Slopers Rally Against Alleged 'Gentleman's Club'

Last night it was Park Slope vs. Prime 6, as neighbors rallied at the CB6 meeting against the under-construction restaurant rumored to be a gentleman’s club. The owner of the spot, Akiva Ofshtein, came with his attorney to explain that Prime 6 will not be a gentleman’s club, rather a restaurant with a backyard, basement lounge and VIP room. He called the anonymous accusations and protest fliers passed around the neighborhood “cowardly.” What got Slopers really upset was the proposed closing time (11pm for backyard, 4am for the bar); the possibility of bottle service; the proposed occupancy of 230 people; and the suggestion this could be “the new home for the Brooklyn Nets.” (The “sultry young women” on the resaurant’s Myspace also got a shout out; the owner claims not to have seen the Myspace or main site.) As Hope Reichbach, who reps Steve Levin, said, “To have a restaurant for the Atlantic Yards crowd is different than to have a restaurant for this community.” Many complaints also arose from resident’s experiences with the uncleanliness of the construction site itself.

Despite the anger, Prime 6 has already been approved for a liquor license, not by CB6 but by the SLA. The board made a recommendation to start a dialog with the SLA and ask them to reconsider the license. The board also encouraged the owner of Prime Six to start a more constructive dialog with the community, although Slope residents accused the owner of being “a difficult person to deal with” and “disingenuous.” Only time will tell what’s in the future for Prime 6 in Park Slope….