Residents of some elite buildings on Central Park West are coming together to stop the development of what they believe will turn into an all-hours nightclub akin to whatever kind of club they're picturing that has them so damn terrified. Though project head Gregory Hunt says the Central Park West Cafe, at 25 Central Park West, "will be sophisticated and mellow," the West Side Independent reports that locals have a petition 400 signatures strong to keep him from getting a liquor license.
Hunt does admit that the bar will have to remain open until 3 a.m. in order to make ends meet, but the website (playing a tasteful loop of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday) explains there will be no dancing and "We hate club music." He also says, "Our target age group is 35+. In other words, we’re targeting clients who are old enough to know who Ray Bolger, Ethel Merman and Fay Wray are!" Well how is 15 Central Park West resident A-Rod supposed to know who they are?
Members of Save25CPW see it in a different light. Their site proclaims, "In actuality, the plan is for the establishment to operate as a night club, which will include a full service 15’ bar open Monday through Sunday from Noon to 3 AM. Furthermore, the “café” will be playing “club-like” music, undoubtedly at high decibels and only offering a light fare menu." Both 15 and 25 CPW have hired their own lobbying groups to petition the liquor license application to Community Board 7 tonight. However, the SLA still has the final say on whether or not ballet goers will have to schlep downtown for a relaxing, post-show drink.
