Landlord to Black Betty: Drop Dead
The Brooklyn Paper has already done a stellar job reporting on the real estate-related undoing of neighborhood founding father Black Betty, but there are still a few pertinent details that mourners must know. First, some bittersweet news: closing ceremonies kick off tomorrow night, June 3rd, with Hype of the States, Orion Experience, and DJ Chris Rob, starting at 10:30pm. After that, look for Chin Chin on June 4, the eighth anniversary of Brazilian Beat on June 7, Jonah Smith on June 10, the Pimps of Joytime on June 11, and, for their June 15 finale, the Reverend Vince Anderson. (More details here.) After that sad, sad day, look for their ‚”Make Love, Not War” parties to move to Rose and Vince Anderson to take up residence at Union Pool. Of course, neither of these venues serves chicken tagine or chickpeas with basmati rice, but they will have to do.
Now, the just plain bitter stuff:
A person involved in the contract negotiations for Black Betty tossed another volley in their war of words with landlord Pasquale Pescatore. According to our source, after handing in that $35,000 good-faith payment in expectation of signing another ten-year lease, they received what they described as an ‚”unsignable” document, including clauses that barred them from remaining open after 11pm and that required the venue to pay the rent of any other leasees in the Metropolitan Avenue building should they vacate citing noise from the venue. After that, Pescatore allegedly accepted fifty grand from the new leaseholder, against whom, it should be said, Black Betty bears no ill will. No final word yet on what exactly will become of the hallowed ground, but rumor has it will remain a watering hole, if not also a restaurant and music venue. As you can imagine, our source had some stronger words for Mr. Pescatore, but they shall go unprinted. This is a family website, after all. More details as they come out.
This place was the one of the few places to go back in the day (mid-nineties) when I first moved the Williamsburg. It was truly an oasis, many good times were had there and it will be missed.
Pasquale Pescatore is the sleaziest of all the Williamsburg landlords. He runs his little scam out of Middle Village and has a long held reputation for screwing people over. I once rented a parking space from him and after charging me $75 for an electric door opener, he removed the electric door and wouldn’t refund me. Then he doubled the rent over the course of the year. He refused to even take calls over the phone when you try to call his office and instead makes his wife do interference. Brave man. It didn’t take me long to find other people who had similar problems with him…mention his name in any Williamsburg bar and you’ll find at least one person who he’s screwed. Horrible news about Black Betty…they’re probably too loud for that neighborhood now but no one can beat their paella.
RIP Black Betty.
You guys were awesome. Many a good time and meal there over the past decade.
Hope you find a new space, Bud.
10 years coming to this place… me and friends affectionately called it “sweaty betty’s”… never a better night had, dancing and galavanting with friends… in a decades time this place has fed me like a mother would, got me drunk like an older brother could, and gotten me laid like a good friend should…
it will be missed…
That First Comment is so priceless I only wish I could’ve said it. Crystallized all our feelings.. Just wanna update and Correct the Flyer-Tonight is H.O.T.S., Dj Chris Rob, and Only Living Boy, Not the Orion Exp… AND THERE’s NO COVER!!!!!! Thanks to All Love and Best Wishes..
thank you
I am currently having my problems with the Pescatores as well. I am living in a building they own right next door to where Black Betty was. I have been living here with my mother and brother since it was owned by one James Napoli. When Mr. Napoli sold the building to Mr. Pescatore he made him promise not to raise our rent. As soon as Mr. Napoli passed on promise broken. Not only did he raise the rent but he was illegally over charging us much more then he should have been for many years until I had the rent lowered legally recently and I intend to file for the over charges. My mother passed away in 97 and my brother Aug 2010 from lung cancer. That day was the first time I met Mr. Pescatore as he came by thinking he was going to take over the apt. I am now in the process of going back and forth to court with him and his wife Florence as they are claiming I just moved in the day my brother passed away or that I have not been here for as long as I have. I have more then enough prove that I have been living here for as long as I have. And I have plenty of not so nice things I will be more then willing to bring up about the Pescatores in court if need be. The former owner of the building Mr. James Napoli’s sons are willing to back me up as well. I have a very good rent advocate on my side one Debra Medina from Los Sores here in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Thank you very much Miss Medina. Yours truly Vic Martino.
I Vito Picicci aka Vic Martino want to go on record here stating that if anything happens to me it is probably due to the situation I am having with the owners of 85 Haveameyer Street Pasquale and Florence Pescatore the same owners of Black Betty. I have been going back and forth to court with their lawyer and today May 17 2010 at 5PM I got a menacing phone call which was the same day we were in court again. I made a police report and spoke with some people regarding this matter but I just wanted to post this here on line as well. I will not be scared away and I am going to stand my ground as I am not moving anytime soon.
Just thought I would leave this update since I wrote the last two comments here a year ago I have been to trial with the Pescatores and I won. Now I am waiting to see what their next step is. And I’ll be ready for them. PS I take back everything good that I said in the previous article regarding Debra Medina the so called rent advocate from Los Sores here in Williamsburg Brooklyn as she turned out to be a big dissapointment and she really let me down but that’s another story. I’ll leave off with a word to all you apartment house renters out there..don’t let your greedy cold hearted landlords like mine push you around you have rights. Fight the good fight when your in the right. Good luck to all who may be in the same type of situation as I. Take care.
Just informing all who happen to read this comment that Pasquale Pescatore and I (Vic Martino) will be appearing on an episode (20 412) of The People’s Court 5/18/11 4PM Ch.5 here in the New York City areas. For those who are able to view this episode I am sure you will have a laugh or two or more lol. Enjoy.
I am watching the episode of people’s court. I’ve also read what everyone had to say about the guy(pescatore), and I’ve watched the show. He does’nt really seem that bad, but who knows what kind of guy he is. He really kicked Vic’s ass on the show. Sorry Vic, you really seemed like you were getting reamed by the judge most of the time. I almost felt sorry for you. I’m pretty sure she did’nt like you, well, I’m positive she did’nt. She is pretty cute though….
Hey Tom all I can say is you can’t win em all lol. The main thing is I won the major trial and kicked my landlords ass there to use your wording. This was not all that important. And don’t let the way my landlord came across as a quiet old gentleman fool you. He is a greedy liar who does not keep his word. Anyway be well and take care.
Vic,
I just watched you on the People’s Court, and as you instructed, I googled Pasqual. I’m wondering if that’s why I have a headache now lol. I agree with Tom regarding the judge’s feelings toward you. I can’t say she “didn’t like you”, but I think she believed the liar more. Wolf in sheep’s clothing comes to mind when I think of Pasqual, especially since Tom thinks he “wasn’t that bad.” I think that’s the whole thing-he act’s one way at one time, then does a 180. Sounds like he’s trying to do you the way he did Black Betty. Did you notice when you google your name,Vito Picicci,a list of people arriving on Ellis Island comes up, and the name next to yours is Napoli? I’m sure the person with your name is your grandfather or great grandfather, but I thought it was neat.
Here’s the link I was talking about, otherwise just google your real name, and it’s the second to last link on page one.
Congratulations on beating this scoundrel, and keeping your rent controlled apartment. I only wish more people could stand up to him. Have you ever considered a class action lawsuit, where you get together with some of his other victims and you all file together? I honestly believe you. It’s hard not to after googling Pasqual Pescatore. Anywho, have a great day and I wish you the best of luck.
Kelly
Thanks Kelly. My best to you my friend. That is more than I can say about some of these other commenters lol. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But some people are just mean and only brave when they are faceless beings hiding behind a computer. But good people like you are what matters to me. Take care Kelly pallie.
Vic,
I have to say, from what I saw on People’s Court, you seem to have a couple screws loose.
You are unprofessional, uneducated and depicted the traditional Italian-New Yorker. Congratulations.
From your horrible attire to your mumbling, you have represented a typical New Yorker who feels like he is entitled.
In closing, I think you are just as shady as the Defendant and belong in the same boat as him.
My advice:
Shut your mouth, get over it, continue taking advantage of the system while you are ahead and focus ALL OF YOUR ENERGY of making Mr. Pescatore’s life miserable into GOING TO THE GYM.
You’ll lose weight, feel better about yourself and actually have a shot of getting laid.
Thanks.
Personal attacks diminish your comments as well as YOU.
Judge Judy? More like Ugly Judy. Ugly comment from one who surely is an ugly person. Your the one who needs to get laid bitch.
Watched the Peoples Court episode, and I think Vic is not being honest about continually living in the same apartment for 43 years. Let me change my statement, I think Vic is a liar. Pay your taxes Vic. Me, Pescatore and the rest of the country are tired of carrying your sorry ___!
I only went on that show as a lark. And dressed and acted accordingly. Sorry to offend those who felt I should have taken it more seriously. The main thing is I won the major trial because I was in the right and proved so. I was not living at that apt. for all those years steadily but my family was and it was always a place to call home. I was indeed living there for the last two years in question. I have since cleared up the tax situation (there was a good reason for that which I will not go into here) and I am happy to add “Judge Judy” I have indeed taken off that weight that I had gained for a film role. As far as the mumbling I just had dental work done at the time of that taping. It was not my shining hour. As far as your other remarks..sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me lol. And I will be sure to tell my lady that I need to get laid more lol. Some come to praise and some come to slander that’s just how it is on an online verander.
I looked up that Pasquale Pescatore on line and what a sleaze he is. He is a greedy money hungrey bastard. What is with people like Lou and that so called Judge Judy? I doubt that is the Judge Judy because she is the one who is unprofessional and uneducated judging by the comment she left here. Which is as ugly as she probably is. And that holier than thou loser Lou not knowing one’s complete situation. I can tell Vic is a heart on the sleeve out in the open with nothing to hide kind of guy. If he was wrong about anything it was going on that show in the first place and hamming it up knowing he was on camera. I could tell he was not taking that seriously. That landlord is a snide weasel. All one has to do is look up both on line. Vic is not hiding anything. That landlord is always trying to screw people like the former owners of Black Betty as mentioned in this article. More power to you Vic I am glad you fought back and won. Salute.
Thanks Mr. Salmo. May I call you Tony..Thanks Tony. I really appreciate your comment/support. You are very perceptive and accurate. Salute to you.
Why was the last comment from one Tony Salmo I replied to removed? Anyway while on the subject I would like all of my comments be removed from here as well. Please remove all Vic Martino says comments asap. Thank you.
Oh excuse me for my error but the last time I had logged on to this site it appeared that comment was not here but my reply was? Anyway I would like all of my comments be removed from here thank you.
Vic, you rule, and you should have won the people’s court case. I’m just glad Pasqaule had to pay up on the money he owed you from ripping you off for all of those years. That guy is a real sleaze bag!!!
Do you still have to deal with him since he owns that building you live in or did you take the loot from suing him and buy up the whole building? What gives Vic?
Thank you my friend. I am still residing in the same building and my landlord and I are now civil with one another. As long as he doesn’t try anything that requires an uncivil response. In retrospect I should have taken that People’s Court episode more seriously but I was having fun and trying to put on a good show for the home viewers as it were. The best thing to come out of that was I saw how fat I got and have since taken off most of that excess weight. I was doing a project at that time that I put on weight for but I got carried away lol. And most people would be glad to know that I have since taken care of my tax situation that I had for reasons I would rather not post here. Anyway thank you Vic Martino Fan I am a fan of yours as well my friend. My best to you.
He should have won the People’s court case? Despite the fact it was illegal to double dip over the same event? He lost because he had no legal right to win.
I have no idea if the landlord is lying, but I do think that the guy who claims film roles and yet hasn’t filed taxes in over 20 is probably cheating this system as well. Looks like Martino got off lucky.
beats…
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