After heated public comment, Perry Cafe wins beer‑and‑wine approval with strict conditions

Donald Bernstein, counsel for Perry Cafe Inc., argued the location should qualify for a beer‑and‑wine license and cited case law he said limited the board’s ability to apply a broad "public interest" test to beer‑and‑wine applications. The Community Board 2 chair and many residents argued the West Village corridor is saturated with late‑hour establishments and that outdoor seating and later hours would worsen noise and quality‑of‑life problems.

Multiple residents described repeated noise, crowding and trash problems near Hudson Street and Perry Street, and Community Board members emphasized the presence of residents living above the proposed venue. After lengthy public comment, Bernstein and the applicant offered a set of restrictions: last call at 10:00 p.m., all patrons out by 10:30 p.m., background music only, no DJs or live music, no third‑party promoters, no cover charges, sidewalk seating limited to fewer than 10 seats on the Hudson side and only by permit, Perry Street door to be emergency‑only, a bathroom‑waiver agreement and independent soundproofing/testing to the neighbors’ satisfaction as a condition of license pickup. The board voted to approve the application subject to those stipulations; the chair and commissioners said those conditions were necessary to protect residents while allowing the business to operate.