The NYPD yesterday removed some of the barriers surrounding the southwest corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place… making it a little easier to access the businesses on Second Avenue that have been able to reopen after the explosion that killed two people and destroyed three buildings on March 26.
In this week's issue, Crain's New York Business looks at how the local merchants are struggling since reopening.
Paul's Da Burger Joint was able to starting serving again on Monday at 131 Second Ave. Here's owner Matt Wardrop:
His problems are compounded by a lack of business-interruption insurance, which would have covered losses for the days the restaurant was closed. Insufficient coverage is a frequent problem for small-business owners, who are always looking to cut what can seem like nonessential costs.
"If you're on a mom-and-pop scale, a business-interruption policy is so expensive, if you never need it, you lost a lot of money paying for it, so you take your chances," Mr. Wardrop.
Also:
But even on streets that aren't barricaded, and where stores didn't have to close for four days, the disruption of the neighborhood's foot-traffic patterns is continuing. The maze of barricades and fire trucks has cut business by 50% at New Yorkers Foodmarket, on Second Avenue between East Sixth and East Seventh streets, according to owner Michael Schumacher. That's added up to a $50,000 loss of sales during the past week.
Unlike Paul's Da Burger's insurance policy, Foodmarket's does include business-interruption coverage. But Mr. Schumacher said it doesn't extend to a slowdown in business caused by disruptions somewhere else.
The last time his store was in this much trouble was after Superstorm Sandy. But the supermarket owner says this disaster is worse.
"With Sandy, there were no businesses open, and afterwards everybody opened up at the same time," Mr. Schumacher said. "Business came right back. I don't know if business is going to come back, because people are finding other stores to go to."
Taqueria Diana, Ramen Misoya and Himalayan Visions also reopened along here last week. Meanwhile, … B&H Dairy remains closed. In a Facebook message yesterday, B&H said "we will reopen by next week." Apparently the health department gave them the go-ahead, now they are just waiting for gas service.
As for when the entire block will be open, let's go back to Crain's:
A spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management said that full access to [the] block — the west side of Second Avenue between St. Marks Place and East Seventh Street — will be restored once debris removal and the investigation of what is being treated as a crime scene are concluded. She could not provide a date.
Moishe's bakery is in a really tough spot. Theyre open but practically behind barricades which basically makes their walk by traffic zero.
ReplyDeleteTELL MR SCHUMACHER PEOPLE HAVE FOUND PLACES TO SHOP THAT HAVE REASONABLE PRICES AND ARE NOT SPIED ON WHILE THEY SHOP LIKE IN HIS STORE. NOT BAD MAKING 100G'S A WEEK AND STILL CRYING !
ReplyDeleteThis disaster was even worse than had it happened right on St. Marks Place. It's the nearby businesses that the community depends on for its daily needs like the supermarket, Moishe's, Pauls, Diana's, B&H and Stage, not the froyo and sunglass hawkers on St Marks. So why people can't walk around a few barricades to support a local businesses is incredible when they will walk a mile in the rain to go to Trader Joes or Whole Foods. The fire is out people, it's time to go suppport these businesses.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. I've avoided the whole area because I thought it was still closed off.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Moishe's normally close for Passover, anyway?
ReplyDeleteDr Gecko, absolutely right that they close
ReplyDeleteBig difference between closing for Passover and losing several weeks business. Plus this affects all the businesses on the block.
ReplyDeleteTAJ Restaurant on Indian Row is a great place to go and they have live sitar music every night. The lady who runs the place is very nice and the food is good. There's a 15% Discount ("on request" says the menu). There's many other nearby restaurants, and they all need BU$INE$$. Ronnie truly misses her neighbors, many of whom used to get delivery, and is sad for the lost lives of two young men. Taj: 310 East Sixth Street in the East Village.
ReplyDeletenow is the time to support local business. it won't matter what the landlord charges for rent or when the lease is up if there is no business during the clean-up after the explosion and fire.
ReplyDeletewhile it has been a pain in the ass to walk half way to first avenue to cross 7th street, or to walk to 6th street to get to the market or bakery - it is important to shop there and at other affected businesses if we want them to remain here.
What about San Marzano? It still wasn't open last I checked. I don't know why buildings on the south side of 7th would have to stay closed? They are right next to Moishe's, I think?
ReplyDeleteSan Marzano is still closed. Their landlord is the same one as the building that blew up, and the landlord used to own Kiev which is where San Marzano is now. This is unfortunate for San Marzano since they are caught in the middle of a big mess. Their landlord will have her hands full for years dealing with this disaster, and her buildings will no doubt get extra scrutiny from the city from now on making it that much harder for them to operate.
ReplyDeleteI wish them the best as they are an affordable Italian option in the neighborhood that looks well run, but picking this location turned out to be very bad timing.
I miss them
DeleteThis explosion was arson and so all the businesses along that stretch could be put out of business and replaced with high end restaurants and clothing stores, banks, and other chain stores.
ReplyDeleteRIP East Village.
5:28, thanks for the info. (If I'm correct, San Marzano also had to leave their last address because of a fire or something? What bad luck!) Interesting though if the landlady under suspicion for this whole thing turns out to be the former owner of Kiev. Kind of calls into question the whole notion of supporting old school mom-and-pop neighborhood mainstays if they're the same people as the rapacious landlords.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know what is happening with the Stage? I would do anything to help them out!
ReplyDeleteStage update?
ReplyDeleteApril 5, 2015 at 10:27 AM:
ReplyDelete"TELL MR SCHUMACHER PEOPLE HAVE FOUND PLACES TO SHOP THAT HAVE REASONABLE PRICES AND ARE NOT SPIED ON WHILE THEY SHOP...."
I thought I was the only one who felt this way. It's considerably cheaper in most of the local delis than in this "Supermarket". And the guy gives me the creeps. He creates a very uncomfortable environment. Been shopping there for decades, prior to his ascendancy. Now, forget it. I always feel watched in that place. Does he really think I'm gonna steal a $ 1.49 can of string beans?
Anonymous 10:32, Does the community's daily needs include a supermarket and four restaurants? That's a lot of eating!
ReplyDeleteApparently you're not from the neighborhood. It serves a lot of different demographics.
DeleteDoes anyone know about E-Nails? They're very nice people and a small family business.
ReplyDeleteRe: The New Yorker Supermarket
ReplyDeleteYes, the prices are high, but this is because NYU has raised the rent to a ridiculous level.
This market used to be a full-service market with a full time butcher and other amenities that really served the neighborhood at the time. Between the triple rent hike and the changing demographics, the market is struggling to continue to serve our community. They've put in a deli counter and tons of beer. To enable a cash flow, they have had to resort to buying in smaller and smaller quantities, forcing them to seek out distributors lower and lower on the "food chain," resulting in higher and higher prices.
They are doing their best to sustain a market for their long-time neighbors despite losing business to Fresh Direct, Whole Foods, Blue Apron, etc.
Many of us would like to continue to buy our food from neighborhood stores, with real people serving real people. Their untenable situation is not due to greed, but the changing economy of this city and particularly the East Village.
Yes, I do buy many of my grociers elsewhere but still try to support this market. I do not wish to have to always go 6 blocks each way to purchase grociers.
They are doing their best, give them some credit - and some support.
I was by on Monday around four pm and Stage was still closed, B&H also closed... Shops on 9th even feeling effects, heard on travels ... Shop in yer zip code....
ReplyDeleteTo Unknown: Whom are you addressing?
ReplyDelete