Mediterranean Eatery 'Palmyra' On Court Street Seems To Be Closed

One of my readers mentioned that Palmyra, the Mediterranean eatery at 316 Court Street, seems to be closed. I made a point of walking by today, and sure enough, the windows have been covered with paper.

There is no note indicating a reason, but two permits from New York City"s Department of Buildings have been taped up. One is for an "interior renovation of the existing commercial space for eating and drinking establishment" and one to "install kitchen fire suppression system."
No indication whether Palmyra will re-open or will be replaced by a new eatery.

Previously, 316 Court Street was home to Olive Vine Café, another Middle Eastern restaurant. The owner got himself into a spot of trouble with the State Department Of Labor in 2009 for underpaying his employees at a sister restaurant in Park Slope by as much as 200,000.
Shortly afterwards, the Court Street Olive Vine location was closed and replaced by Palmyra.
Gong back even further, the retail space was home to a tailor.

Does anyone have any info about the closing?


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After Investigation By State Labor Department, Is Owner Of "Olive Vine Café" Taking Time To Reflect?

photo credit: eatingbrooklyn on flickr

Then
and now

After being fined more than $200,000 for underpaying and over-working employees at two of his Olive Vine Café restaurants, business owner Zaid Demis has closed the doors of his 316 Court Street location. Though a note in the window would suggest that the Middle Eastern eatery will re-open on February 1st, the sign has been removed from the building's façade, newspapers have been taped over the windows and workers were seen carrying construction debris out of the storefront.It is unclear if Demis is just remodeling the space or if he is going to re-open under a new name. Perhaps he has given up the location completely. Back in November 2009, when the Daily News reported that Demis violated the minimum wage laws by paying his cooks as little as $6 an hour, he lamented to the newspaper:
"I don't have $200,000. Where the hell am I going to get that? Now I'm probably going to have to close my doors if they really insist on me paying."

Perhaps, Mr. Demis is merely taking a break to reflect on his poor treatment of his employees.

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