Despite Lockdown, ‘Bel-Fries’ Overcrowded Ludlow Street with a Major Party on Sunday

What lockdown? In Hell Square, it’s almost as if the last few months were in vain.

Sunday afternoon saw an overflowing party for the opening Bel-Fries on Ludlow Street. It was seemingly planned for maximum marketing value, despite the COVID-19 lockdown. A “Miami style” event with luxury cars, deejay booth, professional photo rigs, and plenty of horn honking.

Dozens of people congregated outside Bel Fries, and the cars (Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes) parked illegally on the sidewalk. Not many face masks in sight, either.

One neighbor called the cops, and officers were quick to respond. The loud music lasted about twenty minutes before it was shut down. But the people and overall traffic congestion remained for hours afterward.

No tickets were issued to the establishment or the drivers of the illegally parked vehicles, a police source told us.

This inaction upset Marvin Avilez, an activist with the Lower East Side Dwellers block association. He explained that summonses will provide more data the community could utilize to improve overall standard of living. Info that illuminates Hell Square conditions in greater detail.

“I am not criticizing the professionalism [of the officers] – they were sweet and helpful – just the tactics knowing that this is the center of Hell Square,” he told us.

With all that’s going on, throwing this type of party just seems poor taste.