BY JON CRONIN
Editor
Ridgewood’s pop-up beach party has been shut down after community opposition before it truly found its feet.
Although the co-owners of Rockaway Brewing Co, Mark Burnett and Ethan Long, promised to keep the noise inside the roughly 950-square foot establishment with a sandy beach and bar on the roof, residents said they would not tolerate it at the proposed location.
“It seems like the Ridgewood community is clear about what they want and that’s what they got,” said Burnett. He said the community opposition was the deciding factor, but that their original plan was to open by late June and the State Liquor Authority was moving slower on their licensing than they had hoped.
The SLA had yet to approve their farm brewing license, which allows them to up to five locations outside of their home location. They have yet to make the site a remote location.
“The community’s voice is what really stopped me,” Burnett added, “I was under a misconception about what I could do in that space.”
He said that right now he’s putting more thought into what he would like to do next summer.
Gary Giordano, Community Board 5’s district manager, said the Rockaway Brewing Co. withdrew their application, “It’s not really worth it at this time. It’s already July and they have DOB violations.” He said he didn’t see the financial feasibility of the company trucking in sand and then disposing of it at the end of the summer.
The lot, originally zoned for manufacturing where the beach party will take place is located at 176 Woodward Ave. and reaches from Woodward Avenue between Starr and Troutman streets south towards Onderdonk Avenue. Last year the owner of the property received a zoning change to make it residential with a commercial overlay.
Reach Jon Cronin at 718-357-7400 x125, jcronin@queenstribune.com or @JonathanSCronin
