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Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — Businesses along Westcott Street report mixed effects on foot traffic, from no change in business to lost customers, after the Westcott Theater’s special permit was revoked during Syracuse Common Council’s Monday meeting.
The unanimous vote comes after a month of debate and review of the theater’s special permit use by the Common Councilors, becoming a hot-topic issue for neighbors and business owners. During that review period, the theater’s doors have been shut.
A complaint filed from the City of Syracuse Codes Enforcement Department to the city in mid August said the theater presents safety and security concerns. Jake Dishaw, deputy commissioner of Code Enforcement and Zoning, listed specific examples in his 18 page-report, including a stabbing on Aug. 1.
Westcott Theater owner Dan Mastronardi has strongly denied that the violent incidents are related to his theater, during public statements at the Common Council’s public hearing about his business.
For some of the other businesses that line Westcott Street, the lack of activity at the theater in the past month hasn’t impacted them.
“As far as the Westcott Theater throwing parties and stuff, we don’t get any business from that,” said Michael Riepma, a manager at Alto Cinco.
The mexican restaurant has been on the street for nearly 30 years and shares a wall with the theater.
“We can kind of get more business from an SU game that day, and it won’t be as late or have the same issues like people spilling into the street or being in front of our restaurant,” said Riepma.
Diagonal from Alto Cinco is Westcott Liquor, where employee Prakash Patel said most of his customers are university students and neighborhood residents. He said he hasn’t seen any difference in business in the past month the theater’s been closed.
These sentiments aren’t shared by all of the businesses on the street. Las Delicias, an empanada restaurant, down the street from the theater, has lost a group of customers.
“First, they come here and get something to eat and then they go off happily to enjoy the theater’s music,” said Carlie Morales, who has worked at the restaurant on Westcott Street for more than 24 years. “Maybe the theater’s customers aren’t going to other businesses, but they come here.”
Across the street from the theater, Mom’s, a family-owned breakfast and lunch spot, doesn’t get much foot traffic from the theater because of their hours, but Eva Essi, a manager at Mom’s, said they do experience the aftermath of shows.
“We really haven’t had much positive, I could say,” said Essi. “We’ve had bullet casings on our property, we’ve had multiple videos of folks literally almost going through our business at two or three in the morning.”
“We don’t want any business to shut down in Syracuse,” Essi added.
One aspect all businesses owners agreed on was their love for Westcott Street.