The Plaza Suite
Encyclopedia
The Plaza Suite was a discothèque owned by Gambino crime family
underboss Sammy Gravano
in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
, New York City
.
and "Vinnie Sicilian" a capo from the Colombo crime family
. The two other shareholders brought in Sammy Gravano
for "protection" and "support". For this, Gravano was given 50% interest in the discothèque.
When Gravano took over he became unhappy with what he considered sloppy management and muscled his way into the business and took over the entire operation but kept the original arrangement with Salty and Vinnie Sicilian.
and Thomas Carbonaro. His manager of The Plaza Suite was Joseph Skaggs. Gravano hired local girls as waitresses. After he took over The Plaza Suite it became one of the most popular discothèques in Brooklyn and had people lining up around the block to get in.
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
underboss Sammy Gravano
Sammy Gravano
Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano is a former underboss of the Gambino crime family. He is known as the man who helped bring down John Gotti, the family's boss, by agreeing to become a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant and turn state's evidence.Originally a mobster for the Colombo crime...
in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Building history
The Plaza Suite was located at 2937 86th Street. The building was originally owned by four legitimate businessmen who formed a corporation called "Enjoy Yourself Incorporated" in 1979 and obtained a liquor license. Two of the businessmen become involved with silent partners, one was a made soldier named "Salty" from the Genovese crime familyGenovese crime family
The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
and "Vinnie Sicilian" a capo from the Colombo crime family
Colombo crime family
The Colombo crime family is the youngest of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia ....
. The two other shareholders brought in Sammy Gravano
Sammy Gravano
Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano is a former underboss of the Gambino crime family. He is known as the man who helped bring down John Gotti, the family's boss, by agreeing to become a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant and turn state's evidence.Originally a mobster for the Colombo crime...
for "protection" and "support". For this, Gravano was given 50% interest in the discothèque.
When Gravano took over he became unhappy with what he considered sloppy management and muscled his way into the business and took over the entire operation but kept the original arrangement with Salty and Vinnie Sicilian.
The disco
After Gravano took ownership of the disco he divided the ground floor of the building in half. Part was devoted to his construction headquarters, with a private office for himself and his brother-in-law Edward Garafola, and clerical staff. The other section contained a display space for a carpeting and hardwood flooring company Gravano had started to complement his various construction contracts On the second floor of the building was his discothèque The Plaza Suite. The disco was large and offered 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) of space. The walls were burgundy and gray. By the front entrance was a long bar counter and banquettes surrounded the dance floor. In the back was a separate VIP designated lounge. Unlike his earlier night club ventures, Gravano now immersed in his construction business, was not able to be present at the disco every night. He fired the bouncers and installed his own men, Michael DeBattMichael DeBatt
Michael "Mickey" DeBatt was a reputed Gambino crime family mob associate who was involved in the gangland slaying of drug trafficker Frank Fiala.-Biography:...
and Thomas Carbonaro. His manager of The Plaza Suite was Joseph Skaggs. Gravano hired local girls as waitresses. After he took over The Plaza Suite it became one of the most popular discothèques in Brooklyn and had people lining up around the block to get in.