Report: Community Board Votes No For Bikini Bar In Queens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A community board has voted against plans for a bar featuring waitresses clad only in bikinis in Queens, according to a published report.

The bar, Racks, had sought to open at 19-26 Steinway St., in the Steinway section of Queens.

It was described in a petition for a liquor license on March 13 as a "restaurant/bikini bar serving beer, wine and liquor seven days a week from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.," with live recorded music and dancing by employees only. The venue would have employed 15 staffers and 12 security guards.

But on Tuesday, Queens Community Board 1 voted 17 to 15 to deny the liquor license to Racks, on the grounds that a bikini bar would not be appropriate for the surrounding family-oriented community, according to a DNAInfo report.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Queens) have been rallying against Racks since the fall.

In October, Simotas pointed out at a rally that the proposed Racks location is a minute's walk away from the Woodtree Playground, according to published reports.

The vote against the establishment came despite concern that its owners will now open into a nude strip club that does not serve liquor, the publication reported.

But an attorney for Racks said there are no such plans, and also noted that the community board vote is just advisory and the New York State Liquor Authority will come down with a final decision on Racks, the publication reported.

Please leave your comments below...