First Word: Martignettis Try to Cede Upstairs to Pera Owner

Boozy NYC files a report on last night's Community Board 2 SLA Licensing Committee meeting, and as usual, it was a doozy. The most curious case to come before the board—Bar Martignetti. A look at the agenda revealed the bros. Martignetti planned on ceding their upstairs space to the soon-to-be homeless Soho staple Cafe Noir. But perhaps not:

"Biggest of all was the curve ball thrown by the Martignetti brothers. Seems they want to split their liquor license and hold onto the basement club while giving over the ground floor to Cafe Noir... Except it's not Cafe Noir! Instead, Burak Karacam, managing partner of Pera, was before the board to apply for the license the Martignettis want to relinquish on the first floor - in addition to applying for a license for a new Pera at 54 Thompson. The folks from Cafe Noir were nowhere in site."

Of course neighbors and CB members questioned the legality of the "scheme," complained about the abundance of licenses in Soho, and chastised Mr. Martignetti for puke on the sidewalk. Regardless of the final decision on the upstairs (which will get a final vote before the full Community Board before going to the SLA), the downstairs club is not in danger.

Meanwhile, Michael Huynh appeared for his new Christopher Street pho shop, a new proprietor made his case for the doomed Sheridan Square space, Don't Tell Mama, a "piano bar" wants to take over the Pink Elephant and Manor spaces, and of course, the Grand Street Hotel folks appealed to the community once again for their liquor licenses. The full board will vote on all licenses this Thursday.
· CB2 Recap: CB2 Recap - Martignetti Gets Reamed, Cafe Noir a No-Show and a New Pera [Boozy NYC]
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