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
jessi, technically the government does subsidize retail. We have some of the lowest taxes on purchasing goods from the bottom of the supply chain on up of all highly developed countries.
DIBS: I was in times square most of this past weekend (dont ask) and lol yeah it’s own version of a freak show now. Go to the stairs, the red ones, the ones that lead to know where, you can get your picture taken with gang bangers. i kid you not. they have actual photographers that will take your pic with actual gangbangers flashing signs and everything! it’s really bizarro world.
coney island is an amazing place because of it’s history and it’s grittiness. once all of that is removed, youll wind up with something that is completely new. much like times square i guess? if you havent been to the new times square, GO. seriously. it’s a bit of a trip and you will not find what you expect to find, that’s why i had so much fun.
*rob*
Coney has been in constant throes of both stasis and flux
for the more than 25 years I’ve been here. Another wave has come and more teary goodbyes- this really just indicates I’m getting older. As a (largely)midwestern suburban transplant, I am am proud to say I’ve always been drawn to the “gritty” side of NYC…faceless malls are everywhere else…go there new yorkers if you really really want them… I’ll stay in Brooklyn and wallow in the disappearing, no apologies. BTW, BEER ISLAND had become my favorite ride. For 5 bucks you got a nice beer, a table, an umbrella, a blastin’jukebox, sand in your toes, & an experience so relaxing & transporting it reminded me of my honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. Nothing that replaces it will give you so much for so little….
Nostalgia for “the old Coney Island” is a good thing. What isn’t a good thing is people like Grand Pa and bxgirl confusing the dirty, barely legal shithole establishments littering the Boardwalk today with the REAL old Coney Island. The REAL “old Coney” was a place where middle class families could take their CHILDREN for affordable, accessible and SAFE fun on the beach.
Emphasis on MIDDLE CLASS, FAMILIES and CHILDREN. 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. There are millions of people in this city who I’m sure would welcome an opportunity to take their kids for a stroll down a clean beach-front boardwalk without having to try and explain why some jerk with a megaphone wants them to shoot a mentally ill person with a paintball gun.
There are plenty of bars in NYC where the Hipsters and Slopesters can go slumming it for a few hours. NYC is home to 8.2 million people…not every single dammed neighborhood has to cater to your own personal interests.
Why does the retail need to be subsidized – there are plenty of appropriate Brooklyn/NY based retail with successful business models, that could be offered the concession:
Pizza:
Spumoni Gardens, Difara, La Villa, Fascati, Totonnos etc, etc, etc
Ice Cream:
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Uncle Louie G, Blue Marble
Hamburgers:
Bonnies Grill, Crave, Shake Shack, Flipsters, etc
Candy/Chocolate
Chocolate Room, Jacque Torres, Dylans, Economy Candy, etc…
Hot Dogs
Nathans (already there) Greys Papaya, Bark, etc…
Deli/Hero
Lassen & Hennings, Johns Deli, Katz’s etc…
Bars
Come on there are a million
Point is this is right off the top of my head (which is why they lean a bit too much to the high $ end)….wildly successful, high volume retail that fits in perfectly with a Beach/CI space, capable of paying market rent, capable of attracting broad crowds from NYC and beyond. There are tons of others at all different price points – and so if a uniquely Brooklyn/NY experience is what is wanted, it can be done and it is in this direction that pressure should be brought – as opposed to protesting to save unsustainable business models from an era we are trying to end.
You know what, Ruby’s were a-holes plain and simple- Good riddance to a bar that puts and out of order sign on a perfectly good restroom (the only one in the bar) all summer long. Sure, those in the know ignore the sign but seriously don’t feel bad for these jerks.
Ty – why is it that gov’t never subsidizes retail? Serious question. I don’t think this makes sense on a large scale, but in some unique places maybe…
Heart Attack-
“This nostalgia for the “old coney island” is silly.”
“Don’t fear change.”
Why is nostalgia for “old Coney Island” silly? Because you say so? Not really much of an argument. Do you know anything about the history of “old Coney Island” and how influential it has been, not only in the history of amusement parks, but American history and culture in general? I assume you don’t.
I agree that the “new” Astroland is kind of nice, if generic. I think the goal is too have a mixed transition that retains some of the traditional flavor of the place. Not to wipe the slate clean.
It is not about “fearing change”. Change is inevitable. The issue is what is the nature of that change, and who controls that change. Who has a say in the types of changes made to historic areas of New York and what are the values driving those changes.
I agree that not all change is bad, but I think you should also understand that not all change is good either.
Grand Pa — I didn’t say the crowd at Ruby’s were yuppies. They don’t go to Coney Island…. except once a year (maybe) to say they did and to get a taste of the “grittiness.”
Wholesale wiping of the slate clean? Really? Or is it perhaps that “Shoot the Freak” makes a total of $75 on a busy Saturday… a lot of real estate for a lot of idleness. And Ruby’s is only frequented by a relatively small amount of people — i.e., they don’t serve the LARGE number that they could/should. That’s why businesses go out of business.
Why can’t a local, small business owner make it on Coney Island? It’s ridiculous to say that you need a national chain’s bank account to make a go of it… A national chain isn’t going to run a store at a loss!!