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A kerfuffle over Kemistry: no, they haven't abandoned plans for space

Though they've gotten the thumbs-down from Community Board Six (coverage) regarding plans for bottle service, and seen significant opposition from neighbors, local elected officials, and a church, operators of the proposed Kemistry Lounge on Flatbush Avenue near Prospect Place say they are still pursuing plans for a restaurant, bar, and lounge.

They have apparently not yet applied for a liquor license from the State Liquor Authority. Today, the North Flatbush Business Improvement District, which had helped mediate discussions between the operators and neighbors, tweeted, "Kemistry lounge folks asked to leave space and break lease after not paying rent since March."

That information, however, was secondhand and incorrect. "Kemistry is moving forward with our project," stated project manager Damali L'Elie. "I recently saw a tweet from Flatbush BID stating that we have asked to be released from our lease, this is incorrect. We fully intend to complete construction of Kemistry and have a grand opening shortly after."

("We are still working on our time line," she added, in response to my query.)

The space at 260 Flatbush Avenue would have an exit on residential Prospect Place between Flatbush Avenue and Sixth Avenue. The lounge, which would hold up to 225 people, would be only the second bottle-service establishment in Brooklyn, and closer to a quiet residential neighborhood than most such clubs in the city.

The proprietors have said bottle service is integral to their plans. Alarm over such service has increased in recent weeks, after a brawl at a club in SoHo. While the Barclays Center will feature a branch of Jay-Z's 40/40 Club, it will not feature bottle service, as at its other locations.

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