[Photo from Monday by Bobby Williams]
As we've been reporting, the former 7A space will be home to Miss Lily's 7A Cafe here on East Seventh Street and Avenue A. The space is the second outpost of restauranteur Paul Salmon's Miss Lily's complex on West Houston Street.
The folks at Miss Lily's tweeted out the news yesterday that they'll open Monday…
Miss Lily's 7A Cafe. Jerk Centre & Rum Bar. Opens Monday. #eastvillage #jamaica #nyc #food #rum… http://t.co/vDJaRoMrHu
— Miss Lily's (@MissLilysChat) May 14, 2014Here's more about what to expect via the Miss Lily's website:
Miss Lily’s 7A is open for dinner daily with all day-breakfast, lunch, brunch and late night in the former 7A Cafe space in the East Village. The new 7A outpost of Miss Lily’s embodies the best elements of Miss Lily’s, Melvin’s Juice Box and the Variety Shop, while paying homage to 7A’s storied past.
The menu features the Miss Lily’s classics, new dishes that celebrate the former 7A Cafe and the restaurant’s Jamaican roots, as well as a weekend late night menu to cater to the neighborhood’s buzzing nightlife.
The bar features a full selection of wine, beer and cocktails, with a focus on Caribbean rum spirits, and a frozen daiquiri slushy machine. An outpost of Melvin’s Juice Box anchors the bar at Miss Lily's 7A, serving Melvin’s 100% organic, incredibly tasty, made-to-order juices. Additionally, Miss Lily’s signature sauces and the Kingston kettle-style potato chips in Curry, Jerk, and Jerk BBQ are for sale.
The new space takes inspiration from the early 1980’s Memphis “anti-design movement” in Italy – whose signature clashing colors and asymmetrical shapes became an expression of anti-conformity in the East Village’s punk scene. Bright colors and wild, clashing patterns evoke an 80’s Jamaican diner vibe, with elements like the black-and-blue linoleum checkerboard floors and wood-paneled walls that nod to the fast food American diner of the 50s. African wax print textiles, Missoni-esque velour upholstery, and brightly colored neon fruit baskets stay true to the much-loved aesthetic of Miss Lily’s.
The restaurant’s façade recaptures a sense of the neighborhood’s rich spirit and diverse history, reviving the vintage look and feel of the once-popular East Village Bodega storefronts that have all but disappeared. Original hand painted signs by Brooklyn Artist studio Farewell designs and a vintage awning pay loving homage to this once ubiquitous archetype.
[EVG file photo from May 1]
The Cafe will start with dinner service before expanding the hours in the coming weeks.
7A closed after nearly 30 years on Jan. 26.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name
Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces
[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month
Renovations underway at former 7A space
[Updated] Rumors: 7A space will become a 2nd outpost of Miss Lily's and Melvin's Juice Box
The former 7A will apparently be called Miss Lily's 7A Cafe
28 comments:
Miss Lily’s 7A is open for dinner daily with all day-breakfast, lunch, brunch and late night in the former 7A Cafe space in the East Village. ...
"...The new space takes inspiration from the early 1980’s Memphis “anti-design movement” in Italy – whose signature clashing colors and asymmetrical shapes became an expression of anti-conformity in the East Village’s punk scene....(Say What)
Bright colors and wild, clashing patterns evoke an 80’s Jamaican diner vibe, with elements like the black-and-blue linoleum checkerboard floors and wood-paneled walls that nod to the fast food American diner of the 50s. (Say What again?)
The restaurant’s façade recaptures a sense of the neighborhood’s rich spirit and diverse history, reviving the vintage look and feel of the once-popular East Village Bodega storefronts that have all but disappeared. ...."(Now I know you're clueless)
At first I thought this was a joke...then I realized they were dead serious. Hahahahahahahahahaha
I'm clueless as to what attire to wear.
Thanks, Walter. I thought it was just me.
Jeez Louise.
First "buzzing nightlife" if it were only just a buzz...
Second, the Memphis Group which create what we refer to as Memphis design were not about anti-design by but an evolution (some would say a step back into popular culture's past) of modern design. Pieces from this time were lumped into the Post Modern style which in architecture was a break from anti-facadism and again referenced historical styles like columns, domes, pediments and what is considered not modern. Memphis embraced kitsch, 50's era laminates and plastics, atomic age shapes, columns and bold rhetoric colors. These themes were a part of the "New Wave" post punk music era or much of what was on MTV in the first year or two. Okay history lesson over.
