When the "for rent" signs went up during the summer, we were filled with The Dread... and it turns out that this was all for good reason.
Last night, a tipster told us something that no one wants to hear: A Subway (sandwich shop) is opening here at 108 First Ave. Workers on the scene confirmed it to the tipster.
And a look at DOB documents doubly confirms it...
How many more times will we see this: Cluttered little mom-and-pop shop closes; chain store opens.
So now, the east side of the street will stack up like this:
Saifee Hardware
Ricky's
Whatever takes over for the shuttered Polonia
Subway
McDonald's
The best newish bar in the neighborhood
Dunkin' Donuts
this is unacceptable. in small towns, people stop this bullshit. why can't we?
ReplyDeletehttp://napa.patch.com/articles/petition-opposes-downtown-starbucks#photo-8821082
we should protest it on their human rights violations alone
ReplyDeleteBecause, Jeremiah, it's not a small town. It's transient here. And people are used to these places everywhere else. (I personally dread this, and the Starbucks about to open).
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather lived his entire life in the EV (a name that didn't exist when he was born), and stuff like this never bothered him. The neighborhood changed unbelievably in his lifetime, and he accepted all of it, never complaining. Because someday it'll all change into something else. We're just here at a less inspired time.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Subway inevitably gives me the shits every time I eat there.
ReplyDeleteoh sorry i thought it said starbucks. but im sure subway has also done plenty of harm to the world. i shudder to think of how those animals are treated before they become "meat"
ReplyDeleteyuck
Ugh, gross. There used to be a Subway on the other side of 1st, up about a block. I wonder why they think opening another one would work.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a good sandwich, go right around the corner on 6th to Zon. $7 will buy you excellence.
I understand that locals are unhappy with another chain outlet coming to the area but that is what is driving a lot of economic growth these days. If the Subway is a francised store, then some entreprenure has made a decision that their probability of success is higher than if he/she went solo.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know the food is bland (or for Tim, worse) but if this were "Bob's Artisanal Sandwich Shop" some of you would be bitching about that as well. And if nothing else works - hey, it's better than another bar for the B&T'ers to trash 4 nights a week.
"why can't we?"
ReplyDeletedoesn't it take more residents volunteering for our Community Board rather than business owners who consider it part of their jobs to show up at meetings?
@ Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteYou could reprint that comment for just about every post on the Grieve. ;)
the east village: It is what it is, and it's a goddammed shame.
@ anon who left comment at 2:36
ReplyDeleteI heard that too, and have a story in the works on it...
Okay, bowery boy, how DO we residents volunteer for the Community Board? I for one would love to give it a shot...
ReplyDeleteI used to live here, and the landlady seemed to be kicking everybody out in order to up the rent. Confirms it when she boots Polonia next door for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteIt's depressing because my old apartment is still vacant, years later - she doesn't need the money, just doesn't want to be stuck with lower income tenants. And clearly doesn't give a shit about "the neighborhood".
Point of order: Aren't there two more Subways just a little way north on First Ave? One at 13th or so on the west side of the street, another at 18 or 19th or so. And then there's at least one more on 14th and 2nd, and the one on Ave B, right? (And another one on 16th and 3rd, another at Union Square, one at Astor Pl., etc.) So seriously, how popular is Subway that people can't even walk an extra few blocks to eat there? I mean, Westville only has one location in easy walking distance of the neighborhood, and it's always packed. I''m amazed that they can possibly support so many of these things in a 10 block radius of 14th and 1st... Anyone wanna start a franchise with me? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
ReplyDelete@Anon 3:03 - Dunkin Donuts just announced they want to double their locations, so there are franchises to be had...
ReplyDeleteThere's also Subway on 2nd ave below 9th.
ReplyDeleteI really regret not getting a chance at the beautiful aqua neon video sign they had in there........
ReplyDeleteSubway is so gross. Why couldn't we get a Popeye's there?
ReplyDeletefor Fiordiligi and everyone:
ReplyDeletehttp://mbpo.org/free_details.asp?id=64
(maybe there should be a whole post about this upcoming deadline.)