Wednesday, June 19, 2013

174-176 First Ave., home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, is for sale



174-176 First Ave. is now on the market. The asking price for the two buildings between East 10th Street and East 11th Street: $12 million.

Here's the brief Corcoran listing:

This prime East Village asset is comprised of two adjoined mixed use walk-up apartment buildings, with a combined 35.5’ of frontage on First Avenue. The basement and first floors are occupied by 3 unique retail stores. The 176 First Ave building, has rail road style one bedroom apartments on the second, third and fourth floors with east and west exposure. The 174 First Ave building, has rail road style one bedroom apartments on the second and third floors with east and west exposure.

Nothing too alarming about that listing, like, Building will be delivered vacant ... or Plenty of air rights for an ugly condo!... 176 First Ave. is the longtime (since 1904) home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, one of our favorite places around. It's our understanding, via city records, that the DeRobertis family still owns the buildings ... (DeRobertis has their in-house bakery in the basement...)

We're not sure at this point what a sale means long-term for the bakery. Regardless, the bakery has been through a lot since 1904 ... From their website:

There are not many Pasticceria and Caffe's that can actually claim four continuous generations of friendly, family service. Our family tradition has survived through all types of conditions such as World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the fabulous Fifties, the Vietnam War, the recession of the 70's, the boom of the 80's ... With hard work, a determination to provide the finest pastries, cakes and desserts and your patronage, we will continue into the 21st Century.

Read more about the history of DeRobertis on their website.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Phew, the pasticceria looks safe. You scared me there for a few seconds!!

Anonymous said...

Me too! Where am I gonna get my hot cross buns at Easter?!

Anonymous said...

Well let's stop in and ask... if they close ... waaaaah!

Miss Phoebe said...

Last time my brother and I were there we asked how they were able to survive through the gentrification of the neighborhood. They explained that owning the building was the reason. This is terrible news!

nygrump said...

I hope they do this deal right - or they will be out on the street - someone has probably whispered in someones ear about the several million dollars they can pocket. That's one reason CBGB is gone, Hilly didn't buy the building when he could. That's why the Strand is still there, they own the building.

DrGecko said...

They're going to do the deal the way they want, so if they want to preserve the bakery they can, but that really is up to them.

On the other hand, just owning the building isn't enough. You have to have customers, too. Jerry Kurowicki's family owned (still owns? I dunno) the building that his butcher's shop was in, but he didn't have any customers except around Easter, because the neighborhood isn't as Slavic as it used to be.

Shawn said...

I go to DeRobertis every week as I live a block away and they do own the building, but maybe they are thinking its time to retire.

Last week I picked up a cheesecake and told the owner the only reason I was invited to the party was that I was bringing DeRoberti's. He howled with laughter and appeared proud.

It's been almost 110 years, maybe its time to take the money and move to Palm Beach. I don't blame them.

But I want to stop by and ask what they think now that this listing is public.

Fingers crossed. And what of First Flight Music? They're pretty awesome too.

Anonymous said...

makes sense for the family to get some money why the market is strong. They will likely negotiate a long-term lease with the new landlord as part of the sale. Common enough practice.

EVQP said...

Oh no... Owning the building is the only way many of the last remaining wonderful long-time places manage to stay in business (Katz's, John's of 12th St.) - so I hope anon. 11.26 is right. And Shawn, please post what they say!

Anonymous said...

I hope that they will stay...

blue glass said...

Kurowickis was doing just fine but did better by renting the store AND young jerry working as a meat manager for Trader Joes. less work for more money.
owning and working in a store is a lot of work.

Jill said...

I've never understood why Veneiros has lines a mile long for a table while DeRobertis is half empty.

Anonymous said...

"I've never understood why Veneiros has lines a mile long for a table while DeRobertis is half empty."

The quality of the baked goods is far superior. We've been regular customers of Veniero's for years, and thought to give De Robertis a try for a change. We bought a variety of items to try, including some that were quite similar to those at Veniero's.

Of our six guests, all of them thought the various pastries tasted off, either too sweet, too doughy, or just odd. We ended up throwing out most of it. We won't be returning there after that experience.

I wish them luck, but I suggest they improve their recipes and baking or they will suffer the fate of Kiev vs Veselka.

Best,
- East Villager

Anonymous said...

Oh East Villager...it's all a matter of opinion. I've been a de R. regular for 25+ years. Their baked goods are quite pleasant and their coffee is a lifeline!

Most important, they treat customers very well...like it matters to them that you are spending your time and money there.

I find Veniero's tiresome in the extreme, from the uber-marble interior to the uniformly impersonal service.

terithecook said...

I've been a customer of DiRobertis since moving to the area in 1965 as a child, and still return when visiting my mom and every holiday. Veniero is a commercially run place, it's great for people who don't know what Italian pastry is like. DiRobertis tastes like Sicily. I've been to Sicily and have eaten in enough Italian homes to know what it's supposed to taste like. It makes me sad that yet another part of my life might be leaving. I still mourn Palermo bakery for their pork bread and DiBella for their stuffed artichoke hearts and their "grape juice" that they sold in the old Welch's juice bottle behind the counter every time I walk past the storefronts.

I never liked Kiev so that's no comparison to me East Villager. If you want real Ukrainian you go next door to the Ukrainian East Village restaurant in the Ukrainian National Home. I promise there will be very few, if any, non-Ukies, but it will taste like it's supposed to taste.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I don't wish to be argumentative, but I have never personally heard anyone say they prefer Venieros over DeRobertis. Venieros seems so touristy. DeRobertis is a lovely, peaceful experience (except at the holidays, when it is a glorious madhouse). The idea that an entire group of people would find DeRobertis throw-outable is strange. Anyway, more sfogliatella and pignoli cookies for the rest of us! Oh and a few biscotti. And a tiramisu, please.

Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...

I cannot believe that I'm reading this. DeRoberti's is irreplaceable.