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September 8, 2009

Streetlevel: Provence en Boite Shuttered by DCA

provence-en-boite-0909.jpg
Provence en Boite, the french bistro at 263 Smith Street on the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill border, was shuttered by the Department of Consumer Affairs yesterday for "operating illegally." The news was first reported last by the Cobble Hill Blog (the source of the small photo) and a reader nicely sent in this large photo of the sign that's been placed in the window. No word on the specific offense. Anyone know? GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 2:01 PM | Comments (35)
Categories: Cobble Hill, Streetlevel

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Comments


Awesome!

Posted by: tybur6 at September 8, 2009 2:04 PM

Perhaps the inspector took exception to a well made
croissant.

Posted by: Ben Gazi at September 8, 2009 2:10 PM

Weird - not a DOH sign. They probably pissed off/didn't bribe someone.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at September 8, 2009 2:11 PM

That place sucked anyway. Go try a Marquete croissant and then tell me Provence's were better.

Posted by: bowl of dicks at September 8, 2009 2:13 PM

They probably didn't have a business license... or not one for what they were *actually* doing. And their other licenses are probably suspect too because of that. Fun stuff.

Posted by: tybur6 at September 8, 2009 2:14 PM

maybe they didn't have a permit to operate as a sidewalk cafe?

maybe i was spoiled by living next door to Claude's for years but i think marquet's croissants are meh. haven't had a good chocolate croissant in the neighborhood yet.

Posted by: CG_ups at September 8, 2009 2:17 PM

Here's an explanation on Pardon Me for Asking: http://bk.ly/yz

Posted by: bestviewinbrooklyn at September 8, 2009 2:18 PM


EUROTRASH

Posted by: East New York at September 8, 2009 2:23 PM

Awesome?

Posted by: Nomi at September 8, 2009 2:25 PM

They may have been operating without a liquor license.

Posted by: A CrownHeightsLady at September 8, 2009 2:43 PM

Which bakery/patisserie has the best chocolate croissant in Park Slope or Carrol Gardens?

Posted by: gemini10 at September 8, 2009 2:44 PM

If they were really shuttered for some violation of the sidewalk cafe rules, this is such a terrible abuse of power. Those rules were not made to close down struggling restaurants for small infractions. If they must fine the business go ahead but closing it down it just wrong. Aren't restaurants hurting bad enough in this economy without this crap?

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at September 8, 2009 2:45 PM

Maybe they were allowing BYOB? There's been a big crackdown on that, apparently.

Posted by: mopar at September 8, 2009 2:45 PM

ENY, I luv you man!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at September 8, 2009 2:50 PM

I am sure that if one suddenly had tables set out on the sidewalk with people smoking, littering near your home, you may be upset. I really agree that restaurants and stores whodul not be allowed to simply take over common space. And the food is mediocre at best anyway....

Posted by: BH76 at September 8, 2009 2:58 PM

My Guess
1. Sidewalk infraction
2. Tax evasion'
3. Didn't pay someone off
4. operating in a gray area between being a store and a restaurant maybe?
5. For being French

Posted by: bobbyj at September 8, 2009 3:04 PM

sounds like BH76 was the snitch.

dont you know there's a no snitching policy in brooklyn?

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at September 8, 2009 3:08 PM

dunno about park slope but i don't think there are any good chocolate croissants in carroll gardens. the ham and cheese croissant is good at mazzola's (but obviously HEAVY), otherwise italian pastries are the way to go. mmm sfingi, lobster tails, italian butter cookies.....

Posted by: CG_ups at September 8, 2009 3:14 PM

Any business that appropriates public space for commercial activities should be fined or closed!

Posted by: BH76 at September 8, 2009 3:15 PM

snitch snitch snitch

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at September 8, 2009 3:21 PM

Dept. Consumer Affairs has jurisdiction over sidewalk cafes i believe. Possibly they received multiple warnings. Anyway, moving to Patois space..... or maybe they didn't pay the large cost of having outdoor tables...

Posted by: chrishavens at September 8, 2009 3:28 PM


I think you're tops too, Snappy!

Posted by: East New York at September 8, 2009 3:31 PM

Shuttering a busines for 30 days for lacking a sidewalk cafe permit seems pretty draconian to me. For the money, I'd rather tickets were given out for serious QOL issues like dog poop on the sidewalk or even, say, moving violations like speeding or running red lights.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at September 8, 2009 3:34 PM

Looks like from this report they were opening a second place, not just moving the first one over..

http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/2670

Posted by: lifer at September 8, 2009 3:35 PM

"Any business that appropriates public space for commercial activities should be fined or closed!"

So should anyone who serves chocolate croissants, pineapple pizza, or tofu burgers.

Posted by: denton at September 8, 2009 3:54 PM

I doubt that was for 1st offense if that was the reason closed. But if keep giving tickets and warnings, and they continue to ignore and not remedy what do you want the city to do? Lot of business just take the tickets and consider it cost of doing business.

Posted by: Petebklyn at September 8, 2009 4:05 PM

I guess horrific service counts as a crime now.

Seriously, they could never get me my check. Good riddance.

Posted by: Brettson at September 8, 2009 4:34 PM

let's address the really pressing issue here... gemini10's question about who has the best chocolate croissant in the area. my personal fave source is Naidre's-- they get their chocolate croissants from Balthazar, so you have to go early enough on the weekend or they sell out. Marquet's are not bad, not great. Mazzola's are, sadly, not very good (I love Mazzola's breads, but croissants just aren't their thing). Almondine's are really good, but that's all the way in Dumbo.

Posted by: lula_mae at September 8, 2009 5:24 PM

"they get their chocolate croissants from Balthazar"

aaaah soo good!!!! must....resist.....going...to...balthazar...right....now....

Posted by: dirty_hipster at September 8, 2009 5:32 PM

Mazzola's ham & cheese croissant is awesome.

Posted by: MR at September 8, 2009 5:52 PM

"let's address the really pressing issue here . . ."

Indeed.

Posted by: Nomi at September 8, 2009 7:26 PM

Almondine is apparently opening on 9th St. in the Slope, I heard! Yay, best almond croissants!
As for Provence, I really liked the place...high-priced, middling service, but cool stuff like syrups and provencey fabrics that you dont' see just everywhere, and they did nice eggs for brunch. It's a shame, they were a little different than the usual.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at September 8, 2009 10:13 PM

yes this is the new approach to dealing with small businesses. Fine the s*** out of them and then if they violate the rules close them and put the employees out of work. The Mayor wants to make it easier for them to comply. the only way to make it easier is to do away with meaningless regulations.

Its not a liquor license issue. The liquor agencies almost never take a license away and the fines aren't so high as to close someone down.

Posted by: smeyer418 at September 9, 2009 8:54 AM

I spoke to the owner. The were issued a fine a couple of months ago for having 2 extra tables on the sidewalk. They are allowed 12 and had 14. The person they hired to pay the fine flaked out, and the fine was left unpaid for over 30 days. With no warning (no letter or phone call), the Dept. of Consumer Affairs came to the restaurant, issued another fine, and told the owners they would have to close for three days. The original fine and the additional fine has been paid; the restaurant should be open tomorrow.

Posted by: JBfromCarrollGardens at September 9, 2009 10:47 AM

Denton, agreed! Pineapple and pizza are two wonderful things. Together, however, they are disgusting.

Posted by: danko at September 9, 2009 12:23 PM

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