Brooklyn Heights Blog

Infamous “Busted Chef” Daniel Kaufman pleaded not guilty to two felony charges in a Manhattan court yesterday, stemming from an incident last December when he allegedly stole his friend’s credit card.

Kaufman was arraigned on charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, and released on his own recognizance. His trial is set to begin July 23. Read more »

BHB has discovered charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of a stolen credit card against “Busted Chef” Daniel Kaufman in Manhattan from earlier this year.

According to the criminal complaint, Kaufman was arrested on Jan. 20 for an incident on Dec. 19 on the Upper East Side in which he allegedly stole a credit card Read more »

(BHB/Sarah Portlock)

The fast-food joint Checkers opened on Tuesday at 111 Court St., in the former Busy Chef spot, bringing yet another hamburger option for Downtown Brooklynites. Franchise owner Shaista Siddiqui told BHB she’s excited “to become part of this community.”

The restaurant serves burgers, bacon-wrapped burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, and delicious spicy fries. And, the milkshakes are thick and taste wonderful. Best of all, there’s a cute outdoor patio in the back if you weave around the hallway, past the bathrooms (see photo below).

Read more »

The full text of the disbarment of attorney Alan Young — who was a part-owner in the Busy Chef empire and scandal and listed on numerous  liquor licenses — is available online here. Judges at the state’s appellate court, the Second Judicial Department, ruled on April 21 to accept Young’s resignation from the Brooklyn bar. Per the decision:

Read more »

The Brooklyn Eagle reports that Alan Young, former Busy Chef, Oven, Wine Bar at 50 Henry and Blue Pig owner (as well as other businesses at those Henry Street addresses) has been disbarred.  The eateries were shuttered last year after manager Dan Kaufman was busted on charges of credit card fraud and identity theft.  The case against Kaufman is still pending.

There has been no word on whether Young will be charged or is suspected of being involved in any wrong doing in the “Busted Chef” case.  However, the Eagle report says that he is  under investigation on another matter:

The Brooklyn Law School graduate submitted his resignation in November, acknowledging “his inability to successfully defend himself on the merits against any disciplinary charges which may be brought against him…,” according to the Appellate Division, Second Department opinion and order issued in April.

Young was being investigated by grievance committees in three separate New York judicial districts, including the Second Judicial District, for alleged “irregularities in his attorney escrow account.” The Appellate Division immediately accepted his resignation, ordered his disbarment, and demanded that he immediately surrender his attorney secure pass.

First restaurateurs Mark Lahm and Jim Montemarano brought back the wine bar at 50 Henry St., and now they’re applying for sidewalk seating!

The new Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar filed the sidewalk café application with Community Board 2’s transportation committee this month, and will present its plans at the committee’s meeting on June 16. Lahm has said that he hopes to open the bar within the next few weeks.

According to the application, Lahm and Montemarano want to construct and operate an unenclosed sidewalk café with six tables and 12 seats, and set up at the northwest corner of Cranberry Street at Henry Street.

Read more »

The Checkers burger chain is hard at work preparing its new Downtown Brooklyn location.   The outlet will occupy the former Busy Chef space at 111 Court Street. [photo via McBrooklyn]

((Mark Lahm, left, of Henry's End, and Jim Montemarano, of Cranberry's, are opening the Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar in three weeks (BHB/Sarah Portlock))

The owners of the new Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar were out this morning putting final touches on their new space at 50 Henry St., and owner Mark Lahm said the spot will be open within the next three weeks.

“We wished we could have opened earlier, but there were things out of our control,” Lahm said. “There’s one piece of officialdom we haven’t gotten yet,” but did not elaborate.

On Friday, the State Liquor Authority approved their application and granted them their all-important liquor license. Part of the timing delay, Lahm has explained, is because they wanted to get their own license and not be affiliated in any way with the former Wine Bar at 50 Henry spot that closed in the wake of the Busy Chef scandal last summer.

The paper curtains were down today to reveal new furniture, but Lahm said the curtains might go back up while they put the finishing touches on the completely-redone space. They are also finalizing the menu, which he said early on would be a collection of small plates of cheeses, charcuterie, soups, and “interesting salads.”

Lahm also owns Henry’s End at 44 Henry St., and is partnering with Jim Montemarano, who owns the coffee shop Cranberry’s at 48 Henry St., on the wine bar project.

Looks like eviction proceedings against the many faces of the Busy Chef Empire were successful as this NYC Marshall’s notice posted at 60 Henry Street indicates.  No official word yet on whether bakery Sweet Melissa will take over the space.

Local blog Flappy Days reports that the Checkers burger chain will be moving into the former Busy Chef Space at 111 Court Street:

Flappy Days: As I was walking to work this morning, the door was open and two men were looking over plans, so I asked them what was coming in. Ladies and gentlemen, your new neighbor is:

Checker’s Restaurant

They also mentioned they’d be serving vegan burgers, although I don’t see those listed on the corporate site.

The Busy Chef Empire crumbled last summer over allegations of credit card fraud and identity theft.   Last month, the store and its affiliates were evicted from their Henry Street location.

BHB is currently seeking confirmation on this story.

Update: Jim Nellis at Checkers tells BHB via email:

Yes, I’m pleased to confirm a Checker’s Restaurant is scheduled to open at this location. Current plans call for a June opening and more details will be available as we get closer to the opening. Looking forward to becoming a part of the Brooklyn Heights community. Thanks for your interest.