Since the rezoning of Coney Island in 2009 the area has undergone a remarkable revitalization through redevelopment in partnership with other City agencies and the MTA has driven these efforts with over $750 million in public investment over the past 15 years—revitalizing the amusement district and delivering neighborhood infrastructure like new sewers and streets Coney Island’s amusement district now thrives as a one-of-a-kind fun and affordable playground for New Yorkers and visitors alike The City’s commitment to Coney Island has sparked a wave of private investment beyond new amusement parks In the 15 years since the neighborhood rezoning more than 3,400 units of housing have been built on the Coney Island peninsula Development of 1,500 new units in the rezoning area accounts for nearly half that growth There are more chapters to be written in the story of Coney Island’s renaissance through even more potential to be unlocked by the rezoning—to create a year-round mixed-use district supported by vibrant residential and community- serving uses alongside entertainment and amusements NYCEDC has released a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a ~76,200-square-foot-site located at intersection of Surf Avenue and West 21st Street in Brooklyn The vision is for a mixed-income residential project to address the City’s housing shortage part of the Mayor’s ongoing commitment to prioritize and invest in the development of new housing on underutilized New York City assets First Announced in Mayor Adams’ Fourth State of the City Address,  City Advancing Coney Island West Redevelopment by  Releasing RFP for 500+ Unit Mixed-Income Housing Development Procurement to Begin for $42 Million Renovation of Abe Stark  Sports Center with Release of RFQ for Design-Build Team See Rendering Here for Adams Administration’s Bold Vision for Coney Island today’s news builds on the Adams administration’s commitment to advance bold “Coney Island is America’s playground — home to iconic venues and parks Our administration is advancing a vision to turn this waterfront district into a great place to live contributing to making New York City the best place to raise a family,” said Mayor Adams “We are delivering mixed-income affordable housing investing $42 million to renovate Abe Stark Sports Center and making significant improvements across streets Coney Island’s best days still lie ahead we are starting the next chapter of its bright future.” the Adams administration has been steadfast in its commitment to addressing the housing crisis across all five boroughs,” said First Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer “Our new vision to transform historic Coney Island builds on more than 15 years of reinvestment by the city and will bring hundreds of affordable homes along with improvements to community assets and infrastructure This initiative strengthens our promise to ensure that New Yorkers can raise their families in the world’s greatest city.” one-of-a-kind amusement district that offers fun for all ages and we are thrilled to transform the area into a place where New Yorkers can live and play year-round,” said New York City Economic Development (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball “The projects underway in Coney Island West will bring hundreds of new and it helps deliver on the mayor’s commitment to consider all publicly owned lots for new housing development.” “As both an iconic summer destination and a vibrant residential neighborhood Coney Island is an example of how beautiful well maintained public spaces make our communities more dynamic and welcoming for all,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue “These improvements to the iconic Riegelmann Boardwalk and the Abe Stark Sports Center will help ensure that New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy all that Coney Island has to offer for generations to come reaping all the mental and physical health benefits of time outdoors and engaging public spaces and recreation options they deserve we continue to make New York City the best place to raise a family.” The NYCEDC today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for “Parcel A,” an 80,000-square foot city-owned site located on Surf Avenue between West 21st and West 22nd Streets west of the iconic Coney Island Amusement District The future development of Parcel A will bring more than 500 mixed-income homes — 25 percent of which will be affordable — and ground-floor retail to the site The city is seeking developers who share a vision for inclusive sustainable growth that honors Coney Island’s rich history and contributes to the neighborhood’s ongoing revitalization including development of Parcel A  housing and Abe Stark Center renovations The boardwalk’s reconstruction will take place in phases and incorporate coastal resilience features the city will advance the development of approximately 1,500 new homes on city-owned sites near the ballpark known as “Coney Island West,” began with the construction of two affordable housing projects — Surf Vets Place and Raven Hall — which opened in 2019 and 2022 An additional affordable housing project — Luna Green — is currently under construction on the same block and another residential building is in the planning phase New streets — including Ocean Way and Parachute Way — will accompany development and ground-floor retail will provide new neighborhood amenities The result will be a vibrant beachfront district where Coney residents and visitors live the city is actively working to advance a series of shoreline enhancements along Coney Island Creek to protect against rising sea levels and the impacts of climate change thanks to a $2.1 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant the city is looking to mitigate upland flooding and enhance infrastructure around the creek Finally, Mayor Adams and members of his administration also successfully advocated for new tools in the 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently-needed housing These tools include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units lifting the arbitrary "floor-to-area ratio" cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments “The City of New York has touted Coney Island’s amusement and tourism role as America’s Playground since the dawn of time But we need to look out for the people who call Coney Island home 12 months out of the year and not just the visitors in the summertime,” said New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan “That’s been my message since I started representing Coney Island in the City Council and that’s why I’m so proud to help announce the Coney Island West RFP This is the kind of investment it takes to make sure housing is available and truly affordable to the people of and from our community and that great jobs and shopping are accessible to the people who live and breathe that Coney Island sea breeze every single day From 500+ new mixed income units to a brand new Abe Stark Sports Center I’m proud that the work we are beginning today will always prioritize the needs of community over everything else This is a big win and a great day for the future of Coney Island.” “Coney Island has long been a symbol of resilience it continues to be a cornerstone of Brooklyn’s identity the upgrades to the Abe Stark Sports Complex and the introduction of a brand-new mixed-income development will bring new life to this beloved area blending its rich history with a bright future.” “I am very excited to see developments in Coney Island that will continue to enhance the area,” said Dennis Vourderis “Building new housing that will bring more families to the people’s playground is a welcome addition Much needed infrastructure improvements to the area is fantastic news!” “The strength and resilience of Coney Island's residents and small businesses is what has driven the public and the private sector to partner plan and actualize its resurgence as both a must-see attraction for millions of visitors and liveable neighborhood for tens of thousands of New Yorkers.” said Daniel Murphy “We look forward to continuing to welcome new neighbors and retail businesses to this most famous and friendly New York City waterfront community pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov(212) 788-2958 Advertiser DisclosureAdvertiser Disclosure 163 Published Articles 698 Edited Articles 61 Published Articles 3584 Edited Articles Opinions and recommendations are ours alone you may think of the Coney Island boardwalk only in the context of Neil Simon or old black-and-white photos of people in outdated bathing suits from right around when World War II ended As a Brooklynite who essentially lives down the road from Coney Island Coney Island and its boardwalk are a real place; it is indeed full of quirky creative types of all religions (just like the rest of New York City) even though I have gone to Coney Island several times a year for many years Here’s the inside scoop on the Coney Island boardwalk (which no one calls by its official name The Coney Island boardwalk sits along the beach at the southern end of the neighborhood of Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City. The nearest airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with the former being much easier to get to Coney Island and vice versa the easiest way to get there from the north for most people is by driving south along Ocean Parkway Coney Island’s main drag and the nearest street parallel to the boardwalk which has signs for the off-ramps to Coney Island it’s not hard to find angled street parking right by the boardwalk on some street stubs off Surf Avenue you’re much better off taking the subway unless you like driving around in circles on Coney Island’s ill-maintained streets for half an hour before parking your car in a sketchy-looking spot blocks from the beach and Q lines to the end of the line to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue stop This is a large train terminal where the trains stop on an elevated platform and feed passengers into the large mall-like terminal building diagonally across from the original and main Nathan’s Famous on Surf Avenue To get to the aquarium side of the boardwalk by subway, take the F or Q trains to the W. 8th St.