Despite Objections, CB3 Backs Bed Stuy Bar
Daphne Surpris, who has operated the impeccably designed coffee spot Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe at 449 Nostrand Ave since last year, recently decided that she would like to expand by opening a bar in an empty space next door. You might think such an entrepreneurial move by someone who’d proven her commitment to the neighborhood and…
Daphne Surpris, who has operated the impeccably designed coffee spot Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe at 449 Nostrand Ave since last year, recently decided that she would like to expand by opening a bar in an empty space next door. You might think such an entrepreneurial move by someone who’d proven her commitment to the neighborhood and her ability to create a tasteful establishment would be welcomed by Bed Stuy residents, but a Community Board 3 meeting on Monday night revealed widespread disagreement within the community about the bar in particular and the future of the neighborhood in general. Some of those in favor of the application said they were tired of going to Park Slope and Harlem to find “more sophisticated bars.” Other supporters argued that the community should be backing an African American woman wanting to open a business in the area. (“We should be supporting someone who looks like us,” said one person from the audience.) One of the arguments against the bar was that there are some schools nearby, though it was later pointed out that the closest one was an adult learning center. Others worried that adding alcohol to an already dangerous block (dangerous? really?) had the potential to increase violence in the area. A man in his late 20s, whose parents lived nearby, argued that he didn’t want them to worry about the same type of violence he felt growing up nearby. Despite the naysaying, the community board ended up supporting the application for the liquor license, so now it’s on to the State Liquor Authority for Surpris, who, ironically, plans to call the new spot Nobar. GMAP
you are quoting that jerk?
I have a bridge to sell you . you better hurry they are going fast.
(“We should be supporting someone who looks like us,” said one person from the audience.)
A guess the traffic from Lodi wasn’t so bad that the “what” could make it.
gs3, we’ve been taught by the What to call out ANY covert race/class warfare for what it is. 🙂
Judging by the cafe the bar should be pretty cool. I am glad to see that she is doing well enough in her first venture to want to take on another. And there is no denying the paucity of cocktail lounge/bars in the area.
I really like Ms. Dahlia’s.
Surpis has great taste and I support her in her new business.
You really gotta come by and try the lemonade.
Are you guys that thin skinned that you can’t take some off comment that was not even made directly to you.
Rob, there are many “sophisticated bars” in Harlem, especially in the Mt. Morris Park area, not all of them yuppie watering holes. I’m sure there are more higher up into central and northern Harlem as well. You can’t judge an entire huge community by your experiences in one small corner of that neighborhood. Harlem is changing faster than Brooklyn, in both good and disturbing ways, but that’s another story.
I’m sorry, but people need to get over this attitude that entreprenerial ventures by people not like themselves are somehow taking away from the community. It makes no sense whatsoever, and is just stupid. Someone is invested in the community and wants to expand, and you want to stop them because they aren’t the “right” color? I want to spit, that makes me so mad. These are the same people who sit around and complain that there is no investment in the community, and that we are ignored by business, but want to regulate who has a business.
I’ve been in Miss Dahlia’s several times, once waiting for someone for 2 hours (my fault, not theirs, I had the wrong day) and I got to really watch how the coffee shop runs. She had business steadily, from all walks of Bed Stuy life, people were staying to drink and eat and check their phones or read, I ended up running into several people from my old address, and even someone who knew that I was MM. All of the employees were black and from the community. The place is pricey, but they were still doing a brisk business, and this was in the winter. It’s a great shop, albeit too small, and an asset to the community. What the hell is wrong with some of these people?
A bar by the same owner would no doubt be as tasteful as the coffeeshop, and would also be an asset to the community. There are no schools near this location, the closet, Girls High School is completely adult ed now. A bar here would be packed with people and could coin money, as well as show others that Bed Stuy is not just “do or die” anymore but can accommodate a variety of businesses that will succeed.
Will they have any caricatures of white people on the walls???
Racism is racism. What would the reaction be if I said Brooklyn Heights should encourage white business ownership?
I too am sure he/she meant well.