If you pass by the intersection of East Broadway and Clinton streets with any regularity, you probably noticed something different in the last couple of days. The metal gate is up at 221 East Broadway, revealing a brand new glass and wood facade at Eastwood, the bar being opened by Sivan Harlap and Andrew States. While the main space is not yet operational, their “Chip Shop” around the corner on Clinton soft-launched yesterday.
As noted last week, the State Liquor Authority rejected Eastwood’s application for a full bar, ruling that the business is too close (less than 200 feet) from a church and a synagogue. Harlap and States have now decided to go for a wine and beer license. They’ll appear before Community Board 3’s State Liquor Authority Committee next month. Beer and wine permits are not subject to the same rules regarding proximity to religious institutions and schools as full liquor licenses.
For now the Chip Shop is open for lunch and early dinner until around 8 p.m. There’s only one table and some counter space, so take-away might be your best option. Today there was a relatively small menu, including a fresh fish sandwich, falafel, fish & chips, a salad with kale, apples and fennel and a squash, kale and white bean soup.
Other bars have been fine with just beer and wine I’m told.
I just had a nice little lunch there. Vegetarian soup, fish sandwich. Everything tasty, fresh, and healthful. Nice people.
They make a pretty good falafel. I’m still shocked that their liquor license was revoked because of some archaic and pointless law. The community opposition to this is ridiculous. A bar here would cause no trouble and if anything, enliven this little stretch at night with a bit more activity and provide better business for everything else around it (the bodegas, Metro Empanadas, Malt and Mold, Pushcart Coffee, and Cowboy Pizza). I wish Sivan and Andrew with better luck on the beer and wine permit and good riddance to the nutjobs trying to kill their business and continue to make this part of East Broadway a dead zone of commercial activity.
Calling people who have a different view than yours “nutjobs” is counter-productive and immature. Given noise, crowding and hardcore violence issues with bars in other parts of the Lower East Side, the concerns with this part of the neighborhood are legitimate and well-grounded. Also, no one is out to “kill businesses” – any financial damage incurred by people who insisted on spending tens of thousands of dollars before getting approvals – in a terrible location next to multiple religious institutions and despite strong opposition – is self-inflicted damage.
The owners have no history of complaints at their other location. I’ll testify (in a non-religious manner) at the CB meeting on their merits.
As a life long neighborhood resident, I have no objection to this establishment. For many, many years that corner was overrun with junkies, derelicts and crime. I welcome this restaurant with open arms and wish them all the best.