June 23, 2017 By Christian Murray
The Lowery Bar & Kitchen, which is located on the corner of 43rd Street and 43rd Avenue, was approved for sidewalk seating by Community Board 2 Wednesday.
The bar applied for 18 tables and 36 seats but agreed to reduce the number after hearing concerns from neighbors about noise on the block.
The Lowery, which opened a year ago, is across the street from Bar 43 and next door to the Romanian Garden on 43rd Avenue, which also has outdoor seating. The board was concerned that Lowery’s side walk café would add to the existing noise that residents on 43rd Street have been complaining about.
William McCarthy, who was at Wednesday’s meeting to express his concerns about noise from Bar 43, said he was concerned about another sidewalk café opening on the street. However, he did note that he had not heard any noise from the Lowery since it opened.
Ann Muldoon, a co-owner of Lowery, said that her establishment was more of a restaurant than a bar and didn’t expect noise to be a problem. She said that 70 percent of the establishment’s business comes from food.
Muldoon said she would sit down with McCarthy and work with him if there were any concerns. She said that she would provide him with her cell phone to ensure there is an open dialogue.
The Lowery agreed to get rid of eight seats that would have been the closest to McCarthy’s apartment building, leaving the bar/restaurant with 14 tables and 28 seats. The tables and seats will be located on both 43rd Avenue and 43rd Street.
The bar also agreed to close its sidewalk café at 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends.
The final approval has to be made by the Department of Consumer Affairs. However, with the board’s approval that approval is more of a formality.
