Buster's Owner Gets License Nod for Big West B'Way Bar

By Andrea Appleton
POSTED FEB. 2, 2007

It’s been a long time—and several foiled attempts—in coming, but Ross Provenzano may finally get his liquor license. The owner of the former Buster’s Garage, at 180 West Broadway, ignited controversy last fall when he tried to move the sports bar around the corner, onto residential Leonard Street. In its advisory vote, Community Board 1 rejected the transfer, and in November, neighbors took their complaints all the way to the State Liquor Authority, which is still reviewing the application.

But last month, after vainly seeking CB1 support for other locations in recent months, Provenzano received near unanimous approval for a liquor license for a new 10,000 square foot bar and party space at 21 West Broadway.

Provenzano’s team (variously known as 180 Restaurant Group LLC and 200 Water Street LLC) had come before the board for at least four separate liquor licenses in recent months, including 90 John St., 375 Broadway, and 85 South St. All were to be new establishments, and all fell by the wayside, either because of landlord difficulties or Community Board resistance, according to Eric Ness, Buster’s former general manager.

But this time was different. “That area’s perfect for our place, especially since there’s no residential in the building or around it,” said Matthew Miluk, who has replaced Ness as Provenzano’s general manager and advocate before CB1, “so I had a pretty good feeling before the board’s decision.” Miluk said the team had made it a priority to find a non-residential area for their bar after the debacle on Leonard Street.

Construction on the bar will start in mid-February, according to Miluk, though no name has been chosen and the license must still be approved by the State Liquor Authority. The bar will occupy the first and second floors of an office building. Each floor is 5,000 square feet,withseating for 200 people. The second floor will be rented out for parties. The bar will serve food, and Miluk says it will be affordable.
“We’re doing something along the lines of Buster’s, another eclectic mix,” Miluk said. “But it’ll be a little more upscale, with a more corporate dynamic.”

Anticipating controversy at the meeting last month of CB1’s Tribeca Committee, chairwoman Carole Desaram held off consideration of the 21 West Broadway application to the end. But no residents showed up to protest, and the discussion didn’t last long.

“Who’s the nearest neighbor, do you know?” asked Desaram.
“Nobody lives there!” a chorus of voices from the committee responded. The application was approved in all of three minutes.

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