Late Business Owner Honored With New Event Venue In Crown Heights

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A new event space on Nostrand Avenue will pay homage to a longtime business owner on the block, who died last year, according to owners.

KP All Occasions Hall, found near Park Place, opened over the summer in the space that once held AKP Carpets Discounts and Rug Store for more than 15 years, according to a presentation with Community Board 8's SLA and Sidewalk Cafe Review Committee.

The new event hall will be run by Paula and Grame Emmanuel, the wife and stepson of AKP's former owner.

"This event space will serve as a memory to him and a dedication to our community," a representative told the board Monday. "She very much would like to give back to the community and this is her way of doing that."

So far, the venue has been used for pop-up events where local vendors can sell their goods, Grame told Patch.

The representative said Monday the aim is to have it available for any "simple community-based events," including baby showers or school and church groups. He added that no large fundraising events or promoter-led events will be held at the venue.

"We don’t have that capacity," the representative said.

The SLA and Sidewalk Cafe Review Committee voted Monday to support the business' request for a liquor license, which will ultimately be decided by the State Liquor Authority.

KP will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week and include at least two staff members at each event, along with two security personnel, the representative told the committee.

The committee meeting also included an application for a new liquor license at Essence Bar and Grill, which has changed leadership, and Taqueria Milear, a Mexican restaurant on Nostrand that hopes to add cocktails to its menu. Essence was approved and Taqueria Milear was tabled for the committee's next meeting.