-NY Aquarium stop. It’s another elevated station, a block north of the New York Aquarium, and is notable for its built-in architectural sculpture, Wavewall The sculpture resembles a liquid or organic mass of triangles climbing the subway platform Need ideas on how to get to New York City on points and miles Check out how our own Katie Corrigan Seeman did it The boardwalk extends 2.7 miles west to east from West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street Most visitors stick to the area from around West 19th Street (near the defunct Parachute Jump and Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier) to West Fifth Street known for its large population of Russian immigrant families As you cross over to the Brighton Beach side of the esplanade you start seeing Russian restaurants on the boardwalk the boardwalk starts to abut residential communities and apartment buildings eventually stopping at the border with the neighborhood of Sea Gate You may notice that the boardwalk is in greater disrepair as you get farther west including areas that have never been fully rebuilt after significant storm damage The boardwalk varies between 50 feet and 80 feet wide and was made from actual boards of tropical hardwood The current plan is to replace the wooden boards in patches with more environmentally friendly and sustainable plastic lumber and concrete The boardwalk is about 15 feet high and is reachable by ramps but most of the space under it is completely inaccessible and splinter just like any other piece of wood The gaps between the boards can get pretty wide but there are spaces between boards where you could easily lose coins Since it’s physically impossible to go under the boardwalk You can ride bikes or Rollerblade on the boardwalk between 5 and 10 a.m Be careful when the boardwalk gets crowded and consider walking your bike until you get to a less busy stretch You can expect to get ticketed if police catch you riding your bike after hours You can bring leashed dogs on the boardwalk — but not the beach — between May 1 and October 1 The boardwalk has public bathrooms (which look like giant wooden recreational vehicles on stilts) on W but it’s built its reputation around tourism which is centered around the boardwalk and the stretch of Surf Avenue by it Though Coney Island was the country’s biggest amusement center for almost a century — from the 1880s to World War II — it’s been since dwarfed by mega parks such as Disneyland Resort and it’s the kind of place where you should explore and find your own fun Though it can be hard to figure out where one park ends and the next begins there are now 2 major amusement parks on the Coney Island boardwalk: Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel both also have their own currencies and payment cards (The ride prices vary from ride to ride at each park.) To make it even more fun the Coney Island arcades have a separate card system (Eldorado) from the amusement parks There are amusement park ticket booths at both the boardwalk and Surf Avenue street entrances to the amusement parks The cards are durable and can be used from year to year—we have a stack of them from years past and have never had ride credits expire The Deno’s and Eldorado cards are about the thickness of plastic credit cards while the Luna Park cards tend to be thinner You do not have to buy admission tickets or payment cards to enter either park — you can simply stroll in and out as if they were public spaces No one will stop you or ask you to show your payment card to prove you can pay for rides at the entrance the attendant scans your card or directs you to where you need to scan it yourself The rides and amusement parks are seasonal with Luna Park typically opening for weekends in late March going 7 days a week starting Memorial Day (and weeklong breaks in April and May) going back to weekends only around Labor Day and then closing around Halloween (though it sometimes does seasonal Christmas events) starting the season in April and ending in early September Check their current calendars on their respective websites before you go if you want the rides to be a linchpin of your Coney Island experience The rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park include the iconic Wonder Wheel a 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel that has defined the Coney Island skyline since 1920 The Wonder Wheel has separate lines for stationary and swinging carriages so make sure you know which you want and get in the correctly color-coded line before you enter the wheel Deno’s also has more gentle rides for younger children than Luna Park Luna Park including the Thunderbolt and Soarin’ Eagle It opened in 2010 on the former sites of Astroland and Dreamland It takes its name from the original Luna Park in Coney Island from 1903 the wooden roller coaster that’s been around since 1927 It’s on the National Register of Historic Places gave its name to the local minor league team and runs for nearly 2,700 feet with 6 turns and 12 drops from a maximum height of 85 feet and speeds of up to 60 miles per hour It’s a bucket-list favorite of coaster enthusiasts and fans have included Charles Lindbergh and those who like its vintage If you’re not a fan of roller coasters and find the concept of a century-old wooden roller coaster that creaks and groans as you ride horrifying Coaster fans have told me that you want to be in the back car on the Cyclone because the wheels come off the rails but I haven’t been able to confirm if this is true I never intend to get on again to find out Keep your expectations realistic at Coney Island as the amusement parks are somewhere between town fairs and Disney World or even Six Flags in terms of fanciness They’re not going to be as seedy-looking and badly maintained as the rides that some itinerant company sets up in your town’s high school parking lot once a year but Coney Island’s amusement parks will seem grotty to those expecting Disneyesque levels of perfection which is easily accessible from the boardwalk 12th Street (across from Deno’s Wonder Wheel and Paul’s Daughter restaurant) and there are beach showers on the boardwalk near some of the beach entrances along the length of the main drag of the boardwalk Should you swim in the water? That’s your call — but I wouldn’t. New York City has done better cleaning up its waters in recent decades. However, it’s still a good idea to check the New York City Health Department’s regularly updated beach water quality report before you take a dip The last time I went in the water at Coney Island which admittedly was a couple of decades ago I went home with a full-body rash that lasted for a week You may also notice that many beachgoers at Coney Island seem to stick to the sand Cue the hoary “Coney Island whitefish” jokes here You’re not allowed to swim when they’re not present The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Class High-A minor league (South Atlantic League) farm team for the New York Mets is right by the boardwalk and beach in Coney Island who often get to participate in the on-field activities with the mascots Sandy the Seagull (named after Sandy Koufax or watch Coney Island traditions like the Cyclones hot dog race with mascots Ketchup Tickets can be surprisingly cheap (as low as $7 on some days) and the park is generous with its giveaway days for kids when the rides are all lit up and the fireworks are going off sitting at the stadium can be an unforgettable sight You can watch games as you hear the screams of riders whooshing by and just make out the Cyclone as it plummets back down to earth New York Aquarium part of the same organization that manages other New York City zoological attractions like the Bronx Zoo is the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the U.S It’s an unmistakeable sight on the boardwalk with a facade of silver scales that shimmer and flow with the wind It’s also a popular place to take the kids for an afternoon in New York City Admission for nonmembers ranges from $29.95 to $32.95 for general admission and $27.95 to $29.95 for seniors (65 and older) you should buy advance tickets and reserve a time for your visit Admission is free on Wednesdays after 3 p.m., but you must buy tickets and reserve the time. Free Wednesday tickets are released on the Wildlife Conservation Society website at 3 p.m but the aquarium is generally open from 10 a.m It’s free for the first 3 hours if you’re a WCS member — and a great place to park for any boardwalk excursion during peak season Nonmembers will pay $18 for the first 3 hours and up to $40 if you park for 4 hours or more Most families spend about 2 or 3 hours at the aquarium Kids’ typical favorites include the glass shark tunnel where they walk through a seascape of sharks and other sea creatures the great glass wall that showcases a living recreation of an ocean canyon the seal lion show in the outdoor auditorium and the jellyfish and octopus tanks in the Spineless building The cafeteria is in the back of the aquarium courtyard (toward Surf Avenue) they have chicken tenders and french fries Fishing is popular among Coney Island regulars especially off of Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier in the summer and the sight of these guys casting their lines and then reeling in a whopper (or not) is a classic Coney Island view and the waters off Coney Island are considered part of the Lower New York Bay south of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge On New Year’s Day, you can freeze your tushy off along with hundreds of other people by participating in the Polar Bear Plunge, which is arranged by the Coney Island Polar Bear Club the oldest winter bathing club in the nation They’ve been taking weekly plunges together since 1903 check the Polar Bear Club website at least the week before New Year’s The specifics may change from year to year but generally consist of waiting in line to get registered at a counter set up inside Luna Park going to the roped-off staging ground at the covered public restroom area near W and then making your way through the crowds and diving in for as long as you want and the crowds (and news photographers) come in force make sure you have everything you need to change into or out of in a convenient bag and — if you want to last more than 2 seconds in the freezing-cold Atlantic — wear water shoes but you’re encouraged to make donations to local charities when registering Billing itself as the biggest art parade in the U.S., the Coney Island Mermaid Parade is an annual 4-decades-old celebration down Surf Avenue that is usually scheduled for the nearest Saturday to the summer solstice Explicitly modeled after the Village Halloween Parade and New Orleans-style Mardi Gras parades occasionally nudity-filled celebration of the start of summer and ends with many of the thousands of participants marching onto the Coney Island beach and diving into the ocean to mark the start of the summer beach season The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest the eating contest that made Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi household names in some parts takes place every July 4 on a stage in that stub of Stillwell Avenue (sometimes cordoned off for the contest) right next to the original Nathan’s Famous between Surf Avenue and the boardwalk (and right across from the big public transit terminal) As someone who’s covered hot-dog-eating contests in Coney Island in person for work I can also warn you that Nathan’s hot-dog-eating contest is not the way to work up an appetite for hot dogs (or anything else Think of flying flecks of sodden and half-chewed buns visibly