Kissaki debuts on the Bowery this week

Kissaki opens on Wednesday here at 319 Bowery between First Street and Second Street. (We first reported on this arrival back on Sept. 3.)

Mark Garcia, a former chef and partner of sushi bar Gaijin in Astoria, is among those behind this venture that features a 16-seat Omakase bar and a small dining area. There's a cocktail lounge coming soon.

According to the Kissaki website, they'll offer lunch and dinner service. The omakase menu in the evening runs $160 for 12 pieces of seasonal nigiri, three kaiseki-style prepared plates and one dessert.

As previously reported, the restaurant is the first retail tenant for the former Amato Opera. In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that was home to the opera since 1964. Amato Opera staged its last performance in May 2009. (Earlier history: The four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.)

Steve Croman bought No. 319 in December 2008 for $3.7 million. The retail space had been on and off the market since at least 2012.

The retail listing had originally asked $34,995. A post on @TradedNY noted the 1,800-square-foot space went for $200 per square foot.

No. 319 also features three luxury residences, with monthly rents between $8,995 and $10,995.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Life after the Amato Opera

• Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

• Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

• Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

• Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995

• 2nd acts: Sushi counter for the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

2nd acts: Sushi counter for the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

The former Amato Opera building at 319 Bowery may finally have its first (full-time) retail business...



Reps for Kissaki Omakase will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Sept. 16 for a full liquor license for the space...



One of the applicants was an executive chef/partner at Gaijin in Astoria. Plans here call for a sushi counter with proposed hours of noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with a 1 a.m. close Friday and Saturday. (Find more details via their online questionnaire.)

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that was home to the opera since 1964. Amato Opera staged its last performance in May 2009. (Earlier history: The four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.)

Steve Croman bought the building in December 2008 for $3.7 million. The retail space had been on and off the market since at least 2012. It was once pitched like this, circa 2012...



The retail listing had originally asked $34,995. A post on @TradedNY noted the 1,800-square-foot space went for $200 per square foot.

No. 319 also features three luxury residences, with monthly rents between $8,995 and $10,995.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995

Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995

The residential conversion of the former Amato Opera House at 319 Bowery has finally reached a conclusion (the work permits arrived here in October 2014).

Listings for the three units arrived on the market yesterday, with an April 15 occupancy. Two of the apartments are going for $10,995 while the three-bedroom unit on the upper level is seeking $14,995.

Here's the description for the largest of the units, that one for $14,995:

Brand new, gut-renovated 3 bedroom unit with two balconies and gorgeous private roof deck in a fantastic location with Central Air. This beautiful apartment features stainless steel appliances in a custom chef's kitchen, dishwasher, washer & dryer, built in Miele Espresso Maker, and two marble bathrooms. Apartment is accented by recessed pinpoint halogen lighting, wide plank oak flooring, and exposed brick, and beautiful fireplace.

Available for April 15th occupancy. Former Amato Opera House,jJust a short walk to the F or 6 train and close to the M9, M21, and M14 1st Avenue SelectBus Service. Steps from some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife, including Bowery Electric and Blue & Cream.

And a few photos (via Streeteasy)...









The retail listing is still active, now at $28,995, which is down from the previous $34,995 ask.

Steve Croman's 9300 Realty is the landlord here, having picked up the property between Second Street and First Street in December 2008 for $3.7 million. (Croman is currently serving a jail sentence.)

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

The four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Full FULL reveal on 1st Street, Avenue A and the Bowery

Workers recently removed the remaining sidewalk bridges and construction netting to provide full Full reveals at three new developments...

64 E. First St.



There are six, full-floor residences here between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... at the site of the former horrible hookah hotspot LaVie.

The website for 64 East — located [heh] in the "Bowery District" — shows that only one unit (just under $3.3 million) remains for sale. David Schwimmer reportedly just checked out a unit here for a possible bachelor pad.

438 E. 12th St. (aka Steiner East Village)



There's a full FULL reveal on the 11th Street and Avenue A sides of developer Douglas Steiner's Steiner East Village... the 12th Street side still remains under wraps...



The 7-story, 82-unit building officially at 438 E. 12th St. features homes starting at $1.1 million. There are currently seven units listed as available at the Steiner East Village website. Amenities include a 24-hour lobby concierge, 50-foot-long pool, spa, gym, library, etc.

