Earlier in January, the management of the 186th Street hotel appeared before the Liquor License Committee of Community Board 8 seeking a full liquor license for a bar inside the hotel. Blossom Ho, representing the hotel explained the bar would be open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and was a requirement of the hotel brand franchise. She stated “We are planning to have (the bar) for in-house guests only. If the business goes well and we have external inquiries from the neighborhood we will reconsider it.” Later, in response to another question, she clarified that “If there is a community expectation for no external business then we will emphasize to the franchisee that we want to keep (the bar) for the guests only.”

Note to Ms. Ho: There is a “community expectation” already. Both the FMTA and the adjacent FMHCA that represent home owners to the immediate west of the Fresh Meadows Development do not want a public bar on 186th Street or any other residential street!

The Liquor License Committee voted to accept the application for a Liquor, Wine, Beer, and Cider License for “Bar Mayflower,” 10 to 2, with one of the two dissenting votes cast by the FMTA Board member who also serves on Community Board 8. The application moves on the New York State Liquor Authority for final determination.