Coney Island Revival

 

This weekend, Memorial Day 2012 marks some huge changes for Coney Island.  The past disappeared over the winter months as final changes to the boardwalk became a reality.  The fight to preserve the old with the new actually played itself out.

Gregory and Paul's Now Paul's Daughter

Vintage Look of Paul's Daughters

New Boardwalk Nathans

Gregory and Paul's elected to stay on the boardwalk.  Greg, Steve's Father, retired.  Paul now in his eighties gave the business to his Daughter.   They completely gutted the place and created a retro look.  They spent a lot of money putting this together.  With great effort they are open and ready for business.

Michael Of Coney Island

The other mainstay was Ruby's bar.   Michael, the owner, worked all winter to upgrade his place.   He did most of the work himself.  During the winter they replaced part of the boardwalk and he took all the scrap wood to create a new bar and interesting decor.  His place opened back up last weekend.

Ruby's New Boardwalk Plank Bar

Making a huge impact to the boardwalk is Nathans who created a huge presence with a beautiful restaurant.   It is very corporate and at the same time very retro.   They opened up a month ago.   They have been packed everyday since their opening.  They also opened up a Nathan's Tee Shop.

Brooklyn Beach Shop

Also new to the Boardwalk is the Brooklyn Beach Shop.  This is owned by the family that runs a very successful Beach Shop next to Nathans on Stillwell Avenue.  They poured a lot of money into this facility and it looks amazing.  

Beach Shop Interior

Tom's New Restaurant

After all the dust has settled, The Boardwalk looks great.  Next to come on the boardwalk is Tom's a Restaurant with a great breakfast and lunch menu.   This facility is in the process of being built.

Steve's New Grill House

In all, of the eight owners fighting to save their businesses (The Coney Island Eight), two remained.   My dear friend Steve Bitetzakis lost his battle to stay on the boardwalk after a long court battle.   In the end, Luna park (New York City) paid him $120,000 for his building.   He took the money and bought a trailer and set up a food vending business off the Boardwalk.   This has been very difficult for Steve.   Currently he has stage 3 colon cancer and is on Chemo.   Yesterday his wife mentioned that he is in pain all the time.  Most nights he cannot sleep.  

Steve's Old Shop Becoming Bar

The City of New York continues their battle against the smaller businesses who try to make money in Coney Island.   There is a flea market just off the boardwalk that offers a lot of Coney Clothing and ethnic foods.   This is run by some pretty powerful guys.   Last year the city turned their back on this market letting them operate without permits.   This year, Luna park stands to loose a lot of money from this market and now that the Boardwalk is the parks, yesterday the city raided the market, completely shutting it down.  I guess you have to be the judge of whether this is right or wrong.  Steve of course had his food stand in that Market so on the first day he was to open he was shut down.

  

In the next few months more new rides are going to open up.   Steve's old place is going to become a Bar on the boardwalk.

Newly Added Go Cart Rides

I am now 62.  I love all the changes because it has brought new life to the boardwalk.  However, gone are the familiar faces that frequented Coney Island.   Gone are the favorite watering holes where the mainstay people would come.   This has definitely taken an emotional toll on my place to relax and see my friends.   The carpet was pulled out from under me.   

The interesting lesson in all of this is that the corporate rebuilding of America takes the personal community element away from the people.   The boardwalk was a community where many people used to go and relax.  In a big way it has been replaced as a big money maker. 

The question is whether all this renewal will be affordable and profitable for those who will bear the expense of this.  The aim is to draw a higher end client who can afford $4 for a hotdog.   As of this weekend those people did not show up.  God also has his say in all of this; if it rains they will not make it.   This weekend was filled with on and off rain.

Coney's Cones

The story of Coney Island, "America's Play land" will continue to unfold, hopefully with a bright future.   Have a wonderful summer.