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Riko Expected To Open Sidewalk Seating On 46th Street

Riko

Riko

June 3, 2016 By Christian Murray

Riko Peruvian Cuisine, formerly known as Pio Pio Riko, is planning to offer its patrons sidewalk seating at its Greenpoint Avenue/46th Street location.

The restaurant, which currently occupies a prominent space at 45-23 Greenpoint Ave., got the approval of Community Board 2 last night to set up 10 tables and 20 seats on the 46th Street side of its restaurant.

The tables will be two abreast consisting of five rows, according to the attorney representing the restaurant.

The restaurant, best known for its rotisserie chicken, still needs the Department of Consumer Affairs to sign off before it can offer sidewalk seating, but that is likely to be a formality with the Community Board’s approval.

Two CB 2 members, however, did note that the 46th Street/Greenpoint Avenue area generates a great deal of pedestrian traffic and were concerned that there wouldn’t be enough sidewalk space.

The attorney for Riko responded that restaurant complied with City regulations and that there would be enough pedestrian space.

Rachel Thieme, executive director of the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, said the BID supports Riko’s application, adding that it would lead to a more vibrant area.

Riko has a big presence in Sunnyside. It recently opened a second location at 43-22 Queens Blvd., which was formerly occupied by Dj’s Pawn Shop.

Meanwhile, Soleluna, an Italian restaurant located at 40-01 Queens Blvd., was also approved by the Community Board in its quest to set up five tables and 10 seats on 40th Street. It too needs the Department of Consumer Affairs to green light it.

The owner plans to open the sidewalk cafe as soon as possible.

Thieme also spoke in favor of Soleluna’s application.

Soleluna sidewalk

 

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39 Comments

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Cheesy

What does Bulimic Panda say about this? Is the chicken organic and raised in Sunnyside Gardens for the good people of the South? Long live to trade across the Seven Kingdoms!

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Southside Johnny

Remember back in the nineties? They used to have 99c Whoppers, ALL THE TIME! Those were the days. And the ball pit was great; of course, the balls were still clean then, not so much anymore.

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Roxy

Burger King at the other end of this block has been closed since last week.
Anyone know why? They were once shut down by the Board of Health, but got an “A” on their last inspection, which is still displayed on the front door.

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Southside Johnny

What Burger King? At the other end of 46th? Way over on the other side of Northern Blvd? I only know the one on QB.

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Southside Johnny

No, I like the south side, from the north side of QB and over. The people are friendlier, the women are more attractive, and it’s sunnier. Better shopping, too, and it seems less congested.

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Southside is a slum

Stupid. Its too congested with pedestrian traffic stupid as the bike lanes, the area is filthy also. Plus that restaurant, which isn’t a bad restaurant, but no with the loud music, the noise, no respect for the surrounding area. But then again that’s why I moved from the area to the north side. The southside is a slum.

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eyeroll

careful now! don’t clutch your pearls too tightly. perhaps take a nap on your fainting couch.

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Southside Jack

Yes, we know that the south side is a “slum,” but can you convince us that you’re not a jerkoff?

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Southside Johnny

No, I prefer the south side. The people are friendlier, the women are more attractive, and it’s sunnier. Better shopping and more open space. Too congested over on the north side, maybe the streets are narrower?

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Anonymous

Johnny, you’re right!

I think that Sunnyside shd be ONE, but the North/South divide is perpetuated by the usual Sunnyside Post curmudgeons, closeted bigots and trolls who obviously so desperately need human contact.

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Kramden's Delicious Marshall

The sidewalk is too narrow at that point. Anyway, who wants to dine with car exhaust in your face?

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Trump rules

This chicken shack is a disgusting and dirty restaurant that only caters to its own kind. The food is terrible and dried out and now it’s only getting worse. Why do these idiot restaurant owners wait until June to say oh I want a sidewalk cafe???? Scary they are actually in business at all.

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SuperWitty Smitty

Actually, it’s very tasty chicken. It’s “your kind” and your narrow vision of the neighborhood that is disgusting.

