Via NY Post:
The city Department of Consumer Affairs has served notice to 17 popular restaurants that this will be their last season to offer sidewalk cafes — unless they can prove that they comply with zoning regulations.
In some cases, the eateries have been serving street-side customers for more than two decades.
“Please be advised you have 100 business days from and including May 1 to complete one of the following options,” the agency notified owners on April 29.
The options include a “certified land survey” to show they’re operating on private property, filing for a zoning exemption or simply surrendering their permits.
“I don’t know what to do,” said Chel Seng, owner of Sushi Choshi on Irving Place, yesterday.
“It will affect us. It’s very busy in the summer. It’s a main reason people come — to sit outside.”
Other eateries that received the jolting notice include Sant Ambroeus and Friend of the Farmer on Irving Place.
“The owners are panicked,” said Joseph Levey, whose law firm, Helbraun, Levey & Odonoghue, reps hundreds of city eateries. He warned that many could go under.
And diners were not happy about the latest Bloomberg administration crackdown.
“That’s ridiculous. That would take away the cultural image of the West Village,” said Jane Lowe, who was dining outside at Sant Ambroeus with her parents.
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