Avenue A storefront watch

Obscura Antiques and Oddities has officially closed, and a for rent sign now hangs in the storefront at 207 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

A variety of factors led to the closure. "Our lease is up at the end of February and we are a bit burned out," co-owner Mike Zohn told us back in November. "The business has changed as has the neighborhood, plus the expense and overhead are high."

The asking rent for the space is $4,995 — all uses considered, per the listing.

And on Avenue A at Ninth Street... a for rent notice is up at the recently shuttered Arepa Factory. The listing hasn't made it online just yet.



Meanwhile, the corner space — the former Gelarto — has been leased. The brokers didn't disclose who the new tenant is, however.

These spaces, overseen by two difference landlords — Icon on the corner and Steve Croman next door — were home to Cafe Pick Me Up until May 2015...



One last nearby storefront to note... Three Seat Espresso is now officially closed (as of Jan. 19) at 137 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...



No word on what might be coming to this space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A visit to Obscura Antiques and Oddities, closing soon on Avenue A

• After 20-plus years in the East Village, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing

• Arepa Factory closes up on Avenue A

• Three Seat Espresso will close by the end of 2019 on Avenue A; founder blames Starbucks

Gelarto packs it up on Avenue A

Workers were spotted packing up Gelarto late yesterday afternoon on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Ninth Street (thanks to Steven for the photos)...



The desert shop's management announced via Facebook on May 15 that they'd be closing up in the weeks ahead. Here's part of the message:

It has been a great time for all of us at GELARTO NYC for the past 2 years, but all good things come to an end and that includes our time in the East Village.

We have made many friends and have many lovely and loyal customers on Avenue A, but have reluctantly decided to relocate. We will of course let everyone know as soon as we have our new address, but until then please note you can continue to purchase our gelato at Kings’ and Balducci’s stores (among others) in NY and NJ.

Gelarto, the first U.S. outpost of this Italian brand, opened in June 2017 with Vespa-inspired stools and a painting of the Mona Lisa holding an ice cream cone.

Landlord Icon Realty has had this listing (145 Avenue A) online for weeks now. Per the listing, the asking rent for the 600 square feet is $13,500.

With Gelarto's departure, four of the five businesses that opened in Icon Realty's renovated retail spaces along 441-445 E. Ninth St. (aka 145 Avenue A) have now closed in recent months.

Cafe Pick Me Up moved out away from the corner in May 2015 after 20 years in business. They were housed at 145 and 147 Avenue A, and had two different landlords — Icon on the left, Steve Croman on the right. Café manager Rossella Palazzo told DNAinfo in March 2015 that a rent hike from No. 145 landlord Icon Realty was the reason for the closure.

Updated 8:30 a.m.

Vinny & O shared this interior shot from this morning...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike forcing Cafe Pick Me Up into its smaller space next door on Avenue A

New 9/11 mural underway on 9th Street

As noted here last week, artist (and musician) David Ouimet was creating a new 9/11 mural — incorporating part of the original — starting today here on Ninth Street at Avenue A.

The original 9/11 mural here was in bad shape. (Nigel, an owner of Gelarto, the corner business, had asked for feedback about the mural.) Ouimet saved what he could from that work.

He started earlier this morning... and will be joined by his kids at some point today...



Jesse Fischler, who co-owned the former Shrine Records on Ninth Street, created the original mural.

Updated 9/11

The mural will be finished this evening...



Updated 5 p.m.

Before the mural was completed (and while Ouimet was away) building management installed new trash bins, bolting them into the sidewalk in front of the work...



When apprised of the situation, landlord Icon Realty gave Gelarto the OK to incorporate the trash bins into the final work... so now the artist will figure out how to make this work ...

Photos by Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
A new (and refurbished) 9/11 mural for 9th Street and Avenue A

Thoughts on the 9/11 mural on 9th and A

The 9/11 mural on 9th and A

A new (and refurbished) 9/11 mural for 9th Street and Avenue A

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

As you likely noticed, the 9/11 mural on the Ninth Street side of 145 Avenue A is in pretty bad shape.

