As you probably know, 9th Street Bakery is closing. Owners Oleg and Tetyana Kucherenko have said that they can't afford the 38 percent rent hike that the landlord is requesting with a new lease. They've been on a month-to-month rent arrangement until the landlord found a new tenant.
Word came down on May 15 that the couple needed to be out in the next few weeks.
And now: Sunday is their last day.
A bakery has stood here the past 87 years. Word is that a juice/smoothie shop will take over the space here just west of First Avenue.
Updated 3:13 p.m.
Marc Yearsley at Gothamist spoke to Oleg today.
"[It's got] nothing to do about rent, it's about business. It can't be generalized because the neighborhood in this spot really changed. Changed so much," he explained. "I have maybe 5% of my customers left. I was fighting until the end, but it was already bad a year ago."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: 9th St. Bakery is closing after 87 years (59 comments)
For further reading:
After 87 Years, Saying Goodbye to Ninth Street Bakery in the East Village (The Village Voice)
9th Street Bakery (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
My Mom and Pop: 9th Street Bakery (Off the Grid)
Grieving this.
ReplyDeleteThis just sucks. They had the best breads. And were such a pleasure to talk to.
ReplyDeleteOut of all the EV changes, this one is really bumming me out.
They are going to do a twice-a-week delivery service. Bread (and babka) keeps great in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteI'm really angry they have to leave, but at least I can still get my bread.
Yes, we (and all of our friends and neighbors, many of whom are elderly and aren't blogging) are very sad to see them go, but very happy about a delivery option...
ReplyDeleteMay the curse of the babka gods descend upon the smoothie abomination, and may their vile concoctions be filled with lumps the size of cobblestones. I'm another one for delivery...
ReplyDeleteOleg is about to take orders at http://9thstbakery.com/, he plans to do delivery on Thursdays and Sundays. They do not only have the best 6-grain in town (it's not so absurdly sugary), but all of their goods are just great. What a pity that they have to close. I give this juice bar time one winter before they fold, and then it's the same drama like in so many other places here: Local business is pushed out, new business is broke, storefront empty, block dysfunctional. Time for a bank, drugstore, convenience food or any other chain. The demographic change eats her own children/nabe yet again.
ReplyDeleteIs the curse of the babka gods kind of like the orchidia curse? ;-)
ReplyDeleteFRAT TARDS OUT OF NEW YORK!
ReplyDeleteREMINDER!!! Today is the last day for the bakery storefront!
ReplyDelete(I went in and bought my usual Sunday 1 lb rye.)
Very sad. 87 years and gone in a flash. So many of the old veteran businesses disappearing recently. It's up to us to support the remaining good ones. Vote with your wallets, no matter how thin they are...
ReplyDelete- East Villager