Chumley's Reopening Faces Further Delays After Neighbors Complain

Opponents of Chumley's — the prohibition-era bar that closed in 2007 — have successfully convinced the state to delay the bar's reopening. According to DNAinfo, a group known as BarFreeBedford asked the State Liquor Authority to send the bar's liquor license request in front of the full board, a move that allows the state to hear from more opposition and delays the bar's right to serve booze. BarFreeBedford, which is against any additional liquor licenses on the street, took out an ad in local paper Westview News titled "NO MORE BARS ON BEDFORD," claiming they are representatives of the neighborhood and that the bar has "no local support."

Despite the group's claim, the West Village speakeasy has had its supporters. The bar received approval to open from the local community board last fall. And resident Steven Monroe Smith, who lives around the corner from 86 Bedford, started an online petition to combat BarFreeBedford's efforts, DNAinfo reports. In the petition, Smith urges fellow supporters to email the SLA with the subject line "#openchumleys," sharing their feelings about the bar.

The date for Chumley's liquor license request hearing has not been set. The West Village speakeasy closed in 2007 after a wall collapse and has since faced several issues reopening. Earlier this year, Sushi Nakazawa owner Alessandro Borgognone signed on to get Chumley's open once again along with a few business partners and one of the original proprietors.