April 22, 2016 By Michael Florio
More outdoor cafes are slated to spring up on Astoria’s sidewalks, but not without resistance from some local residents.
Seven restaurants went before Community Board 1 seeking a recommendation for sidewalk café licenses Tuesday, two of which received harsh criticism from neighbors.
One establishment that Astorians spoke out against was Tru Café, a Mediterranean bar/restaurant located at 35-19 Ditmars Blvd., which was applying to renew its license for 26 tables and 54 chairs.
The Board received two letters of complaint about this restaurant. Complaints included double parked cars along 36th Street, blocked driveways, littering, “biker gangs” and loud music, as well as drunk customers vomiting and urinating on the lawns.
“In our 25 years this establishment has been by far the worse we have seen,” one longtime 36th Street resident wrote. “We never know what we will need to clean up upon waking up in the morning.”
The owners said they were surprised by these complaints.
Upon receipt of the letters, the Board asked Tru Café’s owners to sign a stipulation to their license, stating that they would station an employee outside the restaurant from midnight until closing to keep tabs on their customers. The owners consented.
The Board then voted in favor of the license renewal 24 to 10.
However, not all the applicants were as fortunate.
Beija Flor, a Brazilian restaurant/bar located at 38-02 29th St., approached the board with its application for a 13-table, 26-seat outdoor café.
Owner Lucia Cruz said the bar, which is open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the week, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, had not received any complaints from neighbors.
However, multiple residents spoke out against the establishment and said they did not want Cruz to have sidewalk seating.
Complaints included noise, fights and drug use outside of the bar, as well as the bar staying open until 4 a.m.
“There are drunk people making noise and fighting in the streets,” one resident who lives near the establishment said. “No one is sleeping.”
“Marijuana smoke always goes up into the windows,” another resident said.
“I am so surprised,” Cruz said. “I have great reviews and never heard these complaints before.”
Detective Edwin Negron of the 114 Precinct said that the precinct has not received any complaints concerning the establishment.
However, based on the outcry from residents, the Board unanimously voted against Beija Flor’s application.
Despite the Board’s decision, Cruz told the Astoria Post that she plans to move forward with her application. The Board’s vote is sent to the Department of Consumer Affairs, which ultimately decides on outdoor café licenses.
Several businesses received new licenses without an issue.
Mokja, a Korean restaurant located at 35-19 Broadway, gained the Board’s support for a nine-table, 18-seat cafe. The restaurant will be open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The outdoor café will run along 36th Street, according to the shop owner.
Mussles N Sausages, which recently opened at 35-01 Ditmars Blvd., requested a license to set up 20 tables and 40 chairs. Four of those tables and eight seats will be located on the Ditmars Boulevard side, with the remaining 16 tables and 32 chairs going along 35th Street.
The Board voted unanimously to approve this application, as long as the owner will sign a stipulation that he will remove one table and two seats from the Ditmars Boulevard side.
Others, such as 60 Beans (six tables, 12 chairs), Martha’s Bakery (18 tables, 36 chairs) and La Pequena Colombia (four tables, 16 chairs) all renewed their outdoor seating café licenses.
