Reality Bites Plans to Expand as Supper Club

on Nyack's Main Street is planning to expand into unused space and function as a supper club offering upscale dining, its owner said Monday evening.

[Editor's note: a story yesterday referred to the expansion as a bar, and not a supper club. We regret the error.]

Patti Aagard, who owns the business, appeared in front of Nyack's zoning board of appeals yesterday night and discussed the transformation. Aagard is teaming up with Josh Lungen, a New City business owner, for the project and was accompanied by her architect, Robert Silarski.

"They're hoping to cater to a somewhat older crowd... 30s and up," Silarski said, describing Reality Bites' intended customers.

Silarski said the updated eatery would feature live jazz on certain nights, a seasonal menu, tables and a central bar surrounded by booths. The hours would be 6 p.m. to midnight, he added.

Aagard and Silarski's official reason for appearing in front of the board was to seek the reinstatement of a previous parking variance—the increase in size means the business would need 15 more spaces, up to 26 from 11. The eatery could grow from the current 1,400-square-feet to a possible 5,400-square-feet.

Some board members expressed trepidation that the site may expand only to later be leased to a different merchant intent on changing it into a loud bar with later hours. The space is currently listed as "Retail Property for Lease" on the website Loopnet.com.

"We're concerned with what comes into town these days," said Jack Dunnigan, a zoning board member. Dunnigan also runs on Broadway.

Aagard said that while the business is still listed as available on the site, the posting was added before she teamed up with Lungen and began plans to expand.

"It's not going to be a burger and beer place," Silarski added.

Residents and other village merchants were present at the meeting, and voiced conflicting opinions. Robert Lewis, a Nyacker who is partial owner of and , said he is okay with a supper club, but wary of a large bar.

"There are limits to what the village can handle," he said.

John Shields, a former Nyack mayor, said bolstering the business is for the best.

"It's an employment opportunity," he said.

Village officials, after carrying out several lengthy discussions and entertaining comments from residents, granted the parking variance to Aagard.

"[The bottom line is] it's about parking," said board member Robert Knoebel. "And everything else and the kitchen sink is being poured into it. It's not fair."