By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GRAMERCY — A restaurateur who had hoped to open a new upmarket eatery across from the exclusive Gramercy Park has withdrawn its liquor license application after vehement protests from residents.
"We had no idea we were going to have this kind of opposition," said Mark B. Stumer, an attorney representing the owners of the restaurant company, 38 Gramercy LLC, at a Community Board 6 meeting Wednesday night.
Concerned community members packed an auditorium at New York University Medical Center on First Avenue to oppose the license.
"The last thing that we need in this community is another bar," said Arthur Barnes, a resident.
The company also operates The House restaurant at 121 East 17th Street, and first applied for the license in December.
"They've spent a lot of money on the place already and they need to make sure they keep their options open," said Carol Schachter, chair of the board's Business Affairs and Street Activities Committee.
The owners of the restaurant were willing to take a step back to correct some of the misconceptions about their business, Stumer said. Changes will be made to the application and it will be re-submitted in the next couple of months.
"This isn't going to be one of these Third Avenue college beer and shot places," he said. "This is a high-end establishment."