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January 10-16, 2020 Including The Brooklyn Paper
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Deno’s Wonder Wheel owners Dennis and Steve Vourderis show off land that will host their expanded amusement park come 2021.
Photo by Corazon Aguirre
WONDER DEAL
BY JESSICA PARKS
The owners of Deno’s Wonder
Wheel Amusement Park
have purchased a run-down
corner of Coney Island’s
amusement district, and the
thrill purveyors are currently
planning on how to reinvigorate
the area with new attractions
— without stepping on
any toes.
“We are seeing what will
be the best fi t,” said Deno “DJ”
Vourderis. “Something that
will complement our neighbors
and not compete with them.”
The lot along W. 12th Street
between Bowery Street and the
Wonder Wheel will roughly
double the size of Vourderis’s
adult section of the amusement
park and is slated to open during
the 2021 season.
Continued on page 14
BY ROSE ADAMS
A Coney Island business
owner may shutter her boutique
in response to a dramatic rent
hike at the hands of amusement
park’s international landlord,
the store owner announced on
Wednesday.
“New Year’s Day is my favorite
day in Coney Island. But
today I didn’t go. My heart is too
broken,” wrote Dianna Carlin,
the owner of Lola Star Souvenir
Boutique, in a Jan. 1 Facebook
post. “It might also be the fi nal
day of the shop I’ve owned for
the past 19 years. I am supposed
to be moved out of the store in
less than 15 days.”
Carlin went on to add that
she has until Jan. 15 to reach a
deal with Zamperla — although
she claims that a deal is unlikely.
“I proposed a 50-percent
rent increase . . . and they’re
still wanting 400-percent,” she
said on Thursday. ” It’s getting
close… but not defi nite.”
Six Riegelmann Boardwalk
businesses — including 85-
year-old Ruby’s Bar and Grill
and 57-year-old Paul’s Daughter
— had from early Nov. to Dec. 31
to negotiate the proposed rent
Continued on page 14
Vol. 74 No. 2 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT BROOKLYNPAPER.COM
Coney Island’s Lola
Star shop likely
to close following
massive rent hike
Deno’s Wonder Wheel owners expanding into dilapidated amusement park
Star struck
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