Showing posts with label B&H Dairy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label B&H Dairy. Show all posts

Friday, January 12, 2024

Classic East Village lunch counter B&H Dairy looking good with new awning, storefront and neon signage

The new awning arrived earlier this week at B&H Dairy, the circa-1938 lunch counter at 127 Second Ave. 

As previously reported, B&H received a storefront facelift between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place at the end of December, thanks to a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the new doorway and front windows plans.) 

Also new: The B&H neon sign is hanging in the front window for the first time in three decades.
Now let's go get some blintzes...

Friday, December 29, 2023

EV classic B&H Dairy is back open with a new front door and windows

Photos by Derek Berg 

After a two-day storefront renovation on Tuesday and Wednesday, the great B&H Dairy is back in service at 127 Second Ave. ... (the B&H awning will return next week)...
As we noted on Tuesday (when the above photo was taken), the new restoration happened thanks to a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the plans for the new doorway and front windows.) 

In 2020, someone broke the front door to rob the circa-1938 lunch counter. Earlier that year, someone smashed the front window with a bottle. 

B&H is open daily here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

East Village classic B&H Dairy is getting a refreshed storefront (don't worry)

B&H Dairy will be closed today and tomorrow (Dec. 26-27) for (gulp!) a storefront renovation. 

Owners Fawzy and Ola explain in an Instagram post
The new restoration is happening thanks to a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express together with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. B&H is one of 25 restaurants in the entire U.S. — and the ONLY restaurant in NYC — to get the grant. 

New storefront, yes, BUT in line with our look historically; we are working with plans approved by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

We got the grant in June 2022, but it took us until just last Friday to get the work permits! (Long story, we'll tell you over a blintz someday.) 
The lunch counter has had a few different looks since it opened between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place in 1938... seen below in the 1980s...

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

B&H Dairy is on a summer break

Photos by Steven 

In case B&H Dairy was in your future dining plans... the classic lunch counter at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is taking its usual summer break... and will be back in action with the borscht and blintzes on Tuesday, July 18...

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Tuesday's parting Instagram post

The folks at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue reposted the above shot today... Santiago Durango and Steve Albini of Big Black eating at B&H in July 1986... © photo by Gail Butensky. Find more of her work here.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Friday's parting (spoiler) shot

A scene from the B&H Dairy 2022 calendar shoot today on Second Avenue (as explained here) ... photo by Derek Berg...

Be B&H Dairy famous for ALL of 2022

Today (Friday) at 3 p.m., B&H Dairy is shooting their annual friends-and-family photo for the lunch counter's 2022 calendar. (Gabi Porter is shooting today's calendar cover.) 

This tradition started in 2017 here at the 83-year-old B&H. 

If you're worried about the weather ... the skies are expected to clear early this afternoon, per the exclusive EVG forecast. 

B&H is at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. (B&H also has some nice t-shirts and hats for the upcoming gift-giving season.)

Saturday, August 14, 2021

A holiday break for B&H

In case you were thinking about going to B&H Dairy in the near future... may want to do it sooner rather than later: The kosher lunch counter will be going on an August break starting on Monday... returning to service on Aug. 25. 

B&H Dairy: 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. Phone: (212) 505-8065.

Also... Il Posto Accanto will be on a break after dinner service tomorrow, with a reopening date of Aug. 24.

Il Posto Accanto: 190 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Phone: (212) 228-3562.

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Saturday's opening shot

No indoor dining yet at the lunch counter for B&H Dairy, 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place ... though there are three small tables outside and plenty of options to go or for delivery. 

Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Monday, when they are closed. (212) 505-8065

Thursday, December 31, 2020

On 2nd Avenue, B&H Dairy wraps up a trying year, ponders its future

The hits kept on coming in 2020 for B&H Dairy, the 83-year-old lunch counter at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. The vandalism. The break-ins. The mound of garbage. The wind-damaged canopy. (A crowdfunding campaign is helping them get through this rough patch.)

In a story published yesterday, Gothamist reporter Jake Offenhartz talked with co-owner Ola Abdelwahed, who admitted "that the last few months have left her closer to giving up than she ever thought possible."

The latest indignity came, she said, with the city and state's constantly changing guidelines for outdoor dining:
The final straw came a few days before Christmas, when city inspectors ordered B&H to dismantle their newly-erected sidewalk structure, due to its proximity to a curbside tree. (The bus lane on 2nd Avenue means B&H can't take advantage of on-street dining). 
By that point, they'd already relocated the outdoor area twice to meet the city’s demands, while investing thousands of dollars in new wiring that will, in theory, eventually allow them to connect an outdoor heater. "When the man stopped by and told me about the tree, I almost had a heart attack. No one ever mentioned the tree, all of a sudden they remember the tree," Ola told Gothamist on a recent morning. "I give this place so much heart and emotion to continue the tradition, and the city wants to destroy us."

