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Welcome to Reboot Restaurant, home of Share, SINK, and all things organic and wonderful. Although the spirit is still alive, the physical restaurant is closed.
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IN SHORT: THE TRUTH
Two Boots/ReBoot was forced to close its original home after 20 years of business. Owner Doris Kornish attempted to renew the lease with NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority), offering a full year’s rent up front in addition to any outstanding rent. Without explanation, it was not granted.
After six months of legal hearings, including four offers from Kornish to strike a deal, NYCHA refused to renew the lease. During one legal hearing, a judge told NYCHA they were acting like a private landlord, rather than a city landlord (one that is funded by taxpayers). However, the judge informed Two Boots/ReBoot that the court could not legally mandate the issuing of a new lease. All six judges firmly encouraged NYCHA to renew with Two Boots/ReBoot.
From the beginning, Kornish asked NYCHA, “If you don’t want to give the lease to me, at least keep it as a community restaurant.” The space has been occupied by three major restaurants (Hy-Mack’s, The Red Lantern, and Two Boots/ReBoot) for over 75 years, each serving the community both as a restaurant and as a gathering place.
Since May 2008, the space has been vacant.
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TIMELINE
1987 Opened as the original Two Boots Restaurant, serving Cajun-Italian fare and operating under a 10-year lease.
1997 Renewed the 10-year lease by acquiring over 20,000 community signatures. Originally, NYCHA did not want to renew the lease, but Two Boots put up a fight.
2005 Started serving organic food at reasonable prices and renamed the restaurant ReBoot. The first restaurant review called Reboot “The working man’s Pure Food & Wine.”
2007 A typical $1,100 water bill somehow turned into a mysterious $11,000 water bill with no explanation from NYCHA. There was no proof of this bill or how it originated. ReBoot paid the usual $1,100, but did not pay the $10,000 extra because it was not duly owed. There were many failed attempts on Reboot’s behalf to resolve this and renegotiate a new lease. Lisa Kaplan, from City Councilmember Rosie Mendez’s office, set up a meeting with NYCHA to attempt to work out a deal. Soon after, Councilmember Mendez’s office stated that they could not help and that the court would make a decision. However, after six months of legal hearings, the court stated they did not have the power mandate a lease renewal. The court did state that NYCHA was acting like a private landlord, which was unacceptable.
2008 Lease ended in May and was not renewed by NYCHA. No negotiation or explanation was offered by NYCHA. In legal proceedings from May to September, up to four offers were made by ReBoot to renew the lease. NYCHA refused, even after instruction from a New York district judge to move forward with the lease renewal. New York City statutes state that a judge cannot force the renewal, but can strongly advise. Considerable amounts of money and time were spent by NYCHA fighting Two Boots/Reboot, rather than finding a solution.
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MORE HISTORY
Two Boots’/ReBoot’s address, 37 Avenue A, has been home to a community restaurant for 75 years. It is part of the first public housing complex in America, which was started by Eleanor Roosevelt, in order to aid the many immigrants who lived downtown.
In 1986, Two Boots Restaurant was launched, serving affordable Cajun-Italian fare to the East Village. “When we opened, it was grandmas sitting next to people with mohawks. So many different people felt comfortable here. It was wonderful. We were just trying to help create a special community that New York could be proud of. And we did.”
In 2005, Doris Kornish shifted the restaurant’s direction toward affordable organic food and renamed it ReBoot. “I wanted to break the tide that was happening and create a home for the artists and local people serving them affordable locally grown food. Our motto was ‘ORGANIC FUEL FOR CREATIVE MINDS!’ Our goal is to provide really great vegetarian food that everyone could afford,” said Kornish.
ReBoot was also a home for artists. Plug n Play, SHARE, and SINK were nights at ReBoot open to musicians and artists who wanted to share their work and soul. One night an elder saxophonist who lives in the neighborhood played for over 5 hours straight. He commented that it was one of his best times ever playing because he could really get into his music and really share his artistry with people.
“As a solution, we offered NYCHA a year’s worth of rent up front plus $40,000 for a new 10-year lease. I don’t know why they wouldn’t take it,” Kornish stated. Ten years ago, Two Boots/Reboot gathered thousands of signatures in order to fight for a new lease.
After 20 years of business, ReBoot was forced to close its doors to the community. Kornish petitioned to renew the lease with NYCHA. At first they considered a one-year lease but after six months of negotiation, all the equipment sat in the restaurant waiting to be used. NYCHA refused to renew the lease to Ms. Kornish or to any other proprietor, for that matter.