Business

Bomb scare near New Corner Restaurant

December 15, 2011 Heather Chin

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An abandoned attaché briefcase on a traffic island at EighthAvenue and 72nd Street triggered a bomb scare that shut down roadswithin a one-block perimeter from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. onThursday, December 8.

The briefcase turned out to contain only papers, but for the dozensof diners gathered across the street at Colandrea New CornerRestaurant for the restaurant’s 75th anniversary dinnercelebration, it was a confusing – and cozy – two hours.

We had firemen eating in here, [as well as] State Senator [Marty]Golden and retired fire chiefs and a retired police captain, andaround 9 p.m., a firefighter who had been in Iraq saw [thebriefcase] and called the police, who called the bomb squad, saidSteven Colandrea, co-manager of the restaurant. Customers couldn’ttake their cars out [so some] had to go out the back door.

Some diners didn’t mind being stuck inside. It’s one of thebest-kept secrets in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, so we enjoyed it.We didn’t mind being trapped in there, said Golden of theexperience. It was a warm atmosphere. Most people would not knowthat there was a threat going on. It was well-organized andmanagement did a good job. I recognized only because… I wasinformed and saw the fireman reporting it.

It has been a busy time in the 68th Precinct, with two other bombscares — one at the precinct itself and one at an apartmentbuilding on Fort Hamilton Parkway — on Sunday, December 4; anenvelope containing white powder mailed to the Angel Guardian Homeorphanage and received on Friday, December 9; and a fire on 92ndStreet between Fourth and Fifth Avenues on Tuesday, December13.