nauseous contestants gagging on gnawed meat and participants inhaling their vomit in gravity-defying feats of “sportsmanship.” I’m not exaggerating Though the original Nathan’s location on Surf is always open throughout the year Nathan’s also opens a location right on the boardwalk during the summer Like most of the restaurants on the boardwalk it’s a counter service joint: You order and pay for your food and drinks at one end of the counter and then find a table on the boardwalk to eat it All of the restaurants on the boardwalk work generally the same way except for Tom’s, which used to be a full-service diner but has shifted over more to the counter-service model with indoor seating, and Ruby’s Bar & Grill a beloved bar and eatery (and the only real bar right on the boardwalk) which uses counter service but has a real bar inside Almost all the boardwalk restaurants also serve beer and frozen drinks (typically cloyingly Totonno’s often touted as one of the best pizzerias in New York City it’s not on the boardwalk and has been takeout only since the pandemic about 3 somewhat unpleasant blocks north of the boardwalk Since you can’t eat in the restaurant anymore we will order a pie and take it to the boardwalk where we can sit on a bench and watch the waves crash on the beach One thing to remember when you eat on the Coney Island boardwalk is that New York City seagulls like the flying denizens of any seaside resort town they won’t hesitate to sneak up and swipe an unprotected sandwich or even nab a french fry right out of your hand You’re not going to find much in the way of points-and-miles hotels in Coney Island, but you can check out the best New York City points hotels in our handy guide Though Coney Island is past its heyday as the premier amusement capital of America it’s managed to keep New Yorkers consistently entertained for some 150 years Whether you’re visiting New York City for the first or 50th time a trip to Coney Island is a time-honored way of having an authentic New York experience for a day I hope I didn’t need to tell you not to go into the water There are no hotels on the Coney Island boardwalk If you’re looking to stay at a points hotel and visit the Coney Island boardwalk you’re probably best off finding a points hotel elsewhere in the city It’s 2.7 miles long and stretches from Sea Gate to the west to Brighton Beach to the east the Riegelmann Boardwalk is closed from 1 to 5 a.m The aquarium sits on the Coney Island boardwalk and Surf Avenue between W Fifth Street and Police Office Harry Ryman Place Park is a journalist living in New York City He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply OFFER ENDING SOONChase Sapphire Preferred® Card LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFERThe Business Platinum Card® from American Express BEST LOUNGE ACCESSThe Platinum Card® from American Express Privacy Policy | All Guides | Terms & Conditions | Web Accessibility Policy | Cookie Policy travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases Editorial Disclosure: The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer This story has been updated with additional information Lafayette Coney Island is open again after voluntarily closing due to a rodent infestation The iconic coney island in Detroit reopened Tuesday Known for its famous hot dogs topped with chili 25 after an inspection revealed rodent droppings said during a Tuesday morning news conference inside the restaurant Previously: Century-old Detroit coney island rivalry is being threatened by rats Fair Razo said the restaurant was cleared to reopen after making “significant upgrades” and passing inspection on Monday One significant change included sealing holes in the restaurant's walls She commended Lafayette Coney Island for taking the steps to remedy the situation from the modernized equipment they have in place.” She said key improvements included deep cleaning and sanitizing the entire facility and training all staff on cleaning protocols we asked them to seal all potential pest entries entry points and also reinforce pest control measures,” Fair Razo said Fair Razo also said the restaurant has had “ongoing communication with their pest control vendor but they're always in constant communication.” told the media that they’ve been working closely with the health department to “fix everything … all the violations.” painted the downstairs and installed a new compressor Fair Razo said she was “confident” in the changes made at the restaurant “I went downstairs yesterday with the inspection that took place yesterday The building next door is very close to Lafayette obviously the rats can go in between both locations I'm really confident that those rats will not be able to come through.” noted that another important part of any kind of pest control “If you would take care of all three of those but they won't thrive and multiply,” Withington said This is the second rat sighting and closure in three years at Lafayette the restaurant was shut down after the city’s health department was notified on social media Fair Razo told the Free Press at that time While Lafayette Coney Island voluntarily shut down that time on Sept the city received phone calls that the restaurant reopened later that day The city returned the following day and issued a cease-and-desist order to protect the public Fair Razo said this time the infestation wasn’t half as much as the 2022 incident when there was rat droppings all across the basement floor and a sign of a huge infestation it's time for us to intervene and we take everything seriously.” the city has 17 inspectors covering the city’s nearly 3,000 restaurants Routine inspections take place every six to 12 months Fair Razo also spoke of the city’s Dining with Confidence Ordinance that has been in place since Oct The ordinance is a color-coded placard system in green issued to restaurants based on results of regular Lafayette Coney Island does not have a placard because more than 1,000 Detroit restaurants have a green placard in place meaning the restaurant is “meeting high standards of food safety.” When asked what Seferi would say to customers now that they are open Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press FALL RIVER — A longtime city staple — serving up its famous Coney Island hot dogs and all-day breakfast in the North End — shared some heartbreaking news this weekend Roger's Coney Island which has held a special place in the hearts of local foodies for over 60 years at 1518 N that it would be shutting its doors this coming weekend with a heavy heart I have to announce that Roger's Coney Island Hot Dogs is permanently closing," reads a Facebook post from owner Jay Alexzander adding that he gave "immeasurable thanks to everyone that has dined with us." there's a chance we haven't yet seen the last of this fan-favorite Fall River eatery members of the local business community began rallying around Roger's in an effort to save the decades-old city restaurant "We’re on the case," assured Christopher Silvia, owner of the well-known Christopher's eatery Will it remain a restaurant? Iconic Fall River Portuguese restaurant O Gil has new owner along with partner Nate Silvia and is preparing to open a second location downtown is a staunch community advocate and founder of nonprofit Action Fall River As soon as he got word regarding Roger's plans to close Silvia said he got in touch with Roger's owner and indicated that some positive developments are expected "Don’t worry I see another win in the future for Fall River. We’ve had enough losses. Stay tuned folks." reads a post on Christopher's Facebook page on Sunday Other iconic Fall River eateries local foodies have been forced to say goodbye to over the last year include LePage’s, Mee Sum, and soon O Gil Restaurant, which is set to change hands this month According to the last official word from Alexzander Roger's last day of operation is slated for Sunday taking over for Rita and husband John Champagne He managed the restaurant along with Ashley Cabral a Roger's veteran who started there as a server while she was in high school in 2006 "what I’ve realized over those six years is it’s never easy filling someone else’s shoes and we have certainly tried," reads his Facebook post 'Last hurrah': Mee Sum Chinese restaurant marks final day. Why customers love this Fall River icon They saw the restaurant through the struggles of the COVID pandemic, as well as a remodel, attempting to "regroup" and rebuild a step at a time "Unfortunately closing Roger’s seems to be the direction that we are now in," Alexzander stated "Although this is difficult for our customers it was a very difficult decision to make because of our loyal employees," he stated "I want to express sincere thanks to them and to you for your support and with so many wonderful and creative businesses in Fall River you will surely find many places to go." While the city holds out hope their go-to for Coney Island franks — also known for their breakfast and customer favorites such as stuffed peppers and buffalo mac and cheese — will be sticking around for now it's business as usual heading into closing weekend you may want to make plans to drop in this week for what could be one last bite Not many people can say they were alive when Hattiesburg's oldest restaurant Coney Island Cafe opened in downtown Hattiesburg in 1923 It welcomed soldiers from all over the country who trained at Camp Shelby during World War II Hurricanes Camille and Katrina couldn't keep the restaurant down Century-old tradition: Hattiesburg's Coney Island Cafe turns 100. Here's what longtime patrons say The restaurant changed very little in 102 years including the menu and a cash-only business but it stood the test of time with its welcoming atmosphere and family-friendly environment And so it is that Coney Island's time has come to an end after 102 years owned by four generations of the Fokakis family The beloved downtown diner will end an era when its doors close for the final time on Feb "It has been my family’s absolute pleasure to have been privileged enough to serve Hattiesburg and the Pine Belt for 102 years," owner B.J "The rise in food prices among other variables have hurt us over time and has led us to this point." Mississippi restaurants: 5 dining destinations where everyone should eat As news of the restaurant's closing spread hundreds of patrons took to Facebook to share their surprise and sadness "This is heartbreaking," downtown resident DeLisa Bunnell said They shared some of their favorite memories of growing up with Coney Island and bringing their children and grandchildren to enjoy a meal at the diner Fans also shared their favorite dishes they enjoyed at Coney Island over the years: the open faced steak sandwich "I'm 85 and I remember going to the Coney Island and getting a hot dog or a hamburger and they were good," one patron wrote The Fokakis family has one message to share after announcing it was closing the century-old