644 Franklin @ St. Marks (formerly B &B Sports Club)

Looks like a new bar is in the works connected to "Freehouse LLC"...

Is B&B presently closed?

Their lic expires on 5/31/2016:  https://www.tran.sla.ny.gov/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1150083&licenseType=OP

I think they closed but not positive. Didn't see them open when i passed today.

Anyone ever been inside for a drink?  

For a long time, it served a primarily African-Panamanian crowd, and used to be part of a little ethnic cluster on Franklin.

Now, I believe only Kelso survives.   

...but the guys who operate the hardware store may have such roots as well..

On a different forum, a person states:

"I live above it, It's going to turn into a lowkey hipsterish bar. New ownership."

CB8 member reports that they supported new application for liquor lic:

 • Free House LLC, 644 Franklin Avenue (Bergen/St. Marks) – Full lic (backyard space indicated) [Approved subject to closing 1AM Sunday-Thursday and 2AM Saturday and Sunday.]

same owners, "transforming" to dive bar concept, by removing latin sports bar markings.

Sounds smart actually.   

Not sure what the black motorcycle bar looks like, but wonder if it'll be next.  Are liquor licenses transferable in a purchase?

Nope.

A liquor license is the "property" of the principals (aka people) who it is issued to and valid only for the given location.  

So, the new operator(s) would have to apply for a license ...and the SLA could deny it if s/he was found to have been "bad" at a prior location in which they were listed as a principal.

Note:   If they add or subtract some principals from the license, they would still have to get a new lic issued, so both @tsarina and my source could be simultaneously correct, and this would explain why they are getting a new lic.

The only principal listed on B&B's lic was:  RENNIE W BROOKS,so we will have to see if they are listed on the new application. 

BTW, Rachel reports new owners.

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160523/crown-heights/free-house-bar-replace-former-bb-sports-club-on-franklin-avenue

Any updates on this one?

I did not find any evidence that the new owners have filed a request of alcohol lic with SLA. 

Don't believe this to be opening for a bit now. Heard maybe as long as a year.

Free House will be entering a market that is pretty saturated and increasingly upscale.

Even with the influx of new residents occupying the new buildings, there will be little room for missteps.

Lic still pending: https://www.tran.sla.ny.gov/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1294986&licenseType=OP

still pending, yet work is reportedly still going on at the site. https://www.tran.sla.ny.gov/servlet/ApplicationServlet?pageName=com.ibm.nysla.data.publicquery.PublicQuerySuccessfulResultsPage&validated=true&serialNumber=1294986&licenseType=OP