Tuesday, December 16, 2008

There are more than 20 empty storefronts along Avenue B

Let's take a walk up Avenue B, starting at Second Street.....









This spot will soon be home to a new coffee shop...but until then...





























Still with me? By my count, that's 21 empty storefronts in 14 blocks, though you can't really count the three blocks on Avenue B that border Tompkins Square Park....so make that 21 storefronts in 11 blocks.

14 comments:

Jeremiah Moss said...

wow. looks worse than 8th st. think it's poised to become "beirut" again?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, this is interesting...I said this a few weeks back...Maybe landlords should stop hiking rents. And has the CB3 effectively put an end to new bars/restaurants in the vacant spaces? Is Avenue B over as a destination spot? I know Perbacco was trying to move into that Carne Vale space, but the CB3 said no.

And the one new business ready t9o open on Avenue B is a 99-cent store.

Mykola Dementiuk said...

It's scary what the neighborhood has become...I remember when you had to be nuts just to walk down Ave B and risk the muggers and thieves from getting you...Seems like it's much cleaner and safer, but for what? Empty store fronts and yuppies still in bed, maybe it's good that I left...

Mick

Mykola Dementiuk

Anonymous said...

Yep. Its funny to remember that the setting for the Broadway show "Rent" about AIDS, druggies, slums and squatters was originally the area around Ave. A and B.

Anonymous said...

B is for broke.

Anonymous said...

A lot of those stores were just closed at that time, not empty. Come by again at 5pm, when all the restaurants, laundromats, coffee shops, and other stores are more likely to be open.

Grieve said...

I did go by again at 5 pm several days in a row -- and they were all still closed. Most of the places in the photos are empty and have big "for rent" signs on them. The East Village Launderette has been closed for months.

dianeb said...

Dynasty was closed by the NYC Health Department on 11/24. Peter had some signs put up saying goodbye, but they were gone the next day when I walked by the place. Not sure what to make of that, but it seemed to me they weren't doing too well the past five or six months. Sad in its own way as a lot of people from the building on 13th street where many deaf and disabled live had their holiday meal at Dynasty.

Tiny Banquet Committee said...

And so many of these have been vacant for a long time now. On Ave. C, there is a space around the corner from me that used to be a terrible Chinese restaurant, and it's been vacant for at least 2 years now, if not longer.

Anonymous said...

Good point, Tiny Banquet...I wish I could remember how long some of these things have been gone...It has been years for a few of the locations.

I'm curious, too, about the fancy new high rise coming to 13th and B. Wonder if some landlords were/are holding out for more upscale business owners that they think the residents in the new building may desire. Good luck.

At least Bee Liquors and Mona's seem to be doing OK....

Anonymous said...

Emptiness is not good--looks like a lot of newly renovated places are for rent--meaning--new places closed???old ones still standing for renewal???How can this be??Thought Ave B was hipster heaven--oh they went to the Bowery I guess--I like Loisada...leave us alone

Anonymous said...

B is for Brokeass.

Anonymous said...

Blame the greedy landlords. I hope they all burn in hell.

Anonymous said...

this could get good. let the greedy landlords hold out until they have to drop their prices. all the yunnies will set their sites on Portland & meanwhile, they're still building in Williamsburg. Every time I pass, i Think, please keep building. the rents will drop & I can live in an affordable neighborhood.