Incoming Karaoke-Type Nightclub in Red Hook Raises Some Concerns

A members-only nightclub with 26 private rooms and 26 bathrooms is coming to Red Hook, replete with liquor and a private waitstaff.

The principals of KS Dreamland pleaded their case before the Permits & Licenses Committee of Community Board 6, which recommended approval of the club’s liquor license with the only proviso being that they close a bit earlier than 4:30 in the morning, as they are currently planning.

The club is planning to open in the former Cornell Box Company building at 168 Van Dyke Street, which has been marketed for the past year by Realty Collective, a local real estate company.

The club explained that the establishment will have a tiered membership system in place, though a fee hasn’t been determined yet. Members, who must be 21 or older and approved by the establishment via a credit check, must present their membership cards and can bring guests. It was also said that, in order to become a member, one must apply via a digital form.

Locals were worried about the club’s appropriateness in the neighborhood, potential rowdiness outside, traffic and residential quality of life. Red Hook Civic Association co-president John McGettrick was very concerned about the proposed business hours and the area’s nighttime “no parking” rules. A club principal, who owned a similar business in China, responded that a limo service would be provided to all members as part of their party package. He said those limos would wait across the street in a parking lot. He also told the committee that drunken members would be sent home in a limo before they could cause local problems.

This will be addressed again at CB6’s general board meeting on April 10, 6:30 pm, in the Old First Reformed Church’s lower hall (729 Carroll St.).

McGettrick said afterward that it was somewhat frustrating that community concerns like traffic generation hadn’t been fully explored by the committee during the meeting. He added that the applicant confirmed that this type of business set-up hadn’t been previously operated in New York; “that should have allowed for more questions.”

“Important issues need to be resolved,” he said.

Top photo by DeGregorio

George Fiala

George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and fixes pinball machines.