NatureEs calls: About the organic cafe coming to where Mars Bar 2.0 was in the works

The other day we were admiring the new numbers at 21 E. First St. …



… and wondering when there might be some news about the incoming business — some kind of a two-level cafe-restaurant-lounge-acai-bowl-dispensary combo.

And just like that BoweryBoogie got the scoop on the juice bar part of the space — an organic cafe called NatureEs, serving organic, all-natural, fresh, etc. items …

The NatureEs website offers some rather generic branding for the new venture…



And what of the bar-club portion? Per BB:

Even though the crew still carries a full-blown liquor license, the cellar club isn’t happening. At least not yet. Instead of libations, this space is designated as an in-house spa of sorts. Patrons can take advantage of massages and facials, so we’re told.

A Boogie birdie tells us that Naturees is two weeks from opening...

NatureEs is located in Jupiter 21, the residential building that rose from the grave of the Mars Bar and several other businesses here between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

CB3 OK'd the new liquor license here last May. During that meeting, Mars Bar attorney Frank Palillo said that the new venue will be "a variation of Mars Bar" but will keep the same name, DNAinfo reported at the time. Former Mars Bar owner Hank Penza has a stake in the rebooted business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will the new Mars Bar be another location of The Pink Elephant?

Work starting on Mars Bar 2.0

That's it: The Mars Bar is closed for good

Work starting on Mars Bar 2.0

Over at 21. E. First St., workers have removed the for lease sign and put up brown paper on the front windows … likely signaling the start of Mars Bar 2.0.

The city issued work permits issued last Tuesday. Nothing too exciting on the permits. Some "structural stair work" and "removal of non-load bearing interior partitions," etc.

Mars Bar owner Hank Penza — along with a new group of partners — is returning to his former home, now part of the luxury Jupiter 21 building.

The new space will be a two-level cafe-restaurant-lounge combo that will feature a juice bar upstairs with a cafe that serves items such as quinoa bowls, according to DNAinfo. And the downstairs portion will house the bar-club-whatever. (Details remain a little murky on how all this is going to work.)

The place will apparently retain the Mars Bar name, even though we spotted the architect's plans in the window with The Pink Elephant on them.



Penza's new partners are Alain Palinsky, a co-founder of Juice Press, Chris Reda, an owner of The Griffin in the Meatpacking District, and Robert Montwaid, an owner of the club The Pink Elephant.

CB3 OK'd the license for the space back in May.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will the new Mars Bar be another location of The Pink Elephant?

That's it: The Mars Bar is closed for good

A Mars Bar comeback gains more traction

[Hi! Remember me? Photo from July 2011 by Bobby Williams]

Community Board 3 released its meetings rundown for May … and a conspicuous item appears on the SLA committee docket:

Paul Mil Cafe Inc, 11-17 2nd Ave (op/alt/gut renovation) (Mars Bar)

The listing appears twice, under "alterations" and "items not heard at Committee."

Back in 2011 when Mars Bar was displaced by the impending Jupiter 21 monstrosity on Second Avenue and East First Street… the rumor was that owner Hank Penza had someone in mind to reopen a bar in the retail space. In fact, the person has the actual bar and jukebox from the Mars Bar for the next place.

In early January 2013, Billy Gray at the Commercial Observer reported that the J21 retail lease includes "a second retail space that could assume the notorious Mars Bar's trade name and liquor license."

Per that report:

The development company BFC Partners reached an agreement with the Mars Bar crew that would allow the next commercial tenant to occupy a 4,456 basement and ground floor space under the proud, stubborn and – who knew? – business-minded Mars Bar auspices.

The TD Bank appears to be taking most of the retail space… so where would a bar fit?



Well, there is also retail space on the East First Street side … and the aforementioned basement…



So… is it such a good thing to do a Mars Bar redux? Would it be like making a TV series out of "Casablanca" with David Soul in the Bogart role?

Or something.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

So where's that fucking bank branch that's taking the former Mars Bar space?

Rumors: Mars Bar owner Hank Penza ready to open a new space in the next few months

That's it: The Mars Bar is closed for good

The fucking TD Bank signage arrives at the former home of the Mars Bar

At long LAST the much-anticipated TD Bank signage has arrived at the former Mars Bar space… On Jan. 2, 2013, Steve Cuozzo reported at the Post that a 4,300-square-foot TD Bank branch was going to anchor the retail space at Jupiter 21, the new luxury apartment building that rose from the ashes of the Mars Bar and other businesses on Second Avenue and East First Street.

The TDs arrived yesterday afternoon, per EVG reader EJ ...



(BoweryBoogie noted this as well this morning.)

This likely won't do much for those Mars-Bar-is-returning rumors. Maybe next door? This was the rumored space for some kind of Mars Bar redux...



