A look inside the former Fireboat House in East River Park as it faces an uncertain future

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Sitting barren along a tree-less stretch of under-renovation East River Park below the Williamsburg Bridge, the former Fireboat House — most recently home to the Lower East Side Ecology Center — now stands silent and abandoned. 

Built in 1941 for Marine Company 66, the two-story Moderne-style building replaced an earlier fireboat station that had operated off Grand Street since the 19th century.

Inside, it sits in quiet disarray — scattered papers, peeling paint and the faint echo of a place once full of purpose.

It's the last National Register-eligible structure left in East River Park following the demolition of the Track House and Tennis Center as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project. 

According to an ESCR spokesperson, the Fireboat House is still undergoing a federal review known as the Section 106 process, which is required to ensure that historic buildings or sites are not negatively impacted by construction projects. 

Currently, city agencies — including the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Design and Construction, and the Parks Department — are reviewing feedback received from groups involved in the process. Once those responses are finalized, they'll be shared with everyone involved, the spokesperson said via email. (The LES Ecology Center will be housed further south in East River Park.)

Although its future use remains uncertain, there is hope that this resilient structure might be spared.

Unapologetic Foods has moved on from 82 2nd Ave. for its kebab houe concept

A for lease sign arrived at 82 Second Ave. on Monday. 

This is newsy for what isn't going to be opening here: The space was to be the home of Kebabwala, an Indian kebab house from the Unapologetic Foods team. 

Apparently after all these years (news of this dates to 2021), founders Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya decided to move on. 

An Unapologetic rep told us: "It was going to take us another two years to get a gas line there since the building does not have a commercial gas line installed."

The rep said they currently don't have any other EV storefronts in mind for the kebab concept.

No. 82, located between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, has been vacant for at least 10 years and previously housed restaurants, including 7 Spices and Reyna Exotic Turkish Cuisine. (Now we know why the space has sat empty.)

Meanwhile, work continues at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street where Unapologetic Foods is opening an outpost of its popular Adda Indian Canteen. (They were up for a liquor license last July.)

The great Huertas closed here in August 2023 after 10 years in service. The building had a new landlord, and chef Jonah Miller said he could not agree to "suitable terms" for a new lease. 

Reps for Paulie Gee's Slice Shop looked at this space in late 2023, although those plans did not move forward. 

Unapologetic Foods also operates the fried-chicken outpost, Rowdy Rooster, at 149 First Ave. at Ninth Street, and the Filipino restaurant Naks, 201 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

Signage alert: The Hood Spot Convenience on Avenue D

Photo by Stacie Joy

Signage recently arrived for The Hood Spot Convenience at 63 Avenue D between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

The space has seen a string of similar businesses in recent years, including Spoils & Oils Convenience Corp., Super Vape Convenience Corp. and CresCent Deli & Coffee Candy Store. 

Meanwhile, on the SW corner of Avenue D and Fifth Street, the 13-story mixed-used development for the lot that once housed the Uncle Johnny grocery (RIP February 2022) is stalled. We haven't seen any activity here for the past two years. However, there are approved permits for the work, dating back to last summer.

Tuesday's parting shot

Thnaks to EVG reader Jim Mullins for this sunset shot from Stuy Town...

Check out the updates coming to the Key Food on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Some big changes are coming to the Key Food on Avenue A. 

A high-level Key Foods source outlined what shoppers can expect in the coming weeks as the store spruces things up, from checkout to cold cuts. 

First up: the checkout lanes. Starting in early May, Key Food will be removing one of the self-checkout lanes and bringing back a good old-fashioned staffed register. 

"Hearing the feedback from customers and management, we wanted to improve the checkout experience," the source said. "We felt that another standard lane would help reduce some of the backup we've seen at the staffed registers."

At the same time, the store is replacing two of its older self-checkout stations with new fixtures.

