Retail space in the former Amato Opera House seeking to the tune of $35k monthly

The condo conversion of the former Amato Opera House at 319 Bowery creeps along (the work permits arrived here in October 2014) ...



The gut rehab comes courtesy of landlord Steven Croman, who's facing suits in both civil and criminal court. While there isn't any word on the residential portion of the building just yet, the signs did arrive last week for the storefront...



Per the listing:

Retail space for rent in the historic Amato Opera House. 1, 500 sq. ft plus garden and basement with 19 foot ceilings. Food OK.

Conveniently located near B, D, F, M & 6 train lines as well as M103 and M21 bus lines. Steps from some of the city's best shopping, restaurants and nightlife, neighbors include Patagonia Surf, Saxon + Parole, and Momofuku Ko.

Asking monthly rent: $34,995.

That's an ambitious ask considering the revolving door of businesses along this corridor of late.

Here's a look at a rendering for the retail space from a different broker circa 2012...



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

After 60 years the Amato Opera will close its doors after this season. Anthony Amato, the company’s 88-year-old founder, gave the news to his company before Saturday night’s performance of “The Merry Widow.” Mr. Amato said he had sold the opera’s building on the Bowery in the East Village. (New York Times)

Founded in 1948 by Tony and Sally Amato (she passed away in 2000), the Opera has called 319 Bowery home since 1964. Here's an excerpt on the Amato Opera that appears on its Web site. From an article written by Sondra Zuckerman Diaz:

Amato Opera opened originally with two goals in mind: to present entertaining opera at popular prices, and to give singers a stage on which to gain much-needed experience in full-length productions. The early company utilized students from Tony Amato's opera classes. ... Early performances were free because union regulations would not allow them to charge admission. Contributions were requested during intermission. Tony Amato had invested his own money to get the company started. At 319 Bowery, when admission could be charged, tickets were $1.20 an reserved seats, $1.80. In 1975, 15 years later, ticket prices were only $3-4 a performances. Today, at only $23 for an orchestra seat, ticket prices are still a fraction of what is charged at other opera houses. Amato is believed to be the only self-sustaining opera house in the United States. ... The Amato Opera is often referred to as a "mom and pop" operation.

Here's a video created by Columbia Graduate School of Journalism students on the Bowery Poetry Club and the Amato Opera.(The Opera portion begins around the one-minute mark.)



Jeremiah has more on the Amato from last January.

Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995

The residential conversion of the former Amato Opera House at 319 Bowery has finally reached a conclusion (the work permits arrived here in October 2014).

Listings for the three units arrived on the market yesterday, with an April 15 occupancy. Two of the apartments are going for $10,995 while the three-bedroom unit on the upper level is seeking $14,995.

Here's the description for the largest of the units, that one for $14,995:

Brand new, gut-renovated 3 bedroom unit with two balconies and gorgeous private roof deck in a fantastic location with Central Air. This beautiful apartment features stainless steel appliances in a custom chef's kitchen, dishwasher, washer & dryer, built in Miele Espresso Maker, and two marble bathrooms. Apartment is accented by recessed pinpoint halogen lighting, wide plank oak flooring, and exposed brick, and beautiful fireplace.

Available for April 15th occupancy. Former Amato Opera House,jJust a short walk to the F or 6 train and close to the M9, M21, and M14 1st Avenue SelectBus Service. Steps from some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife, including Bowery Electric and Blue & Cream.

And a few photos (via Streeteasy)...









The retail listing is still active, now at $28,995, which is down from the previous $34,995 ask.

Steve Croman's 9300 Realty is the landlord here, having picked up the property between Second Street and First Street in December 2008 for $3.7 million. (Croman is currently serving a jail sentence.)

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

The four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Penthouse comes into view at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Apparently there will be a penthouse at 319 Bowery after all. Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval last September to convert the former Amato Opera house between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building.

The original plans showed three residential units above the ground-floor retail space, with a penthouse level. The approved permits that we saw later didn't list a penthouse level…



However, there is an amended permit dated July 8 that includes a penthouse, part of the fourth floor apartment.

In any event, you can now see this top level from the street…



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Construction watch: 319 Bowery

Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval last September to convert the former Amato Opera house at 319 Bowery into a commercial and residential building.

Documents show that there will be one residence on each floor above the retail space here between East Second Street and East First Street.

Workers have been on site since the fall… and the other day, EVG reader Roger took a look inside the open door ...



… to see what was going on with the interior. Per Roger: "The photos don't show much but I thought it was interesting that the place is getting completely gutted."





