The New Coney Island

Coney Island Beach May 2011

Coney Island is now redefining itself again.  After an 8 month court battle, the Coney Island 8 have won the right to be back for one more summer.  Each of the businesses has a renewed energy to make it for one more summer.  They have spent countless hours fixing up their businesses after a long winter. 

During the winter months Central Amusements erected several new high impact rides.  One is the "Sorin' Eagle" which sets across the street from The Grill House.  The rides will cost $8 for the roller coaster and a whopping $20 for the bungie like ride.

In many people's minds Coney Island has to compete with the likes of Great Adventure.  This will never happen.  There is no space for the kinds of rides that these theme parks offer.  That said, Coney Island has a lot of really unique rides that give the guests a really fun time.  Although many may disagree with the reconstruction of the park and the politics that played around its redevelopment, most all would say that these changes have made great improvements to the area.

Soring Eagle

Even though Coney Island has been redeveloped with the end users in mind, the bottom line is that this area must make enough money to satisfy the owners.  There in lies the big question mark.  The four new high impact rides are low volume rides that on a good day cannot make a serious amount of money.   A new food stand across from the cyclone has been closed most of the spring because they cannot make enough money to justify staying open.  The park claims that they turned a profit last season.   However, the cost to set up the park and pay off rising debt makes the profit disappear.   The park also wanted Sodexo to take over all the food establishments. This would be a huge profit center to the park.  In the park, hot dogs cost $4.  On the boardwalk hot dogs are $3.   For years I have watched the price of hot dogs vary from $1.50 to $4.  At $4 people pass by because the cost is unreasonable.  At $2 people line up and buy tons of dogs.  The $3 price point begins to exclude people who cannot afford such prices.  My Godson recently visited Luna Park with his family.  His words upon leaving were that this was a very expensive day and they were only there for 3 hours.   Last summer mother nature was on our sides with a no rain summer.   This summer may be a rainy summer.  That is where the real gamble comes in.

Corporations have larger costs than do small businesses.  Not only do they have higher payroll costs but they also have to turn a profit for shareholders to be satisfied. 

Luna Park

Among the Coney Island 8 there is an underlying hope that Sodexo will back out of wanting to build their empire in Coney Island.  The one serious restaurant that they have open is very nice.  They sunk a lot of money into building it.   It is in a slower location that brings a lot of trashy people late at night.   Succeeding there will be very difficult. 

The New Nova City Bus

 On a lighter side, the new NOVA buses were placed in our neighborhood this week.  These buses are made in Upstate New York.  They are a division of Volvo.  These high tech buses have many new features that add comfort to the riders.  Since my Godson works out of the Ulmer Park Depot, he was one of the first to drive this new bus.  I got to take a private ride on the bus.  Within about 5 minutes he was able to identify many of the issues that they would have with the bus.  Things like line of site and blind spots were a big concern.  The entry door is so large that it is easy for people to slip by without paying.  Also a new barrier makes it so the bus driver cannot assist passengers with payment.   This is a big issue when for the drivers.   These are the first new buses for our depot since 1996.   People waiting on the corner really reacted well to the new buses with all their comforts and style.   Time will tell us how good the buses will hold up.  Many of the other new buses have major problems with them early on.

Nova Interior

Harlow Soliman - City Boy

Last but not least.  Here is a picture of a new generation city boy.  Harlow is now nearing 3 years old.  He is smart as a tack and drives his mom up the wall.  Someday this young man will carry the torch that we leave behind.