 

Friday, December 25, 2020

High winds takes down the B&H Dairy awning on 2nd Avenue

The high winds overnight damaged several outdoor dining spaces ... and it took down the awning at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... (Derek Berg took the top photo; and BW took the shot below...)
B&H's small outdoor space was also damaged by the awning.

It has been a struggle this year for the 82-year-old lunch counter — absence of indoor dining aside... there have been two break-ins ... and the vandalized front window... not to mention the trash mound

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

A break in at B&H Dairy

There was another setback late last night in an already challenging year for B&H Dairy

Someone smashed a hole in the front door and broke into the 82-year-old lunch counter around 3 a.m. at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The thief (or thieves) made off with the cash drawer

Owners Ola and Fawzy Abdelwahed outlined their struggles here at the end of the summer. They're currently relying on pick ups and delivery ... as well as a few outdoor seats ... to stay in business during the pandemic. 

They had to cover paying employees, rent, utilities, and buying food for the restaurant on only 10 percent of their previous income. 

On May 30 someone smashed in their front window during a spate of vandalism along Second Avenue. 

B&H was able to open today at 11:30 after the police made a report...
Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

[Updated] Struggling B&H Dairy now contending with a mountain of garbage next door



B&H Dairy, already struggling with a downturn in business since reopening back in May, now has another challenge: the mountain of trash stacked up next to its curbside seating...



"Looks like it's from an vacated apartment," a B&H rep said, noting the trash has been there now for four days...



B&H, depending mostly on takeout and delivery, has a small footprint outside, with only a needful of tables ... which currently aren't too appealing next to the trash.

We tweeted the photos last night, which caught the attention of local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who shared it with 311 and the Department of Sanitation.

Updated 11 a.m.

The city removed the pile of trash... (Thanks @polly for the pic!)



Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Longtime counterman ponders life after B&H


[Photo from 2016 by Grant Shaffer]

In an Instagram post last week, B&H Dairy on Second Avenue outlined the hardships of running a small business during the COVID-19 crisis.

The lunch counter's post also noted that they had to lay off Mahmoud "Mike" Tarabih, the popular cook who was a familiar presence here for years behind the counter. "Though he had been with B&H for 14 years, he was one of our most junior employees," per the B&H Instagram post. "Many of our remaining staff are the sole breadwinner for their families."

In a widely circulated story published yesterday at Grub Street, Rachel Handler spoke with Mike about the layoff, the challenges of finding restaurant work during the pandemic and what might be next for him and his family, including two children.

"I don’t know what I am gonna do now. Who’s going to take care of the kids? I worked out a schedule with their principal [that matched] my schedule," he said. "If I start a new job, who will take care of them?"

Here are a few excerpts from the piece titled "He Fed the East Village for 14 Years. Now He's Wondering What’s Next."

It is essentially impossible to think of the East Village without thinking of Mahmoud "Mike" Tarabih, the self-described "grill man" at neighborhood mainstay B&H Dairy. Tarabih has been crafting tuna melts and greasy omelettes while also serving as B&H’s de facto, wildly charming host for the last 14 years, remembering the names and orders of every single person who's ever visited the kosher diner.

On how he got the job:

We know each other from back home, from Egypt. [Co-owner Fawzy Abdelwahed] is my friend from back home, same city. When I came to New York, he invited me to see the place. I liked the place, and when I started, I loved the place 100 percent. It was not like customers, it was like family. Everyone asks each other what’s going on in their lives. Nobody was like, "I'm the boss,” you know? That's why I loved my place. I did my best. I worked from my heart. When I cook, I cook from my soul.

On remembering everyone's name and order:

When you love what you’re doing, it’s like a child. I have two children at home, this [job] is my third child. I love it. I just love it. Every part. I come in the morning, I smell the food fresh, and I finish my day, I say, “Thank God, everybody went home happy. Everybody is happy.”

On finding a new job:

I’m looking. I talk to my friends. But nothing is happening. I'll take any job. I don't care. I've already called a lot of people, but a lot of places are still closed. We’ll see. Thank God, I have a lot of friends to help me. I'm happy. The only problem is I lost my job during a bad time. I have two families to support.

---

One of his longtime customers, Morrigan Burke-Martin, helped Tarabih set up his own GoFundMe to offset the costs of raising two children and supporting his extended family in Egypt. The crowdfunding campaign is at this link.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

A reality check from B&H Dairy


[B&H Dairy owners Ola and Fawzy Abdelwahed in 2018]

Here's a post from B&H Dairy on Instagram yesterday that sums up the hardships of running a small food business during the COVID-19 crisis:

Dear B&H Family,

As you know we have been struggling to survive the pandemic as a business. While we are now “open,” we wanted to update you with a reality check as to our situation as of today.

