Business
Harlem steakhouse’s future rests on three feet of space
By: Samuel Geronimo
After 22 years of doing business in the same Second Avenue location, Casa Ricardo sat three feet from trouble — until its customers and a state legislator stepped in.
Also known as the Harlem Steakhouse, the restaurant is 197 feet, instead of the legally required 200 feet, from the Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witnesses church next door. Because of that, for the first time since the restaurant opened in 1968, state officials had considered revoking the restaurant’s liquor license.
Legislation awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature could fix the problem.
We started the process six months ago and they sent us this email saying they’re not going to renew us. We thought it was a joke,” said Jimmy Mateus, the restaurant’s owner, speaking a few days before the license was set to expire.
The state’s email had confused Mateus because his establishment has been neighbors with the religious institution for the last 13 years.
“They got their certificate of occupancy in 2013, so there was no sign. We didn’t know there was a church.” Mateus said.
Losing its liquor license can destroy a restaurant, considering how hard it can be to operate a restaurant without serving alcohol.
But the threat against Casa Ricardo’s eased when its neighbors, longtime customers and one the area’s state legislators stepped in.
They underestimated the power of the people,” Mateus said, “The customers, they really stood up for us …We made a post on Instagram. We got 85,000 hits.”
Democratic State Rep. Eddie Gibbs, who represents the area, submitted a bill exempting Casa Ricardo’s from the 200- feet rule. It passed both the State House of Representatives and State Senate and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
“Everyone voted for it. It was unanimous. No one voted against it. So, it’s been bittersweet,” Mateus said of what he, his employees and customers have gone through. “We take this seriously, every day. I love to serve. It’s a real New York place. One of the few that’s still left.”
Right now, flames continue to rise from the grill and drinks still flow at Casa Ricardo’s.
It’s nice to return his focus to what he and his restaurant do best, the owner said.
“It never goes away from me,” Mateus said. “The only reason I’m here is the customers. I work for the customers.”
Why Casa Ricardo’s liquor license was revoked is still not fully answered. Neither the State Liquor Authority nor the Kingdom Hall Church responded to a request for comment or returned calls from The Phoenix.