East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street closed Feb. 7, 2012. (A whole year already? Jeez.) Since then, not much of anything has happened inside the space, though the sidewalk does serve as a makeshift shelter.
[Wednesday via Bobby Williams]
However, in recent days, there has been some activity inside the former grocery...
And plans have changed here. Last year, the landlord was proposing to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use.
For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Now, as a tipster notes, the landlord has ditched the idea of adding the additional floors. Plans on file now with the DOB show a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.
Per our tipster: "I just wonder by increasing the floor area for the first and second floor, what sort of commercial entity are they looking for? Who would need such a large floor plate (and 2 stories) besides a market/grocery or a Duane Reade-type pharmacy? It's too big for a restaurant, bar or clothing store. So I wonder who they think will lease the space?"
Good question. Have any guesses? Or any tips about the space? Then please leave a comment or drop us a note via the EV Grieve email.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A
East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A
Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A
Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished
23 comments:
Actually, it's not too big for a clothing store, if you think about most of the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic stores, H&Ms....Most Staples stores and Best Buys etc are two floors, for that matter. Pretty much, it's not too big to be anything but a corporate something. (in different times, a barnes and noble?) On the bright side, I can't think of any huge retailers that would fit in there, thanks to the bar/nightlife vibe.
Maybe a Fairway! It would fit in with the Whole Foods/Essex Market/Union Market/Trader Joe's concentration......
I smell a Duane Reade, and as much as I hate to say this, and as much as I would want this to be a theater again, I wouldn't mind a Trader Joe's in that space. The one at the (former) Palladium on 14th is infuriatingly busy at just about all times. It's a nightmare to shop there. The only way to do it and not lose your mind is to get there right after the doors open, but you know what, grocery shopping shouldn't have to rigidly scheduled. It's just nuts.
With that said I am going against my usual opinions of stuff like this. Long live the Loews Hollywood. It's too bad we don't live in that world any longer. If it has to go corporate my vote is for TJs. For all that shop there it would probably be a relief and a welcome change.
There, I said it.
I've never seen a Trader Joe's that big, East or West Coast, but I can see Whole Foods snapping it up. All I know is, it'll be too big for a bar, and that is a damn fine thing by me.
Like we need another upscale supermarket? As it is, I bet Key Foods is taking a huge hit with Gracefully and Union Market next door. I worry about them pulling out and there being only superultraluxury options in that neck of the woods
Duane Reade might be the best of a bunch of crappy options.
How about a bowling alley or roller rink?
I'd vote for a Roller Rink.
Perhaps that would corral the B&Ts?
Woos vs. Bros Roller Derby league? Snooki on Skates?
A mall.
@anon 10:14
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!
Roller rink. YES!
Gym?
Equinox or New York Sports Club would kill it there, no real gyms in the area besides NYHR at Astor Place
Posted that rumor the other day that New York Health & Racquet Club was looking at opening a location above Gracefully on Avenue A.
When I first heard that, I thought the tipster meant here, not 23 Avenue A. Anyway, just a rumor... A gym makes sense here, though, I suppose — as long as they had a liquor license!
I just want my corner store back :-(
Would be AMAZING if the Nighthawk Theater in Williamsburg opened up here. Well, it would be great until the weekenders found out about it...so I guess I agree a Duane Reade is the best of the crappy options. The DR on ave B & 2nd street is turning into Walgreens, so it would make if they opened a DR on Ave A.
Guy Fieri's New Downtown American Restaurant Extravaganza?
@ Goggla
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
How about a mini-museum or something cultural.
if those were drunk passed out santas from santa con, folks would be up in arms, but since it's bums sleeping there no one say boo.
Well...based purely on the most recent paperwork filed at the Dept. of Buildings (which is public information) the Landlord is filing for the 1st & 2nd Floor to be used as a "Store", for Retail Use (Use Group 6), for 135 occupants. If he were intending to lease to a theater or a Gym the Use Group and Occupancy would be filed differently. The following are some of the uses allowed by the NYC Zoning Law for Use Group 6: Dry Cleaning, Ambulatory Treatment, Liquor Store, Drug Store, Laundromat, Grocery Store,Restaurant, Art Gallery, Fishing Tackle Shop, Millenary Shop, Pet Shop, and Veternarian Office.
Thanks anon 4:29.
Missed that.
So... Here's to a Fishing Tackle Shop!
@Krista: All Duane Reades are turning into Walgreen's, I think: Walgreen's bought them. Don't know if they're going to maintain a separate identity or just borg them.
So there's a Walgreens on 14th and 4th, a Duane Reade the next block toward Broadway... and a Duane Reade on 14th and 3rd.
Was just trying to understand that.
I hate to say this, but its got Walgreens written all over it. Or, at the very least, "chain store".
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