News Release

Letter of Intent Signed for Jacob Riis Bathhouse

Date: March 2, 2018
Contact: Daphne Yun, 718-815-3651

We are proud to announce that the National Park Service (NPS) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Brooklyn Bazaar for the Jacob Riis Park Bathhouse. A LOI is a tentative agreement between the government and a potential leaseholder for building use, which includes preliminary requirements to be completed within a stated timeframe. Brooklyn Bazaar was deemed the applicant most responsive to a competitive Request for Proposals for the re-use of the bathhouse that was issued by the NPS. Negotiations between the two parties for a long-term lease are currently underway.

“We are looking forward to taking our partnership with Brooklyn Bazaar to the next level,” said Gateway Superintendent Jennifer T. Nersesian. “This Letter of Intent marks the first step in revitalizing the Riis Beach Bathhouse in a way that will offer new opportunities to our beachgoing visitors while ensuring the preservation of this iconic historic structure.”

Brooklyn Bazaar has hosted activities, provided entertainment, shopping, food and drinks at Jacob Riis Park’s historic and pristine beach waterfront since 2015. They brought over 20 restaurants and pop-up food stands to serve the diverse tastes of Riis Park visitors and weekend pop-up markets featuring both local merchants and national brands. During that time attendance at Riis Park more than tripled.

“We look forward to developing a comprehensive and exciting vision for the Bathhouse that is in line with the continued rejuvenation of Riis Park,” said Aaron Broudo and Belvy Klein of Brooklyn Bazaar.

Brooklyn Bazaar proposes to develop the Bathhouse Complex into a unique seaside destination, and to return Riis Park, the “People’s Beach” to its heyday of decades past. Using a phased development plan, certain things will be open this summer, while other aspects of this site should be open by summer of 2020.

Brooklyn Bazaar was founded in 2010 by attorney Aaron Broudo and musician/punk rock vet, Belvy Klein. Starting as a successful outdoor pop-up
event in the fall of 2011 in downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Night Bazaar grew to a year round, free, all ages multi-faceted venue space. In 2016, Brooklyn Bazaar relocated to a three story former banquet hall in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where it operates a restaurant, concert venue, vendor market, private karaoke rooms, game areas and several banquet rooms where large scale public and private events are hosted daily.