The so-called “cursed” corner of 60 Henry St. in Brooklyn Heights may finally see its first new restaurant in more than two years — owners just applied for a liquor license under the name Bevacco.
The eerie, painted-up storefront near Cranberry Street has been vacant since 2008, when Busy Chef owner Dan Kaufman was arrested on charges of credit card fraud and had to close up his eateries in the neighborhood.
The closing of the Henry Street Busy Chef — and the upscale pizzeria, Oven; the Blue Pig ice cream shop; and Kaufman’s Wine Bar at 50 Henry St. — was a heavy blow to the strip of bars and eateries, and now Heights residents say they just want something dependable to move in.
“I’ve been walking by this storefront for five years hoping a reliable owner would come in,” said David McMillan, who lives nearby. “All the other businesses on this strip are doing so well. Let’s just hope the new guy isn’t double-dipping on his credit cards, too.”
The “new guy” is Peter Sclafani, who already runs three successful restaurants in Park Slope and Gowanus: Bar Toto, Provini and Bar Tano. Sclafani said that Bevacco will serve similar Italian fare — without any ties to Kaufman or his shadowy lawyer Alan Young, whom Kaufman and other Brooklyn Heights business owners have accused of victimizing them by reopening and closing restaurants in the same locations.
Sclafani isn’t looking for drama.
“We’re not cursed and we’re not fraudsters,” Sclafani told us. “This is an attractive corner and our friends say that the neighborhood could use a nice Italian eatery with some fine wines.”
Community Board 2, which voted in favor of Sclafani’s liquor license this month, agrees. Bevacco could open in as soon as six months if it doesn’t hit too many hurdles, Sclafani said.