Surf Avenue | Amusing the Zillion

Posts Tagged ‘Surf Avenue’

New Restaurant Building Next to Coney Island’s Stillwell Terminal

Posted in Real Estate, Redevelopment, tagged Coney Island, New Construction, Stillwell Terminal, Surf Avenue, Vacant Lot on December 29, 2010| 3 Comments »

Surf Ave. Lot for Lease next to Stillwell Terminal. December 23, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Last week leases went out to two fast food restaurants for space in a two-story commercial building to be built on the long vacant lot next to Coney Island’s Stillwell Terminal. Built to suit/subdivide, the new building will have 10,000 square feet on the first floor and 5,000 square feet on the second floor.

Although the broker could not disclose the names of the restaurants until the leases are signed, the Coney Island Rumor Mill has been saying for weeks that Popeye’s Chicken would reopen at this location. Popeye’s owner began looking at space on the north side of Surf after getting booted out of the Henderson Building by Thor Equities. Popeye’s had been at the Henderson location for 27 years.

ATZ obtained the plans for the 1223 Surf Avenue building from broker Joe Vitacco of Jacob Gold Realty. “We sent out leases for two spaces, both on the left side of the property. They will be fast food,” said Vitacco. But there’s still room for more. “The remaining space, which is about 4,500 square feet, could be a restaurant by itself or in conjunction with the 5,000 square foot second floor that will have a 4,500 square foot terrace overlooking Surf. There will be an elevator connecting the first and second floors. The second floor will be 22 feet above grade and will have a panoramic view of the ocean.” The plans for the second story show a terrace that is approximately 27 feet deep by 65 feet wide. Takers?

Second Floor: Plan for Two Story Commercial Building at 1223 Surf Avenue in Coney Island

When ATZ asked what’s the other fast food restaurant? Vitacco said, “You’ll be surprised.” If you’d like to hazard a guess, go right ahead and post a comment. Keep in mind that Stillwell Terminal already has Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins and Subway franchises. There’s a McDonald’s Cafe at Stillwell and Mermaid Avenues.

According to Vitacco, the price of the lease depends upon how much work the tenant requires of the landlord beyond a shell. “We are leaving that on a case by case decision,” he says. “The plans have been filed we need approval then permits then we will have an idea as when it will be ready.” The 1223 Surf Avenue property was previously owned by Horace Bullard, who also owns the nearby Shore Theater, which is for sale for $12 million. Vitacco represented Bullard in the sale of this property to Fox 18 Realty LLC and now has the exclusive to represent the owner in the leasing of the property.

First Floor: Plan for Two Story Commercial Building 1223 Surf Avenue in Coney Island

The lot has been vacant since 2001, when the Giuliani administration repeatedly ticketed and finally got rid of the flea market that had operated on the lot since the 1980s. The headline in the Daily News read “CONEY SMALL BIZ BLITZ STORM OF TICKETS TIED TO DEBUT OF CYCLONES.”

Prior to the flea market, independent rides have come and gone for as far back as anyone can recall. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the Pinto Brothers, who also manufactured kiddie rides on 8th Street in Coney Island, operated a Whip here and a Crazy Ghost ride nearby. In the 1960s this location was home to McCullough’s Illions carousel, which was moved from Surf and 15th Street, until it was dismantled in 1968. A Sky Rapids water slide a Jumbo coaster that resembled a Jumbo Jet, and go karts took turns operating there in the 1970s.

UPDATE August 2, 2012

New Building Breaks Ground Next to Coney Island’s Stillwell Terminal

Sky Rapids Ride on Surf Avenue, Coney Island January 1, 1979. Photo by Abe Feinstein via Coney Island History Project

Good News from Coney Island! Eldorado “Bump Your Ass Off” Bumper Cars To Reopen

Posted in Amusement ride, News, tagged Bump Your Ass Off, Bumper Cars, Coney Island, Eldorado, Kevin C Downs Photography, Scott Fitlin, Surf Avenue on November 18, 2010| 3 Comments »

We’re happy to be able to report a piece of good news from good ol’ Coney Island, which is reeling from a series of deaths, demolitions, and evictions. The good news is Eldorado Auto Skooters, Coney’s famed disco palace of bumper cars, will reopen in 2011. It’ll be “Bump, Bump, Bump your Ass Off” at 1216 Surf Avenue in memory of the Eldorado’s heart and soul, Scott Fitlin, who died in October.

ATZ received a personal note from Sheila and Sandy Fitlin, the owners of the Eldorado Bumper Cars, to thank us for ATZ’s eulogy to their son. We can’t tell you how happy we were to read the words: “Stop by to see us at the Eldorado this summer.” The Coney Island Rumor Mill had been speculating whether or not the Eldorado would reopen. Some were worried that the building, which is owned by the Fitlin family, would be sold.

We were amazed and moved by the response to “Rest in Peace: Scott Fitlin, Coney’s Eldorado Man” (ATZ, October 13, 2010). Our eulogy was read by thousands of people from all over the world! As Sandy Fitlin writes, “Tricia, Scott had friends he probably didn’t know cared for him so much.” We think Scott would have been surprised by the many remembrances and condolences posted on ATZ and the audio discussion forums Audio Heritage and Wave Music, among others. Scott’s friends will want to stop by the Eldorado this summer to hear the legendary sound system and “Turn that Wheel!”

Eldorado Marquee at Night. September 5, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Photos from the Demolition: Bulldozer Inside Bank of Coney Island

Posted in Photo of the Day, Real Estate, tagged Bank of Coney Island, Bruce Handy, demolition, historic building, Joe Sitt, Surf Avenue, Thor Equities on November 9, 2010| 1 Comment »

Bank of Coney Island Demolition. November 7, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Last week’s shocking news of the eviction of 9 Boardwalk mom-and-pop businesses by Luna Park operator Central Amusement International stole the spotlight from Thor Equities’ ongoing demolition on Surf Avenue. Some folks asked to be told when the heavy machinery arrived at the Bank of Coney Island. Well, it’s here and has been doing its dirty work..

The roof and part of the back wall of the building were taken out last week. Now you can see right through to the sky and the Wonder Wheel. In these photos by Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy, the bulldozer is parked inside the doomed building, which is shrouded in black demolition netting and scaffolding. Get ready for another funeral.

Check out photo blogger Single Linds Reflex stunning pix from inside the building. A construction worker allowed her and another photographer to take a peek inside yesterday! The worker told them it would take about 2 weeks to completely demolish the building. More photos on Single Linds Reflex’s flickr page.

For more info on the building, see “Photo of the Day: The Bank of Coney Island, Now & Then” (ATZ, October 14, 2010) and “A Rare Peek Inside Endangered Old Bank of Coney Island” (ATZ, October 9, 2009).