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Liquor License Denied for Amaro Wine & Spirits on Fifth, Again
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 8:27AM 
Back in January, local resident Steven Fromhart rented the space on Fifth Avenue between First and Garfield that was last home to boutique Lucia with the intention of opening a unique wine and spirits store with an emphasis on digestifs and aperitifs. Surprisingly, however, his liquor license was denied by the State Liquor Authority, on the grounds that the shop would be too close to Red, White, and Bubbly (between President and Union) and Picada y Vino (between 3rd and 4th). Fromhart challenged the decision, but it was upheld by the SLA, and the space will be put back on the market.
In an email, Fromhart makes it clear that the potential competition played an active role in the proceedings:
"The owners of Red White & Bubbly and Picada y Vino returned with their lawyer to maintain their opposition on the grounds that Park Slope would not be served by a competitor due to the neighborhood’s 'starter family,' 'budget-minded' demographics, zero population growth, and no new significant residential and commercial development since 2008 (when Picada y Vino was established). The chairman of the SLA agreed, saying that he did not want to see 5th Avenue become a "liquor row."
He continues:
"The SLA Board members stated that their official ruling was based on Amaro Spirits & Wine being too close to both of these opposing stores. The fact that the two distances were further than certain other stores are to each other on 5th Avenue (and 7th Avenue) had no bearing. The Board also did not comment on rigorous, vetted data presented regarding the true nature of residential and commercial development in Park Slope, its household demographics, and the fact that Park Slope currently has less stores per capita than Prospect Heights, Boerum Hill/Downtown, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, and Williamsburg. The uniqueness of the store's business concept and product base, also contested by the two opposing stores, was acknowledged by the Board."
Fromhart concludes by saying that he's working with the landlords "to find a new tenant for the storefront who will offer something unique and marketable to the neighborhood while maintaining its charm and character."
Interesting.
Storefronts
Reader Comments (64)
This is outrageous. How can we get in touch with Fromhart to lend support?
This is such a dissapointment! I was really looking forward to having a shop that specialized in amaro, digetifs, and aperitifs. It seemed like such a unique concept, one that would not rival the offerings of red white and bubbly or picada y vino at all. Truly a shame! I really hope the owner will try to find another home in or around the area. I had been lookong forward to this opening for so long!
Also pretty sure that this Board never worried that fifth ave would become a "frozen yogurt row", "coffee shop row", or a "nail salon row". Lame.
Poor guy. Paid at least 8 months rent on a joint only to be shut down. My understanding is you have to have leased a space BEFORE you can apply for a liquor license (makes sense, but...).
Still. Rude.
I agree with all the above posters, this is seriously ridiculous and borderline liquor bullying.
I live around the corner from Red, White and Bubbly and never shop there unless I am absolutely desperate/running late to a party. I find them to be rude, and, unnecessarily overpriced.
I love the ladies at Sterling Wine and Liquors on 5th or once in a blue moon shop at the 7th avenue liquor store, which is also overpriced but at least not rude. And they have chilled wines, unlike Red, White and Bubbly who get annoyed when you ask for something chilled/offer to chill it for you if you have 10 minutes to wait.
Now I will assure to take my business elsewhere. Jerks.
Well, I'm a big fan of Picada Y Vino so no skin off my back.
Two businesses just lost me as a customer.
They've lost me too. Though I stopped shopping at RWB a long time ago once I realized how outrageously marked up their liquor prices are compared to nearby competition (especially Sterling Grapes and Grain, but also Seventh Avenue Liquors). This is odious behavior by RWB and PyV and I'm disappointed that they appear to be getting away with it.
This is so disappointing and seems unprecedented and unjustified given how many nail salons, pharmacies, and bakeries we have within a few blocks radius.
I hope this is overturned.
Appalling. The neighborhood is going to hell.
A bunch of gazillion dollar homes and the most boring retail of any gentrified neighborhood in nyc. Just fill the 35 vacancies with more frozen yogurt and be done with it.
good cheap liquor and a decent wine selection? schlep a bit to Big J's inside the Pathmark on Hamilton Ave. from the Slope just continue down 12 st below 2nd ave. you'll be glad you did.
I don't think I step back in Big J's without a gun...or at least a chainsaw.
The Primetime Liquors on 5th Ave near 9th street is great. The staff is friendly and helpful. Aarapan is BYOB and its nearby.
Dan, have you considered reaching out to RW&B or Picado y Vino for comment? I'd love to hear their sides of this (outrageous) story.
Clearly Red and White and Picado are desperate and know they overcharge or else they wouldn't have done this. It IS outrageous and I hope this story goes viral (I will be sending it to others as well).
