Applicant seeks beer-and-wine license for Spring Cafe at 14 West 4th Street

Spring Cafe New York applied to the State Liquor Authority for a restaurant beer-and-wine license for space at 14 West Fourth Street, the applicant said at the Community Board 2 Licensing Committee’s virtual meeting. Sabrina Rudin, the applicant, and representative Max Bookman described the concept as an organic, limited-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner and said the 52-seat space would not serve hard liquor.

The application and why it matters

The application matters to neighbors because the site previously held an on-premises (OP) license and the new proposal would be a beer-and-wine (restaurant-wine) license; the applicant said the business would operate with earlier closing hours than the prior tenant. Max Bookman said the proposed hours are 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily but that the applicant would accept 10 p.m. closing to allow operational flexibility. The applicant also told the committee they intend to apply to the Department of Consumer Affairs for a sidewalk-cafe permit and preliminarily plans for about 12 tables and roughly 24 sidewalk seats.

What the committee discussed

Committee members asked the applicant to confirm closing times and whether any operable windows or French doors would be left open while alcohol was being served. The applicant agreed on the record that 9:30 p.m. in the application meant the premises would be closed to patrons at 9:30 p.m. and later accepted 10 p.m. as an agreed closing time in committee discussion to avoid future alterations. Max Bookman said: “If we think we should put a little room, shoulder in there, we could say 10PM,” and later confirmed the applicant would set 10 p.m. as the operating close.

Neighbors raised outreach and outdoor seating concerns. One resident asked whether building residents above the site had been contacted; Rudin said outreach letters were sent and she had informally spoken with some neighbors who were supportive. The committee suggested the applicant contact the local Business Improvement District and neighborhood representatives; the applicant agreed.

Operational details and stipulations discussed

- License type: restaurant beer-and-wine (applicant stated existing use previously held an OP license and the new application is for beer-and-wine only). - Seating: applicant gave 52 seats (23 tables plus 4 counter seats). - Hours: applicant originally listed 9:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; in discussion the applicant agreed to a formal closing hour of 10 p.m. to provide flexibility and to avoid returning for an alteration. - Sidewalk cafe: applicant intends to apply to DCA for a sidewalk cafe; they estimate about 12 tables/24 seats based on the prior tenant’s sidewalk layout but have not yet filed with DCA. - Noise and music: applicant said there would be no loud music; the committee pressed for and the applicant agreed to close operable doors/windows at 9 p.m. under the committee’s standard stipulation (applicant later confirmed willingness to close the operable doors by 9 p.m.).

Where it stands

No formal committee vote or resolution was recorded in the transcript of the meeting segment. Committee members and the applicant negotiated hours and operational items to be reflected in the application packet and customary stipulations; the committee advised the applicant to follow up with the neighborhood BID and to file the sidewalk-cafe paperwork with DCA.

Closing note

Committee members indicated they would include standard stipulations (hours, door/window closing time, no loud music) when drafting the committee’s recommendation to the full board and noted the applicant’s agreement to contact neighborhood groups before the board vote.