Michael Nagle for The New York Times Ruby’s, July 5, 2010. It is one of nine businesses that will be closed or replaced as part of renovations on Coney Island.Sometimes it seems as if some of Coney Island must die so that the historic amusement district can be saved — even if it means the death of Shoot the Freak.
Early on Monday, the owners of Shoot the Freak, Ruby’s bar, Coney Island Souvenirs, Gyro Corner, Beer Garden and four other boardwalk operators were informed that their leases would not be renewed. And the operator of the Cyclone roller coaster is also leaving Coney Island.
Carol Albert, whose family has run the historic roller coaster since 1975, said she was bowing out of the amusement scene. She said it was likely that Central Amusement International, the company that recently opened Luna Park amusement park next door, would wind up as the new operator. Central Amusement, a subsidiary of the Italian company Zamperla, won a 10-year lease from the city to open the 3.1-acre amusement park, which had a very successful inaugural season this year.
Ms. Albert, who was forced to sell the adjacent Astroland amusement park to a developer two years ago, said that she could no longer afford to operate the Cyclone under a lease with the city’s parks department. Her fixed costs jumped 600 percent over the past four years, she said, “and something had to be done.”
The boardwalk businesses occupied mostly dilapidated structures on the boardwalk near Stillwell Avenue. Central Amusement plans to spend several million dollars renovating the buildings and addressing building code violations. The company also plans to open a new Scream Zone adjacent to Luna Park with dramatic roller coasters and other thrill rides.
Anthony Berlingeri, who owns Shoot the Freak and Beer Island, is angry that longtime business owners are being expelled. Central Amusement had asked 11 boardwalk business owners, whose leases expired Sunday, to submit proposals for new nine-year leases. Mr. Berlingeri said the company told him it would replace his three-year-old Beer Island, a popular sandy beer garden, with “something similar.”
“This is all coming at the expense of the people who kept the place going through the good and bad times,” Mr. Berlingeri said on Monday. “I made the investment when I started Beer Island. Now they’re throwing me out to take my business over.”
Central Amusement is negotiating with Brooklyn Brewery to open a beer hall on the boardwalk, according to two executives involved in the Coney Island amusement district. A spokesman for Central Amusement declined to confirm the report, saying that no new leases had been signed.
Nathan’s, the hot-dog stand, will be allowed to continue operating in the amusement district, as will Lola Star’s gift shop.
“They might be killing one aspect of Coney that will certainly be missed,” said Dennis Vourderis, whose family runs the landmark Wonder Wheel and a kiddie park. “But I hope they keep some of the flavor of the boardwalk vendors. I’m shocked by the news.”
This month, the parks department plans to solicit bids for a new lease for a Cyclone operator.
“My heart goes out to people who have worked here all their lives,” said Dick Zigun, executive director of Coney Island USA, which runs a sideshow, the annual Mermaid parade and the Coney Island Museum. “But let’s not separate Coney Island from the cruel world of New York real estate politics and the way real estate leases work under capitalism.”
From behind the bar at Ruby’s on Monday morning, Michael Sorrell was commiserating with customers and other business owners. Ruby’s has been a fixture on the boardwalk since 1934 and the pathway nearby is named after the founder, Ruby Jacob. Mr. Sorrell has until Nov. 15 to shut down.
“It’s been in the family a long time,” said Mr. Sorrell, who married into the family. “I understand the developer wants to move ahead with new things. In New York City, there should be room for new things and old things. Apparently, not in Coney Island.”
Central Amusement issued a statement Monday promising to extend its “vision of a resurgent Coney Island” to the boardwalk. The company said it had invested $15 million already in Luna Park, where 19 rides drew 450,000 visitors this summer, and planned to spend millions more on the boardwalk. “We look forward to creating an incredible new experience on the Boardwalk, while continuing to honor Coney Island’s magnificent past,” the company said.
Richard Perry/The New York Times The Shoot the Freak concession on a hot July day in 2008.
et your facts straight. The Brooklyn Brewery is not opening a beer hall in Coney Island. The NY Times has already corrected their egrarious error. I suggest you do the same.
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