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Hates jimmy

Maybe Van Bramer should add a bike lane down the 46th st sidewalk as well…

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SuperWitty Smitty

We definitely need MORE bike lanes and further measures to discourage so much car traffic. Someone was killed right there on Greenpoint a year or so ago because of a speeding car. More lights, more stops, and a few bike racks to eliminate parking will make it safer for all of the pedestrians (who outnumber the cars 3 to 1.)

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woodside guy

between the fruit stand, the sidewalk vendors and now 10 tables where are people to walk? Time to change 46 St into a pedestrian plaza?

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Scoler

I LIKE that idea! All of 46th St. between Queens Blvd and Greenpoint should be CLOSED to traffic and converted to a pedestrian-only block. There should be outdoor seating for the dumpling store, too.

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In My Day...blah, blah, blah...

So where do you propose traffic gets detoured through, genius?

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Scoler

There’s so little traffic on that small block to begin with, I think the handful of drivers who will experience a bit of inconvenience will manage to figure something out. Compared with the throngs of pedestrians who will benefit, a few drivers do not matter as much. Remember, most folks who live in Sunnyside do not own a car and rarely drive, but we’ve given over so much space to vehicular traffic. Time to start taking some of it back.

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Scoler

That tiny little block gets so little traffic that it won’t really matter if it’s turned into a pedestrian-only space. Remember, most people who live in Sunnyside do NOT drive and do NOT open a car, yet we’ve given so much space over to vehicular traffic. Time to start taking some of it back.

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Scoler

That’s a pretty quiet little street, not a lot of traffic. Drivers already have so much of Sunnyside dedicated to vehicular traffic, I think they can spare that little stretch of road. Most of us do not drive or even own a car and yet drivers get so much space.

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OhHenry

This is a terrible idea. Generally speaking sidewalk cafes are fantastic and to add to a neighborhood. However this is a very busy area and with the fruit market already taking up the sidewalk it only will cause more congestion for pedestrians.

Additionally, for those of us that live in apartments nearby, we are concerned about the noise of they keep them open late. We are already in undated with noise 24/7 from the food trucks that park outside on 46 and Greenpoint. Many residents complain they can’t open their windows at night because of the noise from the generators, food smells 24/7, the loitering patrons from the awful bar nearby with loud music blasting every time someone leaving or enteringthe bar opens the door, and now Riko has a live band and they keep their door open and it keels neighbors up late at night.

From the corner of 46 and Greenpoint down 46 to 47 Ave. it had become like an all night bazar keeping neighbors up all night and precenting them from opening their windows to let fresh air inside.

The police won’t do anything no matter how many neighbors lodge noise complaints, Van Bramer does nothing, and CB2 does nothing to help hard working residents live in peace and quiet.

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Eugenia Cabot

Oh I’m sorry to hear about that. Over on the north side we never see a food truck or hear unsavory types rolling in and out of bars and keeping their neighbors up at night. Can’t something be done to let these ghastly people know they’re creating discomfort?

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Tommy

I totally second that. I also live on 46th St between 47 Ave & Greenpoint.

The noise from the bar and Riko’s music, plus the smell from the foodtrucks (PLURAL!) are simply unbearable. I’ve NEVER get to sleep with my windows open at night. What a shame. I’ve had made numerous 311 calls but nothing has changed. We also sent a group petition to JVB’s office but guess what, they are still there!!!

I love sidewalk cafes and I think they’d make Sunnyside great, but THAT corner? Totally the worst idea as it’s already busy and crowded.

JVB, CB2 and Sunnyside Shines don’t live on that block, they can approve and support as many things as they want but we are the ones who have to deal with the spill over traffic and business from that corner. It’s horrific.

Looks like I can’t dream of getting any better sleep once Riko gets their license.

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Sam

Oh my goodness, it’s so glad to know we’re not alone!
Does anyone call Riko and ask them to turn it down?

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Sam

Great. Riko already plays their music extremely loudly–outdoor seating will mean that they never close their door. I wish our constant stream of noise complaints meant something to them.

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El loco

Are you kidding? You need to get out of Sunnyside once in a while. The chicken has no taste.I don’t know how they remain in business. Ughh.

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In My Day...blah, blah, blah...

There’s no space as is to walk on that corner already…I wonder how that’s gonna work. Also, that corner is so unappealing and always looks really skeevy. And, yes, I know…I dont have to eat there if I dont want to…blah, blah…

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