We're unsure about the incoming retail space here. We'd seen several listing for it. One at Croman's 9300 site says that the storefront — with the rent listed at $34,995 — is rented.

Amato Opera ended its long run on May 31, 2009.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

The Amato Opera building is for sale now for $6.95 million

First, a mini recap: Last July, CB3 gave its blessing for the owners of the V Bars to open a "bar/restaurant/theater experience" in the former Amato Opera on the Bowery. However, as DNAinfo reported in late March, no work has been done on the space and its remains on the market. NYCRS has the listing at $22,500 a month.

So! This weekend, an Amato Opera listing appeared at Corcoran. Its price: $6.95 million. Here's the listing:

The Amato Opera house was an historic property founded in 1964. The original building was constructed in 1899. It was the home to the celebrated opera company for nearly a half-century since before closing in May 2009. It is a four-story building, which was converted into a theatre with rehearsal and storage space, 107-seats, a 20-foot stage and a tiny orchestra pit. It measures approximately 5,429 sq., is a four-story masonry building which stands on a 22'33" X 93' lot, and measures 22'4" wide by 84' deep and c. 7'5" wide at the rear. The property, located in a C6-1 Commercial District (R7 Residential District equivalent), is well suited for commercial, residential or mix use. The building has additional air rights. Property shark states a maximum of 9,576 sf and/or a maximum height of 85 ft. The building is currently 52.4 ft high. All due diligence has to be done by buyer and we are only providing information publicly displayed on property shark with no guarantees. 319 Bowery is between Bleecker and Bond. The neighborhood is now lined with luxury hotels, fashionable restaurants and stylish fashion stores. Bring your architect and your imagination and don't miss this excellent opportunity.

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

On Saturday, workers began clearing out what remains inside the now-closed Amato Opera on the Bowery. (Read our post from Saturday here.)

Meanwhile, Michael Maren was on hand to document the stage props that were coming and going...

See more photos on his Tumblr — he even went inside...

Tony and Sally Amato, pictured here, opened the opera house in 1948. The Amato Opera closed in May 2009.

Food OK now at the former Amato Opera

Not much has happened of late at the former Amato Opera, the historic opera house that closed last May after a 61-year run. As Curbed noted, the building sold for $3.7 million.

I had hope for this space after The Real Deal reported in January 2009 that the building's new owner wants another theater to occupy the ground floor.

Perhaps the building's owner changed his mind. Big "store for rent" signs are now up...



... and, as you can see, food is also OK here now ...


\

In more disturbing news, someone removed the commemorative plaque that was placed above the doorway last June.



This isn't a good sign.

As for rent, the address hasn't been listed yet at 9300 Realty.

For further reading:
Amato Opera (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Amato Opera's future: theater, restaurant... and magicians?

More details are being reported from last night's CB3/SLA meeting, which I couldn't attend because of a work commitment ... the Lo-Down and Eater were there.

The owners behind the V Bars were approved to open a "bar/restaurant/theater experience" in the former Amato Opera on the Bowery. Eater's Thomas Garry reports, "The owners said the concept, which is at least a year from completion, would call for a 100-seat theater showcasing work from various theater troupes, and possibly other entertainment like magicians." Meanwhile, the second-floor would house a 70-seat restaurant/bar for pre- and post-show diners/drinkers.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Food OK now at the former Amato Opera

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Rineke
Occupation: Retired, 'Many Things'
Location: East Houston
Time: 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11

I’m from Amsterdam. I moved to the city in 1991. Love brought me. I married my husband on New Year's Eve that year and we’re still married. Originally he’s from Philadelphia and he lived here.

He lived on 11th Street, next to an empty building that used to be The Ritz. Then Webster Hall opened. Things changed. The main ballroom, the techno was next to our kitchen. When they were really having a party the things that hold your pots on my stove would [vibrate]. When you sat on the toilet you could feel the vibrations in the water pipes.

If you can’t fight them, join them. So I went to work there as a receptionist. There were so many interesting people, weird people, wonderful people, but it was clear we needed to move because I couldn’t live like that. We had friends who wanted to buy something instead of paying rent, so I looked for a year and a half until we found something that we could afford and that was this house.

We bought it in 1994. It was an interesting period of time. My husband and the other person had [9-5] jobs, so they went to work. My husband was sometimes terrorized when he went to work because he had to wear a suit. But for women people were polite and respectful.

