A Barnes & Noble is opening in the East Village

Photos Saturday by Stacie Joy

H/T EVG reader Russell K

News of a Barnes & Noble coming to 181 Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street sparked plenty of discussion over the weekend on an East Village Reddit thread. 

A Reddit user found a notice for the new store, set to open in November, on the Barnes & Noble website.

We reached out to Barnes & Noble for comments, though didn't hear back yet over the holiday weekend.

News of this arrival coincides with crews removing layers of wheatpaste posters from the vacant Avenue A retail space on Saturday...

There are also approved work permits dated May 13 for "retail space electrical service and AC wiring."

The 11,000-square-foot retail space at the base of Steiner East Village has been vacant since residents began moving into the condoplex eight years ago. 

Meanwhile, despite years of store closures and hand-wringing about the future of bookstores, Barnes & Noble is in expansion mode. 

As reported by USA Today this past December, the chain plans to open 60 new stores in 2026 following what company officials described as strong sales at existing locations. The expansion marks a turnaround after nearly two decades of declining store numbers, with the company already opening dozens of locations in 2025.

The EV outpost will not replace the Union Square B&N, though it will likely alleviate some of its congestion. 

A rent increase forced B&N to close at 4 Astor Place in December 2007 after 13 years in operation.

Not everyone's on the same page

Reaction to the news of a Barnes & Noble opening on Avenue A has been mostly positive so far — though not without some concern about what it could mean for independent bookstores nearby. 

In the lively Reddit thread, several commenters said they were excited to have a large bookstore in the neighborhood again, especially given the recent resurgence of Barnes & Noble locations across the city. Others pointed out that the East Village already has a strong network of indie bookstores and worried about bringing another national chain into the neighborhood. 

A few people also expressed cautious optimism, saying they hoped a bookstore, chain or not, would be preferable to another bank, smoke shop, fast-casual salad spot, or continued vacant storefront. 

We'll see what November will bring, though it seems like an ambitious timeline for a completely raw space...

Community spirit shines through the rain at the 39th annual Loisaida Festival

Photos and story by Stacie Joy 

Despite the rain, today still turned out to be a really nice celebration for the 39th edition of the Loisaida Festival along Avenue C. 

Throughout the afternoon, we kept hearing people talk about how important it is to preserve this longtime neighborhood cultural institution — one that continues to bring together music, food, performances and community across generations. 

This year's festival, themed "Our AmeRícan Thing" in honor of the late poet Jesús "Tato" Laviera, once again filled Avenue C with live music, dancing, vendors and plenty of neighborhood spirit, rain and all.

The annual event is presented by Loisaida Inc., the longtime Puerto Rican-led arts and community organization based at the Loisaida Center on Ninth Street.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with some cloud scenes from 2nd and C)...

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• The growth of the sunflowers (May 19) 

• 3 tiny hawklets, 1 busy nest in Tompkins Square Park (May 19) 

• Rosa Deli & Grocery has closed on Avenue D (May 20) 

• Somtum Der to close on Avenue A on May 31 (May 18) 

• After 54 years, Cozy Soup 'n' Burger is closing on Astor Place (May 22) 

• The 3rd Avenue outpost of the Bean has closed (May 18) 

• A long-hidden room at Katz's is now open to the public again (May 21) 

• A celebration of life for Albert Fabozzi in Tompkins Square Park (May 17) 

• Loisaida Festival returns to Avenue C on Sunday (today!) with its 39th edition (May 22) 

• A few scenes from the annual Ukrainian Festival (May 17) 

• Spring and summer in bloom at Albert's Garden (May 22) 

• Arturo Vega exhibit extended at Howl! (May 21) 

• You have a few more weeks to see the Keith Haring exhibit at the Brant Foundation (May 19) 

• Custom-fit t-shirts and coffee are coming to 316 Bowery (May 20) 

• News from other sources: Can apartment renovations count as "demolition"? (May 19) 

• Official signage alert: Tacos Domingo on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place (May 22) 

• Openings: Sanwits on 1st Avenue (May 21) … Sono on 1st Avenue (May 21) 

• Saturday flashback: Dancing through the East Village (May 22)

And earlier this month, Arete Studios opened at 116 Suffolk St., between Rivington and Delancey... which highlights "emerging" clothing brands (photos by Stacie Joy)...

The Studio takes over the space from Bluestockings Cooperative, which closed late last year after a 26-year run as an independent feminist bookstore, café, and radical community space.

Sunday's opening shot

Photo of C&B Cafe by Stacie Joy 

The drizzle-rain-showers combo is expected to continue today... with the temps in the 50s. 

AccuWeather alleges that it will be "warmer with clouds followed by a brightening sky" tomorrow afternoon. 

Meanwhile, the 39th Annual Loisaida Festival on Avenue C today is rain or shine... so the show goes on. 

Elsewhere indoors, the annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts continues today at Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. at 10th Street. The Poetry Jam starts at 4 p.m., followed by a variety of performances at 6 p.m. All free. List here (PDF).

Mephiskapheles shares project update after Tompkins postponement

Given the rainy forecast this afternoon, today's free show in Tompkins Square Park has been postponed.

Longtime locals Mephiskapheles were calling this their 35th-anniversary show, since the band started in the East Village in 1991. 

Meanwhile, the ska band's Greg Robinson gave us an update... 

We are putting the finishing touches on our latest album, which we recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, in 2023. Mephiskapheles at Muscle Shoals was as magical and perfect a pairing as it sounds. Came out great. The reason for the delay in finishing it is essentially financial. We haven't resorted to crowdfunding yet but that could be in the cards... 

