May 14, 2015 By Christian Murray
Communitea, best known for its coffee and vast selection of tea, has found a new location that includes an outdoor patio that can seat more than 20 people
The café, which had been located at 47-02 Vernon Blvd for 10 years, will be opening at 11-18 46th Road Street in a semi-industrial area. It will be offering, among other items, 50 kinds of tea, beer from local breweries, and wine.
The owners plan to offer breakfast, lunch and heavier meals for dinner, and aim to be open until midnight seven days per week. Their goal is to be open in July.
Communitea, given its desire to use its outdoor space, will be subject to a public meeting in the neighborhood, said Pat O’Brien, chairman of the committee that oversees liquor licenses.
The owners, Kafia Saxe and Lloyd Canning, were insistent that they be allowed to use the space, saying that they had selected the location due to the outdoor space. The interior has room for 40 seats, with the patio area able to seat 24.
The patio is not near any apartments, Canning said. He said that there was a parking lot on the western side of the space and an industrial building on the eastern side. Furthermore, he said, there is an office building located behind it.
Cannings was a previous owner of Lounge 47 until 2009, a bar that got into strife with its backyard space after several noise complaints.
Pat O’Brien, the chair of the liquor license committee, said that it was not an easy task to get the use of a backyard in the Hunters Point area.
“Things evolve and change and they haven’t changed yet,” he said. However, he added, “Maybe you want to go out and solicit support…from people who love Communitea.”
