The fantastical and immersive Wonderland Dreams by artist Alexa Meade has been open since October at 529 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The 26,000 square foot exhibition space brings to life the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland through Alexa’s boldly painted installation. Every inch of the space has been hand painted into a multidimensional work of art. Alex debuted her Immersed in Wonderland solo exhibition in Beverly Hills in 2018 which was attended by 40,000 guests over a five week run. Her exhibition made its way to New York. Wonderland Dreams invites guests to “fall down the rabbit hole into a world of secret rose gardens, mad tea parties, in a living gallery that puts you inside the artwork.” Bernstein Redo & Savitsky, P.C. is proud to be a part of the Wonderland Dreams team.
Stephen Ross’s The Related Companies is about to open The Set Club atop his 44 story building at 455 Tenth Avenue in Hudson Yards. The building, designed by Handel Architects, with curated interior design by MAWD, rises 500 feet from the ground, with 270 world class luxury apartments. The Set Club will be a private members only social club designed for residents of the building. The members only club will include a full service restaurant in the charge of Chef Dan Kluger, lavish amenities including a screening room, lounge, golf simulator, working space, and a swimming pool on a 58 foot long deck. Bernstein Redo & Savitsky, P.C. is proud to be part of The Related Companies and The Set Club team.
The long awaited RH Guesthouse New York opened last month at 55 Gansevoort Street in Manhattan. Described as “dazzling,” the 90,000 square foot Guesthouse, housed in a historic 1887 triangular loft building, overflows with luxurious details. It has six guest rooms, three 1,000 square foot suites, and one residence. Every room is adults only and each one contains two bathrooms and a gym. Instead of mini-bars, the rooms are outfitted with well-stocked gourmet pantries. Guests have access to The Rooftop Garden with day beds and a 40-foot mosaic infinity pool with panoramic views. The Guesthouse is only blocks away from RH’s 5-story Gallery on Ninth Avenue. The New York Guesthouse is the first hotel opened by RH. Bernstein Redo & Savitsky, P.C. is proud to be a part of the RH team.
On August 31, 2022, the New York State Liquor Authority adopted a number of advisories that change licensing requirements. The intent of these changes is to remove requirements that are deemed unnecessary, and to help streamline the application process. The advisories are all posted on the SLA website. Some of the more significant changes are as follows:
1. An applicant is no longer required to provide the SLA with a certificate of occupancy, temporary certificate of occupancy, letter of no objection, or place of assembly permit for the premises to be licensed. This change, however, does not affect the requirements of the municipality with respect to the need for certificates of occupancy or place of assembly permits.
2. An applicant that is a corporation or limited liability company need only disclose those direct or indirect owners with an interest of 10% or more. Any owners, members, or investors with less than 10% do not have to be disclosed. This is a significant change. The prior rules required all owners and investors to be disclosed and complete personal questionnaire forms, regardless of their percentage ownership, if there were 10 or fewer owners. The 10% threshold only applied if there were more than 10 direct or indirect owners. Directors of a corporation do not have to be disclosed, and the only officers required to be included in the application are president, secretary, treasurer, and CEO if there is one.
3. Applicants will no longer be required to provide copies of bank statements showing the source of funds. The SLA does, however, reserve the right to request such documentation during the review process.
4. The SLA will no longer scrutinize deeds or leases, other than confirming the name of the applicant, the premises, and whether there is a percentage rent provision.
5. Outdoor space on private property must be a part of the application if it is to be licensed and must be contiguous to the indoor space. Municipal space is not to be included in the application as part of the licensed space. The applicant must, however, have a permit from the municipality to use that space. It does not have to be contiguous to the indoor space. Any licensee that has a condition on its license prohibiting the use of outdoor space may no add that space unless it has an application for a change in method of operation filed and approved.
6. Importer Licensees are now permitted to use Marketing Permits. Additional restrictions have been placed on the use of Marketing Permits in unlicensed spaces – upper tier entities may use Marketing Permits in unlicensed spaces (i) a maximum of times at a given unlicensed location per year, (ii) on no more than two consecutive days at any unlicensed location, and (iii) on no more than two consecutive weekends at any unlicensed location.
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these important changes.
The Aman New York was one of the most highly anticipated new hotels in years. The 83-suite property just opened this month in the 100 year old Crown Building on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan, which was built by the same architect responsible for Grand Central Terminal, and the first home of the Museum of Modern Art. The ultra-luxe Aman brand has elegant resorts worldwide amid breathtaking landscapes, including in Indonesia, Thailand, Bhutan, Courchevel, Venice, Jackson Hole, and Greece. It first brought its brand to the urban market in Tokyo in 2014, and now New York opened this August. The Aman includes Italian restaurant Arva, Japanese Nama, the Wine Library, the Jazz Club, and a three story flagship Aman Spa. Every suite has a working fireplace and murals by contemporary Japanese artist Ryoko Adachi. Bernstein Redo & Savitsky P.C. is proud to be part of the Aman New York team.
