Duane Park Patisserie caught in bureaucratic snafu
So much for the City of Yes! Duane Park Patisserie, which has been on Duane for 33 years, has been closed by the city Department of Health for operating without a permit. But here’s what’s infuriating: since 1992 when Madeline Lanciani opened her shop, she has had a permit from New York State Department of Agriculture for a wholesale business with retail as an accessory use.
Last year, Madeline applied for a city DOH license because she added tables to the inside, but she was turned down because she had a DOA license from the state. Neither agency offered any insight into how to proceed.
And then yesterday out of nowhere, she was issued the closed order for not having a DOH license. She’s trying now to get a DOH license — and I am awaiting word on an email sent jointly to the two state and city agencies.
“This has been a bureaucratic nightmare issue since last year, when neither agency could tell me what to do,” Madeline said.
In the meantime, quite a few neighbors have asked me what is going on. (Thanks to E. for the shot.) AND all this as Madeline is in the midst of selling her business. And we wonder why small business owners want to flee New York City…