Showing posts with label Local 92. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Local 92. Show all posts

Thursday, August 24, 2023

The former Local 92 space is for rent

Photos by Steven 

A follow-up to the Aug. 1 post about Local 92 closing... a for-rent sign arrived on the storefront on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street last week. 

According to the listing, the space — 1,600 square feet with another 1,000 in the basement — has an asking rent of $26,500. (No key money, though!) 

And earlier in the month (Aug. 9), workers tore down the curbside dining structure...
Local 92, which served a variety of Middle Eastern cuisine and was a popular brunch spot, first opened here in 2013.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Local 92 has closed on 2nd Avenue

Multiple readers have noted that Local 92 has gone dark here on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

There aren't any messages on the restaurant's website or social media about a closure... Google lists the Local 92 address as on Mulberry between Prince and Spring. No one answered the phone listed for this Mulberry address on Sunday or last evening.

Local 92, which served a variety of Middle Eastern cuisine and was a popular brunch spot, first opened here in 2013.

In 2021, three former employees claimed that Marcello Assante, the restaurateur behind Local 92 as well as the now-closed Bella Ciao in Little Italy, "refused to pay his employees overtime; ignored coronavirus health requirements issued by city and state officials; and referred to former employees as 'princesses' after they raised concerns about the alleged incidents," Eater reported. There were also allegations levied against Local 92 chef and co-owner Shai Zvibak. They denied the accusations. 

And Local 92 is the latest closure along this corridor in the past two years... other closings on Second Avenue between Fourth Street and Sixth Street include the Mermaid Inn, Eros, Mighty Quinn's BBQ, Wild Mirrors, Sauced Up!, Calexico and Sestina.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Report: Employee allegations made against Local 92 for underpaying staff, skimping on COVID protocols

ICYMI: Mulitple EVG readers shared the link to an investigative piece published at Eater this past Thursday ... in which three former employees claim that Marcello Assante — the restaurateur behind Bella Ciao on Mulberry Street and Local 92 on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street — "refused to pay his employees overtime; ignored coronavirus health requirements issued by city and state officials; and referred to former employees as 'princesses' after they raised concerns about the alleged incidents."

In addition, the employees allege that Shai Zvibak, the former chef and co-owner of Local 92, "characterized Mexican staffers as thieves and referred to them as members of the 'mafia.'"

Assante denied the allegations of the former employees, claiming that three friends working at the restaurants fabricated the stories. "It's completely a lie," he told Eater. "It never happened."

The story also includes a list of alleged misdeeds at Local 92 from the early winter, including that outdoor gas heaters for sidewalk dining were moved inside the restaurant to heat its dining room. Assante also denied those claims, saying the restaurant followed all city- and state-mandated COVID requirements.

Unrelated, Assante had been looking to open a cafe-cinema at 44 Avenue A, the former home of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, as well as the Pioneer Theater. He appeared in May and June before CB3's SLA committee.

Given the UCBeast bar's poor reputation and unanswered questions about Assante's business plan, CB3 said they'd only approve a full liquor license for drinks before and during a movie or event. Alcohol sales would not be allowed during other times — thus nixing a bar-cafe service when a film isn't playing.

Assante later said he would no longer pursue this venture for Avenue A, stating that alcohol sales before and during screenings weren't commercially viable given the rent. 

Monday, March 11, 2013

These 4 new East Village restaurants are now open

As you may recall, Tribeca burlesque club Duane Park merged with the Bowery Poetry Club to create Bowery Poetry at 308 Bowery... the Duane Park part of the club opened this past weekend...





Bowery Poetry Club founder Bob Holman will operate Bowery Poetry Saturday afternoons, Sunday and Monday. Per DNAinfo, that is expected to start on March 18.

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On East Third Street at Avenue B, Heart N' Soul opened Friday at the site of the former Mama's Food Shop...

These photos are by @ThePeterHa ...



The menu features the "Coastal Southern cuisine" of chef Dave Conn, who spend a good part of his life in the South.



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Last Wednesday, East 12th Osteria, which serves Northern Italian fare via Roberto Deiaco, former executive chef at Armani Ristorante in the Armani flagship store on Fifth Avenue, opened its doors on East 12th Street and First Avenue...



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Finally... Back in January, Candela Candela abruptly closed at 92 Second Ave, ... at the time, a resident of the building heard that Mermaid Inn would be expanding into this space. That was NOT the case... In any event, the Candela owners have unveiled a new concept ... a vegetarian restaurant called Local 92 ...

And it's now open...



Per the menu: "The words LOw and CALories merge together in traditional middle-eastern dishes..."



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Anyone try any of these places? Any early reports to share in the comments?