Community Board Votes Against Boozy Taco Bell In Brooklyn Heights
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – The Brooklyn Community Board 2 Executive Committee voted against a liquor license for a boozy Taco Bell planned for 58 Court Street in Brooklyn Heights.
The national chain is pushing to open more locations in urban areas, with 50 planned across NYC by 2020, Eater reported. Some of the new outposts—called Taco Bell Cantinas—will offer wine, beer and slushies with a shot of alcohol. Three Taco Bell Cantinas have already opened in Brooklyn at 1034 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush, 491 Nostrand Avenue in Bed-Stuy, and 1359 Broadway in Bushwick.
The CB2 Health, Environment & Social Services Committee’s February 6 vote against the liquor license application was supported by the Executive Committee at a meeting Monday evening.
Brandon Smith, Vice Chair of the CB2 Health, Environment & Social Services Committee noted some of the committee’s concerns about the venue including the possibility of serving alcohol to minors, the potential for disorderly behavior from patrons, Taco Bell’s “lack of engagement” with the community, the lack of a dedicated staff member for the community to contact in case of problems, and the eatery’s proposed late closing hours— 2am Sunday through Thursday and 3am Friday and Saturday.
At the Executive Committee meeting Monday night, a member of the board at 60 Court Condominiums, a 33-unit building connected to 58 Court Street, voiced concerns from residents in his building.
“There actually already is a sports bar in the same building—that’s O’Keefe’s—it’s been there a very long time. We all knew it was there when we moved in. It can get a little loud late at night but we all knew it was there. We deal with it.”
“We believe that bringing a second alcohol-serving establishment into the same building would double the noise, double the nuisance, double the smell and the trash that accumulates on the block,” he added. “So we are registering our opposition to this liquor license.”
Following the Executive Committee’s vote not to recommend the Taco Bell outpost to the State Liquor Authority, Bill Flounoy, Chair of CB2’s Economic Development & Employment Committee, questioned why a liquor license request for a new Chipotle at 474 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn had been unanimously approved at the same Health Committee meeting earlier this month. Smith noted that Chipotle’s earlier closing time, 11pm every night, factored into the decision as well as Taco Bell’s tendency to attract younger customers.
The community board’s recommendation is advisory only and the State Liquor Authority will ultimately make the final decision on Taco Bell Cantina’s 58 Court Street location.
