Well, it’s nice to see I’m not too off base in my story pitches. Apparently, I’m thinking of publishable story ideas, it’s just that no one’s listening to me yet. After pitching the serious issues facing Avenue B to a local paper that features a certain ex-mayor as film critic, I received no response. But today, in Eater, the news breaks. Carne Vale, a popular Brazilian style churrascerria owned by the Jacob brothers, who also run Le Souk across the street, appears to be operating on an invalid or illegal liquor license.

In Eater: EaterWire: Avenue B Hellmouth Edition, my research on the restaurant/nightclub is confirmed, but a few other very tantalizing facts are left out of the story.

First, as Eater noted in an earlier coverage, The E.U.’s liquor license (a gastropub trying to open not 100 feet away) was repeatedly shot down by local activists. Well, Carthage Palace’s license application was also denied by Community Board 3. I am new to the E.Vil. (post 2005 Avenue B fire, which destroyed much of this block), but I could find no real records of a “Carthage Palace” restaurant ever even existing. No reviews, no mentions in local press, nothing.

Except for one.

Carthage Palace declared bankruptcy shortly after being granted their liquor license. Three creditors were listed. Two creditors were owed about $3,000 each: a check cashing outfit and a restaurant supply company. The third was James Atamanuk, owner of their building, 46 Avenue B, who was listed as a creditor for $1 million.

(PS- The building has faced repeated building code violations. From illegal conversion of a first floor apartment into kitchen storage, to fire escapes that let out into an enclosed wooden (!!) deck, to oh yes, the crown jewel, no Certificate of Occupancy, making the whole premesis basically illegal.)

After being vacant for over a year, Carne Vale was quietly born, operating under Carthage Palace’s license. Even though CB3 denied Carthage Palace, it was a pro forma denial, due to non-appearance. If they had known at the time, that Le Souk’s owners were behind Carthage Palace/Carne Vale, they might have chosen Carne Vale, rather than The E.U. to make their stand. Why?

CB3 has repeatedly tried to go after Le Souk, due to massive numbers of noise complaints (116 at last count), repeated offenses of serving liquor to minors, and repeated 311 and 911 calls for the general mayhem that happens outside every weekend night. (Double parked limos, drinking in public, fistfights, etc.) Maybe CB3 would’ve protested “Carthage Palace” a bit more strenuously, had they known it was actually being fronted by Le Souk.

Now the connection is obvious. Staff and managers regularly run back and forth across Avenue B between the two bars. Both adopt the grating style of keeping their hostess’ podiums on the sidewalk in warm weather, creating an obstruction. Both break out the velvet ropes around 10pm, and frustrate young males who didn’t know that both require a one girl:two guy ratio for admittance. Most recently, as Le Souk’s licenses have been marked “inactive”, parties and DJ nights are being transferred directly across the street to Carne Vale, negating the effect of the closure.

I guess the questions here are simple. Is the Carthage Palace license legal? What’s up with the bankruptcy that claimed Atamanuk was due $1 million (note Carthage Palace assets are listed as around $150k– so that’s the most Atamanuk could’ve received from the deal, theoretically.) Does anyone remember a Carthage Palace restaurant ever actually existing? What’s going to happen with Le Souk? It will be interesting to see what happens to the Jacob brothers’ Avenue B mini empire, if anything.