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Committee flags Beauty of Joseon pop-up on 557 Broadway for location on an ‘embargoed’ block; applicant told to move or consult SAPO
Summary
CB2 told the producer of a Beauty of Joseon coffee-cart activation that a proposed Broadway location appears to sit on a block marked as embargoed by SAPO; the applicant was advised to contact SAPO and find another site.
Manhattan Community Board 2 members reviewed a two-location coffee-cart activation for Korean skincare brand Beauty of Joseon and raised a key permitting issue: one proposed site, a stretch of Broadway in Soho near 557 Broadway, sits on a Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) “embargoed” block and the committee said that location would not be approved without relocation.
Francesca of Mother Sauce Creative presented the campaign: two small sidewalk coffee-cart activations with a branded cart footprint of 5 by 10 feet, an estimated 500 cups across both dates, no amplified sound and staffing for line management. The production said the cart would be a grab‑and‑go interaction with a short dwell time intended to minimize sidewalk impact.
Committee members and CB2 staff flagged three concerns: the 557 Broadway site is adjacent to a bus stop and a heavy pedestrian flow, unauthorized vendors frequently occupy curb space nearby, and SAPO records show the block as embargoed. Pete Davies and other members advised the producer to contact SAPO immediately; committee members said they would not endorse a sidewalk permit that conflicted with the embargo designation.
Francesca said the activation team would check the SAPO status and consider alternate locations; the committee suggested moving the line south or selecting a different block if SAPO does not approve. The presentation also covered staffing plans (four brand ambassadors and production staff), the policy that the brand would cut off the line early if it threatened to extend past the block, and sanitation plans.
Next steps: the committee asked the applicant to confirm SAPO clearance for the 557 Broadway location or to relocate to a non-embargoed site; CB2 staff offered to help coordinate with SAPO and the Meatpacking/Village BIDs to identify acceptable alternatives.
