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Photo of the Day: “The Chief” of the Coney Island Boardwalk

Posted in Food & Drink, Photo of the Day, Redevelopment, tagged Coney Island Boardwalk, Countdown to Corporatization, Gregory & Paul's, Paul Georgoulakos, Paul's Daughter, Sodexo on October 8, 2011| 7 Comments »

Paul Georgoulakos at Paul's Daughter on the Coney Island Boardwalk. April 17, 2011. Photo © Tricia Vita

When we stopped by Paul’s Daughter last Monday, “The Chief” called out “light, no sugar” to a helper and offered us coffee and cookies. Paul Georgoulakos, 82, is the oldest operator on the Coney Island Boardwalk and beloved by all except the Bloomberg administration, which purchased the property occupied by his restaurant from Thor Equities, and Zamperla’s Luna Park, which leases it from the City. As Paul’s daughter Tina told ATZ earlier this year: “I wanted so much to be a part of the New Coney Island but they didn’t even offer me a tiny little spot on the Boardwalk.”

The Boardwalk restaurant formerly known as Gregory & Paul’s, a masterpiece of vernacular signage established in 1962, is being kicked out to make way for a soulless cafeteria run by Sodexo. The French multinational is the world’s largest food services management company and the world’s 21st largest corporation. In Coney Island, Sodexo also operates the new Cyclone Cafe on Surf Avenue, though you won’t find their name on the marquee. Apparently Luna Park’s “partner for one-site service solutions” likes to keep a low profile in the People’s Playground.

The City’s revitalization plan calls for year-round restaurants in Coney Island’s amusement zone. On Monday, Paul’s Daughter as well as Ruby’s Bar, Gyro Corner and the Suh family’s souvenir shop, whose days on the Boardwalk are also coming to an end, were open as usual. Sodexo’s Cyclone Cafe was shut tight as a drum.

With 27 days left until seven Mom & Pops are kicked off the Coney Island Boardwalk, ATZ will be saying goodbye to old friends with a favorite photo a day. The seven businesses must vacate the premises by November 4th. The one-year reprieve is over. If you have a photo, new or old, that you’d like to contribute, please post a link below or send to hello[AT]triciavita[dot}com

Paul's Daughter, Oct 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Photo of the Day: Across the Street from the Cyclone

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Coney Island, Cyclone, Photography, reflections on August 8, 2011| 4 Comments »

Across the street from the Coney Island Cyclone. August 6, 2011. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

This surreal window display is across the street from the Coney Island Cyclone. Located on the north side of Surf Avenue, where the original Luna Park was in business until 1944, the shop is sandwiched between furniture stores that are forever having going out of business sales. If the days of furniture stores named after amusement parks (Luna Park, Astroland) are numbered, it’s because bars and restaurants are blossoming down the block. The flower shop’s window unexpectedly conjures up memories of set pieces from Coney’s vanished wax museums and historical shows, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see such amusements again on the north side of Surf.

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Photo of the Day: Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest

Posted in Events, Photo of the Day, tagged Astella Development, Bruce Handy, Coney Island, sand castle, sand sculpture on August 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Coney Island’s 21st Annual Sand Sculpting Contest is tomorrow at noon. Somebody please do an artful champagne bottle and flute castle and win first prize! If you’re feeling creative, it’s not too late to register at the event, which is free of charge. Mounds of sand have been prepared for fifty sculptors.

According to the Parks Department, “In addition to amateur sand sculptors, a professional will wow spectators with an unbelievable ‘How did he do that?!’ creation in the sand, commissioned by the Aquarium.” The annual event is sponsored by Astella Development.

Thanks to Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy for his photo of this clever creature from last year’s contest.

The 21st Annual Sand Sculpting Contest and Unity Day, West 10th to West 12th Streets at the Beach, Saturday, August 6th, 12-5pm