There's also retail space available on the East First Street side... or else someplace simply hasn't removed the sign yet...



And on the doors to the TD job site...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

So where's that fucking bank branch that's taking the former Mars Bar space?

So where's that fucking bank branch that's taking the former Mars Bar space?

[Dec. 28]

Last Jan. 2, Steve Cuozzo reported at the Post that a 4,300-square-foot TD Bank branch was going to anchor the retail space at Jupiter 21, the new luxury apartment building that rose from the ashes of the Mars Bar and other businesses on Second Avenue and East First Street.

So where is this fucking bank branch anyway?

Well!

In recent days, someone finally put up some brown paper in the windows here… perhaps a sign of work commencing!


[Jan. 1]

Before workers papered the windows, we spotted a microwave inside… perhaps an incentive for opening a checking account here?



Meanwhile, it has been almost a year since we heard our last Mars-Bar-is-returning rumor.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

People still missing the Mars Bar

Recently spotted on the former site of the bar… in a building now known as Jupiter 21. The space will soon yield a 4,300-square-foot TBD Bank branch.

Jupiter 21's mail campaign

A reader shared this Jupiter 21 marketing brochure that he randomly received in the mail yesterday... (did you receive one?)

It touts the amenities at the new luxury high rise on Second Avenue and East First Street, which, according to this brochure, is located in Noho...



Funny that this address wasn't considered Noho before this...

Jupiter 21 has a mini Jupiter in its lobby

[June 21]

Oh, over at the new Jupiter 21 residential building... a mini Jupiter hangs in in the lobby... serving as a ceiling lamp...



...which is probably better than, say, a mini Mars...

Mars Bar replacement now leasing at Jupiter 21

We noted yesterday that the plywood has come down at Jupiter 21, the new luxury apartment building that went up at the former Mars Bar space on Second Avenue and East First Street ... Yesterday afternoon, the official news release landed in our inbox announcing the start of leasing at Jupiter 21.

(Several of the residents of the former buildings have already secured their co-ops here at the promised rate of $10.)

Now let's just dig right into that news release for details:

In continuing the transformation of the East Village, BFC Partners announces that residential leasing has successfully begun at Jupiter 21, a newly-constructed 78,000-square-foot rental building located at 21 East 1st Street. The 65-unit, 12-story building, designed by GF 55, offers 52 market-rate rental residences and 13 affordable condominiums.

“Given the incredible demand for this neighborhood, we have already seen tremendous activity,” said Joseph Ferrara, a partner with Don Capoccia and Brandon Baron at BFC Partners, Jupiter 21’s developer. “The Jupiter 21 rentals are being greeted so positively that we are renting up the building quickly.”

Comprised of studio-, one- and two-bedroom apartments, Jupiter 21 features a unique display of innovative design that captures both the eye and imagination. Each unit is equipped with natural hardwood flooring, sleek modern cabinetry, stainless steel European appliances, designer fixtures and oversized windows. The building also includes best-in-class amenities such as central air conditioning, GE washer & dryers in every unit, rentable on-site storage and a full-service concierge. Many of the units also have terraces or balconies, offering spectacular views of New York City.

Stylish and modern, residences at Jupiter 21 feature Kohler deep soaking tubs and walk-in frameless showers, Kohler fixtures and floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiling. Kitchens include Caesarstone Countertops, Kohler Fixtures, glass back-splashes, Bertazzoni cooking ranges, Summit International refrigerators and Miele dishwashers.

Jupiter 21 is a pet-friendly residence that features an attended lobby and live-in superintendent, in addition to other amenities including video intercoms, a virtual property management service by mybuilding.org, and a roof terrace with expansive city views. Homes in this beautiful, modern building will start at $3,450 per month for studios, $4,500 per month for one-bedrooms, and $5,575 for two-bedrooms. The Corcoran Group will handle leasing for the 52 rentals.

In addition to its rental units, the mixed-use property includes 10,832 square feet of retail space along 2nd Avenue. Tenants will include TD Bank and a yet to be decided lounge/bar venue.

Occupancy is expected for early June 2013.

So is that "yet to be decided lounge/bar venue" really going to be Mars Bar 2.0?

Also, the Jupiter 21 website is live with photos, floor plans and what not.

Here's a look at the roof terraces:

Jupiter 21’s two communal rooftop terraces are equipped with couch seating, grills, television, outdoor surround sound and a posh wet bar. A DVD system allows for outdoor movie screenings. Taking place high above the lower east side, the outdoor oasis provides an escape from the day-to-day setting of city life.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

Mars Bar primed to make an East Village comeback?

Jupiter 21 jettisons its plywood

Jupiter 21, the apartment building that rose above the old Mars Bar space, is now plywood free... and you can see what the retail portion here along East First Street and Second Avenue looks like...







