INWOOD — A Broadway nightspot with a history of problems has again drawn the ire of residents for failing to soundproof the space during recent renovations — despite of the owner’s pledge to do so in front of the State Liquor Authority.
Cavala Café, which was closed for 45 days this summer for selling alcohol to minors, recently underwent a renovation that included moving the bar from one side of the space to the other, staff said.
However, the owner did not take steps to soundproof the venue between West 215th and 214th streets, which 311 data shows has been hit with nearly 150 noise complaints in the past year, after promising the SLA it would do so over the summer.
The restaurant's manager appeared before Community Board 12’s licensing committee last week to seek approval for relocating the bar, a change that he acknowledged had already been made. He estimated the renovations cost about $25,000.
In response, the committee voted against approving the renovations, which could ultimately lead to the owner having to undo the changes in order to retain his liquor license under SLA guidelines.
"It's putting the cart before the horse," said committee chair Aldemar Diaz of the owner's choice to seek approval after the renovations had been completed.
Residents who attended the meeting also said that since Cavala reopened three weeks ago, noise has once again been a problem.
Lilly Pimental, who lives directly above the establishment, said she was disappointed the restaurant had not improved its practices.
“I thought everything was going to change,” Pimental said of the reopening. “The first week, everything was cool, but the second week, I couldn’t sleep again. This noise is every day.”
Cavala’s owner Miguel Acosta said at an SLA disciplinary hearing this summer that he would soundproof the venue to help address community concerns, despite the SLA not requiring him to do so.
Pedro Gonzalez, a member of the Inwood Owners' Coalition that focuses on quality-of-life issues in the northern section of the neighborhood, was frustrated that Acosta had not taken steps toward soundproofing as part of the renovations.
“They had this summer to do all this work, so when is it going to be done?” he asked at the meeting last week. “There is a pattern with this business where they do things when they want on their own terms. Then they come here and play like they are good members of the community.”
The nightspot's general manager, Johnny Lopez, said Cavala has taken other steps to reduce noise at the venue.
“We agreed to lower the music. We took out the bass box and replaced the speakers,” he said at last week's meeting.
In addition, Cavala Café will now close at 2 a.m. rather than 4 a.m. and will only host live music on Friday and Saturday nights, Lopez explained.
He said the venue did not soundproof the space because it would have been a long process that involved getting approval from the landlord and the city. After closing for 45 days for underage drinking violations and an additional six weeks for renovations, closing for additional time would have been too costly, he said.
Another community member in attendance at the meeting felt that was an unacceptable reason.
“They spent $25,000 on a new bar, but they couldn’t soundproof the place?” she said. “That’s real arrogance.”
