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Ruby's, Others Definitely Suing to Stop Boardwalk Eviction
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 10, 2010
Modified Nov 10, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 10, 2010
Modified Nov 10, 2010
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As expected, eight of the nine family-owned Coney Island bars, eateries, and attractions which are facing sudden eviction will be fighting their fate in court. (The only one not joining the lawsuit is Pio Pio Riko Peruvian food stand, which opened last year.) Anthony Berlingieri, owner of Shoot the Freak and Beer Island, tells The Post he and the other businesses have hired a lawyer and will sue Zamperla, the company leasing the property from the city. He says the businesses spent thousands of dollars each coming up with business plans at Zamperla’s request to justify lease renewals "even though Zamperla already decided to kick them out."
"Trust me, there is no way these businesses will be leaving on the 15th," Brooklyn lawyer Marc Aronson vows. Ruby's Bar and Grill, which was mourned at a party/protest on Saturday, pumped $40,000 into the bar and gave Zamperla a detailed description of how it could continue to make money. But last week they got an eviction notice, along with the others, telling them to vacate by November 15th. Zamperla's goal is to create a "world-class Boardwalk... a Coney Island capable of attracting visitors 365 days a year." Because no visit to New York in February would be complete without a visit to a generic sports bar on Coney Island!
Below, watch Amusing the Zillion's video from Saturday's Ruby's wake, featuring Coney Island historian Charles Denson, who told the angry drunken crowd, "These are family businesses. These are businesses that are Coney Island. This is Coney Island. It’s not some plastic amusement park. And it’s not some generic, gentrified restaurant. This is the real Coney Island."
Tagged
boardwalk
brooklyn
coney island boardwalk
ruby's bar and grill
shoot the freak
zamperla
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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