One of the exciting new tenants will be the 4,300-square-foot TBD Bank branch. And next door, maybe Mars Bar 2.0? Back in early January Billy Gray at the Commercial Observer reported:

The development company BFC Partners reached an agreement with the Mars Bar crew that would allow the next commercial tenant to occupy a 4,456 basement and ground floor space under the proud, stubborn and – who knew? – business-minded Mars Bar auspices.

[Worst Photoshop EVER]


[Ditto]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

Mars Bar primed to make an East Village comeback?

Jupiter 21's TV moment

The new Jupiter 21 is making the rounds on the local TV news circuit... Here's a jocular WABC-7 look at the new luxury residential building on Second Avenue and East First Street ... Worth watching for several reasons, one being John Vaccarro's interview...

Residents shuttle from the Mars Bar building to Jupiter 21

[July 2011]

Catching up with this feature yesterday in The Wall Street Journal... which provides an update on Jupiter 21, the residential building at the former site of Mars Bar and the buildings at Second Avenue and East First Street...



Several of the residents of the former buildings will be moving into co-ops here at the promised rate of $10. (You can read the article for all the background on how this deal transpired.)

In an unusual blend of old and new New York, nine long-term tenants of two small buildings on Second Avenue struck deals to buy cooperative units in a new 12-story building, where they will share hallways with 51 mostly young renters — many new to New York and unfamiliar with the neighborhood's history.

The bulky new building will be known as Jupiter 21, and will feature a model of the planet Jupiter hanging in the lobby.

Rents for the rest of the new residents will range from $3,000 to $10,000 a month.

And returning residents such as Andrea Legge, an artist who lived in the previous building for decades, won't be subjected to Jupiter 21's leftovers.

"I am grateful they didn't give us lowlifes apartments in the back," she said. "I feel hugely entitled to this luxury apartment, but I feel completely unworthy of it at the same time."

The longtime residents also discussed how the block looked in the 1980s.

"There was nothing romantic about it," Ms. Legge said. "There were needle junkies in the basements. It stunk and it was all so over."

[Image via Gothamist, reposted with permission]

Now will the Mars Bar return as well?

Previously.

Here's Jupiter 21, now in orbit around Second Avenue and East First Street

This past week the remaining scaffolding and construction netting came down at Jupiter 21, the apartment-retail complex at Second Avenue and East First Street... so now you have a really good idea of what it looks like, save the street-level plywood...





Per the J21 press materials:

The building will ultimately have 65 units: 13 affordable condos, 52 market-rate studio through two-bedroom rentals, and two commercial condos. Nine of those affordable condos "have been reserved for the tenants of the original buildings displaced by the new construction" ...

And a look behind the plywood... where there will be a fucking bank ... and maybe a Mars Bar 2.0?



Anyway, here is the rendering. How did they do?

Previously on EV Grieve:

Mars Bar primed to make an East Village comeback?

[Photo by Goggla]

We heard the unsurprising news yesterday that the former Mars Bar in the Jupiter 21 (will never get used to that name) building will be home to a fucking bank branch.

And we wondered whatever happened to idea that the Mars Bar would return here some day.

Well!

Billy Gray has this scoop this afternoon at the Commercial Observer:

Now, a source familiar with the deal tells us that the lease includes a second retail space that could assume the notorious Mars Bar’s trade name and liquor license. The development company BFC Partners reached an agreement with the Mars Bar crew that would allow the next commercial tenant to occupy a 4,456 basement and ground floor space under the proud, stubborn and–who knew?–business-minded Mars Bar auspices.

Back in July 2011, we heard that owner Hank Penza already had a manager for the new space ... and the manager has the actual bar and jukebox from the Mars Bar for the next place. Perhaps we'll see it one day in the bowels of Jupiter 21.

[Photo via @IrisBlasi]

Or maybe we should just let all this die...?

'All uses considered' for former Mars Bar space at Jupiter 21

The retail listing — with fresh renderings — is now live for 21 Jupiter, the luxury building that took the place of 9-17 Second Ave. ... and, among other things, the former home of the Mars Bar.

Some details per the RKF listing:

SPACE
Ground Floor 1,400 SF
Lower Level 3,056 SF
Storage Space 1,252 SF

POSSESSION
Second Quarter 2013

TERM
20 years

And!

COMMENTS
Formerly “Mars Bar” location
All uses considered
New construction with premises being prepared for restaurant use
Located at the base of a luxury rental building
Existing 4am Liquor License in place

Any idea why Mars Bar is randomly in quotes? Oh, and does this mean Hank isn't reopening the bar here? (No snickering!)

And what happened to the BP station and other buildings?

Previously: