When Andre Balazs appeared before the community board to request the transfer of the liquor licenses from the Cooper Square Hotel owners to his company, he promised no major changes to the current restaurant and bar operation, telling the board that he was simply planning to "change the culinary experience." However, we wonder if his rumored plans for the Coop will change his thinking. According to Hotel Chatter, the Cooper Square will be rebranded into a Standard Hotel, and if the other Standard Hotel's serve as a guide, Balazs will be planning a major upgrade to the nightlife and restaurant operation as he seeks to transform the property into a place that attracts more than just hotel guests and making it a place that even residents find themselves spending time and money.
While this may fly in the Meatpacking District, where the Standard New York has a whopping six liquor licenses with two nightclubs, a beer garden and restaurant, it will definitely not fly on the Bowery, where the local residents heaped so many restrictions on the Cooper Square Hotel's nightlife operations that the only semi-viable space is the restaurant. Even with the restrictions, neighbors still waged a full on campaign to disrupt imbibing on all levels at the Coop, including the memorable dirty underwear campaign. Drinking on the second floor patio and garden end promptly early in the evening and the penthouse event space is hardly ever used. Add this to the legion of other Bowery projects that have died on the vine after the community board rejected them. Koi anyone? We wager that before there are any major changes, Balazs will work to prove himself to the Community Board 3.
· Andre and Chelsea Again...Handler, Not The Hotel [Hotel Chatter]
· Cooper Square Hotel Coverage [~ENY~]
· Standard Hotel Coverage [~ENY~]
· Nightlife Coverage [~ENY~]