diner: "You have two weeks to come back in and say goodbye and enjoy a Hattiesburg tradition one more time Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations The father of a teenager whom police said was shot and killed on a Coney Island street corner Sunday afternoon said he believed his son was set up by someone who had called him on the phone and told him to come outside “The person called him to come downstairs and meet him the person shot him in the chest,” Ernest Johnnie said Monday about his 18-year-old son NYPD officials said Javon was shot shortly before 5 p.m Sunday at the intersection of West 36th Street and Surf Avenue a block from the boardwalk and a short walk from his family's home at NYCHA’s O’Dwyer Gardens development Ernest Johnnie said he and his son left their apartment Sunday at the same time and split up on their way out He said he heard sirens soon thereafter and reached the shooting scene as police were taping it off He said he saw emergency responders taking someone into an ambulance but didn’t know it was his son until police knocked on his door around 11 p.m Javon Johnnie was working to get a certification from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and enjoyed playing basketball in his free time Ernest Johnnie said his son’s death was especially painful because he had been petitioning NYCHA for a few years to move his family citing his concerns about safety in the neighborhood NYCHA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday Police data through Sunday shows there were three killings in the NYPD’s 60th Precinct compared to one over the same period last year compared to one in the same timeframe in 2024 This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated. Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected]. As the city and state shift the blame for funding shortfalls, thousands of families risk losing child care vouchers. Because he broke out some moves in Inwood, here are are your afternoon links: George Santos seeks a pardon, raising teens in the White House, don't catch pigeons and more from around the city and internet. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Gothamist is a website about New York City news By: 8:00 am on March 12 Exterior work is finishing up on 1508 Coney Island Avenue, a ten-story commercial building in Midwood Designed by SHoP Architects and developed by Baruch Singer the 215,379-square-foot structure will yield approximately 112,000 square feet of Class A office space on floors two through ten and 51,000 square feet of retail space on the first three stories The building will also feature an enclosed garage with a Unitronics Automated Parking System The property is located on a 33,976-square-foot parcel at the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Avenue L The sprawling steel superstructure is now fully clad in floor-to-ceiling glass on the main upper volume and etched metal paneling across the wide podium and southern elevations of the tower component feature vertical glass fins and the building culminates in a flat parapet Some sidewalk barriers and metal fencing remain around the site but should be removed in the coming weeks as construction draws to a close Work is still progressing on the interiors with sections of the fireproofed steelwork still visible through the ground-floor windows The rendering in the main photo shows the podium topped with a terrace that will provide unobstructed views over Midwood 1508 Coney Island Avenue’s construction took place over the course of more than a decade with Google Street View images showing stalled foundation work dating back as early as September 2014 Construction picked back up some time between June 2018 and October 2019 when the podium’s steel-framed superstructure appeared standing over the sidewalk shed Construction was completed with the help of a $92 million loan from Parkview Financial in 2022 The financing was arranged by Aaron Birnbaum and Elliott Kunstlinger of Meridian Capital Group The nearest subway from the development is the Q train at the Avenue J and Avenue M stations to the east Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews It doesn’t fit in the neighborhood at ALL this building seems like it’s from another planet This kind of reminds me of the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City I don’t understand this project at all I live not far from this place but wonder how the surrounding infrastructure will be able to support a Manhattan style of building like this This building is going to be the epicenter of this area A lot of business will benefit from this building becoming occupied and thats great for the surrounding owners Horrible does not fit with the vernacular of the area Why not design a building that reminds one of the historic Still grotesquely disgusted at Yimby user Guesser’s attempt to make an antisemitic comment about Hasidic people in the last article from a couple of years ago I wish they continued the glass on the podium The black paneling seems mismatched with the rest of the tower There’s demand for office space in Southern Brooklyn It’s less and less connected with the rest of the city for business and retail ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC (WXYZ) — Lafayette Coney Island closed its doors temporarily a month ago after the Detroit Health Department shared reports of rats inside the restaurant after extensive cleaning and remodeling both inside and outside I was invited back into the business for an exclusive look at improvements as owners hope to reopen soon owner Sam Seferi said they made some big changes Fixed the compressor and refrigeration," he said Seferi showed me the remodeling that's been underway for more than three weeks Take a tour with Simon in the Instagram reel below he said holes previously seen in the walls have been completely covered with brand-new sheet metal and there has been a massive cleaning effort that just finished He pointed out that there is no longer any access point to the outside Seferi also showed me new shelving that keeps all storage off the floor entire sections of wall replaced and other equipment upgrades He hopes it will help lead him to reopen their doors soon he said flooring in the kitchen and under countertop seating is newly redone with materials more easily kept clean Related Video: See inside the upgrades in the video below He added that even the ice maker has been equipped with upgraded parts “How much work was redoing the flooring in front?" I asked the delivery door is now airtight and no longer accessible with handles from the outside Lafayette will have to show inspectors exactly what was fixed renovated and cleaned as part of a process to request approval to reopen Related Video: Lafayette Coney Island voluntarily closes to address reports of rats City of Detroit Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo released the following in response to questions: Customers outside the restaurant on Tuesday responded to the work being done Going there since I was a kid with my dad," Mike Wetzel said “You’re open to going in there after the work they’ve done?" I asked another person passing by I’d get fries and I definitely would give it a shot," she said Seferi tells me he’s reached back out to the health department to request another inspection We’ll bring you the latest developments as soon as they happen but they say Lafayette will have a fair chance to show they are in compliance Where Your Voice Matters Bobby Walters has been a customer at Coney Island Cafe since 1955 it's been his go-to spot for breakfast and lunch every day Walters sat in the back booth up against the wall filled with paintings he's made over the years Walters said he will be taking the paintings home to add them to his estate now that the restaurant is closing its doors for good Another customer in the booth in front of Walters wiped his eyes as he looked around at the pictures on the walls soaking up memories along with the scenery who has been a patron of Coney Island Cafe for more than 50 years wandered up to the back booth and sat next to Walters "It was more of a get-to-see-people than a food thing," Little said Donna Turner walked in and hugged chef Dave Shepherd across the counter of the little diner that has made perhaps tens of thousands of meals in the last century Friday in a way was unlike any other day at the restaurant even though all the usual people did all the usual things Friday was the last day for customers to enjoy a meal at the downtown Hattiesburg diner Owner B.J. Fokakis announced Feb. 17 on Facebook that the 102-year-old restaurant which had been owned and operated by four generations of Fokakises would be closing for good on Feb. 28 patrons have been flocking to Coney Island for one last meal one last look at the photos and paintings on the walls "My dad worked there," one man said as he pointed to a photo on the wall and leaned over a booth to take a picture of it 1923-2023: Coney Island Cafe in Hattiesburg turns 100 The last day at Coney Island was filled with laughter and tears hugs and handshakes — and a favorite meal from the grill Shepherd sat down with the early customers — the regulars roll in around 6 a.m — to take their orders before cooking their meals helped him before the regular wait staff arrived Dave Shepherd already knew what most of the patrons would order but writing it down was part of the routine Turner said she has been a regular customer at Coney Island for about 12 years since she started going there with her husband "He introduced me to all these fellas and they became my family," she said Hot dog! It comes with chili and pickles and a Hub City cafe's been serving it longest in the state Turner said the group of regulars would talk about anything There would be trivia and history lessons mixed in with the conversations "That's true — I learned that crows are the smartest birds," Miranda Brewer said "You don't come here just for the food," Turner said but they live on with their photos on the walls and the love shared by the friends who still gather despite their dwindling numbers "All of the laughter and all of our tears will soon be turned into a yesteryear We will look back on the memories we've made We will cry as we relive all those bygone days." "Nothing will ever be able to fill that space who has breakfast at Coney Island every morning They stopped at the ATM outside the restaurant to get cash to pay for their meals Coney Island has always been a cash-only business and still operates with an old-fashioned cash register "It's about getting up early in the morning to get my day started and having a good relationship with Dave the cook and Bobby Walters." Dave Shepherd brought the men their breakfasts "They're going to come see me when I open my new place," he said Shepherd began looking for another place to work He is going to begin serving breakfast at Big Q's Barbecue inside Dandy Dan's convenience store