This email comes courtesy of R.C.:
Hey Miss Heather
Thought you may like a little play by play of what the heck is happening out my window at this very moment.
Its 3:47 am.. and I was awaken by something that sounded like gun shots out my front window.
I was quickly shaken out of my bed and my thought was gun shots???? But why. Then I remembered instantly, OH PRODUCTION LOUNGE!
Sure enough, a small commotion was brewing outside.. people moving around quickly and fighting or trying to get away inside the “amazing bar” that has fallen upon our neighborhood. I noticed someone locking the door and keeping its patrons inside the bar, not letting anyone out. I instantly thought this is not going to be good. Cops show up, not with lights on nor sirens , about 5 cars and the place starts to flood out… cops direct the flow of people that were all exiting the bar away from Kent street direction and back towards Greenpoint Avenue on Franklin.
I thought I was dreaming when I heard “the shots” but I obviously was not when the presence of cops showed up outside my home ( I live on the same block as this shit den of a bar)Â and started to filter the lovely patrons of “P-LO” as I like to call this humble establishment away.
Its 3:53 now and the block is barricaded by cruisers on either side of this block on Franklin. From what I heard to what is now happening outside seems like yes maybe they were shots fired but no arrests or heavy breakouts resumed. Some people did run away at the moment I started watching and taping (yes I captured footage of this on my mini HD camera) this incident at the P-LO But now the block is barricaded by 10 or so cops…
The cops are now walking around the block with flashlights looking for something?? gun shot shells maybe?
What ever this is going on we need to close this place down for good! It’s revolting and not what Franklin Street is about.
I guess its officially a crime scene when police tape is surrounding the entrances to the block on either end now.
A few cops are walking back and forth the block..flashlight in hand.
4:15 a.m
Cops walking around still. nothing seems to be urgent. talking on and off with who I think is one of the owners of this place.
Let us hope that this is the end of this place. But I fear it wont be…
The P-Lo needs to go!!!
So just thought I would let you know about whats happening and ask you how the heck do we shut down this HELLHOLE that has plagued our quiet hood.
This isn’t the only email I got on the subject of this shooting either. Tony writes:
i heard 6 gunshots last night at 2:30 am from my place on Kent street.
i called 911. didn’t venture outside. NYPD just called me and asked if i had any other info.
they said a woman got shot on the corner of Kent Street & Franklin but that she’s going to be okay.
this is fucked up.
I can hardly wait to see how they spin this one at the next 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting.
Miss Heather
Photographer’s (my) Note: This is 158 Franklin Street. The bullet that penetrated the front door managed to go through a second door in the interior of this domicile and lodged itself in a wall. I have it on good intelligence that bullets managed to find their way to the second floor of this residence as well. One destroyed a hat hanging on a rack (better the hat than the wearer, I suppose). It should also be noted that the owner of this house just finished renovating it from top to bottom. Now it has a few bullet holes to give it that “gritty” “urban” feel.
UPDATE: Apparently this matter has found its way onto Yelp;
While this place has been drawing my snarky ire since it opened for myriad reasons (laughable decor, seeming utter distain for the idea of a unified neighborhood fabric, loud, raucous club nights exhibiting contemptible taste levels vis-Ã -vis music, general waft of sadness and desperation, etc., etc.), I always considered it unfortunate joke that would be quickly and deservedly shuttered. But last night things took a much more serious turn…
You can read the rest by clicking here.* (A special thanks goes out to Greenpointless for bringing this to my attention.)
*NO YOU CAN’T: Yelp has pulled the posts.