Boardwalk Standards Get the Axe
At Coney Island, the times they are a-changing: Yesterday the owners of Shoot the Freak, Ruby’s bar, Coney Island Souvenirs, Gyro Corner, Beer Garden and four other boardwalk operators found out their leases would not be renewed. Also, as the New York Times reports, the operator of the Cyclone roller coaster is also leaving Coney…
At Coney Island, the times they are a-changing: Yesterday the owners of Shoot the Freak, Ruby’s bar, Coney Island Souvenirs, Gyro Corner, Beer Garden and four other boardwalk operators found out their leases would not be renewed. Also, as the New York Times reports, the operator of the Cyclone roller coaster is also leaving Coney Island after 35 years. Central Amusement, a subsidiary of Zamperla, will probably take over the roller coaster and spend several million to renovate boardwalk buildings and fix violations. Amusing the Zillion says the Zamperla CEO didn’t think the vendors “have the vision that we have for the boardwalk.” The company plans to invest in new businesses in an effort to keep the boardwalk livelier and open all year.
Nine Coney Boardwalk Vendors Lose Leases [NY Times]
Only Two of 11 Boardwalk Businesses Invited Back [Amusing the Zillion]
Coney Island Losing Boardwalk Vendors [Crain’s]
Changing Times at Coney [Brownstoner]
Photo by Tricia Vita
> there hasn’t been anything ‘charming’ about Coney Island
> since the 1930s.
Bingo.
Well, hell. I used to spend a lot of time out there, and will be sad to see its unique local cruddy joints replaced by shinier crap. No, Ruby’s wasn’t a cultural mecca, but it was an unpretentious joint serving unpretentious (shitty) food that wasn’t part of some corporate empire. And, like middlin’ highwayside greek diners, I have a soft spot in my heart for shitty boardwalk food.
I liked coney island because you could go hang out and be fat and weird looking and not worry about it. I liked it because it wasn’t fancy, or polished, or part of some professional association of franchise whatever.
I’m with rob- I’m not looking for crime-ridden needle-strewn rat shit, just a place that isn’t like all the other places. A city needs its weirdos, human or architectural. Coney Island was pretty great in that way.
(and since when is the ‘freak’ at shoot the freak mentally ill?)
It’s not a terrible idea… but a more creative solution may be something along the lines of subsidized loans (low interest, guaranteed) for property improvements; but they would be contingent on “design committee approval” and perhaps category designation (restaurant, arcade/amusement, gift shop, etc.) The idea being that an improved property would be more attractive to customer, attracting higher-paying tenants.
Of course you can’t force someone to do it, but it’s a good incentive. Then again, it’s probably a bit complex.
Ty – so some sort of legislation setting forth the types of vendors that the private owner would be forced to lease to couldn’t fly? I know in DC there are sometimes requirements as to the leasing of space to local businesses – usually at a reduced rate. I guess it’s too late here. But yeah, outside of property being city owned, can you legislate parameters for tenants? Is this a terrible idea?
Jessibaby — Selecting the vendors/merchants can only happen in a strictly planned situation. This is what can happen at Governor’s Island and the new Brooklyn Bridge Park. But the city doesn’t control (all of) the property at Coney Island.
I am sorry, Shoot The Freak, would have fit in perfectly with the Coney Island of yore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZfWhu9YuCU&NR=1
fsrg, you have no clue what you are talking about. sorry if i dont want coney island to turn into a little dreampark for pampered little crotchfruit and have it be a family friendly place. barf! that is how i feel, and tons of others do too. dont hate on people cuz they dont want your version of nyc.
*rob*
“In an effort to “restore sanity” to the argument, seems there is general agreement that the current run-down business should be replaced with something thoughtful, preferably local.â€
Right! But how do you make this happen? I don’t think you can force the landlord to rent to someone local and a national chain would seem to be able to pay more. Is there a way to incentivize/require that the business be local? Does that happen in NYC? That would be an interesting piece of legislation.
“The real “old Coney” wasn’t a sleazy run down dump where 20 somethings from Park Slope could go slumming for a few hours and pretent they’re extras in the Warriors.”
Genius.
I prefer to pretend I’m an extra in Requiem for a Dream or that bad Mickey Rourke/Tupac movie.