Smorgasburg in Prospect Park May Soon Serve Liquor

Photo via Smorgasburg

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — At the Smorgasburg outdoor food festival on summer Sundays in Prospect Park, foodies can expect everything from lobster to popsicles, bratwurst to macaroons — and soon, with a blessing from state officials, a little liquor on the side.

Smorgasburg organizers hope to open an on-site cocktail bar by the time their summer season begins on April 3, according to reports.

Tim Thomas, local resident and Community Board 9 member, broke the news on his blog, the Q at Parkside.

Thomas told Brooklyn Paper that selling liquor at Smorgasburg would be a savvy way of regulating all the boozing that already goes on at the park. “On any nice day on our side of the park people drink all over the place, barbecue, and leave lots of garbage," he said. "It’s been that way for years, and frankly it’s not that big a deal and totally tolerated.”

Community Board 9 members gave their resounding approval for Smorgasburg's liquor license at their Feb. 23 meeting, with a vote of 26-5, according to Thomas. Now all that's needed is a final OK from the New York State Liquor Authority.

Smorgasburg also opened a bar at its winter marker in Industry City this year.

The food fest's summer booze station, if it's approved, would reportedly be a roped-off area on the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens side of the park that would sell wine and beer — and, eventually, liquor.

“We understand it’s a people’s park," Smorgasburg co-founder Eric Demby told the Paper, "and we not only have to show up in a way that doesn’t disrupt the park, but adds to people’s enjoyment of the park."

Read the full story at Brooklyn Paper.