BY CHRIS RYAN | Workers recently dismantled Eleven B pizza restaurant’s outdoor dining setup in the East Village. Owner Vincent Sgarlato got a bit of leeway on the Department of Transportation’s removal deadline, dodging a $500 fine, so he could bring in his “usual guys.” But, he said, “It had to go now.” Other crews were “price gouging,” he noted.
As for doing seasonal roadside dining, he said, “I’ll probably apply for the sidewalk, like I used to, but I’m not interested in the road. And where would we store removable materials for roadside [in the off season]? One company quoted $20,000 storage / assembly and wanted a five-year commitment. Too much hassle. …
“This is the best wood you can buy, you want it?” he offered. “Same as my counters — lasted 18 years as outdoor tables! Giving some to the church.”
I think the fact that this restaurant owner waited until he was threatened with a fine rather than take it down a month ago when he was supposed to speaks volumes about the attitudes of these restaurant owners toward the public.
Also there are some really egregious street dining/sheds.
For example:
Restaurant A, on a corner, has sidewalk seating, a side street shed and then a long shed on an avenue, which blocks the entrance to an urgent-care medical office.
Restaurant B incredibly built a shed that “enveloped” a green postal box (no pun intended). After several years (!) and various complaints, the restaurant finally downsized the shed and freed the green postal box. (BTW the owner of that restaurant is very connected in the restaurant industry.)
Restaurant C built a shed around two beautiful old trees, designing the shed so there were “openings” for the tree trunks. The restaurant also installed fans and heating inside the shed. (Not environmentally friendly for sure.) After several years and various complaints, the restaurant took down the structure.
Restaurant D built a long shed that blocks the entrance to a supported-living residence for people with mental health needs.
Restaurant E, which opened in 2024, promptly built a shed that ends one inch from the bus stop sign pole.
Restaurant F has situated orange barriers by its shed so the owner has a “reserved” parking spot.
In the meantime, my family’s favorite restaurant is by a bus stop — so no possibility of street dining. The City is not helping that restaurant.
The restaurant sheds need to go.
Besides the obvious (trash, rats, noise, blocked buildings, shantytown appearance, etc) it is disturbing and baffling that the City gave complete advantage and benefit to the restaurant sector — but has done nothing for local shops and retail. And especially egregious as local shops struggle with high rent, ecommerce competition, street vendor competition and shoplifting.
Why is there no discussion about this incredible unfairness?
What a waste. Ave. B Dining structures were beautiful and useful for the community to use, even if you didn’t buy anything. Elderlies and families often took a rest on the benches with greenery at Desi Galli and 11B. Now it will be free storage for 4 vehicle owners; 80% of the people in our neighborhood don’t own vehicles and will not be able to use the public space.
Street shed dining really made NYC’s inequality more visible.
Mostly young wealthy getting to eat, drink, hang out. Many who are privileged to work remotely.
In the meantime, hard-working, low-paid workers are schlepping by delivering ecommerce, elderly just trying to walk by on the sidewalk, residents above trying to sleep at night through restaurant noise, and everyone trying to manage daily life despite restaurant rats.
Dear Mr. One-Note Wald,
My most recent experience of the sheds on Cleveland Place is coming home from La Guardia in a yellow cab with my two young daughters and two weeks worth of clothes and equipment and being forced to schlepp in a stroller-created caravan from all the way up the block because the ‘restaurant’ in our building has operated beyond its allowable berth for four years with Dept of Transportation impunity, at not one but three addresses, two of them unauthorized.
That yellow cab is the fourth time I have ridden in a car in NYC this year, and my preferred mode of transport when I don’t have my girls with me is pedal-powered bicycle. I support bike lane improvements.
To me, it is manifestly unfair for the city to have rolled out the red carpet to profiteer-arrivistes from a wealthy foreign country and to have disenfranchised three native New Yorkers, one of whom has lived in this neighborhood for forty years.
Our sheds’ — and a few others’ — latest is selling the street side to advertisers for additional profit, so our block is smeared with advertising screaming at us every time we step out our door. Always they’ve bred mosquito, black fly and rat infestations, loud partying — including after-hours — beneath our bedroom windows, and harassment of me and my young daughters from the owners whenever we’ve called in their scores of violations.
Make no mistake. The sheds are hell.
Georgette Fleischer
President, Friends of Petrosino Square
I live on Ave B. The sheds are hell! I haven’t been able to open my windows for 4 years because of loud, drunk diners, outside music systems. I’m all for benches. But I’m not for giving up public space for private profits. You must either be a restaurant owner or you don’t live above one of these rat-infested hell holes.
They most certainly were not “beautiful.” The picture at the top of the article is clear evidence of this. The fact that you could hang out without even dining there is proof that they long ago outlived their intended purpose. At least cars aren’t magnets for rats and trash. Cars also allow me to look across the street and have a sense of perspective of my surroundings.
Choresh — in walking by your building last week, I saw a big ‘D’ for the Energy Grade posted. Maybe you should tackle that first before complaining about cars and sheds in areas in which you do not live.
So he waited until he was threatened with a fine to comply with the law. And then complained about price gouging. These things were supposed to come down a month ago. What a pillar of the community.
Good for him. I see a lot of nasty sheds still up, so I hope they come down too. It’s time we move on from this phase. Residents have endured loud diners, rats, trash, music, blocked sidewalks for long enough.