Brooklyn Life

New Restaurant From Founder of River Cafe Coming to Dumbo

Michael O’Keeffe, who opened the nearby River Cafe in 1977, is opening a full-service restaurant and bar, the name of which has not yet been revealed.

by Craig Hubert

10/11/2018 0

The founder of Dumbo’s famed River Cafe is opening a new space.

Located at 14 Old Fulton Street in the Fulton Ferry Historic District, it will be a full-service restaurant and bar, the name of which has not yet been revealed. Michael O’Keeffe, who opened the nearby River Cafe in 1977, is listed as one of the proprietors of the restaurant on the liquor license, which was issued October 1.

The other is Frank Defalco, who is also listed as the owner of the property on building permits.

According to information submitted to Community Board 2, the restaurant will be opened daily from noon to midnight, will have background music only and include outdoor seating. Defalco did not respond to requests for comment.

The site was previously home to a gas station. The pop group Bananarama shot a music video for the song “Cruel Summer” in front of 14 Fulton Street and other parts of the neighborhood in the 1980s.

14 old fulton — The building in 2007. Photo by Scott Bintner for PropertyShark

The garage doors have been replaced with windows, and the building has been painted white with a turquoise stripe around the top.

In 2016, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve the modification of service station. The architect Edward M. Weinstein presented the new design for the restaurant to the commission.