A look at the long-vacant storefront on the NW corner of 3rd Avenue and 12th Street

A moment to take a look at the NW corner of Third Avenue at 12th Street (88 Third Ave. officially). 

As far as we can recall, the space has been vacant since Gotham Pizza closed in the summer of 2018. 

One short year later, we spotted workers gutting the space, one of them saying a Chinese restaurant was in the works here. 

And that was that. 

Today, the storefront remains empty. 

A 14-day rent demand dated April 7 (2022) remains on the front door. The tenant, doing business as Flying Pig, owes some back rent — $281,134.68 to be exact (the monthly rent being $21,855) ...

The landlord is likely in possession of the establishment now. So we'll see what might be next someday. 

But can anything bring back the joy here of the one, the only, the Funkiberry...

Funkiberry-replacing pizzeria revealed on 3rd Avenue

Well! EVG reader Daniel sent along this photo from yesterday afternoon, when workers put up the signage for the new pizzeria coming to Third Avenue and East 12th Street.

As we noted a few weeks ago, workers said that the former Funkiberry would become a pizza place.

Anyway, as you can see, it's a Gotham Pizza. We're familiar with the name (there are several in the city), though we've never tried the pizza. Perhaps you have?

Before serving up FroYo here for nine months, the address was home to several pizzerias through the years... including more recently AAA (New) Amici Pizza ... and via a ghost signage reveal, Lawrence & Paul's Pizza & Restaurant...


[Photo by Dave from 2014]

And then there was the ghost signage under the Lawrence & Paul's Pizza & Restaurant ghost signage for Luigi's…


[Photo by ~evilsugar]

But there won't be any Funkiberry ghost signage some day. It's in FroYo Signage Heaven.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space will become a pizzeria (again)

Defunking defunct Funkiberry

Yesterday afternoon, workers removed the iconic Funkiberry signage from its former home of nine months at Third Avenue and 12th Street.

As previously noted, workers are renovating the corner space to make way for a pizzeria.

Thanks to Harry Weiner for the photo and headline!

Hey, the Funkiberry space will become a pizzeria (again)

Workers have been busy inside the former Funkiberry froyo space on Third Avenue and East 12th Street. This past week, an EVG reader saw workers bringing in "regular, not wood burning, ovens." A worker also told EVG correspondent Steven that the space was to become a pizzeria. Not sure at the moment who the tenant will be.

Probably would have made sense to leave the pizza ovens intact after AAA (New) Amici Pizza got RentHikeitis and closed in July 2013. The corner space had been home to at least two pizzerias before this.

F-berry closed in March 2015 after nine months in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

Former Funkiberry space continues to look funki/funky

The empty storefront has looked this way for a little while here on Third Avenue at East 12th Street... however, it looked particularly photogenic in this morning's sunlight...



The colorful FroYo establishment closed in March 2015. Funkiberry opened in June 2014.

The asking rent for the corner space was $21,321.00 per month. However, the property is now off the market. So perhaps a new business is on the way. (Cue Beer Store comment!)

Until then...

Never forget. #funkiberri #kingofallfroyo pic.twitter.com/fgfQR3HZig

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) October 22, 2015

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

That's it all she swirled for Funkiberry, the colorful FroYo establishment at 88 Third Ave. and East 12th Street.

Not sure exactly when they closed … there is a few day's worth of mail now waiting…



Anyway, likely not a surprise. Aside from the fact that we rarely, if ever, saw anyone inside… we spotted a listing for the space last month. Asking rent on this corner: $21,321.

Red Mango, Pinkberry and Funkiberry have all closed in recent months. It's all on 16 Handles now.

Funkiberry opened here last June.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

[From June 2014]

The colorful FroYo joint opened for business last June.

And while Funkiberry continues to dispense the FroYo and breakfast items like waffles, the corner space here at 88 Third Ave. and East 12th Street is for lease.

Per a listing at Loop Net:

Corner space with brand new build out. Previously was vented for cooking
Approximately 800 RSF with an approximately 800 SF basement
Lease until November 2023
Rent: $21,321.00 per month

We rarely see anyone inside Funkiberry, who close each day at 1 p.m.

In any event, the FroYo Death march continues.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Another FroYo choice as of yesterday here at East 12th Street.

Can you feel the excitement?

This is the third Funkiberry location in NYC. And according to the Funkiberry website, they are — apparently for real — opening locations in Moscow, Rome, Kiev, Paris and Fuzhou.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

Yep, here it is on Third Avenue and East 12th Street… in the former New Amici Pizza space …





Here's more about Funkiberry from their website: "Funkiberry is the land of endless yogurt possibilities, where you rule the portions, the choices and the scene."

Anyway, it certainly is a colorful sign… likely the brightest and most-distracting sign/ad since GNC's Giant Pink Sports Bra ad graced our presence above the Pourhouse in 2012…

[EVG file photo from May 2012]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village

Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street

DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.