at 853 U.S Shepherd said the breakfast service will begin March 10 "I've got to take care of Bobby (Walters)," he said We celebrate our birthdays together every year now We make a big spectacle for Bobby out of it." Shepherd said he started his career as a breakfast cook at Waffle House and rose up through the ranks to manage the Waffle House in Petal before coming to Coney Island he feels the camaraderie is the best part about working at the restaurant "I met all of these people (at Coney Island) and somebody's got to take care of this crowd," he said and one that already saw him running low on eggs and other supplies "My wife's about to run to the grocery store to get more eggs," he said "It's not even 7 yet and I've got one flat of eggs left Shepherd's voice trails off as he turns away to welcome more visitors to the restaurant I'm going to get a server over to y'all in just a second." DETROIT – Following five weeks of being closed due to rats Lafayette Coney Island will reopen after passing an inspection on Monday Original story: Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit temporarily shut down (again) due to rat infestation The popular Coney Island diner closed voluntarily Jan. 24. It was not the first time the iconic eatery was closed Detroit city officials said the restaurant made significant improvements and will reopen later that day Not only did the restaurant seal all potential openings that rats and other pests could get in they deep cleaned and sanitized the entire facility The full press conference can be watched in the video player below The Detroit Health Department said Lafayette Coney Island met all necessary requirements to reopen new paint and new food storage and waste management protocols Lafayette Coney Island has introduced daily and weekly cleaning protocols to ensure that all areas of the restaurant remain sanitized and meet health standards “It’s night and day,” said Denise Fair Razo everything is sealed off and I feel really good about that.” The restaurant retrained the entire staff -- including management -- on cleaning and food handling pest control will come by weekly and look for potential issues When asked how Lafayette could regain customer trust Razo said the restaurant will have regular inspections from city officials “Lafayette is a staple and we want to maintain that,” Razo said “The great thing about Lafayette is that they took this seriously and they really went ahead of us Lafayette Coney Island will open at some point after 5 p.m after the restaurant gathers the necessary supplies More information on Detroit’s Food Safety programs can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Local 4 News Detroit (@local4news) Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Local 4 News Detroit (@local4news) (This story has been updated to add new information.) Looks like you won't have to go without your Roger's Coney Island Hot Dogs for much longer is making its comeback under new ownership "HERE WE GO!" reads a post on Roger's Facebook page Thursday afternoon announcing the much-anticipated reopening of the 1518 N They'll be marking the occasion with "Monday Hot Dog Mania," where customers can grab $1 hot dogs from noon to 8 p.m News earlier this month from former owner Jay Alexzander that the six-decade-old Fall River fixture was gearing up to serve its final meals was met with collective shock and sadness from the community that's made it their go-to for Coney Island franks and all-day breakfast But it wasn't long before Cliff Ponte and Kyle Lima, owners of New York Bagel Co. purchasing the North Main eatery with promises of a quick relaunch "Roger's Coney Island is more than just a restaurant; it’s a part of what makes Fall River special We believe in the importance of community and the stories that come with places like this,” Cliff Ponte shared in a March 12 Facebook post announcing ownership plans “Our goal is to honor that legacy by keeping the essence of Roger's alive while also bringing our passion for quality and service to the table."  Duke's Chicken 'n' Waffles truck opens: Check out the menu and Southern fare here. and the atmosphere" will be back to kick off next week The return is a home run for Roger's fans in more ways than one The relaunch will debut the restaurant's revamped Fenway Park themed menu — which they teased on their Facebook page Tuesday — just in time for the Red Sox Opening Day Folks will still find all Roger's menu classics A glimpse at their all-day breakfast offerings sure to hit it out of the park featured specials dubbed The Pitcher and 7th Inning Stretch You can also swing by for omelets such as the Coney Island (an eggs-citing take on Roger's favorite frank) and their Mexican style Walk-off Western (served chili cheese and topped with salsa and sour cream) Those craving a sweet breakfast can enjoy their Wally's Waffles Big Papi pancake stacks or "So Good" french toast Wash it all down with their "famous coffee milk." And those worried what would become of their Fish Fridays can put their mind at ease That popular offering isn't going anywhere You can still catch all Roger's seafood staples weekly Pink Bean reveals its revamped shop. Look at its new Somerset expansion. Roger's Coney Island owners shared that the restaurant was undergoing a refresh and repairs to ensure a "cleaner more inviting space" ahead of its reopening Kyle Lima stated that among the pair's priorities was retaining the restaurant's staff so expect to see some familiar faces when Roger's does return and we want to ensure that they continue to be part of this iconic establishment Their dedication and connection to the community are invaluable and we are thrilled to have them on board as we embark on this exciting new chapter.” Roger's Coney Island will be welcoming customers back on Monday For the latest updates, and a peek at what's to come, visit Roger's Facebook page. (WJAR) — A favorite Bristol County hot dog shop is reopening on Monday in Fall River Roger's Coney Island Hot Dogs had to close its doors a few weeks ago after falling on hard times the new owners hope to keep the local staple alive and well at its iconic location on North Main Street the owners say they had to close their doors after having to shut down several times during the COVID-19 pandemic the owners of New York Bagel announced their purchase of the restaurant with the hopes that the business will continue serving customers but there will also be some new ways to enhance the dining experience DETROIT (WXYZ) — After voluntarily closing just over a month ago to resolve a rat problem Lafayette Coney Island reopened Tuesday evening The restaurant voluntarily closed on Friday, Jan. 24 after the Detroit Health Department shared reports of rats inside the restaurant The health department says that the restaurant fully cooperated and has since passed an inspection Lafayette's owner said that the restaurant could have opened sooner See some of the upgrades in the video below "I want to applaud (Lafayette Coney Island) for voluntarily closing," said Denise Fair Razo the chief public health officer for the Detroit Health Department "They decided this was the right thing to do." Owner Sam Seferi showed off the upgrades to our Simon Shaykhet The health department is unsure where the rats came from but the entrances where the rats could potentially come in have been sealed They also said a pest inspector will be coming in on a weekly basis."Come back," Seferi said "There is no more concern "Lafayette is a staple and we want to maintain it," Fair Razo said Nick Nowaczewski told us he's a big fan of Lafayette and was excited when we told him they were set to reopen soon He said his dad used to take him there after Tigers games Don Beckwith said that he will go back to Lafayette soon Lafayette Coney Island — which shut down this weekend with a sign on its door saying that it was closed for remodeling — took to social media late Monday to refute inflammatory comments made by its next-door neighbor about a rat problem The 200-something word post began: "We wanted to put on the record that we have been diligent at taking care of things and we have our amazing Orkin team who inspects and services our place weekly." which "found no evidence of any infestation." A downtown Detroit rivalry between American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island which at times has seemed friendly and mutually beneficial has long been featured in the local and national media But the neighborly love wasn't there Monday as the two quick service eateries that offer savory hot dogs slathered with chili took shots at each other 22 Orkin report posted to Facebook noted that Lafayette had been a customer going back to 2022 Some information was redacted with black marker including a technician’s last name and license number Parts also were highlighted: "Upon inspection Lafayette's post added: "If they had found something we would of proceeded properly The city needs to help the businesses that keep this beautiful city of ours running I guarantee there are other places with an infestation." confirmed with the Free Press that it provided service and verified on Tuesday that what was posted is "a real service ticket," but did not comment on "specific services provided." The company — named after its founder Otto Orkin who started by selling rat poison door-to-door in Pennsylvania and now has branches nationwide — told the Free Press on Tuesday it is committed to combating "rodent issues in cities across the country." requires "a united front." The company said rats "love to burrow finding safety in tunnels or beneath and around underground pipes," and in "hidden spots a rodent population can grow if left unchecked." Grace Keros, co-owner of American had called a news conference Monday angrily making accusations about a rat infestation in her neighbor’s restaurant touting her own eatery’s cleanliness and calling for swift action "I'll be damned," she told reporters at her restaurant while standing in front of microphones and TV cameras "if I'm going to allow them to hinder my business or take me down along with their situation." Keros acknowledged Monday that some rats may be coming from a nearby public park which she said grows vegetables in the summer She suggested that was something that also should be addressed but most of her criticisms were reserved for her competitor Lafayette, at 118 W. Lafayette Blvd., was inspected by the health department Friday, Denise Fair Razo, Detroit's chief public health officer, told the Free Press on Saturday She said a consumer had complained about seeing rats while dining The health officer added that evidence of rat droppings was found in the basement More: American Coney Island owner outraged over neighboring Lafayette's rat problem Lafayette also was shut down in 2022 after a video of rodents in the restaurant was shared on social media sparking public outrage and disgust and prompting a visit from the city’s health department inspectors and seemed to also mock the media's penchant for an investigation and a good story The Free Press also sought to contact Lafayette on Monday and Tuesday the building is old and we have decided to take this time to put in new flooring paint and make some minor updates to better serve our customers," Lafayette said in the post "We love all of our customers and appreciate everyone who supports us and has our backs "And in light of the soapbox statement someone made earlier unlike her we have never been and are not into bashing and putting down other businesses The true Detroit Spirit is to help and raise each other up!" Lafayette added it was easy for American "to blame us," and implied an accusation of its own: "But who can really say the rats aren’t coming from them to our side We might need to find and interview one of the rats just to make sure." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com The owner of one of Detroit’s best known side-by-side — and rival — coney island hot dog shops called a news conference and forcefully expressed her concerns with a rodent problem in her next-door neighbor’s eatery "I’m pissed," Grace Keros said Monday morning inside American Coney Island at 114 W She wanted folks to know — for those who might not — her shop and Lafayette Coney Island are "totally different." This was not the first time Keros has faced this kind of problem and it wasn't clear Monday how much of the news conference was owner frustration boiling over how much was showmanship — or in this case and how much was to pressure a competitor and the city to address the situation Denise Fair Razo, Detroit's chief public health officer, told the Free Press on Saturday that Lafayette was inspected Friday after a consumer complained about seeing rats while dining More: Health Department offers details about Lafayette Coney's rodent 'infestation' closure The health officer said evidence of rat droppings was found in the eatery's basement sparking public outrage and disgust and prompting a visit from the city health department The Free Press attempted to contact Lafayette Coney Island the side-by-side restaurants — with a competitive yet symbiotic relationship — have been part of Detroit’s alluring charm and history for decades calls them "some of the best dogs in the D." Gust Keros, a Greek immigrant, opened American Coney Island on West Lafayette Street in downtown Detroit in 1917, according to the Detroit Historical Society Keros brought his brother William to Detroit to join the business William Keros opened Lafayette Coney Island when space opened up next door. It was passed down a generation, and then, after years of family ownership, sold in 1991 to its employees to tell in just a few days whether her competitor’s woes had hurt or helped her sales the neighboring eateries have become a unique tourist attraction in a similar way to Philadelphia's competing nearby cheesesteak shops it’s American and Lafayette — with fans proclaiming undying loyalty to their personal favorites Grace Keros acknowledged more than once Monday that the two eateries had a long-standing "love-hate" relationship Lafayette was constantly riding her shop's coattails She said she had invited the news media to hear her out and see for themselves what her restaurant looked like noting that some customers complain about an antiseptic scent which they likened to what might be found at an indoor pool Keros had a public relations representative on hand to help manage the event executive director of the Detroit Restaurant and Lodging Association the quick closure of the other coney island meant the health inspection program was indeed working who questioned whether she was seizing the moment to stick it to her competitor to make the distinction between the restaurants clear Keros also took issue Monday with how some were telling the story of what happened Some news outlets during the weekend had reported the Lafayette Coney Island's closure was voluntary which Keros chalked up to euphemistic language The sign on the Lafayette Coney’s door Monday said it was “Closed for remodling,” which Keros also took a swipe at explaining to reporters that she had to defend her business because just as readers and viewers often can’t distinguish between news outlets diners often don’t distinguish between similar eateries Even though she specifically said she was "not going to blame the city" for anything Keros indirectly took aim at a bureaucratic and confusing health-inspection system that she indicated could be improved She took journalists down into her basement which she said had been a speakeasy during prohibition She pointed out how every crack and crevice had been sealed up yet self-deprecating nameplate on her desk a photo of her with celebrities Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda and a matchbox-size replica of the first car she owned Her ire stemming from the rodent problem mostly was reserved for her neighbor "You shouldn’t be able to get away with that," she said of the rat problem For the second time in less than three years has closed to address a rodent infestation after a visit Friday from the Detroit Health Department told the Free Press on Saturday that her team visited the restaurant after a consumer complained about seeing rats while dining "We received a customer complaint from our complaint hotline and we take every complaint very seriously," Fair Razo said "So we went to Lafayette the following day and we saw evidence of rat droppings in the basement They were scattered throughout the basement and that is unacceptable They had not cleaned the restaurant thoroughly." This is Lafayette's second rodent-related closure in the last three years a video of rodents in the restaurant was shared on social media prompting a visit from the Detroit Health Department and a subsequent closure "This is exactly the same thing that happened two years ago," Fair Razo said Library reopening: Downtown Detroit's Skillman library to reopen after renovations Brrr: Lake effect snow pummeled Michigan. Where it fell they noticed rat droppings along with issues regarding Lafayette's operations and the building's structure Lafayette closed down voluntarily to address the issue According to an inspection report of Lafayette obtained by the Free Press the diner is facing five separate citations related to dirty food-contact surfaces in the basement improper waste storage and "soiled" floors "There are a couple gaps around the trap door to the sidewalk from the basement and there's also crumbling areas of the wall which provides potential entry to the rats and also other pests so they need to patch up those areas," Fair Razo said After the restaurant uses the downtime to clean up the health department will reinspect the establishment and hopefully "We will do another inspection in the next couple of days and then if they have not improved then we will shut them down," Fair Razo said "We are confident that they will be able to reopen again with a new perspective Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com After actor Jon Hamm finished filming "No Sudden Move" in Detroit during the pandemic he went on "The Tonight Show" to promote the crime drama Hamm, who had stayed in a downtown Detroit hotel, raved about the city which he called "very cool" and "super awesome." And he told Fallon who was familiar with the dueling coney island shops Hamm quipped: "If you don't like the hot dog here Detroit minister Malik Shabazz organized a Sunday gathering outside Lafayette to draw attention to the closed eatery's latest rodent problem and demand it: "clean up its food service." "This could bring publicity to coney islands," Katherine Yung — who co-authored "Coney Detroit," a book about the local hot dogs — said of the ongoing controversy Yung — who spent four years researching coney islands with her co-author before their book was published in 2012 — said coneys are "the signature food of Detroit" and one of the city's "most iconic symbols." she now resides in Massachusetts but sampled her share of coneys when she lived in Michigan and checked out dozens of the restaurants to write her book More: Lafayette Coney Island fires back at American, posts pest control report Folks not from Detroit — like Hamm and Fallon — often find coney islands to be a gastronomic novelty but don’t understand their history contributions to the city or how to distinguish between different frankfurter casing snaps like loyal Lafayette customer Julian Boyance Many believe coney islands — a frankfurter slathered with a meaty where Nathan’s hot dogs popularized the hot dog But the Detroit Historical Society called that "a misconception." setting the record straight: "While no one place can definitively claim to be the birthplace of the coney dog by sheer volume and duration of its Coney restaurants The historical society theorized that Greek immigrants likely passed through New York and its famed Coney Island entertainment area and appropriated the Coney Island name for their coney dog version What's more, in "Coney Detroit," co-author Joe Grimm, who teaches at Michigan State University and was a Detroit Free Press editor wrote that "Detroit is the heart of the Coney Nation" and "nowhere else in the world will you find as many coney island restaurants as many ways to eat coneys or as many people who love them." Coney Islands are where politicians athletes — and apparently stars — go to be seen are such a sentimental food to Detroiters that residents who move out of state and set up their own restaurants where they serve customers a coney island end up referring to that style of hot dog as a "Michigan." American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island — both started by and once owned by the Keros family — have had a lot to do with why there are now so many coney island shops in metro Detroit and Michigan Grimm and Yung credit the side-by-side coney islands at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard with "sparking the region's love affair with coney dogs" They also mention how the two eateries also are "engaged in a never-ending battle." Both claim to have started years before the 1920s What accounts agree on is that the eateries were started by brothers Gust and Bill the brothers — who had different personalities — went their separate ways The brothers eventually handed over their businesses to their children American continued to keep the enterprise in the family And then, in 2022, Lafayette faced a crisis after another complaint about rodents at Lafayette city public health inspectors investigated and found rat droppings in the basement And that sent American owner Grace Keros into a fury while standing in front of microphones and local TV cameras Keros doesn't want one more person — as Jon Hamm did when he went on national TV in 2020 — to compare her restaurant to her next-door neighbor's especially now that it has a what she called a "rat infestation." wasted