Months after its dramatic departure from Grand Street, Seward Park Liquors has relocated to a new storefront at 53 Ludlow St. (between Grand and Hester streets). The new shop is open this week, although the staff is still getting the shelves fully stocked.
Last year, the board of the Seward Park Co-op decided not to renew Seward Park Liquors’ lease in a space it owns at 393 Grand St. The proprietor, John DeBlasio, had been engaged in a contentious battle with his landlord to remain in a store he’d occupied for more than four decades.
The State Liquor Authority this past April approved DeBlasio’s plan to move his store to Ludlow Street. According to the SLA’s online database, the license was activated on July 24.
Meanwhile, the would-be operators of a new liquor store at 393 Grand are still hoping to win approval from the State Liquor Authority for a permit. After approving Seward Park Liquors, SLA commissioners rejected an application from “Vin Family Inc.,” calling the area oversaturated. In an appeal, Vin Family is making the argument that the entire area below Grand Street to the East of Suffolk Street has now been left under-served.
When the applications were being considered this past spring, parents at P.S. 42 complained to the SLA that Seward Park Liquors’ new location was in violation of the 200 Foot Rule, which prohibits liquor permits in close proximity to schools and churches. Their plea was backed up by SPaCE, the local neighborhood association, but the SLA ruled that the new liquor permit was not in violation of the law.
A final bit of Seward Park Liquors news: DeBlasio has filed a lawsuit against the Seward Park Co-op, claiming that management deprived him of his livelihood on Grand Street. The co-op has declined to comment about the pending litigation.
