INWOOD — An embattled neighborhood restaurant got the nod for its liquor license renewal during Community Board 12’s general meeting Tuesday night, despite complaints from neighbors about outdoor noise stemming from the restaurant’s café.
The board recommended that the State Liquor Authority approve Garden Café's application without stipulations for the restaurant, unlike its recommended restrictions earlier this year for the owner’s new beer and wine garden, which sits two storefronts down from the café.
The stipulations for that establishment, Ouva, now called Inwood Local, included recommendations that the SLA refrain from approving its license unless the owners agreed to close the outdoor space at 4957 Broadway and prohibit outdoor music.
Gus Anton, the owner of both locations, agreed to those conditions when he opened the wine and beer garden this spring.
Fearing the same restrictions, management at Garden Café, located at 4961 Broadway, solicited support from patrons in an email sent on Oct. 20 that asked supporters to speak during a public session at CB 12’s general meeting.
“A handful of tenants from 101 Cooper Street are requesting that stipulations be placed on the license that would cripple and possibly bring the business to a close,” read the email.
Of the 10 or so proponents at the meeting, many were staff or artists employed by the café. Neighbor Melissa Delaney del Valle also joined in support and stressed that she is a patron who agrees with the establishment’s right to play music and run an outdoor café.
“I’d rather bring my business to owners of businesses in upper Manhattan than elsewhere,” she said, adding that the restaurant has been an "oasis, a respite, a beautiful place.” She added that she holds business meetings there and spends time relaxing with friends.
Proponents defended owner Anton's establishment and said he should not be punished for the behavior of a handful of other establishments accused of failing to respect their neighbors. They specifically pointed to a group of restaurants along Dyckman Street.
Those restaurants previously entered into an agreement with city officials to reduce outdoor sidewalk seating hours and work to reduce noise emanating from the restaurants along the stretch, dubbed "Alcohol Alley."
Anton argued that he had already worked to address neighbor complaints, by reducing outdoor performances from four to two nights a week and by shutting down music by 10:30 p.m. in stead of 11 p.m. on performance nights.
Detractors, many of whom live approximately 30 feet from the outdoor cafe, said they have nothing against the owners and want to support neighborhood businesses — but not at the cost of quality of life for residents.
They asked that the same stipulations applied to the liquor license at Anton’s beer and wine garden be applied at Garden Café.
“It’s essentially a sidewalk café, and it’s not appropriate to have a band performing in what is essentially an outdoor café,” said Jeffrey Booth, an Inwood resident whose apartment building shares the same courtyard with the business.
The SLA will have the final word when it weighs in next month, as the community board only serves in an advisory role.
