Rose Grant, the owner of the former Jamaican Choice Caribbean Cuisine is planning to open another restaurant across Main Street in the Village of New Paltz.
Grant came before the village planning board last month seeking a special use permit and variance for 52 Main Street at South Chestnut Street, which until recently was the home of Best Pizza. Grant’s plans do not include any construction, so a site plan review was unnecessary. But unlike Jamaican Choice, Grant’s new restaurant would also have a full bar, and that plus plans to operate past midnight six nights a week will require a zoning variance.
Listed on documents as Yah So Nice Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant and Bar, Grant’s new restaurant would fall under bar and tavern restrictions for a B-2 District, requiring a variance from the Village of New Paltz Zoning Board because 52 Main Street is within 500 feet of a church or school. In this case, there is one of each, Mountain Laurel Waldorf School at 16 S. Chestnut which is approximately. 450 feet away; and Ahavath Achim Congregation at 8 Church Street, 350 feet away.
Grant noted that Best Pizza was able to earn the variance, as the business served alcohol.
In an October 15 letter to the village’s director of planning, zoning and code enforcement Mike Baden, Grant said she would like Yah So Nice to be open from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Monday through Saturday, opening at the same time but closing at midnight on Sundays.
“As the previous owner of Jamaica Choice Cuisine which was closed due to Covid-19, I understand the need for late-night food service in our community,” wrote Grant. “Most kitchens are closed off between 8 and 9 p.m., leaving us with few options.”
Grant continued that the restaurant was committed to promoting responsible alcohol service, implementing procedures to prevent underage drinking and overconsumption of alcohol.
“Offering alcoholic beverages will enhance our customers’ dining experiences and contribute to the overall ambiance of our establishment,” wrote Grant. “We are confident that our restaurant will be a responsible and reputable community establishment.”
At the planning board meeting, also on October 15, Grant described the layout of Yah So Nice, which would occupy the first floor of the three-story building. The bar would seat 12, and though the dining area has a capacity of around 75, Grant said their sit-down plans were for around 35 people.
At the meeting, it was made clear that had Grant simply decided to open a restaurant at 52 Grant and close by midnight, the proposal wouldn’t even need to have come before the planning board.
“If it had just stayed a restaurant and closed without staying open to be a bar, it wouldn’t even be here,” Baden said. “It’s because of the bar hours of operation.”
In written response to questions from the planning department, Grant described Yah So Nice as a restaurant and bar, but also much more.
“Yah So Nice Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant and Bar in a residential district can meet community needs and be convenient,” Grant wrote, adding plans to “(h)ost regular community events like live music nights or food events, partner with local charities or organization by donating a portion of proceeds from specific menu items, offer space for neighborhood meetings or group gathering, (and) (m)aintain reasonable operating hours that align with neighborhood needs, including early morning or late night options for specific customer groups.”
Yah So Nice is also exploring delivery and take-out options, discounts or loyalty programs for regular customers, has an interior design meant to be comfortable for everyone — families included — with separate dining areas, and would implement noise control measures during late hours.
“By actively integrating into the local community, our restaurant and bar situated in a residential area can become a valuable asset providing a convenient dining option and fostering a sense of belonging among residents,” wrote Grant.
The proposal was listed by the planning board as Type II under the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), meaning it would have no significant environmental impact.
Grant will next take Yah So Nice to the village’s zoning board on Tuesday, November 12, followed one week later by a public hearing before the planning board.
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