Coney Island 7 Offered New Leases if They Renovate

As expected earlier this week, the landlords of the Coney Island boardwalk are going back on their plans to evict the seven longtime businesses there and are in negotiations to offer them long term leases. Zamperla USA threatened to evict the businesses, which include 77 year-old Ruby's, Paul's Daughter, Cha Cha's and Beer Island, in 2010 and then again this year. Just as the final days of the season approached, the restaurant group that was meant to replace them next summer balked, leaving the landlord with a potentially empty 2012 summer boardwalk.

Now they are offering the Coney Island 7 eight year leases on the condition they invest over $100,000 in renovations to spruce the places up. Some worry the alterations—wood floors, flat screen TVs—will ruin the charm of the businesses, but it's better than the alternative.

As one commenter noted earlier this week, "Death, taxes and a last-minute Ruby's reprieve. You can set your clock to it."
· Boardwalk dives offered new leases — if they clean up [BP]
· Doomed Coney Island Businesses Saved Again? [~ENY~]
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