Rob Shamlian Withdraws Liquor Permit Application For Lounge at 167 Orchard Street

The other day we mentioned that a new block association, the LES Dwellers Association, is helping residents fight a liquor license application at 167 Orchard Street (at Stanton).   Rob Shamlian (Spitzer’s Corner, Fat Baby, etc.) and Frank Vivolo (Bruschetta) are opening “Tiny Fork,” an oyster bar in the new Slipper Room building.  Community Board 3 signed off on a liquor license for the establishment many months ago, but the operators were seeking  a second license for a lower level lounge, and planned to go before CB3’s SLA Committee Monday night. But now the application has been withdrawn.

Members of LES Dwellers suspect Shamlian and company made note of community opposition and decided to hold off on the application until the neighbors aren’t paying such close attention.  But the organization’s leader, Diem Boyd says “we will be watching.”   Although CB3 approved the initial license in 2010,  it’s still listed on the State Liquor Authority’s web site as “pending.”

To put it mildly, Shamlian has had contentious relations with Lower East Side residents, the 7th Precinct and Community Board 3.   In a 2010 New York Press story, the nightlife entrepreneur said he’d had it with the Lower East Side and had decided to  focus on Brooklyn.  “The community is very hostile and the cops are a nightmare… We get harassed nonstop… I’m going to phase out of that area… I’m going to get the hell out of there.”

LES Dwellers will not be sitting out Monday night’s meeting.  They hope for a big show of force against another controversial application for 106 Rivington Street.  You can read more about that here.