Weekend recap: Japadog has closed

As we first reported Friday, Japadog has closed on St. Mark's Place.

The Japanese-inspired hot dog restaurant by way of Vancouver opened the first U.S. outlet at 30 St. Mark's Place to great fanfare in January 2012.

And we were completely wrong about this place… predicting long lines and the end of humanity, pretty much. (We weren't alone in this feeling!) But the place never quite seemed to catch on. (Remember when they tried a breakfast service for a day or two?)

What do you think? Too much food competition on St. Mark's Place with $1 pizza, sliders, ramen, Chipotle, etc., etc.? Not to mention an already established hot-dog specialist down St. Mark's in Crif Dogs. The arrival of Papaya King back in May could not have helped…



We haven't heard an official reason for the closure. An employee told Eater yesterday that Japadog closed due to "problems with management." There hasn't been a mention of the closure on Japadog's various social media platforms.

As for what's next here… the space is fully vented for a restaurant… we spotted the listing on Craigslist back on Thursday … still, you have to figure ramen, $1 pizza, bubble tea, FroYo or vaping products as possible candidates here…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place

Breaking: Japadog is closing for good after tonight on St. Mark's Place

Japadog construction starts; plus, the end of an era for 'the doorshitter'?

Images and stories 2017, Part 2

Here's a sampling of the stories and photos from the past year... July through December (find part 1 here) ... thanks to everyone who contributed during 2017!

July

Woo, it's 100 degrees out! Photo by Derek Berg...



The great sinkhole of Tompkins Square Park...



Noted on First Avenue...



The Polish G. I. Delicatessen closes on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...



DOUBLE RAINBOW... photo by James and Karla Murray...



I know what you did last summer ... spotted at Avenue A and Ninth Street entrance to Tompkins Square Park...



When you're late for the BBQ and can't find a cab, July 4 on Seventh and Avenue C ...



At the wake for Cher, the willow of La Plaza... photo by Steven...

August

About Jake, who roamed the East Village these past 11 years...



Solar eclipse... photos by Frank Franca...





The Confederate flag controversy on Avenue D and Eighth Street...



Summer storm ... photo via EJ...



The Village Voice announces that its ending its print edition...



A Starbucks for St. Mark's Place and Avenue A...



Tagging — then cleaning — the cube ... via Derek Berg...



Webster Hall closes...



Someone returns a book to the Tompkins Square branch 38 years after it was due back...



Sea Monster performing in Tompkins Square Park during the David Peel memorial ... photo by Steven...

September

Every recap needs a mannequin photo...



Workers remove Cher from La Plaza... via Steven...



Noted in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Bobby Williams...



Higher ed on Sixth Street ... via Goggla...



Hurricane Maria relief efforts continue at the Second Street firehouse...

October

Cafe Orlin wraps up 36 years on St. Mark's Place...



Jimmy Webb opens I Need More on Orchard Street ... photo by Walter Wlodarczyk...



HiFi ends its 15-year run on Avenue A... via Dan Efram...



RIP Flatbush... photo by Steven...



A crowd descends at the Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park... via Steven...



... and at the Dog Parade ... by Stacie Joy...



Remembering Tom Petty at the Black & White Bar on 10th Street...



So many adventures... photo by Derek Berg ...

November

A fall sunrise from St. Mark's Place...



Publisher abruptly shuts down Gothamist and DNAinfo...



Friends and loved ones place flowers on Cooper Square where Elizabeth Lee was reportedly gunned down by a onetime boyfriend who had been stalking her...



The latest iteration of the International Bar closes, merges with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south on First Avenue...



Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building ...

December

The beloved washer-dryer combo of 10th and B...



The Grassroots Tavern will close after 42 years on St. Mark's Place...



Pre-Supermoon via Goggla ...



... and a holiday scene in Tompkins Square Park...

Feltman’s moving away from Theatre 80 on St Mark's Place

Today is the last day to enjoy a hot dog at the Feltman’s of Coney Island outpost at Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place.

Feltman's owner Michael Quinn shared the news with me via email.

"Grateful we are for the last several years at 80 St. Mark's, unfortunately, we have outgrown the location — but stay tuned because we’ll be back bigger and better in a yet undisclosed space," Quinn said.

He started selling hot dogs from inside the William Barnacle Tavern at Theatre 80 in August 2016. Shortly after, Gothamist declared that Feltman's served NYC's best hog dog.

