Late-night music and dancing won’t be coming to the Puerto Rican restaurant Siete Ocho Siete, – at least not yet – after the New Rochelle City Council shot down its cabaret license.
The vote was 7 – 0 at Tuesday’s meeting.
The argument from several council members was that the restaurant owners didn’tmore-> give enough information on how they would handle security and provide parking for their patrons.
They noted that the owners could come back with a fuller application, although that would require another public hearing.
Neighbors were worried about noise, litter and other disruptions if the restaurant had gotten its license. Many of them told the City Council in two hearings that they love the food at the restaurant, it’s only the late-night activities they object to. And they got a taste of it months ago, when the restaurant played the music and allowed dancing without the license.
Many patrons of the restaurant said the late-night reveling was a welcome relief from the stresses of the day and work week. At least one teacher and several people in law enforcement said they enjoy unwinding at the restaurant, and would not dare be seen there if they saw any problems there.
In August, the owners, they acknowledged the violation of local law in court and paid $900 in fines. That came after the City Council initially refused to even consider the application with the violations outstanding.
Read more about the city’s decision in The Journal News and on www.lohud.com tomorrow.
