April 14, 2016 By Christian Murray
An auto shop on Vernon Boulevard is likely to be converted in an upscale new American-French restaurant.
Representatives of the restaurant went before Community Board 2’s City Services Committee last night and divulged these plans as part of their application for a liquor license.
They told the committee that they plan to convert 45-17 Vernon Boulevard from an auto shop to an “eating and drinking establishment” and that they had filed plans with the Department of Buildings to do so.
The plans were filed with the department on April 6, according to records, but have subsequently been disapproved.
The filings with the Dept. of Buildings indicated that only a portion of the auto body shop would become a restaurant, although that wasn’t made clear at the committee meeting.
Nevertheless, the establishment would be called Vernon Social Lounge & Restaurant and would seat 96 people.
The representatives said that the restaurant would offer an American-French menu with a Mediterranean influence.
The restaurant will feature fine dining, while the lounge will consist of comfortable couches and a soft lit bar.
The venue would not be open past 11:30pm even on weekends.
Pat O’Brien, chairman of the City Services Committee, told the applicants that there are many licensed establishments on Vernon Boulevard and that they are likely to face some residents who will oppose them opening.
“It wouldn’t be fair to you to say that there won’t be some opposition.” O’Brien said. “This is a big place where there could be 150 people in there.”
O’Brien said that there was more paperwork required before the application could go be carefully reviewed.
He said the board needs to see the certificate of occupancy from the Buildings Department, a public assembly permit as well as a full set of building plans.
