EAST VILLAGE — East Village punk rock bar Manitoba’s will likely remain open, thanks to hundreds of supporters who have donated more than $29,000 in an online fundraising campaign.
The Avenue B bar was in danger of closing after reaching a settlement with Luigi Girotto who has sued dozens of businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to court filings. Manitoba’s kicked off the $25,000 IndieGoGo fundraising campaign on Jan. 19 and it is scheduled to end on Wednesday.
The owners did not immediately respond for comment but wrote online that the money was needed to keep the bar open. It was not immediately clear how much the bar settled with Girotto for. A settlement dated Dec. 10 did not specify what amount the parties agreed on, according to court records and Girotto said he did not know the dollar amount.
“Not one penny goes into the owner's pockets, or is being used to pay bills. All of it goes to settling this claim and keeping the bar open,” the owners wrote on their IndieGoGo page.
Girotto, 50, who uses a wheelchair after suffering a spinal cord injury during a skiing trip, filed the lawsuit against Manitoba’s in July after he was unable to enter the bar, he told DNAinfo New York last month. He has sued at least 27 other businesses for failing to provide accessibility, court papers show.
Girotto said he enjoyed going to Manitoba's when he could walk and filed the lawsuit so that it could be accessible. He said he was happy to hear that would remain open.
"I'm happy they had a fundraiser," he said. "I'm happy they will keep on doing business while being accessible."
Although the owners made their goal earlier this month, the campaign was left open to pay for unforeseen costs, like the cost of donation “perks” like T-shirts and photos, as well as postage and fees for using the website and PayPal, they wrote on the campaign page.
The money will also be used to hire a firm that will make sure the bar is in total compliance with federal ADA standards as well their attorney, who will be paid about 30 percent of his normal fee, the owners wrote.
Their ultimate goal, they said on Facebook, is to reach $30,000.
