Lola Staar Boutique Back On The Boardwalk

Image courtesy of me-myself-i (Flickr.com)

Prior to the summer season a very Coney Island flavor, Dianna Carlin a.k.a. Lola Staar was booted off the boardwalk in Coney Island by the entity that claims they are here to make Coney better. Thor Equities extended leases to all boardwalk businesses except to the Lola Staar boutique. She was forced to get a space in the Stillwell subway terminal but their extreme delays in an ultra slow approval process has lead to a Lola Staarless Coney Island. Or has it?

They shoot themselves in the foot by not getting around their sluggish approach.

"I call [the MTA] all the time and I get absolutely nothing of of them. I could pay them rent right now," Dianna Carlin told The Brooklyn Paper last week.

But Carlin is a strong force and will not budge. Lola Staar is back on the boardwalk. A sampling of her boutique can be found at the Dreamland Roller Rink at the landmark Childs Building.

Dreamland Roller Rink is located on the legendary Coney Island Boardwalk inside the Historical Landmarked Childs Building 3052 West 21st St at the boardwalk right on the Atlantic Ocean

Sitt's Setbacks Gets In'Tents'...or Not!

Images credits - left: Bess Adler, middle and right: Captain_Nemo

It seems Thor Equities couldn't care less. They're having tent problems as well as ride operators most likely leaving them stranded. They are now forced to close later due to these setbacks as well as the reported rain. As reported by the Brooklyn Paper and Ruby's Bar & Grill site: Thor's setbacks may have them blushing.

Brooklyn Paper reported:

In an embarrassing setback, Coney Island's would-be savior, developer Joe Sitt, has postponed the highly publicized grand opening of rides, freak shows and vendors this weekend.

Sitt's "Festival by the Sea" has been hyped for months and will still open this weekend in Coney Island, but noly half of the 25 rides will be on hand at the West 10th Street and Surf Avenue site. (Sittland East / former Astroland site) Sitt's bazaar of food, crafts and knickknack vendors will be nearby, but they will be exposed to the elements because of a ten mishap.

Dianna Carlin (Lola Staar), who was carelessly kicked out of Coney Island by Thor Equities and the MTA told the paper: "Amusements aren't his industry. He obviously doesn't have the necessary experience in the amusement business."

Stefan Friedman, Thor Equities spokesperson recently told this blog that up to 25 rides will be definitely coming to Coney Island by May 15th. With only about three rides (Ring of Fire, Scrambler, and the Himalaya) parked at Coney at the moment,and the weekend already started,it sure looks like they are falling short of their promise and speculated.

The impending rain has also caused a delay in opening. The rain date


Sitt Not on it - Joe's Coney 'Festival' Suffers setback [The Brooklyn Paper]
Sitt's "Festival by the Sea" Hits Setbacks [Ruby's Bar & Grill]

Shame On The MTA And Thor Equities For Kicking Out A Coney Luminary

Jeers goes to Thor Equities as well as the Manhattan Transit Authority for failing to protect one of Coney's achievers. One who has demonstrated to have the qualifications that are needed to really save the character of Coney Island. A doer, an entrepreneur, a dreamer, and an eccentric in her own right: Dianna Carlin a.k.a. Lola Staar.

Lola Staar and her fabulous little pink boutique has been squeezed up between other thriving businesses on the Coney Island boardwalk for years. It was the only operator who was denied a lease for the 2009 summer season and carelessly evicted. She's been blamed for speaking out against her landlord, developer Joe Sitt and Thor Equities.

A new home in Coney Island for the boutique was to open at the Stillwell Avenue station on Surf Avenue but due to the MTA's inapt an dslug-paced 'review process'. They have not given her any indication of when she'll be able open her store at the station.

Dianna Carlin and her Lola Staar boutique has been forced into exile and out of Coney Island. She's been given the boot. She will now operate out of the 'The Brooklyn Flea' in Fort Greene.

In a press release Carlin explains, in part:

"If Joe Sitt had true intentions of developing the Amusement District and creating alluring attractions like what he professes his 'Flea by the Sea' is going to be, he would encourage creative artists like myself to set up shop there, instead he has forced my business out of Coney Island and into the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene" said Dianna.

This weekend will be Lola Staar's grand opening in the Brooklyn Flea!! 'The Brooklyn Flea' is committed to supporting artists and small entrepreneurs. Since it's inception in 2008, they have featured 150+ vendors of vintage furniture, clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans, plus delicious food. It is open from 10am to 5pm—rain or shine—every Saturday. "Joe Sitt has a thing or two to learn from the shining success of the 'Brooklyn Flea'!" said Dianna Carlin "I am really excited to be able to sell my adorable Coney Island tee shirts there!!"

Thor Equities claims they are genuinely concerned with keeping Coney Island very Coney Island. But caring less about keeping a bustling Astroland amusement park to put in less of the same and caring less about keeping a unique flavor of Coney that is Lola Staar simply shows that their intentions after all may be to dupe Coney Island for what it stands for and simply a tactic for profit at any costs.

The MTA is a city agency that seems to be in disconnect with city officials who claim they want to preserve Coney Island's future. According to the press release, they have displayed the same lack of care that Thor Equities has for Coney Island.

Creative artists, entrepreneurs who dare to dream and turn them into reality is what Coney Island desperately needs more of not less.

The full press release can be viewed here.

Lola Staar's Dreamland Rollerrink will still be open and rolling for the summer.