Chelsea Residents Sue Building To Block Planned 'Casino' Lounge

CHELSEA, NY — Five condominium owners in Chelsea are suing their building to block a lounge and event space that plans to open up on a ground-floor storefront, court records show.

The five owners filed suit Monday against the owners of their building, 221-225 West 17th St., a newly constructed, 10-story building cnear Seventh Avenue.

The business they are seeking to block is an outpost of Big Deal, a venue based in the Flatiron District that hosts events and offers lessons in poker, blackjack and craps. It bills itself as "the only casino in New York City" — although, since gambling is illegal in New York, customers do not play for money.

Earlier this year, the residents say they learned that Big Deal's founder, Wendy Rubin, was planning to purchase the ground-floor space, aiming to convert it into a "casino," "lounge" and "event space" featuring a bar.

Fearful that the new business will bring loud noises, crowds and music "late into the night," the five residents are arguing that the building owner, OTL Enterprises, would be violating the condominium's governing documents by letting Big Deal in.

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"Many Residential Unit Owners have young families or use their apartments as pieds-à-terre from which to enjoy New York City’s cultural offerings on the weekends," the lawsuit reads.

"Had they understood that a club or bar—not a restaurant with an incidental bar—operating until the early morning hours was even a possible use for the space they likely would not have purchased their apartments."

Specifically, the residents point to a clause prohibiting the ground-floor commercial space from housing a club or bar unless the bar is "incidental to restaurant use." Big Deal's planned lounge, they say, is plainly not a restaurant.

Rubin, Big Deal's founder, said Tuesday that she had been unaware of the suit. She stressed that her business was not a casino, but instead, a "1920's Great Gatsby themed interactive venue with play games," focused on corporate clients.

"We are committed to making a positive contribution to the neighborhood as we have in our previous six years in business," Rubin wrote in an email. "I am a good faith business owner, never had a complaint against my business and plan on continuing that positive track record."

OTL Enterprises, the building owner, did not respond to a request for comment.