As we mentioned yesterday, there were rumors that Coney Island’s Dreamland amusement park, closed on August 21 by owner Joe Sitt due to rent owed by operator Anthony Raffaelle, might reopen for Labor Day weekend. The Brooklyn Paper brings us the verified report that it will, in fact, open, due to the efforts of Councilman Domenic Recchia (DConey Island), who had denounced Sitt in the Daily News as a heartless person who only cares about money.” Even though Raffaelle admitted to owing over $500,000 in rent, he and Dreamland employees as well as local sympathizers expressed anger at the park’s closing, calling Sitt a bully who didn’t consider the children who would be disappointed. Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for Sitt’s company Thor Equities, said: Thor Equities is thrilled that Coney Island residents and visitors—particularly kids who start school next week—will get one final taste of summer fun at Dreamland over Labor Day.
The Fate of Coney’s Dreamland [Brownstoner]
Sweet ‘Dreamland’! [Brooklyn Paper]
Coney Island’s Dreamland Shut Down [Daily News]
Photo by Amusing the Zillion