I came home once and I [noticed] a cleaver leaning against the front door. I thought, ‘that’s weird. I know if you have a fish head that’s not so good news if you find that.’ So I called the police and asked, ‘What does it mean if you find a cleaver leaning against your home?’ They asked me, ‘Do you want to be connected to lost and found?’ ‘No, I just want to find out if it means anything.’ ‘Oh, well hold on to it for a week because it might be evidence. If we don’t come back to you, just throw it away.’ The first year was full of these weird things.

I worked at the Amato Opera, but it’s closed now. It was funny because I was teaching arts and my husband retired. I wanted to do something and I discovered only then that there was this opera theater and they needed help in the costume department. I always made the costumes for school plays and we did Shakespeare. They said that I could come and help.

So the first season I did things and little projects and after the first season, the owner Anthony Amato asked, ‘Can you take over the costume department?’ I was scared to hell. When I started I didn’t like opera that much, but he changed that. When you’re exposed to something so intensely, you either run away or you develop a love for it. I worked until they closed in 2009.

Anthony was 89, I think, when he actually closed. He hoped his family could take over but it went different from what he imagined. There was nobody who really… it was impossible. He did everything, the auditions, the rehearsals, kept an eye on the finances, the scheduling, plus he would do the lights. He would install a new show every five weeks. He would direct; he was really amazing. Nobody can do that.

He wanted to help educate young singers. He was like a platform for young singers to experience and do a full opera. The big opera houses — you only get a chance when you are already there, but how do you get the experience? And sometimes people made it big and would happily come back to him and do a role, do a whole opera just for fun. That was a wonderful period.

Anthony was a short man, slightly taller than I am, but he was grand in everything he was doing. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with somebody like that. It was such an inspiration. He was very old. Who still works from early morning to late at night with all the things he was doing? He had a passion.

The funny thing is that everybody wants a long life but nobody wants to grow old. He was an old man but he kept doing what he wanted to do. He just went for it. That was inspiring to see that you don’t have to become a boring person. His energy… I’m jealous.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[East 7th Street]

Jack Bistro priced out of University Place (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Australian model Elyse Taylor selling her East 2nd Street home (New York Post)

The spirits of the former Amato Opera House on the Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

And more haunted spirits at the Merchant House Museum (Ephemeral New York)

Seward Park shuns Con Ed (The Lo-Down)

Thoughts on Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" (Dangerous Minds)

... and the other night, activists with Right of Way created a stencil depicting the assault of SUV driver Alexian Lien on a scaffold above the West 178 Street site of the incident... They call this work #Cranksy.



And, given the popularity of anything Banksy-related these days... someone stole the fake Banksy, as Gothamist pointed out yesterday.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 1st Avenue yesterday by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Angelica Kitchen closing on April 7; friends raising money to pay off expenses (Friday, 52 comments)

Che Cafe bringing empanada pockets to Seventh Street (Wednesday)

Mimi's Hummus closes on 14th Street (Wednesday)

4 St. Mark's Place prepped for renovations, expansion (Tuesday)

Jason Wang's Biang! closes after 15 months on Second Avenue (Tuesday)

The landmarked Father’s Heart Ministry comes back into view on 11th Street (Friday)

First sign of Fat Cat Kitchen on 14th Street (Monday)

Tableside Italian Cook Shoppe now open on Sixth Street (Saturday)

Out and About with Jennifer Brodsky (Wednesday)

Rock club E.Vil is coming to the East Village (Tuesday)

Retail space in the former Amato Opera House seeking to the tune of $35k monthly (Monday)

There are pigeons trapped inside the former P.S. 64 on Ninth Street (Monday)

Lions BeerStore has closed; Wall 88 Restaurant up next (Tuesday ... Thursday)

Black Market will be going by Sister Midnight on Avenue A (Monday)

A new all-you-can-eat sushi option on Second Avenue (Thursday)

Pizza-master Gino Sorbillo marks his arrival on the Bowery (Wednesday)

Make a bid on 64 Second Ave. (Monday)

Is this studio the East Village at its best? (Thursday)

Spring Spa signage blooms on Fifth Street (Monday)

The randomly placed piano in Tompkins Square Park is no longer randomly there (Monday)

A sign for Nobody Is Perfect on Fourth Street (Friday)

...new outside the Second Avenue F stop ... mural by @pyramidoracle...



...and an EVG readers shared these photos of a new piece via @colp_one outside Spiegel on Second Street at First Avenue...





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Your guide to the doomed corners of the Bowery

It's challenging to remember all the change coming to what's left of the Bowery... so, a recap, starting next to the New Museum...

