A Panera To-Go is opening on University Place

Signage went up yesterday for a Panera To-Go outpost on University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Laura for the photo and tip!) 

The to-go space differs from the other Panera locations, like the one that closed on Union Square East this past August. 

Panera announced the new concept last month. According to Nation's Restaurant News, these smaller café formats "lean into off-premises dining." 

The second store format is entirely new, will be 40% smaller than the average Panera café at 2,000 square feet and will be designed toward to go-customers with dedicated shelves for rapid pickup, a digital menu, tracking screen technology with detailed order statuses, and very limited seating. 

Panera To-Go joins a coming-soon Serafina Express next door... in the building that replaced the old Bowlmor Lanes (RIP 2014).

On University Place, Agata & Valentina has closed ahead of building demolition, condo construction

Agata & Valentina, the specialty grocery store at 64-66 University Place between 10th Street and 11th Street, has closed. April 26 was its last day here. 

The date was a few weeks earlier than some folks expected. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the New York State Department of Labor in February stated that the store would permanently shutter on May 12. (H/T Bayou for that tip earlier this year.)

Argo Real Estate paid $30 million for the building in 2019, city records show. There isn't any public record of what they have planned for this space a few blocks from Washington Square Park. In March, Village Preservation reported that a 12-story building is possible. 

Efforts to landmark No. 64-66 were not successful: Demolition permits were issued for this four-story building back in February, per the DOB. (The tenant on the upper floors, the Institute of Audio Research, closed in 2017.) 

Agata & Valentina, which opened here in 2012, will continue on from their original (1993) Upper East Side location.

Lenwich giving University Place a roll

EVG reader Jeanne Krier is keeping us updated on the northwest corner of University Place and 13th Street... where Lenwich, the sandwich/deli chainlet, is opening an outpost...



Not sure exactly when Roast Kitchen, which opened here in 2014, vacated the space.

A rally for rezoning protections along Broadway and University Place

[Rendering of Civic Hall on 14th Street]

Back in February, Mayor de Blasio unveiled the city's plans for the site that P.C. Richard (and Son!) has leased the past 20-plus years at 124 E. 14th St. at Irving Place... the rendering above shows the proposed 20-floor Civic Hall — "a tech-focused work and event space" — anchoring the space. The Hall will "provide space for tech worker training, education, start-ups and convening."

Aside from Civic Hall, there are several mega projects in the works south of here along Broadway (see what's coming to the former Blatt Billiards here) and University Place (see what's coming to the former Bowlmor Lanes site here).

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) has been campaigning to cap building heights in the corridor between University Place and Broadway. They have an ally now in City Councilmember Rosie Mendez. Here's what she had to say about the situation to DNAinfo:

"For years, I have advocated and requested a contextual rezoning of University Place. This proposed PC Richards Silicon Alley tech hub will impact residents in the area residing in the adjacent buildings, which are currently under great pressure by developers.

"I would consider supporting the Tech Hub if, and only if, we can amend the zoning resolution to provide protections and relief to the surrounding community."

Tomorrow afternoon at 3, the GVSHP is hosting a rally and press conference on 11th Street and Broadway to discuss the proposed tech hub and zoning south of Union Square...



The tech-hub project still needs to navigate the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure process, which will require City Council approval. As DNAinfo pointed out, the council generally defers to the local council member, meaning Mendez potentially has veto power over the Civic Hall project. (In the event this carries past her term, GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman said that he has already reached out to the candidates running for the Mendez Council seat.)

A spokesperson for the mayor's office expressed disappointment in the preservationists' mission to leverage a zoning change.

Per DNAinfo:

"Its purpose is to provide a gateway for real New Yorkers — kids from our high schools, public housing and immigrant communities — to get training and a good paying job in tech. It is disappointing certain groups would use that project as a pawn to change unrelated zoning blocks away.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC (30 comments)

Up to 4 floors at the all-new 34 E. 13th St.

You can see the progress at the corner of 13th Street and University Place...



As previously reported, an Adjmi Architects-designed seven-story condoplex is going up. Plans call for one unit per floor on top of 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail.


[EVG file photo]

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the lot, and sent everyone on their way.

Meanwhile, there isn't any sign just yet next door of the 23 floors of condos — 21E12 — set for the former home of Bowlmor Lanes and several other businesses.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes


[13th and University in June 2015]

Report: Incoming condos for 13th Street and University Place will start at $6 million

Back in July we spotted the renderings for the new condoplex coming to University Place and 13th Street ... 6 residences above a retail space.

