City Envisions Hard Rock Cafe, Bliss Spa in Coney

The city says Thor Equities founder Joe Sitt, as primarily a shopping center developer, isn’t qualified to operate Coney Island’s amusement park. Now, apparently they don’t think he’s qualified to choose retail, either. Under the city’s recently-released compromise plan, Sitt would be asked to hand over 6 of the 11 acres he owns within the amusement district, according to Thor spokesman Stefan Friedman. Sitt could build high-rise hotels and retail on the his remaining five acres south of Surf Avenue, between the aquarium and KeySpan Park, as long as there’s no stores like The Gap and Bed, Bath and Beyond. We received a draft proposal a source said outlines examples of retail the city envisions for the indoor portion of the amusement district: Hard Rock Cafe, Knitting Factory, AMC cinemas, Virgin Records, ESPN Zone, Madame Tussauds, Bliss spa, tattoo parlors, a clothing store “such as Lola Staar,” and jet ski rentals, amongst others. Some of those items were mentioned in New York Observer article this week about retail remaining a sticking point between the two warring parties. Hear what Thor thinks on the jump…

Thor thinks there needs to be residential retail within the amusement district as well. Friedman told us, “We feel that there has to be some standard commercial retail—retail that actually caters to the community where it is located rather than to a Manhattan-centric clientele—in order for this plan to work.” A city spokesman responded, “Conventional mall layouts in the amusement district are not consistent with the Coney Island that we believe people will flock to. However, there is great opportunity for general retail, large stores and malls nearby in Coney West and Coney North (outside of the amusement district). And local activist Dianna Carlin said she’s lost faith in both of them. “The thing that’s always made Coney Island unique is the independant entrepreneurs who have come to Coney Island and realized their dreams,” said Carlin, who also owns Lola Staar. As for all those national chains suggested by the city, she said, “That’s not the spirit of Coney Island.”

Another issue that hasn’t really been explored is the viability of certain types of retail. In the draft provided to us, other than jet ski rentals, the city mentions renting bikes, wind surfing, scuba gear and umbrellas. The Parks Department solicited retailers for the beach in 2006 and 2007 but “did not receive any bidders despite our best outreach and advertising efforts,” said Parks Department spokesman Phil Abramson. “If I recall correctly the language of the RFP specified ‘renting or operating jet skis will not be permitted.’ It did seek out stuff like a ropes course, a rock climbing wall and trampolines on the beach. We also said we’d consider water sports proposals such as banana boat rides or parasailing.” It’s a total mystery why no one was interested in setting up shop within this beach that gets 8 million visitors every summer, one of the most visited city parks in the country (that is, except for the lady who sells jungle juice out of her cooler). Care to take a stab at it?
City’s Coney Island Design Revised to Break Deadlock [NY Times]
City, Thor Argue Over Retail [NY Observer]