New owners of El Basilón introduce themselves to committee; application paperwork incomplete

Prospective owners of a restaurant seeking a liquor license introduced themselves to the Bronx Community Board’s Economic Development and Public Safety Committee and were told their application package was incomplete.

Rochelle Sanchez, who identified herself as the translator for owner Esperanza Casado, told the committee the business—El Basilón—has been closed for several months for renovation and that the ownership structure is changing. Sanchez said the owner “was the previous owner of Esa Sonoma Abuela” and that they intend to reconstitute a new corporation and apply for a license under new ownership.

Committee staff and members told the applicants several documents were missing from the packet, including a floor plan, certificate of occupancy and menu. Staff member Chris Kirka told the applicants how to submit materials through the board website and provided an email contact (ckirka@cb.nyc.gov). Staff asked applicants to provide a sketch of interior layout and the standard questionnaire; a board member said a simple sketch would be sufficient and an architect was not required.

Committee members also noted a history of intermittent openings and closures at the location and said staff would review past complaints or enforcement records once the full application was filed. No vote or recommendation was made; because the committee lacked a quorum, members asked staff to follow up and to invite the applicants to leadership or full-board meetings once the application is complete.

The applicants were advised to submit required documents by 5 p.m. the following day to allow staff time for circulation to committee leadership.