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Greenpoint Bar Claims Landlord Won't Let It Become Gay Bar
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 20, 2014
Modified Apr 20, 2014
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 20, 2014
Modified Apr 20, 2014
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Greenpoint bar Lulu's has been a mainstay of the neighborhood for the last decade, but the bar has come under hard times recently. As a result, owner John McGillion wants to take advantage of changing demographics in the neighborhood and turn it into a gay and lesbian bar. The only problem? His landlord specifically wrote in his lease that he can't do that.
According to the clause in his lease: "The leased Premises shall be used by Tenant as a restaurant and bar. It shall not be used for adult entertainment and shall not be operated as a gay or lesbian bar and/or restaurant."
"I am barely scraping by on the proceeds of the bar...If I am permitted to operate a gay bar at the premises I believe that I will be able to make a considerable profit," McGillon wrote in the lawsuit he filed against his landlord, Guard General Merchandise Corp., last week. He told the Post he's been battling with the landlord for the last year to make the change to no avail.
"I don’t know what their problem is. Who knows? I thought those days were gone," he said of the lease. "I mean, who cares, today? Gays — everybody’s got their rights. What’s the big deal?" McGillion only has 10 more months on his lease but wants to extend it by two-three years; he thinks he can make 40-50 percent more business as a gay bar.
"They do well because you don’t have issues of fighting," he explained. "They’re nice people, they’re wonderful to deal with. It’s easier. Typically you don’t have to offer food." Well, if this doesn't work out, he could always turn the bar into a moving tribute to the classic Lou Reed/Metallica album, LuLu.
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brooklyn
gay bar
greenpoint
John McGillion
lulus
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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