New Tavern On Its Way To Former Excelsior Space In Park Slope

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A new tavern on its way to Fifth Avenue has won the support of community board members after assuring neighbors that noisy parties once held at the storefront are a thing of the past.

The restaurant, 390 Social, had its liquor license application approved Monday by Community Board 6's Permits and Licenses Committee.

The storefront, between Sixth and Seventh streets, is probably most known as the home of former gay bar Excelsior, which closed in 2019 after 20 years in the space.

But it was clients from the storefront's most recent business, a photography and event studio, that became the source of complaints from neighbors in a nearby building.

"We were contacted for these events by people who held events in the space before, with the former occupant," the business' attorney Michael Kelly told the board. "We realize now that was not a good idea and definitely not a good idea to use the backyard with music in it."

390 Social owners told the board they decided not to use the backyard in the new restaurant after becoming aware of the complaints.

"We made a decision to completely lose the backyard to take all the speakers out," co-owner Ronny Jaramillo said. "We fixed everything that was making that happen."

Jaramillo told board members that he sent letters to all tenants in the nearby building, some of whom joined Monday's meeting, letting them know of the changes.

He also plans to add sound-proofing to the windows, which some neighbors said they could still hear noise through even when crowds at the restaurant were inside.

"Even if they’re saying they’re not going to use the backyard, we still have some concerns," neighbor Samuel Farrington said at the meeting.

390 Social will include 10 tables, a nine-seat bar and a menu featuring limited appetizers and entrees, according to their application. It will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

Jaramillo, who also owns Rachel's Taqueria on Fifth Avenue, is one of three owners of the new eatery. One of the owners will be on site at all times to ensure things run smoothly, he said.

"My goal is to have an institution that people in the neighborhood feel proud of," he told the board.

Committee members, who seemed pleased with the plan to reduce noise, voted unanimously to approve the liquor license application. It will head next to the full board and will ultimately be decided by the State Liquor Authority.

"I think this is a good result, the best that could be hoped for," committee member Glenn Kelly said. "The fact that they’re not using the backyard is the biggest benefit to [the neighbors]."