A new event hosting space and golf simulator spot with a café and bar place may take over the historic Squire Theater space.
Lounge X LLC owner Kenix Wang went before Oct. 18 the Village of Great Neck Plaza Board of Trustees to ask for a conditional use permit for the new business. If approved, Lounge X will host company, holiday and family events as well as have golf simulator rooms in the future.
The board did not vote on the permit, instead opting to hear from Wang again with updated information about the ages of those who could enter the space.
Wang told the board he would like the first floor of the former movie theater to be an event space with a café and bar. On the second floor there would be about eight golf simulators with a public putting green area.
“We probably recommend to you that if that’s the corporate name, that’s fine,” Mayor Ted Rosen said. “But you might seriously consider adopting a business name because Lounge X probably conveys to the public a type of business that you’re not intending to do.”
Deputy Mayor Pamela Marksheid pointed out that the Squire name is widely recognized.
“The Squire name extends ways over just Great Neck, it goes to a lot of different communities. So it could attract a lot more people,” she said.
Wang said the reason behind the name “X” was to use it as a newer generational marketing tool.
For events, Wang said he would hire private chefs to do on-site catering. He told the board he plans to install a commercial kitchen on the first floor where Theater Four was. Also on the first floor would be a café sitting area and bar open to the public. Those under 18 and over 12 would be able to use the simulators and café, he said.
Upstairs would be the golf simulators in private rooms, where patrons could eat light finger food and snacks from the café. Wang expects to outfit each of the eight rooms upstairs with eight simulators and have three public putting greens in the middle of the upstairs.
Public opinion was divided, with one resident saying she would like the space because it would provide more activities in Great Neck at night for adults.
Another resident said she was worried it would bring in “bedlam” and it would disrupt the quiet of the village.
