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Licensing committee hears a dozen on‑premise liquor applications; most applicants agree to 10 p.m. outdoor cutoff
Summary
Manhattan City’s Licensing Committee heard more than a dozen on‑premise liquor license transfer and alteration applications, with most applicants agreeing to committee stipulations limiting outdoor seating and late‑night outdoor service to 10 p.m.; several high‑profile applications drew extended public comment.
The Manhattan City Licensing Committee met to consider a long agenda of on‑premise liquor license transfer and alteration applications, including restaurant and tavern wine requests and multiple sidewalk/roadway seating proposals. Donna Raftery, chair of the committee, presided.
Most applicants presented transfers of existing full‑service or tavern licenses tied to asset sales and proposed to retain prior stipulations for indoor operation, background music only, and limited private parties. Several applicants requested permission for outdoor seating on either the sidewalk or the roadway; committee members and neighbors repeatedly pressed for limits on late‑night outdoor activity. Where the committee offered a uniform compromise — outdoor seating allowed but cleared by 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday–Saturday in some cases — most applicants indicated willingness to accept the 10 p.m. cut‑off or to sign stipulations and return updated paperwork.
Applications described in the meeting included transfers or alterations for Good Neighbors Inc. (on‑premise transfer for a Mulberry Street restaurant), Broom Street Bar (499 Broom Street; expansion onto municipal property/roadway seating), 222 Casselli LLC (Crispy Heaven, bakery/café at 222 Lafayette Street), Sullivan Taqueria 2 Inc. (71 Sullivan Street, tavern wine), 1 Fifth Historic Hospitality LLC (Golden Steer at 1 Fifth), 450 West Broadway (asset sale, restaurant), Spring Street Restaurant LLC (existing restaurant sale), Marlton Hotel Operating LLC (alteration for roadway seating at The Marlton, West 8th Street), Grama (Roman and Williams Guild project with roadway and sidewalk sheds on Mercer/Howard), 470 Broomcap LLC (Francesco at 55½ Greene Street), 57 Grand Street Cafe (Toad Hall), and several smaller neighborhood cafes/bistros including Triona’s and Pasta Bar (330 West Broadway).
Where applications involved sidewalk/roadway seating, the committee repeatedly referenced DOT clearances and FDNY safety concerns. Neighbors raised public‑safety and noise concerns for several proposals, including questions about whether proposed roadway structures would preserve a required 15‑foot emergency lane and whether electrical heaters or other fixtures would require additional LPC or agency approvals.
No formal roll‑call votes were recorded in the public transcript of the meeting. Multiple applicants were given the option to sign committee stipulations (notably a 10 p.m. outdoor cutoff) to avoid longer review timelines; where applicants agreed, committee staff said they would circulate the stipulations for signature and follow up with the State Liquor Authority or DOT as required.
The committee scheduled follow‑up appearances for several items where agency approvals (DOT, DOT permits or clarifying property‑line surveys) were still pending.