no time responding to Keros by releasing a rebuttal on social media the professional pest control service that it has used for years had been at the restaurant and uncovered no rats accusing her of desperately bashing the business Orkin told the Free Press that rat eradication requires "a united front," but it also seemed to reframe Layfette’s rodent problem as Detroit's rodent problem pointing out that Detroit is one of America's "rattiest" cities he'd scarf down the savory dogs any chance he could enjoying the snap of the hot dog casings when he bit into them and the chili which he said had just the right amount of spice which means he must go farther to get to either eatery he tries to be more conscious about what he eats he sometimes has gotten a craving for a coney — and his 83-year-old-mother they would make a special trip downtown to Lafayette to order one the recent rat shutdown has him rethinking that "I went back after the first infestation," he said directing customers to the city's health department website so they can see the latest inspection reports The second sighting could prompt more changes But Boyance said he appreciated how American's owner explained to customers what she does to try to keep her restaurant clean "even though she went a little hard." Her candor Boyance predicted other "die-hards" will be more forgiving than he is makes the building improvements that it has said it needs and reopens But he also has doubts that Lafayette — or any restaurant — can survive a third rat sighting offered: "You really want both to survive." DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Health Department on Friday said that Lafayette Coney Island in downtown has closed once again to address a rat problem The health department posted on Facebook that it has been working with the popular coney spot to address a rat infestation an inspection was completed and Lafayette Coney Island has voluntarily shut-down until all violations are corrected which includes a plan of action to prevent future violations the restaurant will undergo thorough cleaning including permanently sealing all openings to the outdoors," the post said on Facebook Signs outside the restaurant on Friday said they're closed for remodeling The owners say they hope to reopen in seven to 10 days after intense cleaning and changes inside Lafayette Coney Island owners let 7 News Detroit inside to see firsthand as efforts are underway to ensure a safe and clean space for staff and customers They said they voluntarily closed on a temporary basis after the health department visited for a report of raised concerns “The customer left a message and they essentially stated that they saw rats running through the restaurant And this is exactly what we experienced about two years ago,” said Denise Fair Razo the director of the Detroit Health Department the coney spot had to close temporarily after an inspector reportedly found rat droppings inside Lafayette after videos circulated on social media showing rats inside Lafayette closed for more than a month before reopening in the middle of October 2022 Watch below: 2022 report on Lafayette Coney Island's closure due to rat problem “There were rat droppings throughout the restaurant shared with them exactly what our expectation was in terms of keeping the restaurant clean,” Razo said “They’re going to clean the restaurant top to bottom They're going to patch the holes where the rats are coming through we’ll do another inspection and we'll let them know whether they’ll be able to open or not,” she said Lafayette also said their flooring will be replaced some customers were surprised to hear of the temporary closure I’ve always had pleasurable experiences in there so I mean that just wasn’t my experience,” customer Ayana Gates said Watch below: 2022 report on tracking inspections of iconic Lafayette Coney Island closed due to rats everything is awesome,” customer Freddy Ayala said Lafayette has a big reputation in the city which includes many visits from elected leaders and major stakeholders “We are very hopeful that over the next couple of days they will clean up their act and be able to reopen again because it’s a wonderful restaurant It’s a great place to eat and a family-friendly environment,” Razo said The century-old icon has modernized after shutting down on January 25 Downtown hot dog institution Lafayette Coney Island is open once again after closing its doors for more than a month due to a rat infestation During a news conference held at the famous diner on the morning of Tuesday the city’s chief public health officer Denise Fair Razo told reporters that the restaurant was cleared to reopen after passing an inspection on Monday “Everything is brand new,” Fair Razo told reporters Lafayette shuttered voluntarily on Saturday, January 25, after staff from the health department visited Lafayette when a customer reported seeing rats at the restaurant to the city. According to the Detroit Free Press Mitigation steps taken include deep cleaning and sanitizing and sealing any potential entries for pests added that the team has been working closely with the health department and that crews have installed a new floor The January closure of Lafayette is the second in less than three years. In September 2022, the health department closed the eatery after being notified of a video on social media showing rodents. William “Bill” Keros opened Lafayette in 1924, next door to American Coney Island The most recent closure highlighted a decades-long rivalry between Lafayette and American that typically has involved little more than debates by fans over who makes their chili-laden hot dog the best Grace Keros held a news conference inside her restaurant to dispel any confusion “I’m pissed and I’m annoyed [by the] ignorance of people who want to assume that we’re one and the same. We are not one and the same, we’re totally different, and that’s all. So finally, once and for all, I had to clear this up. It’s ridiculous,” Keros told a scrum of reporters at the time CBS… They all group you all in as fake news media but you don’t like to be associated like that The post also calls out Lafayette’s neighbor for bashing their business “...The true Detroit Spirit is to help and raise each other up!. It’s easy for American Coney Island to blame us But who can really say the rats [aren’t] coming from them to our side?” By: 8:00 am on February 22 Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Economic Development Corporation have released a request for proposals (RFP) for the first city-owned parcel in Coney Island West, a redevelopment masterplan in Coney Island The initiative aims to create 1,500 new mixed-income residential units and other public improvements including the reconstruction of Reigelmann Boardwalk a $42 million renovation to the 55-year old Abe Stark Sports Center shoreline enhancements along Coney Island Creek against storm surges Coney Island West is generally bound by Surf Avenue to the north “We are delivering mixed-income affordable housing investing $42 million to renovate the Abe Stark Sports Center and the public realm,” said Mayor Eric Adams in his fourth State of the City address on Thursday we started the next chapter in its bright future.” The main aerial rendering above shows the overall scope of new buildings including several large residential towers west of Maimonides Park The structures all appear to rise to a similar architectural height as the 250-foot-tall Parachute Jump tower An aerial view below looks directly north over the water and Coney Island Beach Rendering courtesy of ONE Architecture & Urbanism The following rendering from Coney Island Beach details the proposed exterior renovations to the Abe Stark Sports Center The below rendering looks east along Reigelmann Boardwalk toward Parachute Jump and new retail spaces for Parcel D directly east of the Coney Island Amphitheater with outdoor seating overlooking Coney Island Beach Designs for each tower are subject to change but the renderings still provide a good indication of what can be built in the near future the 80,000-square-foot tract that kickstarted the RFP process on the western edge of the rezoning area along Surf Avenue between West 21st and West 22nd Streets This property will yield more than 500 mixed-income homes 25 percent of which will be dedicated to affordable housing A closer look at the parcels details the city blocks and new tree-lined roadways Within Coney Island West are two completed affordable housing projects while Luna Green is currently under construction along West 21st Street and Parcel C3 which is still in the design phase Below is a street-level perspective looking east from the future intersection of West 20th Street and the new extension of Ocean Way next to the Abe Stark Sports Center Here we see a view looking south along the proposed Parachute Way corridor The nearest subways from Coney Island West are the D and Q trains at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station to the east Further news about the Parcel A and the rest of Coney Island West will likely be announced in stages as the development progresses along with finalized renderings for each of the new buildings that will be constructed This looks so much more appropriate than a flashy casino for Coney Island Hope they build all those new housing asap Will cyclists be permitted to bicycle on the boardwalk at all times or will the irrational and unfair status quo continue Hopefully this is just a diagrammatic urban study with proxy renderings because the “towers” look hideously dated and cheap Whatever they build is much better what is there now I hope this gets built within the next ten years to help with the affordable housing crisis The area can really benefit from this more than a casino The boardwalk is a nice placeholder for the dike that will be needed in a few decades Unless there is constant police security and maintenance on its way the project cannot be ended for nonsense reasons: Thanks to Michael Young I would love to see the improvement so I could come back to Brooklyn but I am retired after 32 yrs but I don’t believe I would qualify Think of others who would love to come back and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery lose the roads and replace them with walkways and make the towers look more Coney Island This looks so bland as clashes with the offbeat vibe of Coney Island I like that they are finality building something The retail should be entertainment and nightlife focused to draw in year round visitors which would also help the existing buildings This really looks like a retirement community Your comment sounds like a huge slap in the face amidst a growing affordable housing crisis across New York City and disadvantaged neighborhood is something this new development is trying to resolve If you think something like the casino proposal would benefit the local community take a hard look at what happened to Atlantic