[krasin]

It appears that it cost a lot (a not just the money; also time + hassle). I quote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Cabaret_Law#Caba...

>All applicants for a cabaret license had to be fingerprinted; to provide extensive financial records; to meet specific zoning, surveillance, physical security, fire, building, electrical, health, and record keeping requirements; and to pay the fees associated with each compliance.

>In 2016, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs claimed there were then 118 cabaret licenses in a city of 25,100 licensed food service establishments.