Boardwalk biz brawl
The operators of Coney Island’s new Luna Park are freaking out over eight longtime boardwalk businesses’ refusal to be evicted — so much so that they’re now asking the courts for help in booting them.
Zamperla USA this week filed a lawsuit against Shoot the Freak, Ruby’s Bar and Grill and other businesses that they served with eviction papers Nov. 1 and told to leave by Nov. 19.
The suit demands that they vacate immediately — or pay $2,000-a-day in penalties.
But Anthony Berlingieri, owner of the “Shoot the Freak” attraction and the sandy “Beer Island” bar, told the Post yesterday “We’re not going anywhere. We did nothing wrong. We paid our rent on time, made Coney Island a success before Luna Park got here, and now we’re being thrown out like animals.”
Zamperla contends in the suit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court that the businesses’ refusal to vacate is causing the amusement giant financial hardship because it wants to move forward with massive renovations it plans for next season along the boardwalk and needs the space.
Berlingieri said Zamperla is “going to make millions of dollars next summer, but we’re going to probably have to file for bankruptcy. So how are they crying hardship?”
Operators of the eight businesses say they were duped into thinking they had a shot at coming back next summer because Zamperla asked them to submit business plans. Berlingieri said the plans he submitted for both his places cost him nearly $10,000.
Zamperla served the eviction notices on nine of 12 boardwalk businesses they assumed control over through a lease agreement with the city.
The only evicted business to clear out without fighting was a newcomer, Pio Pio Riko Peruvian food stand.
Zamperla wants to use the boardwalk space it’s leasing from the city to create a cleaner, more sanitized amusement district that includes a new sit-down restaurant and sports bar.
Zamperla’s lawyers did not return messages. Marc Aronson, a lawyer for the boardwalk businesses, declined comment, saying he had yet to see the suit.