Curbed yesterday got the initial details on the pricing:

Prices on these apartments, which will each measure about 2,600 square feet, will start at a staggeringly high $6 million, though developers Ranger Properties and KD Sagamore Capital haven’t revealed more detailed pricing info beyond that or released info on the priciest pad in the building.

There's also a teaser site for the Morris Adjmi-designed building, which is officially 116 University Place.

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the lot, and closed down the businesses and moved out the residents

Previously on EV Grieve:
Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes


[13th and University in June 2015]

Oh hi: The 22-floor Bowlmor Lanes-replacing luxury building

The rendering on the plywood along University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street – former home of Bowlmor Lanes — doesn't really illustrate just how large and luxurious the 22-floor retail-residential complex will be here...

You have to go to the website of architect Annabelle Selldorf for the full effect... (The Times had the full reveal back in late May.)



Per the Selldorf website:

This new 118,500 sf mixed-use project is located on the corner of University Place and East 12th Street in Greenwich Village. The primary urban opportunities of the site are to connect to the thriving pedestrian activity and contribute to the public’s experience of the streetscape.

To achieve this the two story retail base has expansive storefront windows interrupted by dark aluminum mullions that create an intimate rhythm and scale. Additionally, the 20 story residential tower above the retail base is set back to maximize the amount of sunlight that reaches the adjacent sidewalks and provide generous rooftop gardens.

The 50-plus-unit building, dubbed 21E12 by developer Billy Macklowe, will have homes ranging from $2.35 million to more than $15 million. The project was originally said to be 23 floors. Now just 22.

Last November, local elected officials, preservation groups and even actor Ed Norton rallied to have this area rezoned to put height limits on new construction along this corridor. Mayor de Blasio wasn't apparently too interested in the proposal.

This building will dwarf a new 7-story luxury condo going in next door at the corner of 13th Street.

Bowlmor Lanes closed in July 2014 after 76 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes

Looking at the new residential building for 13th Street and University Place

We haven't walked by the now-demolished stretch of University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street in some time.

So we hadn't seen the rendering for the new residential building for the corner space at 13th Street...



New York Yimby previously reported that a Adjmi Architects-designed seven-story residential building (condos) is in the works... good for one unit per floor on top of 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail.

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the lot, and sent everyone packing.

Meanwhile, next door, 23 floors of condos are going up at the former home of Bowlmor Lanes and several other businesses. That building will be called 21E12.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes


[13th and University in June 2015]

[Updated] Woman in critical condition after being struck by cab on University Place

A yellow cab reportedly jumped the curb this morning on University Place, pinning a woman against a building near East Eighth Street.

The collision happened around 10:50 a.m. NYU College of Dentistry professor John Evans witnessed the incident.

“The woman was facing away from the cab, and when it hit her, she went up in the air and the cab basically pinned her against the wall,” Evans told NYU's Washington Square News.

The woman, believed to be in her 30s, was in critical condition but is currently stable, according to an update at WSN.

Woman hit by taxi in front of Weinstein, in critical condition

-- https://t.co/A6BAxuCDqC pic.twitter.com/D4j9rSSNJn

— Washington Sq. News (@nyunews) April 7, 2016

The cab driver was suffering from a medical attack, which caused him to lose control of the car, police sources told the Post. There apparently haven't been any charges filed as the investigation continues.

Updated:
The Daily News has a different version of things. They reported that the victim, 32-year-old Meral Arisoy "was battling for her life after she was hit and dragged a half block by an out of control cab going the wrong way."

"After the accident, the driver went back to his car to look for something,” [witness Jay] Ahn said. “He didn't like he was fazed too much."

The mayhem started after the unidentified cab driver went the wrong way on East 8th St. and University Place at 10:53 a.m. Thursday, police officials said.

The cabbie smashed into a tree pot and then hit Arisoy whose body got wedged under the car, witnesses said.

Ahn and another witness said the cabbie appeared to be speeding.

Here's 21E12, the condoplex coming to the former Bowlmor Lanes space

[EVG photo from January]

As you probably know, the west side of University Place between East 12th Street and East 13th Street — former home of Bowlmor Lanes and other businesses — is now an empty lot waiting for 23 stories of condos.

And yesterday, Curbed got the first look at the Annabelle Selldorf-designed building via developer Billy Macklowe...


[A penthouse...]

And there is a teaser site for the 50-unit building, dubbed 21E12.

As for pricing, here's Curbed:

[T]hey're about as expensive as you might expect: one-bedrooms will start at $2.35 million; two-bedrooms will start at $3.95 million; three-bedrooms will go from $5.45 million; four-bedrooms, from $8.25 million; and a selection of townhouses and penthouses will range from $10.5 million to more than $15 million.