"Authentic" bodega signs and a "new wave" interior; Welcome to the the East Village Theme Park. Please keep your hands inside the ride at all times and exit in an orderly fashion.
East Village is the new Williamsburg/Bushwick/Hipsterburg/Ironyville.
After reading their breathless yet fluffy press release, now I understand why they re calling it a "Jerk Center", although not, probably, in the way they intended for it to be read.
Oh, you are all just a bunch of haters. Get a grip. Get a life.
I was interested in the tasty carribean foods and rums and what not, but then I read the blurb and realized that, who am I kidding, I am not nearly highbrow enough for this place. No joke, I don't even know what the fuck Missoni-esque means. They would all laugh me out of this joint I know it.
Jerk Centre, a perfect name for that corner on Saturday nights.
Jokes aside, really like all the people I've ever interacted with over at Miss Lily's on Houston.
Okay crazy eddie, I'll get a "theme" life.
Gojira: Thanks for the great comment! I laughed out loud. Could not agree more!!!
Yeah really you guys. I was skeptical at first, I admit, but this is fun and colorful and it *is* very EV in the 1980s. And at least it's not another gin palace with "death" in its name and skulls for doorknobs, or another "bier hall" or another fucking "bakery" selling gin-soaked bacon donuts or yet another iteration on hillbilly Southern bullshit. So Lily's is a little design-schooly. Can we give them a chance?
if anyone knows about Jamaican food/culture and the EV punk scene is the Australian banker who runs this company.
I for one am looking forward to it. I just hope it isn't way, way more expensive than 7A.
And Anon 8:03. Thanks for the recap, I enjoyed your history lesson. When I read the restaurant's description of Memphis as being anti-design, I thought the same thing.
This is the second neighborhood place to use Memphis as a design scheme. Wise Men on the Bowery also has a Memphis inspired interior. I guess we are in the midst a revival.
Maybe its time to start scouring flea markets for Jetsons inspired tea kettles. Prices are sure to go up and holding on to it for a bit will generate a nice little profit down the road on Ebay.
If the place is not too expensive I am looking forward to trying Jamaican food.
I like Miss Lily's on W. Houston as well, 10:17 am.
"If the place is not too expensive I am looking forward to trying Jamaican food"
well if the rent is $35,000 a month, that is $1,166 a day. If food makes a 20% margin w/o rent that is $5,833 a day in food sales.. at 100 plates a day that is $58 or $75 a plate including tax and tip... drinks not included.
change numbers as needed..
the W. Houston place only has one entre under $20. I don't mind the 7A idea, but I suspect the prices will be roughly the same, and that will keep me from patronizing it. Seems like another place priced for the tourists. Too bad.
Sorry all those with not the best memory, I don't recall anything not even the most Caribbean of Caribbean EV bodegas which had the look of this place. This is designer and themed up the wazoo and no part of this is reminiscent of the early or late 80's New York. I don't particularly like Jamaican food but I do recall one of the first places serving it in Manhattan opened in the late 80's and the storefront was non-discript and certainly not theme-y.
With each new pseudo-themed booze and food joint, the neighborhood takes its place besides other tourist party zones like Bourbon St and E. Sixth in Austin. Good for the owners, crappy for those of us who still actually live here!
Two Words: Veggie Roti!
Well what a non event. Another restaurant I can not possibly afford to ever eat at.
Many moons ago, there was a Jamaican restaurant on 2nd Avenue near 6th Street called "Sugar Reef".
http://books.google.com/books?id=2OcCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=sugar+reef+restaurant+east+village+nyc&source=bl&ots=t6wLeLK7kB&sig=k3nFV2i-QQcQjdeMPA_aSb2hXco&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4GB1U8POBJSysATppIGACA&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=sugar%20reef%20restaurant%20east%20village%20nyc&f=false
Yes Sugar Reef. I ate there in late 80's. It was my first taste of Jerk chicken. I miss that place but probably couldn't afford to eat there too often now at today' commercial rents.
OMG Sugar Reef, had forgotten all about that. Thank, Walter, for the memory jog. I love that line about how two people could pig out on apps, entrees, desserts and drinks for 35 bucks. Those were the days...
I hope they have outdoor seating.
Awesome. Just what we need: a bunch of hipsters running a restaurant, pretending they are brain surgeons, charging insane amounts for shitty food and drinks. I am so there.
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