 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
In a Switch, Bar Sues "Disturbing" Neighbor
The owners of Smith & Mills, a tiny, popular bar at 71 North Moore Street, just east of Greenwich Street, are suing their upstairs neighbor for causing a disturbance. According to the complaint filed last month in State Supreme Court, second-floor resident Victoria Hillstron has been harassing bar patrons and staff since before they opened two years ago. The alleged harassment, it claimed, delayed their opening and has driven away business ever since. The complaint alleges, among other things, that Hillstron has smashed the bar’s bottles and glasses, chased employees into the basement, screamed in the middle of the establishment, left threatening phone messages for owners and managers, and attempted to drive customers away. She also called the police and fire departments repeatedly to charge the bar with violations. First Precinct Public Affairs Officer Rick Lee said he has handled dozens of calls from Hillstron complaining about Smith & Mills. “She started out by telling me the whole neighborhood is up in arms over the bar,” Lee said. “But no one else in the neighborhood has called me about the bar. We’ve had officers go by the bar on many nights, and they say it is always quiet.” Lee said the bar keeps a staff member posted near the entrance to make sure patrons don’t block Hillstron’s door, and to intercept Hillstron if she tries to cause trouble. Hillstron could not be reached for comment and Smith & Mills owners Matt Abramcyk and Akiva Elstein declined to speak to the Trib about the situation. But their lawyer, David Jaroslawicz, said that after months of harassment, his clients decided they had had enough. “It’s tough to run an establishment when there’s a woman who comes in her dressing gown and screams ‘Everybody out!’” Jaroslawicz said. “There was another incident a few weeks ago when the police came and actually put her in handcuffs and sat her in the back of the cruiser, but we felt bad about it and we asked the cops to let her go.” According to Jaroslawicz, construction workers at the new hotel across the street from the bar have told him Hillstron has also harassed them, attempting to yank jackhammers out of their hands. Hillstron resides in an apartment owned by Carlos Almada, who operates a restaurant in London and has been living there for the past several years. Almada, who is also named in the suit, could not be reached for comment, but Jaroslawicz said he had heard from Almada, who told him he was not aware of Hillstron’s behavior and promised to make her leave the apartment. “I think this is a nice apartment,” Jaroslawicz said, “and she believes it’s hers. It could be difficult to actually get her out. If he succeeds, though, everyone will go home happy.”
[Home][Back][Search] [Advertise][Contact] The Tribeca Trib · 401 Broadway, 5th Floor · New York, NY · 10013 · 212.219.9709 |
