The Smith reopens for evening bar service after last week's fire

The Smith reopened this past Friday night for bar service featuring a limited six-item menu and $2 oysters.





The main dining room will remain closed for now. This follows the kitchen fire last Monday night that temporarily closed the bistro here at 55 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

The FDNY had the fire under control in less than 40 minutes. The @FDNYalerts account stated that the fire was in a kitchen duct.

The Smith started in the East Village in 2007, later expanding to seven locations total in NYC (4), Washington, D.C. (2) and Chicago (1).

[Updated] Report of a fire at 55 3rd Ave., home of the Smith

Fire above where The Smith in the East Village is at. Whole neighborhood is covered in smoke. pic.twitter.com/vyYCnSbBjo

— Jesse Middleton (@srcasm) December 10, 2019

UPDATE BELOW

There are multiple reports coming in tonight (just after 8) about a fire on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street. There are unconfirmed reports that the fire started at the Smith, 55 Third Ave.

Here's what the FDNY Twitter account has to say... confirming the address...

MAN ALL HANDS 55 3 AVE, HIGH RISE FIRE IN RESTARAUNT IN THE DUCTS,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) December 10, 2019

Here's another reader photo...



Will update when there's more information...

Updated 9:25

The FDNY declared the fire under control after 40 minutes...

MAN ALL HANDS 55 3 AVE, HIGH RISE FIRE IN RESTARAUNT IN THE DUCTS, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) December 10, 2019

WABC-TV reports that the fire in a duct at the Smith caused the temporary evacuation of the Eleventh and Third Apartments, the 12-story residential building adjacent to the bistro.

No word at the moment on the status of the Smith, which opened here in 2007.

Updated 7 a.m.

There doesn't appear to be any noticeable damage inside the Smith's dining room or bar area. However, signs on the front window announce that the restaurant will be closed today "due to an unforeseen circumstance" (such as a fire in the duct)...



Updated Dec. 13

The dining room remains closed... the bar is open nightly now serving a limited menu...

Retail space housing The Smith and M2M asking $25.5 million on 3rd Avenue

[Image via Massey Knakal]

The Benchmark Real Estate Group picked up the 12-story residential building with retail space on the southeast corner of Third Avenue and East 11th Street late last year for a whopping $57 million.

The developers are currently gut renovating the building, now called Eleventh and Third, upgrading the space to luxury apartments that will fetch more than $10K a month for two bedrooms.

Now the retail space — three separate spaces encompassing 15,000 square feet — is on the market with an asking price of $25.5 million.

Here are details from the Massey Knakal listing:

The plans call for the existing lobby space to be moved further east along 11th Street which will allow the current lobby to be incorporated into the corner retail space upon vacancy, thus increasing the most valuable Third Avenue ground floor retail footage by approximately 1,314 square feet. Upon M2M vacating and the implementation of the proposed strategy, there is potential to instantly double the asset’s net operating income.

Currently, 2 of the spaces are occupied by locally anchored tenants The Smith, a casual and lively American brasserie with three locations in NYC, and M2M, the area’s convenient grocery store. The Smith currently occupies approximately 3,886 SF above grade and pays $496,500 annually equating to approximately $127 psf. M2M currently occupies the corner space which totals approximately 3,266 SF above grade paying approximately $352,315 annually equating to approximately $108 psf.

These leases expire in 2027 and 2017 respectively with no further extension options or renewals for either tenant. The remaining unit, with frontage on East 11th Street, will be delivered vacant at the time of sale.

So M2M or The Smith aren't going anywhere for a few years. But they will have to vacate upon the end of their respective leases. That third storefront is already vacant. NY Copy & Printing moved to East Seventh Street after 22 years on East 11th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Someone actually paid $57 million for this East Village building

Reimagining this 12-story East Village building, now on the market

NY Copy & Printing forced out of longtime E. 11th St. home, opening second location on E. 7th St.

Rebranded 'Eleventh and Third' will have rentals upwards of $10k

The Smith eyes basement expansion on Third Avenue

The Smith, the popular bistro on Third Avenue near East 10th Street, is on this month's CB3-SLA committee docket. According to documents, the owners are proposing to add a bar to the restaurant's basement. (The PDF of the application is here.)

In addition to a small bar, The Smith plans to open up the basement area for dining as well.

A media rep for the restaurant told us: "Currently, The Smith East Village is hoping to expand this summer and revamp the downstairs area, but all is still pending final approval."

Restaurant staffers are currently collecting signatures in support of the expansion.

[Image via]