The proprietors of the new gelato shop that opened here earlier this summer reached out to ask for input on what to do with the wall space. Refurbish the mural or paint it over.

Looks as if there will be a combination of those choices.

Yesterday, artist (and musician) David Ouimet started prepping the wall for a new 9/11 mural — incorporating part of the original — that he will paint on Sunday, 9/10.



Lola Sáenz shared these two photos from today... she said that he is not getting paid for the mural, and has permission from the Gelarto folks to rework it...



Jesse Fischler, who co-owned the former Shrine Records on Ninth Street, created the original mural.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Thoughts on the 9/11 mural on 9th and A

The 9/11 mural on 9th and A

Gelarto officially (re)opens on Avenue A

Following an opening sneak preview back in June, the owners of Gelarto closed to make a few improvements to their gelato business at 145 Avenue A at Ninth Street.

On Wednesday, the new shop reopened... EVG contributor Steven shared these photos of the interior...







According to the Gelarto Instagram account, the shop's hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).

Thoughts on the 9/11 mural on 9th and A

[Photos from Saturday]

On the previous post about Gelarto, the new gelato shop at 145 Avenue A, Nigel, one of the shop's proprietors, left several comments.

For starters, he's interested in receiving input about the 9/11 mural on the Ninth Street side of the building (read more about the mural here) ...



Per Nigel:

We would love to do something with the 9/11 mural that has now been graffitied over on our black wall and it would be great to get some local feedback or suggestions for this. What would everyone like to see — the same but cleaned up, or a new 9/11 commemorative mural?

Meanwhile, he apologized that the shop will be closed for a few days.

"We are moving things around a little in the store, ready for our proper official opening (no more test runs), with full menu and all staff up to speed. I will post on this blog when I am 100% certain of the opening day and we will advertise in the area, but I hope you will all be able to make it as it will be a great opportunity to try our gelato for free. I look forward to meeting you all."

These flyers arrived on the storefront yesterday...


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The 9/11 mural on 9th and A

White out at new gelato space on Avenue A

[Photo from Sunday by Steven]

As noted on Monday, a gelato shop called Gelarto has opened at 145 Avenue A at Ninth Street. (They are still officially in soft-open mode.)

Several commenters noted what they perceived to be an "ugly brick façade" here.

Anyway, as multiple EVG readers pointed out, workers painted the storefront yesterday...



And, as we understand it, Gelarto signage will be arriving in the next 10 days to give it that finished look.

H/T Steven and Bobby Williams

Gelato shop opens on Avenue A

Workers removed the plywood from around the northwest corner space on Avenue A and Ninth Street back on Friday. (Thanks to EVG regular Daniel for the photos.)



As previously noted, a gelato shop is opening here... the place is called Gelarto ... (it appears to be the first U.S. outpost of this Italian brand)...



Gelarto opened on Sunday afternoon ... an EVG reader said they have a variety of gelato flavors as well as milkshakes and cappuccinos.


[Photo by Steven]

A help-wanted ad for the place describes it like this: "We are a Gelato Café in the east village of Manhattan. Think sophisticated flavors, italian cafe and the Italian lifestyle our product hails from. We handcraft all of our gelato from scratch in Italy. We also prepare gelato creations."

Previously here ... Cafe Pick Me Up moved out in May 2015 after 20 years in business. They were housed at 145 and 147 Avenue A, and had two different landlords — Icon on the left, Steve Croman on the right. Café manager Rossella Palazzo told DNAinfo in March 2015 that a rent hike from No. 145 landlord Icon Realty was the reason for the closure.

Updated 6/21

The bricks were painted white out front.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike forcing Cafe Pick Me Up into its smaller space next door on Avenue A (59 comments)

[Updated] Cafe Pick Me Up expected to close for good after May 31

Ghost signage and (eventually) gelato at 9th Street and Avenue A