Black Betty’s Last Supper

About two months ago, partners Bud Schmeling and Sandy Glover were given the sad news that they would not have the opportunity

to renew their lease on Black Betty (366 Metropolitan Ave), the restaurant/music venue that has become a beloved neighborhood institution. Despite holding fundraisers in preparation to meet the rising rent of the neighborhood, and operating a business that, even in the worst of economic times, has flourished, Schmeling reports his landlord signed over the space to another restaurateur without notice or explanation, leaving Black Betty and her devoted patrons without a home.

“It was very sudden,” said Schmeling standing tall in a tan striped suit and matching newsboy cap, prepared to say goodbye to a decades worth of hard work and emotional investment. “People are sad.”

Around 9pm, the air in the restaurant started to climb from soft buzz to steady hum.  A flash went off at a round table of five in the center of the space.  “A lot of the people who are eating here tonight have been coming here for ten years,” said a pretty woman behind the table named Rebecca Feldman, who also happens to be Schmeling’s wife. “I met my husband here.  A lot of people have met their husbands and their wives here.”

Also at the table with Feldman was her mother, Eileen Feldman, her sister Aliya Feldman, and friends Maggie Lloyd and Jonathan Bradley. Bradley has frequented Black Betty’s for almost as long as it’s been in existence, and traveled all the way from Washington Heights to help give the place its proper send off.  The group reminisced about the bands who were discovered in the space over the years, and lamented the loss of Black Betty’s middle eastern delicacies, including their falafel and paella. Despite it all, spirits remained jovial, and the late-night mission was PARTY.  Reverend Vincent was set to take the stage at 11, and as longtime patrons walked through the door, Schmeling asked more than one if they were planning to play that evening.

“Anything could happen,” one fellow answered over his shoulder.

As for what he is going to do next, Schmeling says he is just going to “take some time.” The last few weeks he seems to have been in overdrive as people have been coming in steadily to say their goodbyes.

“It’s been like this every night,” said Schmeling, looking around his restaurant as it swelled with Black Betty’s unique brand of life and movement for the last time.  “It would have been a bummer if people didn’t care.”