Coming soon to Franklin: Bollywood Bar

brownstoner wrote: Last week the Indian restaurant Bombay Masala, on Franklin Avenue between St. Marks and Prospect Place, petitioned Community Board 8 to open up a bar next door. The space, at 678 Franklin Avenue, is currently a liquor store. The business will be called “Bollywood Bar” and will only serve wine and beer. There are also plans to occasionally host live musical performances. It will not be an expansion, as Bombay Masala serves food and Bollywood Bar will only serve alcohol. CB8 approved the liquor license application. No word on the opening date, though.

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/01/bombay-masala-adding-a-bar-on-franklin/#disqus_thread

I'm not sure what they envision, but my version would be inebriated fun while watching Bollywood movies on big screens.

....it's all about the dance scenes and the romance!

whoa, whoa, whoa ... what I take away from this is that the liquor store is closing??

I know that Wino(t) has been doing well with wines, but where do you buy the hard stuff on the avenue? Nothing north of Eastern Parkway now on Franklin Avenue! I wonder if that'll change quickly....

Although... it says there will be live music. This could be fun!

Mrs Whynot and I have already begun practicing singing along with Indian Movies for what we hope will be an open mic.

Xlizellx, come to Washington Ave for the hard stuff. Rub Capt Morgans belly for good luck, like my neighbors

I'm wondering if the music will be "Indian", and what type of Indian.

As a result of having a billion people, the country produces all kinds of music.

Here's a song selected at random from you tube.

http://m.youtube.com/?dc=organic&source=mog#/watch?v=SOj-U01T0JU

There are rock groups and rap groups too.

I was obsessed by "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" for quite a while. It's really sad the way it is misinterpreted in that horrible Heineken commercial.

Actually.

THIS is what I want to hear on the jukebox when "Bollywood Bar" opens up on Franklin Avenue between St. Marks and Prospect Place:

Vijaya Anand - Aatavu Chanda (Dancing Is Beautiful)

http://hypem.com/item/1cpsg

wait not a booby bar?

ohhhhh, armchair.

If you don't LOVE this one, I can't help you anymore. This is like 1987 in an alternate universe:

I think the best part is when they "break it down" and they are all wearing sparkly Curtis Sliwa "Guardian Angel" berets. But there are a lot of brilliant moments here.

only problem i have with bollywood movies are why the hell does it seems like every movie does a Micheal Jackson dance? lol

Because, this one was shot in 1987, so "Thriller," red leather jackets, and warbly pirated Michael Jackson cassettes would have been the height of pop culture at the time in New Delhi.

dailyheights said:

Because, this one was shot in 1987, so "Thriller," red leather jackets, and warbly pirated Michael Jackson cassettes would have been the height of pop culture at the time in New Delhi.

I'm not sure one new bar will be able to bring Franklin Avenue to that level of excellence, but I am rooting for them nonetheless.

geez, that is a great liquor store, not to mention wine store. Its a great loss for the neighborhood.

whynot_31 said:

Xlizellx, come to Washington Ave for the hard stuff. Rub Capt Morgans belly for good luck, like my neighbors

That guy's a prick (the owner, not Capt Morgan). Go to Grand Army Liquors- nice guys and they deliver!

Long live wino(t)! A few more bottles of brown stuff wouldn't hurt, but they have everything else we need.

The guy at Love's Liquors has never been a prick to me.

...and I remain thrilled at the opportunities presented by Bollywood theme Bar.

whynot_31 said:

The guy at Love's Liquors has never been a prick to me.

Probably because you behaved within his realm of acceptability. When/if I ever get off this bed rest/or have this baby and I run into you, I'll tell you the tales.

He's just like his brother. Treats his employees like shit.

Is it really going in the liquor store? Why not in the empty space next door to the liquor store? Then whynot can dance his pants off and xlizellx and I can still cure what ails us without hiking to Washington for a nip. (I realize this isn't how things work, but still . . .)

If Brownstoner is correct, they will be taking over the liquor store:

Maybe you can convince the liquor store to re-open in the space that is presently vacant. If you are unsuccessful, just take Whatchuwant's advice and get liquor delivered.

However, if you look at the comment section of the Brownstoner thread, there is a poster that goes by "Garnett" (ahem). If Garnett is correct, they are going to take over the Realty Office that is to the RIGHT of the restaurant, and you will not have to come to Washington to get a nip.

...let's get back to the music and romance!

Talked with the owner last night - he is indeed hoping to open in the Ebita space, and the bar, as planned, will serve Indian beers and wine, have a back garden connected to the one behind the restaurant, and feature Bollywood tunes, including some live performances. It sounds like there's a lot to be down between now and opening day (including getting CB 8 approval), but these guys seem pretty savvy.

Er, a lot to be DONE, that is.

The more time Mrs Whynot and I have to practice, the better it will be for everyone.

ilovefranklinave said:

Talked with the owner last night - he is indeed hoping to open in the Ebita space, and the bar, as planned, will serve Indian beers and wine....

Whew.

Indian beers? Wow, what a treat. Not.

India's main contribution to beer history is having had such abysmal brews that the English preferred to ship beer from home, and thus invented the IPA which was robust enough to make the long trip without spoiling.

^good point^

Let's sneak in hard stuff from the liquor store.

I am please to announce that if Bollywood Bar does not open (or opens, but sucks), we have another option in Brooklyn!

Brownstoner is reporting that a similarly (silly? Brave? folloish? great?) theme bar opens today in Sunset Park!

Nearly a year ago we toured the 20,000-square-food jungle-themed nightclub coming to Sunset Park on 47th Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues, but Jaguars 3 is only now opening. As Grub Street reported, the restaurant portion opened February 22nd serving up modern Italian dishes. As for the nightclub making its debut tonight, it consists of three floors of animal displays, fake palm trees, waterfalls, and dance floors now open to the public. Check out a few more interior shots after the jump.

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/03/jungle-themed-club-opening-in-sunset-park-today/#disqus_thread

P.S. I think that's a cheetah up there!

No. It's too robust to be a cheetah. Probably a jaguar, possibly a leopard.

cheetah:

jaguar:

leopard:

Booklaw, I agree. In addition to its size, the markings are definitely most similar to jaguar.

i need some cheetah blood for my car to make it go faster.

Update: The Ebita Reality Group is gone! Men are in the space doing construction.

Mrs Whynot may head to Jackson Heights to purchase an appropriate dress.