Florent Space Green Lit to Open as 69 Gansevoort Cafe

Probably the smoothest of all the presentations at last night's Community Board 2 SLA Committee meeting was the transfer of the liquor license at the Florent space, d/b/a 69 Gansevoort Cafe. No one was opposed, and the measure should pass easily with the full board and the SLA. The two presenters insisted that they don't wish to change anything about Florent and are only hoping to open a 24/7 diner. Funny, isn't that what the failed body snatcher R&L Restaurant did? The new owners are planning on cutting the famous long bar in half to create more dining space and hope to bring the place "up to code as far as asbestos."

One of the owners has a long family history with diners and is affiliated with the sister restaurants on 7th Ave. in Chelsea, Il Bastardo and Barbaresco. The other graduated UNC's hospitality program and has been working back of the house for a decade, making sure restaurants are up to code. The committee gave them a pass with only one stipulation: no changes to current operations. Let the next chapter in the saga of Florent begin.
— Gabe Ulla
· First Word: Florent and Fiamma Spaces to Go Before CB2 [~E~]
· All Florent and R&L Coverage [~E~]