They haven’t even opened yet, but it’s already been an eventful year for the incoming Clubhouse BBQ on W 53^rd St. The future restaurant posted applications for their liquor license at the start of the year, and almost immediately an extremely vocal resident or group of residents came out to oppose the place – specifically their intended use of the outdoor courtyard.

Proving that you can get anything you want if you’re loud enough, in their application to the community board the restaurant have announced they are withdrawing their plans to use the courtyard, and will be an inside-​only establishment:

Here’s what started it all:

Despite this setback, the place looks to be still set on powering ahead at the former-​home of La Silhouette. The owner was behind Clubhouse Café, a “kosher steakhouse” on W 46^th St between 6^th & 7^th that closed last year. No word on whether Clubhouse BBQ will be targeting the same crowd.