The newly opened Renaissance New York Hotel is at the epicenter of Flushing, Queens, and is the anchor to a 4-phase complex called Tangram, a 1.5 million square foot mixed use development. The 208 room hotel has an Olympic size pool, tennis court, fitness center, and rooftop lobby with panoramic views. The Tangram project, owned and developed by F&T Group and SCG America, covers two city blocks. In addition to the hotel, the project encompasses two levels of retail space enclosed by a glass skylight, two residential towers, a 24,000 square foot culinary food hall, an office tower, and a 1,100 car garage. Bernstein Redo & Savitsky, P.C. is proud to be part of the Tangram team.
Nine Orchard, a new 116-room hotel opened this summer after many years of development and work with the local community board and the New York State Liquor Authority. The opening of the hotel at the corner of Orchard and Canal Street on the Lower East Side marks the end of a complete restoration of the Jarmulowsky Bank building – a Beaux-Arts building originally constructed in 1912 – and the beginning of the landmark’s second life as an elegant hotel and culinary destination. The hotel has multiple food and beverage outlets on the ground floor under the supervision of James Beard Award-nominated chef Ignacio Mattos (Lodi, Estela, Flora Bar). Bernstein Redo & Savitsky P.C. is proud to be a part of the Nine Orchard team.
The New York City Bar Association is hosting a program, “Opening a Restaurant in New York City: Legal Issue Bootcamp,” on Thursday, June 1, 2022 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Donald Bernstein of Bernstein Redo & Savitsky, P.C. will be one of four presenters/panelists, and will be speaking on the subject of New York liquor licenses. Other topics will include corporate formation, restaurant leases, and labor and employment issues affecting restaurants. The program is sponsored by the Hospitality Committee of the Bar Association.
Last week, New York State amended the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to allow for cocktails to go. Under the new law, any retail licensee may sell any product it sells at retail for take-out or delivery. Liquor or wine to go must be accompanied by a “substantial food item.” The alcoholic beverage must be packaged in a container with a secure lid or cap sealed in a manner designed to prevent consumption without removal of the lid or cap by breaking the seal. Take out and delivery may only occur during the licensee’ permitted hours of operation. The price for the to go drink must be the same as if it was consumed on the premises. No bottles of wine or liquor may be sold to go. Delivery must be to a residential address and to a person 21 years of age or older as shown by legally acceptable ID. In furtherance of this new law, the New York State Liquor Authority issued a new Advisory effective today, “Guidance on Sale of Wine and Liquor to Go by On Premises Retail Licensees.” That Advisory defines what the new law means by “substantial food item,” which is “sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh, processed, precooked or frozen.” Wings, salads and hot dogs are also sufficient. The Advisory states, however, that a bag of chips, bowl of nuts, or candy alone are not sufficient. The Advisory also warns that an “unreasonably small portion of soup, a serving of canned beans, a handful of lettuce, or charging a small extra fee for an alcoholic beverage in lieu of a food item not actually ordered or delivered will be treated as a violation of the law.” The Advisory also reiterated that bottles of liquor or wine remain prohibited. Obvious efforts to circumvent that law, such as transferring the contents of a bottle to the same or equivalent bottle will be treated as a violation of the law. The new statute also states that open carry laws are not changed. The SLA Advisory can be viewed here:
https://sla.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/04/advisory_2022-2_-_sale_of_wine_and_liquor_to-go_by_on_premises_retail_licensees.pdf
The Cipriani Family will open its first large-format culinary experience at the new Waterline Square development on the Upper West Side at Riverside Boulevard. With nearly 30,000 square feet, Harry’s Table by Cipriani offers a full-service restaurant as well as casual dining options and specialty counters, including a coffee bar, a gelato and pastry shop, a pizza bar, a pasta lab, a fish counter, and a butcher’s counter. The retail component throughout the space provides a selection of high-quality Italian and local products and fresh produce. A full bar, inspired by the glamorous days of mid-century Italy with timber paneling, leather stools, and sleek light fixtures has a central role in the space while the more formal restaurant faces the waterfront. Harry’s Table by Cipriani was designed by the internationally acclaimed London-based interior design studio of Martin Brudnizki. Bernstein Redo & Savitsky P.C. is proud to be a part of the Cipriani team.