B&H, like many, if not all restaurants, large or small, remains at risk of closing. That is a fact. Anyone who is under the impression that because a restaurant “open,” all is “back to normal,” is not grasping the reality of the pandemic and its consequences.

We went from serving 200 customers a day to only 20 customers a day when we first reopened for pick-up and delivery. We had to cover paying our employees, rent, utilities, and buying food for the restaurant on only 10% of our previous income.

We started an ongoing GoFundMe campaign, to which many of you continue to donate repeatedly, for which we are deeply grateful.

When we were able to reopen, we made changes, accepting credit cards and using food delivery apps for the first time, which increased our customers to about 50 a day, on a good day. Still not back to normal.

We applied for all appropriate relief loans and grants from various city and government agencies, none of which have been granted so far, except for one tiny grant early on, which covered a fraction of one month’s rent, and has since been repaid. To date, though several applications are pending, we have received no further government assistance or relief.

This weekend we adjusted our hours, now closing on Mondays, and cut staff, saying goodbye to Mike. Though he had been with B&H for 14 years, he was one of our most junior employees. Many of our remaining staff are the sole breadwinner for their families.

We are in a fight to survive. We hope that the combination of business, our GoFundMe campaign, and we pray, government relief, will allow us to ride out this storm. This has been a very stressful time for everyone at B&H, so much so, that Ola is now under a doctor’s care.

However, we have faith in B&H! We have been around since 1938, been through numerous owners, staff, closures, and disasters, such as the Spring 2015 2nd Ave. gas explosion, and yet have survived. We thank you, our B&H Family, for your continued love and support.

B&H Dairy is at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. Phone: (212) 505-8065.

Updated: The crowdfunding campaign for Mike is at this link.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Thursday's parting shot



Here's Ola, the co-owner of B&H Dairy, bringing in some plants to place around the lunch counter's handful of outdoor seats at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... photo today by Derek Berg...

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

At B&H Dairy: 'A Home for Everyone'


[Via @bandhdairy]

Antonio DiMeglio and Lianna Rada, recent NYU grads and East Village residents, are the creators of the food site Eat Tonight NYC.

The two created a 10-minute short titled "B&H Dairy: A Home for Everyone," a love letter of sorts to the 82-year-old lunch counter on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Hear from Ola, Leo and Mike... and get in the mood to order a grilled cheese on challah.

Monday, June 1, 2020

More about the damage at B&H Dairy



As first reported yesterday, B&H Dairy was one of the Second Avenue businesses damaged by so-called "agitators" on Saturday night... someone broke the 80-plus-year-old lunch counter's front window...



In an Instagram post, B&H Dairy co-owner Ola Abdelwahed describes what happened around 10 p.m. on Saturday...

"I was in the restaurant. The protest came by and someone threw a big bottle in our window. They also broke the window at the bakery and set garbage on fire. I was scared. [Her husband and co-owner] Fawzy ran to the restaurant and stayed until it was not so crazy. Rafael and Hugo stayed until midnight. Mike and Leo are there and everything is OK, but we won’t get the new windows until [today], so Fawzy is spending the tonight in the restaurant."


B&H had been struggling to stay in business during the COVID-19 crisis. They reopened on May 16 for takeout and delivery. They also have an ongoing GoFundMe campaign.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

2nd Avenue mainstay B&H Dairy now accepting credit cards and mobile pay


[Image via @bandhdairy]

A quick follow-up about B&H Dairy's reopening ... as noted here, the popular lunch counter (circa 1938) known for its house-baked challah at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is now open for takeout and deliveries as of this past Saturday.

In the first few days, they were cash only. Now, however, owners Ola and Fawzy Abdelwahed have announced that they're also accepting credit cards and other forms of mobile pay.

There was a lot of enthusiasm when B&H announced its return. Unfortunately, that hasn't translated into actual sales.

In an Instagram post about the credit cards, B&H noted:

We hope this makes ordering easier for everyone. Though we are open for take-out and delivery, we are not yet doing the volume of business needed to sustain being open and it is possible that we may temporarily close again next week.

Before the pandemic we served 200 customers a day. Now we serve 20-30 on a good day.

B&H is taking order by phone only at 212-505-8065 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check their Instagram and Facebook pages for links to the menu and daily specials.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Challahlujah! B&H Dairy returns for takeout and delivery



B&H Dairy, 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, reopens tomorrow (Saturday!) for takeout and delivery.

For now, they'll be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. Owners Ola and Fawzy Abdelwahed have not determined just yet what day they'll close.

The 80-plus year-old lunch counter closed back on March 18 when NYC began to go on its COVID-19 pause.

You can check their Instagram account for updates and photos of their tuna melt...