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
Grandpa,
I am aware of Coney Island’s true important history of grand hotels and amuzement parks, but unfortunately, those are long gone and not coming back.
I agree with ClintonHillBuyer, to conflate that with the loss of Shoot-the-freak is insulting and ignorant.
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.
I’m bummed about Cha Cha’s- that was my favorite place down there, by far. I checked out the new rides this summer, but it was on a day that was crazy-hot, and very early in the season, so it was extremely packed. The people working in that section were absolute morons… their incompetence was making the already long lines much worse than necessary.
That’s my only experience with the “new” CI, so I have to give it a thumbs-down, so far.
ClintonHillBuyer-
“without having to try and explain why some jerk with a megaphone wants them to shoot a mentally ill person with a paintball gun”
Is Shoot The Freak really that complicated that you can’t figure it out? I am sure your children love it. It’s hilarious. There are miles of boardwalk in Brooklyn without The Freak, check it out some time.
Not sure “THE MIDDLE CLASS” will be hanging at the new Burger King that is put in to replace Shoot the Freak, but we’ll see.
ClintonHillBuyer
Dont get worked up re: Rob, he is like an immature child, creating a faux-persona in order to hide from all his obvious insecurities. He doesnt believe or live 90% of what he says.
Cool – can I claim a great call/prediction on my part, based on ignorance????
“Thank you SUBWAY!”
Ever left Brownstone Brooklyn Rob? If you want to hang out in “dirty pockets” (whatever the fuck that means) pop on down to East New York or the South Bronx. They’d LOVE the sort of development/retail that Frownstoners enjoy hating on.
NYC isnt Mayberry and never will be. Nor does it have to be some bizzaro 1970’s theme park where you can relive your favorite theme from Taxi Driver.
Things in NYC change. Suck it up and get used to it. After all, it ain’t Mayberry.
FSRG;
John’s deli already opened up a space on the Boardwalk => best thing to happen to CI last summer.
clintonhillbuyer, you sound bitter. sorry, but not everything has to cater to FAMILIES. it’s NYC. not Mayberry, NowhereVille. take your crotchfruit elsewhere, there NEEDS to be enjoyable dirty pockets of the city for NON family-type people to enjoy. and something reeks from your post of being so FAR from “middle class” that it’s ridiculous!
and there is nothing really all that un family friendly about coney island right now. sorry there’s no chuck e. cheeses, but there’s a whole theme park dedicated to the crotchfruit of nyc.
*rob*
So sad to see Ruby’s go, even tho’ it was a dive, it was one of kind and really my favorite piece of Coney, after the Cyclone. Of course the problem is not that these boardwalk shops are being developed, but the kind of crap that they are sure to put there. Same arguments as Atlantic Yards – “What you want to keep a hole in the ground?” – No, but I’d prefer a hole in the ground to the god awful Ratner developments and I’d prefer what’s on the CI Boardwalk to what these craptastic “developers” will bring. The city should rent it out one by one, based on merit and authenticity and meeting with design aesthetics… (what’s that?)