By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WEST VILLAGE — Chef Alex Stupak will not show up empty-handed to a Thursday community board meeting, where a decision will be made on approving a liquor license for his planned West Village restaurant.
He'll be armed with signatures from an online petition signed by neighbors supporting his proposed Mexican food restaurant on West 4th Street, Empellon.
As of Wednesday over 200 people had signed the petition asking Community Board 2 to approve the application from Stupak and his wife and business partner, Lauren Resler, for a 2 a.m. liquor license.
"As a West Village resident, I am very excited to have an esteemed professional such as Chef Stupak provide us with his culinary talents," wrote Erin Jevis, a Waverly Place resident. "I look forward to frequently visiting his restaurant."
Other supporters of Stupak, formerly head pastry chef at WD-50, included former colleagues of the couple and Manhattanites from around the borough.
"Used to work with Alex at wd~50. He's a talented fella with nothing but positive attributes to both the culinary and pastry worlds," wrote someone with the user name sean thomas. "His restaurant's presence will have lasting positive effects on both the space he'll be occupying with Empellon and the NYC dining culture."
Despite receiving approval from the board's liquor license committee last month, Stupak's application was sent back to the committee by the full-board after some neighbors voiced concern that the former Chow Bar at 230 West 4th Street could become a noisy night spot.
Stupak and Resler agreed to curb the hours to two a.m. — Chow Bar had a 4 a.m. license — and were again approved by the board's liquor committee last week.
Stupak said he had no interest in turning the restaurant into a bar and that he and Resler were planning on staying in the neighborhood for at least 20 years.
The couple hope to open Empellon in March or April.
Community Board 2 will vote on Empellon's application at 6 p.m. Thursday at P.S. 41, 116 West 11th Street.