It's a great album featuring 14 brand-new Mephiskapheles songs (many of which we are playing live), plus we have a full-length documentary on the band and the sessions, also directed by Anthony Q. Artis, to be released simultaneously with the album when the time comes. 

Other than that, we've been doing our thing, touring around the country and working on new music. However, our touring has been scaled back for 2026 due to skyrocketing overhead costs and to devote our efforts to finishing our big projects. 

The band's next show in the area is July 16 at the Wood Shop in Bushwick.

Saturday flashback: Dancing through the East Village

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Given today’s cool, rainy weather, we're flashing back to last Saturday — about as perfect a spring day as you can get (OK, maybe a little too warm for May) — and a few scenes from the annual Dance Parade along St. Mark's Place and the DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park. 

The 20th annual event featured hundreds of dancers, DJs and live bands representing a wide range of dance styles and organizations from across the city.

Caturday's opening shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

New guard cat on duty at Love Story (the convenience store FKA S&S Bliss) on Third Street near Avenue B.

Meet Sky, a Scottish Fold...

Friday's parting shot

A view along Second Avenue late this holiday weekend Friday afternoon...

Don’t shoot the 'Messenger'

 

Brooklyn-based Chanel Beads release its second full-length record on June 26 (via Jagjaguwar, and yes, the album title is the same as its debut). 

Ahead of that is the single from Shane Lavers and company called "Song for the Messenger."

Loisaida Festival returns to Avenue C on Sunday with its 39th edition

Poster by Mateo Nazario

The 39th Annual Loisaida Festival returns to Avenue C on Sunday ... once again bringing an afternoon of live music, performances, food vendors and community programming to the neighborhood. 

This year's festival — themed "Our AmeRícan Thing" in honor of the late poet Jesús "Tato" Laviera — takes place from noon to 5 p.m. along Avenue C between Fifth Street and 12th Street, rain or sun. 

The day begins with an 11 a.m. community parade led by the all-female Batalá NY batucada ensemble, joined by groups including the Loisaida Cabezudos, Bond Street Theater and Pleneros Callejeros. 

Festival organizers say this year's lineup includes salsa, merengue, Latin jazz, cumbia-rock and spoken-word performances throughout the afternoon, along with an artisan market between Fifth Street and Sixth Street presented in partnership with PRIDA. 

The annual event is presented by Loisaida Inc., the longtime Puerto Rican-led arts and community organization based at the Loisaida Center on Ninth Street.

After 54 years, Cozy Soup 'n' Burger is closing on Astor Place

Say goodbye to another old-school diner. 

Ownership of the Cozy Soup 'n' Burger on Broadway at Astor Place announced that the 54-year-old diner is closing on June 21. 

As we noted in April, things were looking bleak for the diner that opened in 1972, as third-generation owner John Strats launched a GoFundMe campaign amid ongoing financial challenges stemming from the pandemic. 

Our recent visits saw a mostly empty dining room during prime breakfast and lunch hours, while passersby on Broadway walked by with bags from various fast-casual bowl spots. 

Here's the full message via Instagram: 

After 54 unforgettable years, the time has come for us to say goodbye. 

We will officially be closing our doors on June 21. Rising costs and declining business have made it impossible for us to continue, but we are deeply grateful for the love and support this community has shown us over the years. 

Cozy Soup  'n' Burger at 739 Broadway has been more than just a diner — it's been a home filled with memories, laughter, and generations of loyal customers who became family. 

Thank you to everyone who walked through our doors and made this place special for over five decades. Thank you for being part of our story and for loving Cozy Soup n Burger for 54 incredible years. This isn’t just the closing of a diner — it’s the end of an era. 

With love and gratitude, 

The Cozy Soup  'n' Burger Family

Spring and summer in bloom at Albert’s Garden

One of our favorite neighborhood gardens has released its upcoming slate of free workshops and events.

Albert's Garden, the longtime community garden on Second Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue, will host a series of spring and summer gatherings, including plant workshops, guitar lessons, writing sessions and live music.

Upcoming events include: 

• May 23: Potting Plants for Your Apartment with Heather Frankel (11 a.m.-noon) 

• May 27: Strum Along guitar workshop with Heather Boo (6-7 p.m.) 

• June 20: "A Garden as Writing Prompt" with Prof. Emerita Barbara Horn (1-2:15 p.m.) 

• June 21: Make Music NY performance with Kim Kalesti

The garden — which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 — remains one of the neighborhood’s quieter green spaces, tucked behind the Bowery and long associated with the Ramones-era East Village scene.

 

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Official signage alert: Tacos Domingo on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Workers installed the Tacos Domingo signage yesterday on the SW corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place...

As we first reported a few Fridays ago, this will be the first outpost for the Mexico City-based taquería specializing in charcoal-grilled tacos.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Getting carried away today in Tompkins Square Park...

A long-hidden room at Katz's is now open to the public again

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Those rumors about a new dining room at Katz's turned out to be true. 

The deli on the corner of Houston and Ludlow has unveiled "The Ludlow Room," a restored 68-seat dining room with waiter service that had been closed off since 1949, when the space was converted into a walk-in refrigerator during the postwar boom years for pastrami, corned beef and brisket. 

According to Katz's, several original details remain intact, including the tiled floors, foil ceilings and a freight scale that has weighed every pound of meat served there since 1949 (and apparently too heavy to move). 

The space will also be used for private events. 

Here's a look from yesterday afternoon, featuring archival photos of the deli and some history of the business, which first opened in 1888 across the street from its current home ...

... the scale...

... and fifth-generation owner Jake Dell...

Here's a look at the main dining room...