City for your answer Casinos drive the poor poorlere and unavory exams and Characters.n This sounds like a descent proposal and design Don’t just condemn it to oblivion By: 6:30 am on March 25 Permits have been filed for an eight-story homeless shelter at 1605 Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island Located between West 16th Street and West 17th Street the lot is three blocks west of the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station Gunnveet Sandhu is listed as the owner behind the applications The proposed 80-foot-tall development will yield 28,772 square feet designated for community facility space The building will have 160 beds and a supportive housing program sponsored by the Department of Health Services The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 35-foot-long rear yard Michael Kang Architect is listed as the architect of record Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant An estimated completion date has not been announced DETROIT – Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit has temporarily shut down again due to rat infestation The Detroit Health Department posted on its Facebook page on Friday (Jan 24) that it has been working closely with the restaurant to address the issue and Lafayette Coney Island has voluntarily shut down until all violations are corrected including a plan to prevent future violations the restaurant said they would thoroughly clean and address all structural issues including permanently sealing all outdoor openings The Detroit Health Department said its priority was protecting the public’s health and ensuring the establishment met all safety standards before reopening They said they appreciated Lafayette Coney Island’s cooperation in safeguarding the well-being of Detroit residents and visitors The iconic Detroit coney spot was closed in 2022 for the same issue. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group It’s their second shutdown since 2022. Now, the owners are seeing increased pressure from the community. Malik Shabazz, a community activist, is calling for the restaurant to be permanently closed. “We know we’re downtown. We know it’s an urban city. We know we’re dealing with food. And people make mistakes, but it was supposed to be cleaned up. It was supposed to be straightened up,” said Shabazz. “Look, when you got rats, you got rat feces, you got rat urine. So, when you’re eating your chili, you’re eating rats. You got rat hairs.” “As far as I’m concerned, their license should be revoked,” continued Shabazz. Lafayette Coney Island released a statement, saying, “Detroit does have a rat problem. The city needs to help the business that keeps this beautiful city of ours running. I guarantee there are other places with an infestation.” By: 7:00 am on January 1 1515 Surf Avenue, a recently completed two-tower residential development in Coney Island has announced that the Brooklyn-based cafe and restaurant Milk & Honey will open its third location inside a 3,500-square-foot space at the property’s ground floor Designed by Studio V Architecture and developed by LCOR the 470,000-square-foot project comprises of 463 units Its two towers stand 16- and 26-stories respectively and are connected by a shared podium Milk & Honey’s new location within the development will be at the corner of West 15th Street and Surf Avenue Residential units at 1515 Surf Avenue are offered in one- and two-bedroom configurations Residents have access to more than 35,000 square feet of amenity space including 17,000 square feet of private landscaped outdoor space Photograph of fitness center at 1515 Surf Avenue The fully electric development is engineered to achieve carbon neutrality and utilizes the largest active geothermal system in New York City’s history to power its domestic hot water systems eliminating the need for traditional fossil fuel-based equipment It is currently pursuing LEED Zero Carbon certification Is this the same owner of milk and honey from Delaware Is this the same Milk and Honey from Ditmas Park Is this the same owner as the Milk & Honey in Ditmas Park Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of New York straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy New York without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. New York The Lady Aye (the “Fakir of Nonfiction”) and Coney Island USA are teaming up to present a day-long event celebrating the written word guests of all ages are invited to come out during the daytime to browse vendors at a this brand new book bazaar and enjoy expert panels on "writing the odd." The evening portion of the program is open to attendees aged 18 and up who can take in an all-star variety show full of bookish beauties Some of the notable scribes involved are  John Strausbaugh Dawn Raffel and Sadie Dingfelder.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us Detroit — The Lafayette Coney Island has been cleared to reopen after voluntarily shutting down in late January because of a rat problem according to the Detroit Health Department a Detroit destination for locals and tourists passed a Detroit Health Department inspection on Monday but remained closed Tuesday afternoon The diner, located on Lafayette Boulevard just west of Campus Martius in downtown Detroit, closed voluntarily on Jan. 24 due to a rodent infestation. The establishment made "significant upgrades" to ensure cleanliness and health safety and passed inspection on Monday the health department said in a Tuesday news release "Lafayette Coney Island took the responsible step of voluntarily closing after our Environmental Health Inspectors identified health concerns," Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo said in a news release indicating the restaurant was cleared to reopen "We will continue working closely with Lafayette Coney Island and all restaurants to address any issues and maintain a safe dining environment Ensuring the safety of our residents is a top priority." Staff at Lafayette Coney Island completed food safety and sanitation training implemented daily and weekly cleaning protocols and the diner made repairs to prevent pests from entering the restaurant including sealing gaps and addressing structural issues The city's Dining with Confidence ordinance encourages restaurants to raise awareness about inspection results with public placards Over 1,000 restaurants in Detroit have been awarded a green placard Detroit City Council member Scott Benson said the Lafayette Coney Island has a long history of serving Detroiters and it's great to see the restaurant get cleared to reopen after working with the health department "One of the reasons we worked extensively with our restaurant community on the Dining with Confidence placard program was to instill not only confidence in the dining public about the cleanliness and food safety of our restaurants but also to ensure that our eateries work with the Detroit Health Department if they have trouble complying with the health code," Benson said in the news release "Earning a green placard for meeting compliance standards tells the public you take their safety seriously and will lead to business success in our city." The health department also conducts routine inspections every six to 12 months and those that fail to correct violations face enforcement actions the Department conducted at least 128 routine food safety inspections There were at least 12 pre-opening and review inspections and 12 inspections following complaints in that time The Lafayette Coney Island has been forced to shut down at least twice because of rat issues. It closed for more than five weeks between September and October 2022 after the health department received reports of rodents running around it fixed broken tiles and hired professional cleaners to prevent rats from a nearby garden from gaining entry Tom Brook speaks to location manager Ross Brodar about the film's iconic Coney Island locations Watch Talking Movies Oscars Preview Special on BBC News. ShareSaveRome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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(WLNE) — Roger’s Coney Island Hot Dogs will permanently close its doors on March 9 according to a social media post from restaurant owner Jay Alexzander The post cited difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues for the closing purchased the North Main Street restaurant in 2019 “Although this is difficult for our customers it was a very difficult decision to make because of our loyal employees,” said Alexzander “Ashley who has been running the day to day along with a great crew of employees that have been with Roger’s for 20+years made this decision difficult I want to express sincere thanks to them and to you for your support and with so many wonderful and creative businesses in Fall River you will surely find many places to go.” Arguably as iconic as the delicious hot dogs and straight-backed wooden booths of George’s Coney Island are is the marvelously tacky 40-foot-high neon sign featuring a gigantic hand holding a humongous hot dog in a bulbous bun dripping illuminated flashes of yellow mustard which is Worcester’s equivalent of the Citgo sign over Kenmore Square in Boston workers started removing old neon tubing from the sign thus beginning the months-long restoration process “This sign was really well designed,” Waller said “It also shows the product that you’re coming in to buy quite clearly Working in partnership with Sunshine Sign in North Grafton and Benoit Design Group in Worcester Waller said George’s Coney Island sign is one of the finest neon signs in New England “It’s so prominent for the city of Worcester it’s beloved by everybody in town,” Waller continued When you’re driving around and giving directions get to Coney Island and take a left.’ But it really doesn’t work when you say ‘Go to the Dunkin’ Donuts and take a left,’ because there are too many of them.” And the uncredited hand model for the iconic sign was no other than Greek immigrant George J is the president of George’s Coney Island and third generation owner of Coney Island It’s a light of the past into the future,” Tsandikos said “We need to see that sign because it means more than just a sign It’s really representative of Worcester and the continuation of the passing on of Coney Island to the next generation.” Solon Kelleher is the next generation of George’s Coney Island Kelleher serves as the chief operating officer at the beloved hot dog joint “We’re doing this (the restoration) for the people who love the sign,” Kelleher insisted “We have many people who come in this place They come for the hot dogs but they also come in for the atmosphere and that starts right when people are driving or walking up and see the glow over the street.” The restoration of George's Coney Island's landmark neon sign is made possible in part by a grant from the Façade Program administered by the city Executive Office of Economic Development.