Raunchy Inwood Deli Signage Can’t Stay — For A Different Reason: DOB

INWOOD, NY - A new deli on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood has been open for hardly a week, but it’s already garnered a slew of visitors: including the NYC Department of Buildings.

Coffee and F—in Bagels’ temporary sign affixed to a sidewalk shed above the store must come down ASAP as it violates DOB code and warrants up to a $2,500 fine, a spokesperson for the agency told Patch.

Any business that doesn’t have an existing and legal business sign obscured by a shed can’t tack on a new one to a sidewalk shed, the agency said. Since Coffee and F—in Bagels is a new store and the sidewalk shed was there first, it didn’t have an old sign to be obscured.

Inspectors also issued an OATH summons to the business owner, the agency said. The penalty will be adjudicated by an OATH judge, who will determine the penalty.

The store’s owner, Khaled Benkirat, did not immediately return a request for comment, though he told Patch last week he plans to erect permanent signage for the storefront in the coming months.

Benkirat added his signage passed all bureaucratic hurdles before the shop opened last Tuesday; he even hired a lawyer to verify the sign’s legitimacy, he said.

“I wanted [to name the store] something different,” he said of the shop’s raunchy name. “I got a lawyer and everything; nobody else can have that name now.” Read more: Coffee And WHAT?! Inside New Inwood Deli's NSFW Name