1) Speaking of the New Museum, they bought the former restaurant supply company at 231 Bowery here back in September 2008 for $16.6 million, according to the Times. Museum officials said they'd use the top floors for offices and storage and lease out the groundfloor to retail...



2) The parcel of land across the street from the New Museum has nearly 67,000 square feet of buildable space -- six lots on the Bowery at Prince Street... and it has been on the market...the Bari family has owned the property since the 1940s...



3) Eater reported last week that a new restaurant is taking over part of the Sunshine Hotel annex at 245 Bowery at Stanton Street...



4) At 57 Bond at the Bowery (your "new intersection of cool")... the former WaMu bank branch can be yours for retail... Seems like a 1,000 years ago when a Sunoco was on this corner.



5) 325 Bowery at Second Street will become the latest manly-man eatery/bar from Taavo Somer and William Tigertt...



6) I don't know about the southwest corner of the Bowery and Great Jones... can't image this will be an empty lot for too much longer...



7) As I reported last week, the space is available immediately at 348-352 Bowery, which includes the corner lot...



8) The former Salvation Army East Village Residence at 347 Bowery was primed to become an upscale sushi place, but the Koi people decided against it... still for the taking...



9) And as it has been reported this week, 2 Cooper Square will have apartments for upwards of $20,000 a month.



Plus:

10) The White House at 338-340 Bowery is doomed... The four-story building erected in 1916 now serves as a hostel as well as a permanent home for a handful of low-income residents. It is destined to become a hotel...

11) The former Amato Opera building is now taking offers for use as a restaurant...

12) 250 Bowery is a stalled hotel project that is now a hole in the ground... As BoweryBoogie put it: "A dormant pit of doom defined by overgrowth, rusty steel pylons, and errant trash."



13) How about the northwest corner of Houston and the Bowery where Shepard Fairey is getting tagged now? Jeremiah has more on the history (and future) of this space....

And this is just from Prince to Fourth Street... keep going south and you'll find more disturbing closures and developments... BoweryBoogie has been all over this...

Not even a new dickchicken on one of these corners makes me smile anymore...

Pearl Theatre relocating; what's next for 80 St. Mark's Place?

First the Amato Opera, now this...

The Pearl Theatre Company, which has had a residency at Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place the past 15 years, is relocating to Midtown for its 2009-2010 season.

Said Founding Artistic Director Shepard Sobel in a statement: "While we are disappointed the East Village is losing a theatrical venue to commercial enterprise, we are thrilled to be moving to the theatre district to usher in this exciting new era of The Pearl in this vibrant new community."

And just what is that "commercial enterprise"? And what becomes of the Theatre 80? What will become of the celebrity footprints and handprints?




Why do we have the fear? Unfortunately, we don't know yet what's replacing the Pearl at 80 St. Mark's Place. We sent an e-mail to a Pearl spokesperson. According to the spokesperson, there are several different possibilities for the space at this time. However, the Pearl isn't privy to that information.

Anyway, here are a few more details about the Pearl's future. The New York City Center Stage II will serve as the new home. The Pearl will lease the space from Manhattan Theatre Club. The final Pearl offering at Theatre 80 is Tennessee Williams' "Vieux Carré," which runs through June 14.)

The new Pearl season will launch Oct. 2 with J.M. Synge's "The Playboy of the Western" World under the direction of the Pearl's new artistic director, J.R. Sullivan.

As for the Theatre 80, Howard Otway opened the space as a playhouse in 1967. He later turned it into a revival film house. He died at age 72 in April 1994. As the Times reported, Theatre 80 patrons assumed the venue would close. However, Otway's wife, Florence, continued running the theater.

According to the Times:

In the 1960's, the Otways bought two five-story buildings at 78 and 80 St. Marks Place, site of a famous speakeasy during Prohibition . . . Mrs. Otway remembers the heyday of revivals, from 1975 to 1985, "when people lined up down to Second Avenue." Even in later years, as other revival houses failed, the business was profitable, she said. With a mailing list of 4,000, Mrs. Otway is not worried about competition from VCR's.

Mrs. Otway also lived in an apartment above the theatre. Unfortunately, her tenure was brief. The theatre showed its last double bill -- "High Noon" and "Shane" on July 21, 1994. The Pearl's first production, "King Lear," began on Sept. 8.

Mrs. Otway still owns the two buildings.

For further reading:
Plays to Replace Films at Theatre 80 (The New York Times)

Theatre 80 sign via Warsze on Flickr.
Theatre 80 sidewalk art via Forgotten New York.