Bowlmor Lanes closed in July 2014 after 76 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes

The west side of University Place between East 12th Street and East 13th Street has been cleared of those silly old buildings and businesses, including Bowlmor Lanes.

There are now approved permits with the city for developer Billy Macklowe's 23 stories of condos here. Plans call for more than 50 residences averaging more that 2,000 square feet each. Amenities include basement storage, onsite parking and a fitness center.

Bowlmor Lanes closed in July 2014 after 76 years in business.

In addition, the corner space at 13th Street that housed University Place Gourmet as well as adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry, were demolished. A 7-story condo with six residences will rise from from this lot. These plans are pending with the city.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

How about some more condos for University Place

A few weeks back we noted that major changes were coming to the corner of East 13th Street and University Place following the closure of the longtime businesses here.

New York Yimby reported yesterday on what's to come:

Now plans have been filed to construct a seven-story apartment building on the site at 34 East 13th Street, and Adjmi Architects is designing. There will be six apartments spread across 15,550 square feet of residential space, for a very spacious average unit of 2,591 square feet. They’ll definitely be condos, with just one apartment per floor. Six stories of apartments will be stacked on top of 3,200 square feet of ground floor retail

Amenities listed on the Schedule A include a “private/public” roof deck (maybe there will be both!) and a gym in the cellar.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the properties.

This new development will have new neighbors in the 23-floor residential building planned for the former Bowlmor Lanes space next door.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

Last October, a tipster who lives on East 13th Street and University Place said that the whole corner would be demolished — from University Place Gourmet on the corner to Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry a storefront away on the side street. At the time, we didn't get any other confirmation that anything was imminent.

Until now.



The signs went up last week noting that Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry is closing for good after today… (Jeremiah Moss first noted this last week.)





And yesterday, several EVG readers told us that University Place Gourmet has closed after 30 years of the current ownership (47 years in business total).



The owners left a heartfelt goodbye…



Back to the tipster in the fall.

Apparently the buildings that house University Place Gourmet, the doggy day care and Benny Louie Laundry have all been sold to one person and will be coming down. I was in Benny Louie this morning and was told the new owner came by and advised that they have about 6 months before they will need to get out.

To date though, nothing has shown up yet in public records to note a sale… or impending demolition.

There's a lot of new luxury development along this corridor. Bowlmor Lanes, University Place Gourmet's former neighbor, closed last July … and is being replaced by a 23-story residential building. There are other condos projects in the works along this corridor, so might as have one more.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

47-year-old Stromboli Pizza closes ahead of new development on University Place

Stromboli Pizza has quietly closed on University Place between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

Alex at Flaming Pablum first noted this closure on Sunday. As he wrote:

While never particularly gourmet, Stromboli's made and sold pefectly solid, dependable pizza, and the place exuded a great sense of place and neighborhood.

Meanwhile, other nearby businesses have closed or are moving…

The newsstand is headed across the street…



… and Bamboo Tori recently went DOA…




Japonica is still hanging on.

All this activity is to make way for a new residential complex at 110 University Place, which currently still houses the parking garage and Bowlmor Lanes. (In January, the Post reported that demolition for a new building will likely start this summer.) There hasn't been anything official from developer Billy Macklowe, CEO of William Macklowe Company, about the future of the building.


[EVG file photo]

However, this was in a news release (PDF!) from last week about the sale of 37 E. 12th St. from Massey Knakal:

Recent conversion sales in addition to 37 East 12th Street include, 110 University Place (currently home to Bowlmor Lanes), and 809 Broadway (the former Blatt Billiards Building). These sales will continue to transform the Central Village over the next few years.

Indeed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

The 139th, or so, Chipotle to open near or around Union Square

Hey, what's this?

A Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming soon to 24 E. 12th St. just west of University Place. The space was last home to the Stand, a burger place that closed in May 2013, and at one time a Kinko's.

Our friend Alex at Flaming Pablum first noted this arrival on Monday night. As he wrote: "We need a Chipotle here like we need another bank branch."

According to the Chiptole website, there are seven other locations within a mile of here. (Twenty-nine within two miles.) A short few blocks from here there are locations at 19 St. Mark's Place, 117 E. 14th St., 55 E. Eighth Street, 510 Sixth Ave. … anyway, I'm rather indifferent toward Chipotle. Never tried their food.

But I have tried the food at Dorado, directly next door to the incoming Chiptole…

Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

(More) Changes are coming to University Place. A tipster sends word that the building at 110 University Place that houses the parking garage and Bowlmor Lanes between East 12th Street and East 13th Street will be cleared out in the months ahead "in favor of (what else?) luxury condos."

