Allan Appel Photo
Gastronomic entrepreneur Jason Sobocinski and his Caseus crew are seeking to open a “tavern” in the space adjacent to The Wine Thief at Whitney and Lawrence. They sought to win over the neighbors with a spicy brew.
They brought a cooler to a neighborhood meeting Tuesday night with tasty ginger beer from England and Coca Cola bottled in Mexico with pure cane sugar instead of the usual corn syrup.
Twenty neighbors gathered at the Foote School library happily imbibed, but they were not entirely buying into the new use in their staid Saint Ronan-Edghehill neighborhood.
On July 13 Sobocinski, his brother Tom, and their partner Timothy Cabral (who was pouring the libations in the above photo), go before the Board of Zoning Appeals for a public hearing.
The crew — which runs a cheese-themed restaurant on at Whitney near Grove as well as a popular food truck —has a two-fold request before the zoners: a use variance so a first-time ever “tavern” can be installed at 374 – 380 Whitney in the space currently used for storage by Wine Thief on the small plaza at Whitney at Lawrence. This would be a new use for the RH‑1 residential zone.
They are also seeking a special exception to operate what they are calling Bibere (Latin, for to imbibe) without parking spots.
After wild emails began shooting about the Ronan-Edghehill Neighborhood Association (RENA) listserve that a “saloon” was coming, the Caseus guys accepted an invitation to answer questions and drum up local support in the run-up to the July 13 meeting.
Sobocinski (at right in photo) said the 860-square-foot new location would have 20 seats inside, plus eight to 10 outside. It would serve only wine and beer (a tavern license excludes hard liquor), and interesting tonics and foods.
There would be a kitchen in back, but no serious cooking. Food (“braised meat plate” or a “beet and arugula with chevre vinaigrette”) would be prepared at the current Caseus restaurant and brought over for warming. Like Caseus, the new location would be all about food stories and adventures including classes.
Hours would be Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 3 to midnight. Sobocinski promised to beautify the place with raised flower beds, concealing of dumpsters, and in effect the creation of a gathering spot.
Ruth Martin said she was all for it. “Look what they’re doing on Orange,” she said, referring to the café-oriented street life that places like Nica’s and more recently Romeo have brought. “Why not do it here [on Whitney]?” she asked rhetorically.
Three objections raised Tuesday night included parking, noise, and lights.
Sobocinski said parking might be an issue for any use of the store, but it was available on Whitney. Caseus lawyer Hank Silverman said with 20 indoor seats, there would be at most a dozen cars, and most neighbors always found a spot on either side of Whitney.
Patty Garland, who lives on Autumn Street, said she thought patrons would largely be walk-in. She encouraged the proposed use.
Another neighbor expressed concern as to whether people would be wandering out drunk at 11 o’clock. How could Sobocinski assure neighbors otherwise?
“I’ve got my reputation. In the three years we’ve never had an incident with someone leaving Caseus drunk,” he responded.
Likewise he said there’s never been a noise complaint from neighbors.
Realtor Betsy Grauer, who owns the adjacent building, asked about lights. Sobocinski said everything would be modest and muted.
He offered his phone number and urged people to talk directly to him. “We’re not corporate,” he said.
There was lingering concern that if Bibere fails, a hard-liquor joint could set up on the site.
Attorney Silverman (pictured with Sobocinski) said such a new use and new license would have to be reapplied for. “Tavern sounds terrible, but it’s the lowest level of liquor license,” he said.
Yale political science professor and neighbor David Cameron suggested that the new use, however engagingly and responsibly presented by Sobocinski, might open the way for further institutional and business encroachment into the residential neighborhood.
Silverman countered that the building was set aside for commercial use since 1946. Cameron parried that this was not an expansion of Wine Thief or a previous use but a new and prohibited commercial use.
Moreover, he added: “Everyone would love to have Caseus here, but there is [also] a question if you pull out and Dempseys decides they want to put in a tavern for guys who like motorcycles … “
Cabral and Jason Sobocinski said they were pleased with the reception Tuesday night. “If the BZA finds it’s OK, I think I have a lot of community support,” Sobocinski said.
‘Lots of valid concerns [were expressed]. We want these people to be our friends and our customers,” Cabral added.
RENA President Phil Langdon said the Caseus proposal was received in a friendly manner, but his board and neighbors must still air the main concerns more fully. The RENA board meets Sunday. Many neighbors said that regardless of the RENA vote, they might appear or write letters in support to the BZA on their own.
Silverman said his clients were still negotiating with the landlord, who owns the Japanese market on the small plaza; there was not even a lease yet signed for the space. That might happen in September, at which time the BZA, after summer recess, would also render its verdict.
Go Caseus! Hey neighbors and BZA...please don't screw this up with trivial and petty NIMBY issues (for the record, I'd love if they set this up in my neighborhood). These guys are the best thing that has happened to the New Haven dining scene in years, and this establishment would be a great way to build community.