Last week we heard the news that Heartbreak Cafe on Second Avenue at Second Street had closed for renovations. Diner's Journal reported this morning that the German-Swiss restaurant has closed for good. [Via Grub Street]
Flashback to this corner on Oct. 12, 2009 ... during construction...
16 comments:
This was the site of the 2nd Avenue Theater, one of many Yiddish theaters that lines Second Avenue, from 14th Street to Houston
If I have my facts correct this building is owned by Community Access an operator of supportive housing. Why would they rent their space to a restaurant or a bar in the first place? Why would they allow outdoor seating right below the window's of their residents. I hope I'm wrong about this though.
It blows me away when I think of all the businesses that existed in the EV and LES for decades (some for nearly a century), and today, most can't stay in business for months or at best a few years. The stability and familiarity of NYC (especially Manhattan) has left us, replaced with the flavor of the day (if you can afford it).
Probably the worst named restaurant ever. Too bad, because it looks like an expensive build-out, down the drain.
I walk by this place every day and I don't recall ever seeing outdoor seating. Such a shame it closed so quickly. I've enjoyed Ingrids other restaurants.
With the Manhattan real estate heroin economy - where the product is valued way beyond its actual value due to created scarcity - there is no room for anyone to try anything - you either hit it from the start or you are gone. Now the tenants get to live through ANOTHER buildout downstairs.
but wait! they just received a michelin star last week! (seriously...) what a silly thing it would be for them to close now!
That's true, Madeline. Terrible timing. Obviously...
Yes, owned by Community Access which is why they didn't get their license. They seemed like really nice people, looking for a last chance effort to save their failing restaurant.
I walk by there a lot, and I think I saw some customers in there once, but that certainly didn't happen every day.
Kind of a nice recapitulation of history that a Yiddish theater was eventually succeeded by a German restaurant which then succumbed to the forces of American capitalism.
the place is pretty large for the east village.
looks sort of like a red lobster.
i understand the food was good, but expensive.
i am more concerned with old-time, long-term places that close because of large rent increases, taking local history with them.
Dr. Gecko -
Heartbreak offered a mix of cuisines of nations bordering the Alps but the owner was Swiss. It was not a German restaurant.
blue glass -
Ingrid, the chef/partner, has a decades long history in this neighborhood. Her previous restaurant, Rotelle AG, opened in the 80's on 7th St. between 1st and Av A.
Next IHOP location ;-(
If it was supposed to be German why was the construction shed painted like the Belgian flag?
It was bound to fail. It DID look like a Red Lobster. I lived in the building next door for 9 years. It was doomed from the start. Some things just aren't EV, and this was one of those things. Much like Kurve, Deuce Bounce, Salt, etc.
Someone should do a little background check on Community Access - it's hardly the public interest group they pretend.
An attempt at unionizing their lower tier employees - mostly african-american and latino - largely single mothers - not receiving benefits or fair pay has repeatedly been squashed by management - upper middle class whites.
There is a tremendous amount of nepotism - relatives of the CEO have plum jobs, not to mention abuses with respect to governmental funding.
There has been ongoing rent disputes with this tenant since before this building was even finished. Essentially CA thought an upscale restaurant would be just the ticket to increase their coffers.
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