Wednesday, February 3, 2016

[Updated] Mumbles has closed on 3rd Avenue


[Photo via]

Stepping away from the East Village for a moment... Mumbles, the bar-restaurant on Third Avenue at East 17th Street, has closed after 22 years in business.

The owners left a note on the door about the closure...



It is with great regret that Mumbles will be closing its doors. We have appreciated all of the loyal patronage, and have always felt to be a welcomed fixture in the community. For the last 22 years we have totally enjoyed all of the great relationships that we have established in the neighborhood. There are many reasons for the decision to sell, and it wasn’t made without great thought and sadness. We thank you all for the great memories and friendships that were established here.

Updated 10 p.m.

La Follia will be moving into this space from Third Avenue and East 19th Street ... According to the Italian restaurant's website: "We will be serving our same delicious menu plus artisanal wood fired Pizza and our great regional Italian wines." So what will be going into La Follia's prime corner space?

Also, I didn't realize that Town & Village had already covered this closing. Here's a belated link to Sabina Mollot's article. T&V spoke with owner David Feldman:

“I decided to sell and there’s a multitude of reasons,” said Feldman. “Business hasn’t exactly been great. It’s the end of a neighborhood staple and people are going to be upset, but just because it’s a little cold out or it’s raining, you’ve still got to support your neighborhood businesses.”

Business had been “a challenge” for the past five years, he said, with family-oriented businesses like his being pushed out as the Gramercy neighborhood got younger.

“The young influx — we got some, but I don’t know if it’s past its time. All of the young people want trendy places.”

H/T BagelGuy

14 comments:

  1. too bad
    for a long long time (more than 22 years) under various names, this was a low-key bar with decent food that was quiet enough that you could have a conversation, and inexpensive enough to stay for dinner.

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  2. It's too bad, Mumbles was a nice place, but a number of the nicer (and not so nice) restaurants near Irving Place have been closing recently. Apparently newer millennial residents really don't go out. But we will always have Pete's Place (I hope,) The re-opening of Rodeo Bar soon will be a welcome addition.

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  3. The note in the window is vague. Did they sell the business or the space? Will someone open a new restaurant in the space? Too bad in any event: it was a nice place for a beer and a game.

    That stretch of Third Avenue has a few good places, however: Joe Jr. is sort of a classic unto itself, and Jack's Sliders has not only stabilized a space that was continually in flux, but also instituted an eclectic menu (sushi and sliders? Yes!) that is quite good (I have no connection, but I am a patron).

    One curious note: the little Mexican restaurant a couple doors south of Mumbles closed some weeks back. Now Mumbles. I wonder if that whole block is being targeted for emptying, demolition, and rebuilding.

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  4. The La Follia people bought them out to open a wine/food concept with an open kitchen.

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  5. Not sure how people who are paying market rents can afford to go out to eat with any regularity.

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  6. low key place with many great memories. i will miss it a lot.

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  7. That's too bad, I hope Hal the bartender is okay. I'm thinking about coming back in April, hope some of my old watering holes are still open!

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  8. At 7:23 PM, Anonymous said...

    Not sure how people who are paying market rents can afford to go out to eat with any regularity.

    Investment bankers. Wealth managers.

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  9. At 7:23 PM, Anonymous said...

    Not sure how people who are paying market rents can afford to go out to eat with any regularity.

    How do you think restaurants who are paying "market" rents are supposed to pay their landlord? I put "market" in quotation marks because real estate speculation has manipulated the market through warehousing (intentionally keeping storefronts vacant for yrs sometimes), flipping properties and insane bidding wars between banks and franchises.

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  10. No beer store comment?

    I say yet another trendeatery!

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  11. great addition, seasoned operators, great food to come. I am excited to have them on two corners (17th/ 3rd & 19th/3rd) in our neighborhood. It will bring a little sophistication to the existing typical pub, Irish bar and low end fast casual options.

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  12. Had my first date there. Not that anyone asked or cares.

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  13. I loved Mumbles Monday Lobster Night. For a long time you could get a fresh lobster broiled or steamed, baked potato, mixed vegetables; and either a salad or soup, plus coffee/tea, and dessert, for about $24.

    It was modified a couple of years ago. The cost was the same, but they limited the dessert choice and dropped the coffee/tea. It was still a great deal, and I loved telling skeptics that you could get a complete lobster dinner in NYC for that price.

    They had warm and crispy tortilla chips with delish avocado and salsa, and there used to be a nice appetizer of rare tuna, all reasonably priced. The burgers and weekend brunches were also terrific.

    I so enjoyed sitting outside there on warm evenings, and inside in the cozy warmth of a dark winter night. It was a special neighborhood place.

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