Hospitality group’s potential club is giving nightmare vibes to community
UPDATE 07.15.5:22 p.m. includes letter sent by elected officials on July 12
Chinese philosophy as interpreted by Dictionary.com states Tao is “that in virtue of which all things happen or exist” or “the rational basis of human activity or conduct”. With all the recent upheaval the Tao Group Hospitality has started with their pitch to open a club at 11-25 Franklin Street, one wonders if their name is intentionally ironic.
As reported by Eater on May 16 a team from the Tao Group Hospitality filed an application to open at 11-25 Franklin Street. Although they rebranded the team behind the 11-25 Franklin Street entity as Franklin BK Hospitality LLC, it was recognizably Tao Group Hospitality who presented at Brooklyn Community Board 1 (BK CB1) meeting on June 18.
Arthur Dybanowski, BK CB1’s chair of the NYS Liquor Authority (SLA) Review & DCA Licensing Committee conveyed Tao’s presentation wasn’t well thought out, and they didn’t do any community outreach. He said BK CB1 received thousands of emails against approving this club’s liquor license.
“We voted full denial for two different reasons: the area is super residential — it’s a Las Vegas type of club — Franklin is super busy and traffic is bad. The NYPD is against it. [There was] huge community opposition. It’s pretty much solved from our side. We are here to protect the neighbors,” said Dybanowski. He added that they can appeal to the SLA, but the SLA will get a lot of letters from the community board, community, NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler.
Jane Pool is a community activist and a resident of 25 years, with a business that has been in the neighborhood for 30 years. The business is her husband’s recording studio, and their daughter is a musician.
“I love nightlife. My husband and I met in a bar, he’s a musician,” said Pool. She added that noise has become an issue in her area and Milton, Noble, and Oak Streets formed strong block associations to fight this problem.
“At the end of Oak Street there’s been rave party that starts between 2 p.m.–3 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m., because they heard the police don’t respond to noise complaints before 10 p.m. There’s that thumping bass that rattles the building – and you can’t open the windows if it’s nice [weather] outside.”
These block associations were already formed to fight the previous noise issues so when this club idea was pitched for 11-25 Franklin Street, they were ready to nip a potential noise and quality of life nightmare in the bud.
Pool would also love to know the statistics on the rate of increase of liquor licenses in Greenpoint. She posits that this might show a need for more restriction.
About the BK CB1’s June 18 meeting she said, “People were there for different reasons — I was there for sleep.” To protect her ability to sleep, if that needed clarification. “I’m not prissy. Isolated incidents — like a concert in the park — [she could adapt to]. They want to be open to 4 a.m. every day.” She added, “They didn’t seem prepared at all. We’re worried about our daily life, our quality of life. Some people worry about safety, and the wildlife in the park.”
Community members have called into question the list of organizations Franklin BK Hospitality LLC claimed support this endeavor. Many were shown to have been recipients of donations. St. Nicks Alliance was named as a supporter; however, they have no connection to Franklin BK Hospitality LLC. Tao Group Hospitality sent a vague email on May 29 stating “We have internships and workforce opportunities and would like to be of service.” to St. Nicks Alliance, which is the extent of a connection.
Local elected officials are also opposed to this club.
NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher sent a letter to the SLA and explained why in a post on her Instagram, “I love that Greenpoint and Williamsburg is a nightlife destination. It supports jobs, culture, great food, and more. Cities are meant to be thriving, sometimes noisy places. But there’s also such thing as responsible planning—and this ain’t it.” The disturbance this club would be to surrounding residents and the wildlife in Bushwick Inlet Park was among the concerns she cited.
NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler is also standing with the community’s opposition. “I’m firmly opposed to Tao Group Hospitality ‘s proposal to bring a 1000+ person nightclub to the middle of our community. Greenpoint needs businesses who respect the quality of life and well-being of our community. I fully support Assembly Member Emily Gallagher’s letter to the New York State Liquor Authority in opposition to the group’s application and we will continue to advocate against the proposal.”
On July 12, NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Gallagher, and Restler sent a letter to Phil Rofsky, TAO Group Hospitality’s vice president of legal and business affairs. The letter asked TAO to withdraw its plans to open the nightclub at 25 Franklin Street and find another location. The letter communicated they would continue to “urge the NYS Liquor Authority to deny your license application” and that “Each of our offices have received a flood of correspondence expressing [opposition]. Not a single constituent has voiced support for this project.”
A nightclub in this location poses a threat to the environment according to several environmental organizations.
In a letter to BK CB1, The Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park addressed their concerns about the planned 1000-person capacity entertainment venue at 11-25 Franklin Street.
“The outdoor section of this property is open and adjacent only separated by a fence to the soon to be open (late 2025) next section of Bushwick Inlet Park, which includes the inlet itself. Blaring music, the loud din from boisterous crowds, pollution from external cooling systems and excessive light at night, will pose an existential threat to the unique naturalistic ecosystem,” wrote Katherine Thompson, president, Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park. “A nightly convergence of 1,000 people into the narrow Franklin Street corridor overflowing into the Bushwick Inlet site could easily pose major safety and quality of life issues for the park and adjacent areas. While the Friends support a strong thriving cultural scene in North Brooklyn, it should not exist as a detriment to critical infrastructure such as public open green space. And especially with a park that our community has waited almost 20 years for its creation,” concluded Thompson.
The McGolrick Bird Club is another group that is concerned about the environmental impact. The following is a brief excerpt from a letter they sent to BK CB1, “There are 131 species of birds that call our park home, some of them rare or protected like the American Bald Eagle, who are already losing habitat due to climate change and sprawling development. Artificial light and noise pollution can disrupt birds’ migratory paths, drawing them off course and sometimes causing fatal building collisions, according to the National Science Foundation. Noise and light pollution can affect breeding habits leaving chicks less able to survive. Litter associated with nightlife has been found in nests of over 170 bird species, which can harm nestlings and adult birds.”
Greenpoint is a neighborhood that is known for its persistent and successful activism that started many decades ago. Newer neighbors have caught this activism fever. Jane Pool revealed that several of the neighbors who are fighting the noise and potential noise/quality of life issues are new to the area, younger, some live in the waterfront towers, and probably the demographic that a club would market to.
Social media platforms on the topic of clubs moving into this area are heavily against it. une
One comment on Reddit that tickled me said, “We gotta protect Pops at all costs!” Pops is a longtime mainstay clothing store at 7 Franklin (next door to the proposed club) that sells work wear for men and athletic shoes for men and women. It has glowing google reviews.
Although this article’s focus is on 11-25 Franklin Street, there is another petition for a liquor license for a club at 1 Meserole called Deuces Nightlife — directly across the street from 11-25 Franklin Street. This club is smaller, has a different business model, but also neglected reaching out to the community. Although it seems slightly less worrisome than the Franklin Street club, the community maintains similar concerns. BK CB1 will vote on Deuces Nightlife’s license on July 15.
The Greenline 