Feltman's is named after Charles Feltman, purportedly the inventor of the hot dog as well as the restaurant that was located in Coney Island from 1870-1954. (Read more about Feltman at the Coney Island History Project here.)

Quinn is particularly proud that, starting last year, McSorley's began serving Feltman's hot dogs. "The first time they added a food item in over 50 years," he said.

Upon opening on St. Mark's Place in 2016, Quinn said that he had found a good match with Theatre 80 operator Lorcan Otway.

"Lorcan and I are both native New Yorkers and historians who believe in the preservation of NY history and small businesses," Quinn said at the time. "Lorcan told me that he loves that fact that Feltman's is going from what was the largest restaurant in the world at Coney Island to the smallest kitchen on St. Mark's Place."

And moving forward: "We ask you to please support Theatre 80 and the William Barnacle Tavern."

Oh-K Dog now officially coming soon on St. Mark's Place

The coming soon signage for Oh-K Dog is now up at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

Their arrival was first reported in August. 

The chain specializing in Korean-style snacks such as stuffed hot dogs and egg toast will have some competition a few storefronts away... where Afternoon is opening soon at No. 34. Brands under this roof will include Jongro Rice Hotdog, Machi Machi (bubble teas, etc.), Mochi Mochi Donut, Brooklyn Roasting Company and Croffle Haus (croissant dough baked in a waffle iron)...

There's also Mochinut, which offers mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs, open on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Oh-K Dog also has outposts on Ludlow Street and Seventh Avenue South, with several more planned for the city.

And perhaps Oh-K Dog can break the spell of quickly disappearing quick-serve food spots at 36 St. Mark's Place. Joe's Steam Rice Roll was the most recent tenant, quietly closing in March. Other concepts included Cheers Cut, the Taiwanese mini-chain of fried foods ... Friterie Belgian Fries ... Fasta ("Pasta Your Way") ... and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza.

Week in Grieview

[Yesterday in Tompkins Square Park via Derek Berg] 

Posts this past week included...

• Jules Bistro will not be reopening on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• After 46 years, the Ukrainian Sports Club has left the East Village (Wednesday) 

• Final public hearing on a larger 3 St. Mark's Place coming soon (Tuesday) 

• Farewells: Funny Face Bakery has outgrown its East Village space (Monday) 

• Funny fundraising business for the Sixth Street Community Center (Tuesday) 

• The original Coyote Ugly outpost closes; new location expected on 14th Street (Tuesday) Is this the news CU home? (Wednesday) 

• Pop's Eat-Rite debuts on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• These local streets will now be open during the week for dining (Thursday) 

• College Food Pantry now being offered at the Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish (Wednesday)

• St. Brigid is hosting a flea market on Saturdays (Saturday) 

• This week's NY See panel (Thursday) 

• Baby Kong arrives at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden (Friday) 

• The Merchant’s House Museum reopen to visitors (Friday) 

• Construction watch: 24 1st Ave./101 2nd St. (Friday) 

• Got milk? (Wednesday) 

• Reaching the top at Zero Irving (Tuesday) 

• Saramsam is a new Filipino restaurant from Ravi DeRossi on 7th Street (Monday) 

• Say a prayer! Today's special guest at the Tompkins Square Park dog run (Monday) 

• Has Spiegel closed? (Friday) 

• Another day, another discarded microwave with a note (Tuesday) 

• Jewels is the new tenant for the former Ben & Jerry's space on St. Mark's Place (Wedensday)

• Elsewhere in NYC: Pearl Diner reopens for curbside dining (Friday) 

• It's full, wrapped in plastic: A Big Belly on B needs emptied out (Monday) 

• Report: Cloister Cafe granted temporary restraining order to reopen (Monday)

... and we're officially on Pumpkin Watch... as seen at Westside Market on Third Avenue at 12th Street...

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Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Dog-gone: Kimomi Pet opening on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Signage arrived yesterday for Kimomi Pet at 22 St. Mark's Place. This is said to be an actual pet store (and not, say, a bubble tea shop) opening soon on the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The Kimomi Pet owners also ran the previous business here — Chi Snack Shop, which moved to a larger retail space a few storefronts away at 4 St. Mark's Place, as reported here.

We'll post more details about Kimomi Pet once we have them.

Lastly, dog signage on St. Mark's Place has gotten more subtle since the glory days of Spots' Cafe in 2009...


[From the bowels of the EVG archives!]