MANHATTAN — Business owners on Mulberry Street in Little Italy are asking the local community board to allow them to extend the thoroughfare's weekend street fair this summer — but some fed-up residents say the historic neighborhood's annual event has gone far enough.
The Little Italy Merchants Association has requested a one-block extension to the annual Mulberry Street Mall, which closes the block to car traffic on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day so local merchants can set up right on the street.
The extension was requested so business owners on the block between Broome and Kenmare streets can be included in the fair to boost their sales, said LIMA president Ralph Tramontana.
"The merchants feel that the extra foot traffic will help them stabilize their businesses," he said.
But some locals, including Mulberry Street resident Marna Lawrence, say the street fair produces traffic, pedestrian congestion and garbage during its operating hours Friday through Sunday nights, between Canal and Broome streets.
"This has essentially destroyed the quality of life of pretty much everyone who lives on this street," she said. "It forces traffic to go on little tiny streets and makes so much noise."
The issue is reminiscent of another battle between Little Italy nostalgists and area boutique owners over the Feast of San Gennaro, which overtakes Mulberry Street for 10 days during the summer to celebrate the longtime festival.
Boutique owners complained last year that San Gennaro hurt their business and drew unwanted visitors with "greasy sausage fingers" into their shops.
CB2's street activities committee will review LIMA's request at Grace Church School at 86 Fourth Ave. on Thurs., Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m.
