What's It All About?
Several people have asked me to explain exactly what this project is.
I guess one of the problems with working in a cave-like office with no windows or climate control deep in the bowels of an old building in Coney Island is that you forget how little the people outside actually know about what you're doing.
That's why this blog is such a great idea.
Basically, what's going on is this:
Having purchased our building and secured our long-term existence, we're finally in a position to expand our operations and get a little closer to being the operation we've always fantasized about being.
Starting in 2004, we did a lot of soul-searching and planning. These conversations really started to bear fruit in 2006, as we were beginning the process of buying the building. We thought long and hard about what we wanted Coney Island USA to look like 10 years down the line. So this is us beginning the process of expanding to fit that vision.
Now that we own the whole building, there are a few immediate goals: Integrate all of our programs, so people understand that the museum and theater are part of the same operation; Finally start to come close to realizing the potential that the Freak Bar and CIUSA giftshop have always had; give the museum the street level presence it deserves.
By renovating the spaces on Surf Ave., we're going to have a much bigger presence on the street. You'll be able to see the new, expanded bar and cafe from the train and walking down the street. We hope this will actually change the face of our block significantly, maybe drawing some crowds down Surf that weren't coming before.
The expanded bar will have CIUSA beer on tap - Coney Island Lager is the first of several new sideshow beers we'll be putting out - coffee, softdrinks, and snacks. The giftshop will be a real giftshop, full of new stock that we've never had. Best of all (in my humble opinion), the museum will finally have an entrance that says, "This is a fun and interesting place! come see!" instead of a scary and weird staircase that people miss.
*A note here: I think we all agree that one of the things that makes CIUSA great is that we're not afraid of scary and weird. There's always room for things to be a little funky, a little mysterious, a little off. The really fun part of this project, for me, is figuring out how to 'improve' our property without losing what makes it appealing. I like that people see the museum as a special thing - kind of unknown, kind of surprising - and I'm hoping not to lose that.
So stay tuned for more exciting developments. This is really only the beginning!
