Lola Staar Returning To Boardwalk?

Image by Lorangrl (Lornagrl)

These are excerpts from the April 19th, 2007 article in the Bay News. However, no links to it on the internet have been found so far.

"Lola Staar returning to boardwalk"

by Joe Maniscalco

Just last month, Lola Starr shopkeeper Dianna Carlin was pulling merchandise off the walls, packing up her inventory and saying good-bye to the Coney Island boardwalk. This week she's planning a party and moving back in.

"It's going to be the best season ever.", an ecstatic Carlin told this newspaper.

In a dramatic turn of events, Thor Equities and its principal Joe Sitt - owners of Carlin's modest shop at West 12th Street (in addition to roughly 14 acres of more land across Coney Island) - have decided that Carlin has a future in the amusement district, at least for one more season.

Carlin said she has been offered and has signed a new lease, free of the previous gag order that sought to muzzle her from the speaking out about future development in Coney Island.

. . . . . . . .

During a, roughly, hour-long telephone conversation with Sitt, Carlin said she was able to articulate all the problems she had with Thor's plans for Coney Island. "We talked a lot about every aspect of his plan that I had an issue with,” said Carlin.

. . . . . . . .

Carlin said that she suggested possibly erecting decorative murals and other options to Sitt during their telephone conversation. "He seemed totally open to that,” she said.

Carlin has already begun to process of moving back into the boardwalk shop she had operated for the last seven years. She hopes to hold the grand re-opening of the Lola Starr Souvenir boutique next weekend featuring new displays, T-shirts designs and a wide variety of craftwork created by Coney Island favorites like Angie Pontani and Captain Bob."

"I'm so inspired, its' like this tremendous opportunity to get by store back." Carlin said. "Hopefully, it will all come through. I have signed the agreement and sent it back."

. . . . . . . .

While the redevelopment of Coney Island remains contentious and troubling for many, Carlin said that her own journey back from temporary eviction has only caused her to reflect on the enduring allure of Coney Island. "This experience has made me think about Coney Island, what it represents and what makes it so magical.", she said.

Steve Witt contributed to this story