Some Compromise on Prime 6, Still No Agreement

The owner of a controversial Park Slope bar has agreed to a bevy of concessions, but still refused to meet locals’ demands on one issue: the hours of operation.

At Monday night’s Community Board 6 meeting Akiva Ofshtein, owner of Prime 6, the restaurant under construction at Flatbush and Sixth avenues, reiterated plans to keep his 46-seat outdoor patio open until 1 a.m. on weekends and the bar itself open until 4 a.m., despite demands from CB6 that Ofshtein close the patio by midnight (10 p.m. on weekdays) and stop food service by 2 a.m.

“I can’t go below the competitive standard,” said Ofshtein, arguing that nearby bars like Flatbush Farm and Piquant that keep their outdoor patios open later (both close at 11 p.m. on weekdays). 

Ofshtein contended that he’s invested too much money in the 230-person restaurant to be asked to limit his hours during a potential late night prime time, either by closing before 4 a.m. or closing the patio before 11 p.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. on weekends.

But members of the community and CB6 maintained that earlier hours were plenty late for Park Slope’s residential crowd.

“It’s reasonable,” said Pauline Blake, a community board and nearby resident. “Later than that means I’m not getting to sleep at all.”

Monday night’s meeting was an extreme contrast to Prime 6’s on the CB6 agenda last month, at which throngs of angry residents stormed the meeting, furious over rumors that the spot would be a nightlife hotspot catering to the Barclay’s arena crowd.

After a series of closed-door meetings with the North Flatbush BID, local politicians and nearby neighbors who oppose the bar, Prime 6 owner Akiva Ofshtein agreed to a series of compromises – including sound proofing the backyard and ditching plans for an outdoor bar if the community agrees to his proposed hours of operation. Ofshtein has also retooled the restaurant concept, now aiming to open a restaurant that focuses more on “local meats and lots of vegetables,” opposed to the original concept of a “steakhouse” or “California kitchen.”

Earlier this month CB6 voted to ask the state for a new liquor license hearing on the grounds that the board failed to provide locals with enough advance warning of the hearing. It is unlikely, however, that a new hearing will be granted. Pending a new hearing, Monday night’s CB6 committee voted to recommend Ofshtein’s agreed upon stipulations be added to the eatery’s liquor license – as well as the stipulations for reduced hours.

Ofshtein will continue to fight for his right to serve drinks until 4 a.m., which is legally permitted by the State Liquor Authority.

“If there is business until 4 a.m., I’d like to stay open until 4 a.m. If not, which there probably won’t be, I’ll close early,” said Ofshtein. “I just want to be given the opportunity to open and prove myself to the community before I’m demonized.”

Community Board 6 will review the issue at a full board meeting on April 13 at 6:30 pm.