There is, at the moment, some address chaos on the sidewalk bridge...



Steiner bought the former Mary Help of Christians property in 2012 from the Archdiocese of New York for $41 million.

319 Bowery



The sidewalk bridge is gone from outside 319 Bowery, undergoing a condo conversion after 45 years as the Amato Opera here between First Street and Second Street. (This four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.)

We recently noted that the retail space here is asking $34,995.

The developer is Steven Croman, who's facing suits in both civil and criminal court.

Retail space in the former Amato Opera House seeking to the tune of $35k monthly

The condo conversion of the former Amato Opera House at 319 Bowery creeps along (the work permits arrived here in October 2014) ...



The gut rehab comes courtesy of landlord Steven Croman, who's facing suits in both civil and criminal court. While there isn't any word on the residential portion of the building just yet, the signs did arrive last week for the storefront...



Per the listing:

Retail space for rent in the historic Amato Opera House. 1, 500 sq. ft plus garden and basement with 19 foot ceilings. Food OK.

Conveniently located near B, D, F, M & 6 train lines as well as M103 and M21 bus lines. Steps from some of the city's best shopping, restaurants and nightlife, neighbors include Patagonia Surf, Saxon + Parole, and Momofuku Ko.

Asking monthly rent: $34,995.

That's an ambitious ask considering the revolving door of businesses along this corridor of late.

Here's a look at a rendering for the retail space from a different broker circa 2012...



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Penthouse comes into view at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Apparently there will be a penthouse at 319 Bowery after all. Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval last September to convert the former Amato Opera house between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building.

The original plans showed three residential units above the ground-floor retail space, with a penthouse level. The approved permits that we saw later didn't list a penthouse level…



However, there is an amended permit dated July 8 that includes a penthouse, part of the fourth floor apartment.

In any event, you can now see this top level from the street…



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Construction watch: 319 Bowery

Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval last September to convert the former Amato Opera house at 319 Bowery into a commercial and residential building.

Documents show that there will be one residence on each floor above the retail space here between East Second Street and East First Street.

Workers have been on site since the fall… and the other day, EVG reader Roger took a look inside the open door ...



… to see what was going on with the interior. Per Roger: "The photos don't show much but I thought it was interesting that the place is getting completely gutted."





We're unsure about the incoming retail space here. We'd seen several listing for it. One at Croman's 9300 site says that the storefront — with the rent listed at $34,995 — is rented.

Amato Opera ended its long run on May 31, 2009.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

The changes to 3 Bowery mainstays

Just adding up the changing Bowery landscape along East Third Street and East Second Street…

Workers continue jackhammering away at the Salvation Army's former East Village Residence on the Bowery at East Third Street. The site will one day yield a 13-floor, 30,000 square-foot mixed-use residential development.



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The Whitehouse Hostel at 338-340 Bowery closed for good in early September. The building was sold. There are pending plans to build a 9-floor hotel in its place. Otherwise, there's not much activity here. There's still someone sitting behind the front desk … and the Pepsi machine remains in the lobby…



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On Friday, workers erected the sidewalk bridge outside the former Amato Opera building at 319 Bowery just below East Second Street…



Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval in September to convert the former theater into a commercial and residential building. Documents show that there will be one residence on each floor above the retail space. Amato Opera ended its long run on May 31, 2009.

And these are just the changes on one block. Curbed documented more of the Bowery's changing landscape back in August.

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

There's now activity at the Amato Opera building at 319 Bowery … the work permits have been posted… (the city issued them on Thursday)…



Landlord Steve Croman finally received DOB approval last month to convert the former theater between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building. Documents show that there will be one residence on each floor above the retail space.

Amato Opera ended its long run on May 31, 2009. Anthony Amato, the company's founder, died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

[EVG file photo]

On the Bowery, the historic Amato Opera building has sat vacant since the company closed on May 31, 2009.

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. (Amato died in December 2011.)

In recent years, new landlord Steve Croman had applied to convert the theater at 319 Bowery between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building. Now according to DOB records, the city approved the plans on Monday. Plans show three residential units above the ground-floor retail space, which is still on the market.


[Rendering for 319 Bowery via RKF]

Plans originally called for a penthouse here... though we didn't see any mention of that in the approved permits.



BoweryBoogie got a look inside the decaying Amato Opera back in June 2013. (Check out those photos here.) The building was later hit with a Stop Work Order.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera