COLUMBIA STREET WATERFRONT DISTRICT — A Columbia Street childcare center’s new neighbor will be singing more than just nursery rhymes.
A live music bar and restaurant, called Orchard, is planning a March opening at 257 Columbia St. – the same building where Honeydew Little Stars, a daycare for 4-month to 3-year-old children, occupies the second floor.
Orchard will be a “family-friendly restaurant” with performances from local musicians on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, said owner Olga Solovyeva.
The restaurant was approved for a full liquor license by Community Board 6’s licenses and permits committee Monday night. The application will be reviewed by the full board on Feb. 12.
Orchard will operate from 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday and till 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday but a representative for the restaurant, who spoke at the CB6 meeting, said that musicians wouldn’t play beyond 10 or 11 p.m.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits certain licenses from being issued if the establishment is on the same street and within 200 feet of a building that is used exclusively as a school, church, synagogue or other place of worship, according to the New York State Liquor Authority.
The rule applies to any retail establishment where liquor will be sold for consumption either on or off the premises.
CB6 committee members questioned the bar’s location because of its nearness to Honeydew Little Stars. But after determining that SLA laws applied to schools, and not daycares, they approved the application.
The SLA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Honeydew Drop Childcare Services, which operates Honeydew Little Stars as well as Park Slope and Kensington locations, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Solovyeva, who said Honeydew Drop’s management knew about the bar, plans to soundproof the ceilings and walls to prevent music and noise from leaking out of the restaurant, she said.
Orchard will cook and serve “natural organic food from the local farms,” including freshly baked bread and “pierogies,” which are dumplings of unleavened dough, soups and salads, said Solovyeva, who used to own a catering business.
Honeydew Little Stars operates Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a curriculum that includes art projects, outdoor playtime and enrichment classes, like yoga and music. According to their daily schedule, children arrive between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and leave between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“Honeydew Drop’s aim is to help families care for their children by provided excellent childcare and by fostering a feeling of community though our various services,” according to their website.
