Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Bronx Museum Eyes Opening Cafe That Serves Wine and Beer

By Eddie Small | May 29, 2014 6:43am
 At the Community Board 4 meeting on Tuesday, which took place inside the Bronx Museum of the Arts, members approved a motion in support of granting the museum a liquor license.
At the Community Board 4 meeting on Tuesday, which took place inside the Bronx Museum of the Arts, members approved a motion in support of granting the museum a liquor license.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Eddie Small

CONCOURSE — Soon, you might be able to have some pinot noir with your paintings — the Bronx Museum of the Arts is hoping to open an on-site cafe that serves alcohol by the end of July.

Community Board 4 signed off on a beer and wine permit at the group's board meeting Tuesday, which took place at the museum. The application now has to be sent to the state Liquor Authority for approval.

The cafe would be an attempt to make the museum a more hospitable place for the community and a way to extend the length of patrons' visits, said Public Programs Manager Lauren Click.

She described the museum as being in a bit of a food desert, so staffers want to offer patrons options. The museum does not currently offer on-site food or drinks.

"We want to be able to have that opportunity for the guests instead of sending them away as soon as they need to get a bottle of water or something," she said.

The cafe would ideally serve items like beer, wine, sandwiches, soups and pastries, according to Click.

She hopes to have the eatery open by the end of July to go along with the museum's later summer hours — until 11 p.m. on Fridays and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.

A permanent liquor license also makes more sense then getting a series of temporary permits as the museum has been doing, Click said.

"We would rather not send people outside. We would want to keep them inside for longer," she said. "Have a drink. Then go back to the new exhibition."