Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Chamber of Commerce Throws Support Behind Gay Bar's Relocation

By Serena Solomon | July 21, 2011 12:33pm
The window of Pieces at its current location on Christopher Street.
The window of Pieces at its current location on Christopher Street.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Serena Solomon

WEST VILLAGE — Despite protests from residents and a preliminary denial from the local community board, the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind a longtime gay bar's proposed relocation.

Community Board 2's State Liquor Authority subcommittee voted last week to deny a liquor license to Pieces, in its attempt to move from its current Christopher Street location to 61 W. Eighth St.

Residents argued that the struggling West Eighth Street area is fast becoming a magnet for revelers, but the GVCCC released a statement Thursday voicing support for Pieces ahead of that night's full board meeting.

“Given the operator’s excellent long-term record of responsible bar management, the 'neighborhood' character of the enterprise, and the need for new business development on Eighth Street, we urge you to recommend approval of their application,” wrote GVCCC president Tony Juliano in a letter to CB 2.

The owner of Pieces, Eric Einstein, is hoping the full board will ignore the SLA subcommittee's recommendation to deny the license. While not binding, the full board's decision is weighed heavily by the State Liquor Authority in its decision of whether or not to grant the license.

What was once a thriving stretch of commercial real estate for the neighborhood, West Eighth Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues has seen a steady decline in recent years, leading to high retail vacancies.

At last week's SLA subcommittee meeting, opponents of the relocation voiced their concern that empty stores are being taken over by bars that could draw unruly patrons from all over the city.

But supporters of the bar argued that Pieces, at its current location, attracts a mostly local and well-behaved crowd.

Community Board 2 will meet at 6 p.m. on Thurs., July 21, at SEIU Local 32BJ, 101 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd floor.