Then, in mid-May, the rest of the aging self-checkout terminals are getting the boot. The current 11 self-checkouts will be reduced to seven, all of which are newly installed and arranged in a single pass-through lane. The new stations won’t just look sleeker — they'll come equipped with upgraded technology designed to speed up the process and enhance security. 

In addition to the checkout upgrades, Key Food is making changes in and around the deli department. A small standalone refrigerator dedicated to sushi — an EVG customer favorite! — will be added by the end of May. 

The store will also reorganize ("reset") the deli area to better support its grab-and-go options. Cheese and prepackaged Italian cold cuts will move to the current dairy section.

"We're very excited about the updates and hope you and our customers like the changes," the source said.

Signage alert: Revival Dog Training on 7th Street

Photos by Steven

You may have noticed the new signage outside 92 E. Seventh St. in recent weeks...

Earlier this spring, the Houston-based Revival Dog Training announced that it was taking over the former School for Dogs space, located between First Avenue and Avenue A.

In Janaury, Annie Grossman had no choice but to shutter School for the Dogs, the business she started in her East Village living room in 2011, with little to no warning to her longtime patrons and staff. She said a potential sale to another local pet services operation fell through at the last minute, leaving her and the business in financial ruin. (You can read our interview with Grossman here.) 

Here's part of an Instagram post from Revival: 

We are acquiring the very popular and nationally recognized School For The Dogs' Manhattan location, which closed in January. We plan to honor the SFTD legacy through our own programs and brand, and continue to serve dogs and their people in the East Village community, just as they did for many years. We are thankful to have the help of SFTD owner, Annie Grossman, during our transition. 

They plan to open on May 12.

Openings: Sky High Club on Avenue C

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Sunday (4/20!) marked the grand opening of Sky High Club, the first licensed cannabis outlet on Avenue C. 

Owner David Powell (above) holds a justice-impacted CAURD license for the space at 129 Avenue C, located between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. 

The grand opening was to include Jadakiss and Styles P serving as guest budtenders later in the evening.

Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. You can follow the shop on Instagram for updates.

Monday's parting birthday wishes

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A post shared by Rock Roll Repeat (@_rockrollrepeat_)

HBD (4/21) Iggy Pop... onetime resident of Avenue B...

Flood gate demo offers glimpse of future protection along the East River

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

A group of city officials and local leaders recently gathered along South Street under the FDR — between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges — for a first-hand look at the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project's future in action. 

Representatives from ESCR, the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), and Community Board 3 were on hand as a temporary hydraulic switch was used to raise one of the new deployable flip-up barriers designed to protect Lower Manhattan from storm surges and rising sea levels.

This stretch of the East River is one of several key points along the ESCR zone, part of the first phase of "The Big U," the years-in-the-making $1.45 billion effort to build layered flood protection along Manhattan's vulnerable coastlines. 

The larger Big U project will eventually cover several miles, from Asser Levy Playground down around Battery Park City, blending protective infrastructure with new, raised park space. 

The demonstration site, situated just off the East River Esplanade, currently features exposed rebar where a permanent, protected panel box will be installed in the future. 

Once completed, the system will allow the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to deploy the gates quickly — within an hour — when severe weather threatens. The DEP will oversee gate operations, with a specially trained team dedicated to monitoring and managing deployments. 

The video below provides the best view of the gates in action.

 

Last fall, the city marked the completion of the first phase between 15th Street and Asser Levy Playground. Upgrades included a revamped Murphy Brothers Playground. 

Construction along the ESCR corridor is expected to be complete by 2026.

Dig this: 1st Avenue pit stop

If you've been on the NW corner of First Avenue and Second Street in recent weeks, you've likely noticed the full-blown construction of the 7-floor residential building.

For now, workers are going down instead of up... depending on the angle, this looks like a prehistoric dig... (thanks to Steven for these pit shots)...

The building at 88 E. Second St. will include ground-floor retail and 22 residential units, likely rentals, given the square footage. 

Read our previous posts for more about the project and prior businesses at 33-37 First Ave. 

