "Brushstrokes"
The Drying of NYC: The Community Board Backlash
Today the New York Sun takes the news of Bouley's liquor license woes as an opportunity to launch into a full fledged report on community boards and their control over the New York dining scene. And as any careful follower of restaurant openings knows, it's been getting harder and harder to get liquor license approval from the community, especially downtown, as evidenced by Veselka (denied), Chris Eddy's Japanese restaurant at 19 Kenmare (eventually passed with excessive stipulations), and of course Bouley's Brushstrokes. The Sun reports:
"The decision underscores mounting concerns among advocates and lawyers for the nightlife and restaurant industries that some community boards in Manhattan are wielding an excessive amount of influence over the State Liquor Authority's decision-making regarding liquor licenses, an issue they say is stymieing economic development."Hear from the restaurant lawyers and from the CBs, ahead.>>
Bouley's Booze Hopes Hit Another Stumbling Block
David Bouley got a second chance last night to go before Community Board 1's Tribeca committee for a license for his planned Japanese restaurant and cooking school, Brushstrokes. And yet again, he was shut down, now in a 6-4 vote. Things may look dire for Brushstrokes, but team Bouley (David and his lawyer) have another chance at the full board meeting later this month before lobbying the SLA. The saga of Bouley, Brushstrokes, and CB1 is one fraught with accusations of bad neighborliness, illicit activity, and personal vendettas, and it offers a prime example of the increasing power community boards wield in the restaurant world. Let's get to the arguments:
EaterWire: Rusty Knot Getting Close, Cafe Orlin Closed (for Renovations), BLVD DOH'd, Beard Semifinalists, Bouley Update
WEST VILLAGE— A tipster emails, "Walked by the Rusty Knot in the old West space around lunchtime today and saw through the slatted window blinds what appeared to be a staff meeting. I'm guessing opening can't be too far off." [EaterWire]
EAST VILLAGE—An alarming tip came in this morning regarding some dump trucks outside and paper in the windows at East Village staple Cafe Orlin. However, according to a sign in the window, the place is just renovating, and it will be open again in a week. For the time being, fans can go to their strikingly similar though more popular sister restaurant Mogador. [EaterWire]
BLVD, Chubo, Bouley, and James Beard updates ahead.>>Bouley: You've Won This Round, Tribeca
Manhattan's Community Board 1 was all ready to stomp on Bouley's hopes for a liquor license for his new Japanese venture Brushstrokes last night at their full board meeting, but they couldn't. Bouley pulled out his application for the 3,000 sq ft space before the meeting because of the opposition. In case he reapplies, which the board assumes is his next move, here's the original resolution he was up against:
"WHERAS: Community residents present at the meeting cited numerous examples in the past of poor relations between David Bouley, their operating principal in the entity, and the community in general and presented documentation regarding health violations and sidewalk cafe permit violations in other premises owned by the same principle."· Tribeca Has Major Beef with Bouley, Rejects Booze for Brushstrokes [~E~]
· Tribeca Says Chef David’s a Big Bouley [NYM]
Photo courtesy of Bouley
Tribeca Has Major Beef with Bouley, Denies Booze for Brushstrokes
A tip came in last night relaying that David Bouley's new West Broadway venture Brushstrokes, an upscale Japanese restaurant with an attached cooking school (Japan's prestigious Tsuji Culinary Academy), hit a major roadblock at last night's Community Board 1 committee meeting. The committee rejected Bouley's request for a liquor license, thereby damaging his chances of getting approval from either the full board or the SLA, the body that gives the final yea or nay. A call to CB1 confirms: "They were denied approval based on the history of the owner, having problems with the community in the past, and the way he runs his establishments." CB1 officials didn't divulge their more specific beefs with the chef or problems with his Tribeca restaurants Danube, Bouley, or the entire Bouley Upstairs/Cafe/Market franchise but expect all the dirty laundry to be aired on the 26th, at the full board meeting.
·Construction Begun on Bouley's New Project [~E~]
Photo courtesy of Bouley
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