I will NEVER return to either store and will give 100% of my business to 7th Avenue liquors (they are very nice and selection is good).
I was really looking forward to this place and this story is just another example of the horrible business community we have in Park Slope, if you want to call it that. We can have a yogurt store or a nail salon on every block but we can't have 3 liquor stores within 20 blocks? That's absurd expecially given the specialty nature of this new business.
I hope Red White and Picado suffer in their business because of their selfish and childish reaction to healthy competition.
"The owners of Red White & Bubbly and Picada y Vino returned with their lawyer to maintain their opposition on the grounds that Park Slope would not be served by a competitor due to the neighborhood’s 'starter family,' 'budget-minded' demographics, zero population growth, and no new significant residential and commercial development since 2008 (when Picada y Vino was established). The chairman of the SLA agreed, saying that he did not want to see 5th Avenue become a "liquor row."
This paragraph is just so sad. And totally untrue.
1. Budget minded? You think people spending 4 million on a house or 1.3 million on a 2 bedroom condo are so budget minded that they won't splurge on nice wine?
2. How can it be a "starter family" neighborhood and zero population growth? Those are at odds with one another.
3. No new residential growth since 2008? I'm sorry but have you NOT SEEN 4TH AVENUE? It's gained about 750 new units of housing in the last 3 years alone!
And the SLA must be corrupt to give in to such outlandish behavior. I guess I knew that already, but this is reprehensible. In the pockets of Red White and Bubbly, eh, SLA?
@VLM I have and will let you know if I hear back.
I second VLM, and thanks to the author for reaching out to RWB and PYV. I *really* hope that their side of the story is different, however if they decline to comment I'll be adding both places to my very short boycott list. What a shame. I wasnt super excited for that store to open in the first place, but it's awful to bully other small businesses trying to open in the neighborhood, especially when obtaining a liquor license is already such a nightmare.
This is seriously ridiculous. I stopped buying liquor at RWB a while ago after realizing how much they mark it up. $100+ for a bottle of Lagavulin? No thanks, I'll schlep into the city and get it for $70 at Astor. I only ever go here when I'm on the way to a dinner party or desperately need something, but after this I doubt I'll be going back at all.
I go to Astor, pick out what I want, and then the deliver to my house in Brooklyn for free. Either that, or I order from them on the web.
Anyone who reads this site, knows it is hard times for a lot of small businesses in Park Slope. Can't say I really fault other liquor stores from wanting to block competitors. They have a legal right. It is up to the SLA to decide if the claim is valid. I think complaining to the SLA would be both more just and have better results than boycotting the other stores.
Nick,
Sounds like most people around here are already boycotting Red White and Bubbly (except on emergencies) because of their outrageous markups. A Park Slope wine store should NOT be $5-20 more expensive than a Manhattan wine store. But they ARE. On almost every bottle.
So now they've been overcharging their customers for years paying VERY reasonable rent and they want to keep a monopoly on said overcharging?
Nah, I think the boycott is a good idea.
ITA with Ed. Zero population growth? LMAO!!! What about all the buildings on 4th avenue??
Liquor row? But, nail salon row and real eastate row is all ok? What BS this is!!!
I live around the corner from Picada and never go in there. Why? Their wine selection is limited and hoity toity. And, if you do get a wine in there that you like, chances are they won't have it again since they constantly change their stock. No thanks.
I stopped going to RWB when the original owner sold out. the place changed drastically then. For good prices, I go to the liquor store on 5th Avenue near 14th Street, prices are excellent, you just have to know what you want because they are not much help in selecting things. If you need help selecting things, I suggest Sterling or Shaun's or Primetime.
RWB and Picada are dead in my book!!!!
7th Ave liquors is a great store with very nice service and selection.
Does anyone else see the irony of 5th Avenue becoming a strip of nail salons while 4th Avenue makes its play to be a vibrant commerce hub with interesting and unique stores and restaurants? Whether you are into what this store was offering or not, it was a unique concept. When was the last time you saw a store open on 5th Avenue that was offering something different? And the (lousy) competition was able to quash it without any negative recourse to them. The inmates are running the asylum, folks.
Maybe we'll get lucky and the place will open as a "Checks Cashed Here" joint. That's the direction 5th Avenue seems to be going these days. Thanks, RW&B and Picada Wine Shop! You were clearly looking out for the neighborhood with that move.
Picada Y vino is great if:
A) You don't mind spending $15-$20 on a bottle
and
B) You need a recommendation based on what you're cooking/eating
The owner is very knowledgeable and passionate about her selections. I really enjoyed being a customer there.