I saw this, and wondered what storefront was 348... I got to Great Jones...
Ugh. Of course. As I reported in May, the whole parcel of 348-352 Bowery is for sale -- "restaurants welcome."
And Segafredo? Well if it's the same Segafredo... it's an international chain. Per the website: "Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Café, the only global café with Italian credibility offers a multi-sensorial experience reflecting the lifestyle of the quintessential Italian café. The constant drive for excellence exhibited by the Segafredo family is evident in product quality, efficient service and a friendly atmosphere all of which makes a positive difference in the quality of life of the customers."
I browsed through some news releases of other Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Café openings, such as one in the downtown Miami/Brickell area in 2008: "Segafredo Brickell exudes a posh and luxurious atmosphere ... Inside the venue, exhibiting the same level of chic-meets-comfort as the exterior, guests will experience a true Italian-style café with a coffee bar with barstools, plush red leather couches and free Internet services. ... Located within the restaurant, Spazio Nero is a lavish boutique night club that will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Embodying the nightclub’s name, the décor is outfitted in all things black, from the stylish black leather couches with silver buttons, to the black-tinted mirrors throughout, to the fleur-de-lis textured black-on-black wallpaper. The club features an elevated DJ booth, a one-of-a-kind advanced multi-zoned distribution audio system and a computer controlled lighting program by Infinite Audio Systems."
Segafredo, though, is operated by the VE Restaurant Group in Miami Beach. They have a slew of different types of eateries... so there are other possibilities for 348 Bowery.
As for the name (Alexander Duff) on the flyer, here's one guess...from the Metro 1 Hospitality Group in Miami Beach:
Alex Duff
Sr. Associate – Restaurant/Hotel/Bars Division
Alexander Duff, a native New Yorker, in 2002 began his real estate career specializing buying and selling restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Some of Alex’s most notable deal include: Mokai Lounge/ Mama Vieja; Halo/ Hemisphere; Indomania/ Siembra; Tunelli/ Oasis; Hakan/ Dab Haus; Amendment 21/ Gigi Bistro; Fiore Pizza/ Pizza Power; Scrapbar/ Gil’s Café; Rabbit’s foot/ Loading Zone; and the restaurant at the Tudor Hotel. Alex also works as a restaurant consultant, focusing on improving existing business practices and fabricating new concepts.
Meanwhile, start saying your goodbyes to Downtown Auto and Tire...
Indeed, as a Curbed headline read last summer, Bowery's South Beach Transformation Nearly Complete.
Previously on EV Grieve:
The last days of the Downtown Auto and Tire?
Wow, I haven't heard of any of those bars.
ReplyDeletegreieve, you must have a very strong stomach to be doing this kind of thing day in and day out. "all the news that's tough to swallow."
ReplyDeleteboo squared
Ha. Thanks Glamma. Yeah, it can be really disheartening and depressing... though, ultimately, the continued changes inspired me to start this site... bring some attention to things, both positive and negative....and maybe get people talking about it and paying attention...
ReplyDeleteif i'm not mistaken downtown auto had a reputation for doing pretty good repairs at fairly reasonable rates on both american and foreign cars.
ReplyDeletewhile a car wash and/or repair shop are not on my list of favorite stores, this neighborhood used to have almost any service or item for sale that anybody could want. there were multiple bodegas, cleaning stores, chinese laundries, shoe repair places, gas stations, everything stores and specialty stores for underwear or just for cotton.
now it's all sushi, pizza and burgers along with food covered in specialty "foam".
who started that awful trend?
You probably NEVER went to the auto shop, what do you care?
ReplyDeletethe powers that be won't stop until every storefront on Bowery is lined with bars, restaurants, and cafes.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly seems that way, BB.
ReplyDeletethe rate at which the city continues to disappear, destroyed by capitalism and greed, never ceases to amaze me. It's like a death rollercoaster on a loop. Fedora, on and on.
ReplyDeleteI hate to see everything turned into a bar, but I personally have no use for an auto repair shop, and I can't imagine that many residents in the area have much use for it either.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I'm pretty surprised at auto repair shops existing in Manhattan, of all places. Is it next to a store that sells farm equipment?
ReplyDeleteAs someone who likes bars, restaurants, and cafes, having too many is bad for the standpoint of having good bars, restaurants, and cafes. The competition induces their managers to start cutting corners in various areas, plus they start blending in to each other, meaning a less meaningful experience if you do spend time in one.
Not so fast...the application was soundly defeated....
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at that photo of the chairs, all I see are bedbugs.
ReplyDeleteJill - If the only thing you see are bedbugs maybe you should get your eyes checked or consult a doctor.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a serious problem.