Calls for public hearing over proposed alcohol sales

There should be public hearings held, as these establishments are located on City of Long Beach property and the costs and benefits should be discussed in an open forum.”

Denise Ford, Nassau County legislator

Because it would be a change to the charter, there would be a public hearing … so there would be that opportunity for everyone in the community to come and voice their concerns. I’m hopeful that we’re going to do that very soon.”

Anthony Eramo, City Council vice president

Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford last week called on the city to hold a public hearing as owners of the new eateries on the boardwalk look to renegotiate a deal with the city in the hope of serving beer and other alcoholic beverages.

At the Jan. 17 City Council meeting, Ford said that she had heard from residents who both support and oppose the idea. “The residents should have the opportunity to hear the pros and cons of this proposal,” she told council members. “There should be public hearings held, as these establishments are located on City of Long Beach property and the costs and benefits should be discussed in an open forum. The city held many forums to get input from residents on what they’d like on the boardwalk. You listened to them then, and I urge you to reach out and listen to them once again.”

The new concessions opened last summer, and were only permitted to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages, though an initial request for proposals had stated that the city could allow the sale and consumption of alcohol at certain locations.
As the season came to an end, the owners of three concessions requested that the city revisit that possibility in the interest of making their businesses profitable and allowing them to remain open year-round.

Sean Sullivan, owner of Beach Local Café, at Grand Boulevard; Greg LaPenna, owner of Shakes & Shuckers, at Lincoln Boulevard; and Brian Braddish, owner of Riptides, at Edwards Boulevard, are seeking permission from the city, which owns and rents the spaces, to renegotiate their five-year lease agreements and apply for state liquor licenses in response to what they said was customer demand and in order to boost revenue.

At last week’s meeting, Sullivan asked when discussions with the council and community members would be scheduled. “Myself and the other concessionaires, we’re happy to make ourselves available to you guys and the whole community to talk about these proposals …,” he said.

Ford told the Herald after the meeting that residents and business owners have expressed both support for and concerns about allowing alcohol sales on the boardwalk. The proposal is opposed by Long Beach AWARE, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing underage drinking and substance abuse in town.

“Since people are already basically drinking on the beach, some people have said it probably would be nice to have a sandwich and beer [at one of the concessions],” Ford said. “On the other side, can you truly monitor it, and the places aren’t that big, and some people did question the hours of operation. If you’re selling it to beachgoers, why are you open until 10 p.m.? And some businesses have also expressed concern that it would take business away from them.”

Concession owners have offered to restrict beverage service to those 23 and older; maintain restricted hours of operation and close at 10 p.m.; hire security guards to maintain safety; and not advertise the sale of alcohol. They have also proposed not serving alcohol in bottles or glass, placing signs detailing open container laws at all concession exits and listing open container fines, among other proposals.

“After speaking to multiple residents and community leaders, the list that we put together are just suggestions as to how we might make this work best for everyone,” Sullivan said after the meeting.

The city said last year that it was looking to keep the concessions open in the spring and fall, in the hope of attracting visitors in the off-season. Sullivan said that he, LaPenna and Braddish invested heavily in renovations last year, installing commercial kitchens, plumbing and fire alarms, which delayed their openings until later in the summer.

James Lynch, a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s executive board, told the council that the chamber supports the latest proposals and also called for a public hearing.

“When the RFPs went out, the city wanted something a little different — they didn’t want your basic concessions with hot dogs and hamburgers,” Lynch said. “These folks created something very nice on the boardwalk and they followed through. They have a very nice setup and they invested a lot … some of them their life savings.”

Council President Len Torres said that allowing alcohol sales at the concessions would require an amendment to the city’s code of ordinances. “It is something we are taking very seriously,” Torres said. “It’s very difficult for us to take a position until we have all of the legal ramifications …”

“Because it would be a change to the charter, there would be a public hearing … so there would be that opportunity for everyone in the community to come and voice their concerns …,” added Council Vice President Anthony Eramo. “I’m hopeful that we’re going to do that very soon.”