Now that the inaugural concert season at the Coney Island amphitheater has ended plans are under way at the venue to make it a year-round destination. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.
Sting officially kicked off the first concert season at the new Ford Amphitheater at the Coney Island Boardwalk. There were more than 40 events at the covered outdoor venue from June through September and it included a variety of shows from Boy George and Culture Club to old school hip hop.
"July Fourth we had the Beach Boys here. What's better or more American than the Beach Boys at Coney Island on the Boardwalk on July Fourth?," said Jason Stone, Senior Vice President of Live Nation Entertainment.
Now as the nearly 5,000 seats are being packed up for the winter, the developer and programming partners including Live Nation and Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment are turning their attention to an adjacent landmark - the old Child's Restaurant building. A new Ford Amphitheater sign was just erected and restoration is continuing on the exterior - a terra cotta Spanish Colonial structure with a maritime theme.
"It goes through landmarks but more important than that, there are very, very few people in the world that have the ability to recreate and restore all of this great work that's been originally on the outside of the building," Stone said.
Work also has begun inside to create a restaurant and event space. The 19 foot arched windows look out onto the amusement district. The bar is 92 feet long and features 64 taps for beer. When completed, the restaurant will hold about 450 people for seated events. A new name for the restaurant and its menu is still being decided but event-planning is coming along.
"We'll start with gospel brunch programs on the weekend with live music with special menus to suit that audience. We see comedy nights to be able to be done here on Saturday night comedy," Stone said.
There's also the rooftop lounge overlooking the beach and boardwalk which opened late last season that will be back as well as a new musical lineup.
The restaurant is expected to open about the same time concert season gets underway, late spring next year.