Updated: 

An EVG reader shared this photo from the afternoon... showing a cement pumper on-site, filling in that pit...

Signage alert: Bar Bianchi on Avenue A at Houston

As we first noted last Wednesday, workers removed the plywood from the under-renovation storefront at 5 Avenue A and Houston. 

Since then, the signage and brandage arrived for the new tenant, Bar Bianchi...

A representative shared more details about this establishment, a collaboration between Golden Age Hospitality's Jon Neidich and Craig Atlas, as well as Darin Rubell of Paradise Projects. 

... Bar Bianchi draws inspiration from Milan's most fabled haunts, from the Prada-owned Bar Luce to beloved classics like Bar Basso and Bar Jamaica. The interior captures the charm of 1920s-1930s Italian design layered with the optimism of 1960s modernism. Handcrafted clay tiles in a dynamic diamond pattern anchor the space, echoing the floors of historic Milanese cafés. These graphic elements are complemented by custom millwork and subtly textured Venetian plaster walls... 

Golden Age Hospitality's Executive Chef Nicole Gajadhar has crafted a trattoria-style menu featuring standouts like crisp fried zucchini, rigatoni with sausage, peas, and pink sauce, beef carpaccio, burrata with roasted peppers, and a signature veal Milanese for two. For dessert, guests can indulge in classics like tiramisu, ricotta cheesecake, and affogato.

The cocktail program, created by Cody Pruitt of Libertine, highlights Italian staples like spritzes, negronis, and sgroppinos — made with gelato-inspired ice cream and sorbet from Hallie Meyers' beloved Caffè Panna. The wine list offers a thoughtful selection of natural wines from family-owned wineries that emphasize low-intervention winemaking. 

Well, we've come a long way from a previous longtime tenant, Nice Guy Eddie's (RIP 2012), eh?

Paradise Hospitality's Boulton & Watt closed here after 11 years last summer. 

When it debuts next month, Bar Bianchi — featuring a sidewalk patio along the First Street-Houston side — will be open Monday through Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday from noon to 3 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 1 a.m.

On Avenue D, Food City Market closes

Photos by Stacie Joy

After nearly two years in business, Food City Market has closed at 85 Avenue D, located between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (Thanks to the EVG readers for the tips about this.)

We weren't the only ones who found it odd that Food City set up shop just steps away from the Food Emporium on the SW corner of Avenue D and Sixth Street. (And there was a rumor that Food City would merge with the Emporium — but an employee quickly shot that down.)

This space, previously occupied by a Rite Aid, is now available on the retail market. Per the listing: "Ownership will consider logical divisions. Perfect for a laundromat, adult daycare, medical facility, or non-profit." And maybe not a grocery.

Sunday's parting marriage proposal

Photo by Steven 

As seen at the Village East by Angelika today on Second Avenue and 12th Street...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo in Tompkins Square Park by Stacie Joy) ... 

• Ongoing leadership turmoil at Sixth Street Community Center sparks tensions (Friday) 

• Tompkins Square Park Field House officially reopens after renovations (and you won't recognize the restrooms) (Tuesday) ... A barricade-free chess experience in Tompkins Square Park now possible (Saturday) 

• 45 years of ABC No Rio (Thursday)

• 2 new stories and 8 residential units proposed for historic 7th Street church (Wednesday) 

• Genre is Death live at Berlin (Thursday) 

• We know where Cookie Puss is at (Wednesday) 

• A piano gets a second life at Abraço (Thursday) 

• Good Friday on Avenue B (Friday) 

• A licensed cannabis shop is opening at 15 Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• Fat Boys Burgers for 1st Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Another bubble tea option for St. Mark's Place (Monday) 

• Plywood report outside the former Crocodile Lounge on 14th Street (Monday) 

And we've been meaning to note that the corner deli on Third Street and Avenue C recently changed hands ... (pics by Stacie Joy)

New name but similar vibe.