While some shopkeepers and residents have been buzzing about this lately, the development doesn't come as a complete surprise. News of this was tucked away in a Steve Cuozzo item at the Post on Jan. 6. In a piece about Billy Macklowe buying 156 Williams St., Cuozzo also mentioned one of the developer's other properties — 110 University Place. Macklowe, CEO of William Macklowe Company, an investment firm, declined to comment on the future of the building.

However, Cuozzo reported: "we’ve learned from brokers that leases for Bowlmor and a garage at the site expire imminently ... and that demolition for a new building will likely start this summer."

Macklowe purchased a long-term controlling position in the building here back in the fall of 2012, as the Post first reported. At the time there was speculation about Bowlmor's long-term future in this space.

Bowlmor has operated here since 1938. (They also have a location in the former New York Times building in Times Square.)

Meanwhile, in other rather dreary news, our tipster hears that the former Jack Bistro at East 11th Street that closed last fall …



… is being fitted for a — ding! ding! — TD Bank branch. Will be a fine next-door neighbor for the European Wax Center that opened in the space last held by the Cedar Tavern.

And, while we're over here, might as well look at the building behind 110 University Place — 17 E. 12th St.



The former parking garage is also being converted into luxury condos. The Real Deal first reported on this possibility back in August. The city OK'd the condo-conversion plan on Dec. 10, which includes the addition of three new floors.

A rendering at the GreenbergFarrow site shows a building that looks like…



Per the copy with the rendering:

The concept for the architecture was to be elegant and respectful to the neighborhood, creating human-sized apertures at the streetwall, and a transparent and airy aesthetic on the added setback floors. The building was imagined to be re-clad with a cementitious rainscreen system. The rooftop amenity space is a required common area which will allow for a shared exhilarating experience with fantastic city views.

Finally, if you can possibly take any more, the former parking garage right behind here at 12 E. 13th St. is also getting the super deluxe treatment… where a five-bedroom unit will seek $28 million. The condo building will also be the first in NYC to use the robot parking system. (So much for the need for parking garages!) Head to Curbed if you'd like more details.

Now why did I just go look inside the former Cedar Tavern...

These days, I don't have much reason to walk along University Place. However, I did head over that way this past weekend after reading Alex's post at Flaming Pablum last week about 82 University Place.

I'm not going to get into all the background about the formerly two-story building that held the last incarnation of the Cedar Tavern. As Joey Arak once put it at Curbed: "The history is long and tortured and recapping it just makes every former Cedar fan a basket case..."

Anyway, here is the new building, whose six full-floor units hit the market several years back ... now there's fresh scaffolding (for façade restoration, per the DOB), as Alex noted ...

...and the retail space where Cedar Tavern once lived is still for lease (it was going for $17,000 a month in 2010 with a different broker) ...

As far as I can recall, Cedar Tavern closed in December 2006, supposedly temporarily ... And I foolishly looked in at the old space... I'll spare you the "before" photo...

Former Cedar Tavern is now "retail space available"

Well, plenty has been written about what's taking the space of the former Cedar Tavern location on University Place...six "floor-through loft-like residences," according to the listings. And it looks as if two units are left -- including the $3.4 million duplex penthouse!



And what about the groundfloor? I thought a tenant had already been lined up ...



For further reading:
Development Du Jour: 82 University Place (fka Cedar Tavern) (Curbed)

Pining for the Cedar (Flaming Pablum)

Meanwhile, Back on University Place (Flaming Pablum)

Historic building being used to promote Snickers, Tribeca Film Festival

You've likely seen the Bronze Plaque on the building at 13th Street and University Place.



As Forgotten New York points out, this marks the spot of the headquarters of the old 9th Regiment where Lincoln once called for volunteers for the Civil War. The plaque was unveiled on May 30, 1908. "Less than a score of veterans stood in the rain as Maj. Dabney W. Diggs, who got his rank for real service, and Col. William F. Morris, the present commander of the regiment, addressed them, but there were 800 then in olive drab standing at attention."

The plaque bears this inscription:

"If any one attempts to haul down the American Flag shoot him on the spot."

The retail space on the ground floor has been vacant since the Futon Warehouse closed in the summer of 2007. Of late, the space has been home to a treasure trove of Snickers ad...those chewpid Snacklish ones...





This is like the Louvre of Snickers ads...



The space is still for lease for retail on the street level...



The 11-story building is home to the Amalgamated Lithographers of America, among other tenants.




However, the Snickers ads have been removed. And the street-level space is being used again as the press office for the Tribeca Film Festival.