As we reported on July 1, the owners of the Kati Roll Company have designs on opening their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage. According to paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting, they are seeking a beer-wine license here.
However, a look at tonight's meeting docket at the CB3 website shows that Kati is now a scratch...
A cancellation is a fairly frequent occurrence. As CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer said, "It is generally because information or paperwork is not finalized or negotiations with the landlord are not finalized to point where the applicant is ready to appear."
We asked Chris Coffey, a spokesperson for landlord Icon Realty, if Kati Roll was still coming to the space here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
"Kati Roll is moving forward with the space at 128 Second Avenue and we are excited to have them," he said via email.
While the liquor license paperwork is finalized, the former diner was gutted last week, as these photos via EVG correspondent Steven show...
Workers were also able to finally scrub off the spray-painted call for a boycott of this space...
[Photo from July 4]
The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon. (You can read that background here.)
Updated 4:30 p.m.
Per Steven, the Stage signage came down today as workers put up the plywood for continued gut renovations...
Heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteroll this
ReplyDeleteTruly heartbreaking. This place is cursed now.
ReplyDeleteGreat 2nd foto, EVG co-resp Steven! The upper part (with the truck bed) looks like one image, and the lift gate lower part looks like another photo, and the sky and trees at the top of the upper part just add to the overall great composition.
ReplyDeletehighly doubt it's cursed... kati roll locations get mobbed with business, especially with all the bars nearby
ReplyDeleteThe pix of the demolition are devastating. A lot of memories and great food there, all gone in the blink of an eye without even a proper farewell.
ReplyDeleteNothing against the Kati Roll people, but you will never replace the Stage. You will be swamped with bros and hoes from all the bars, but you will never replace the homey, welcoming atmosphere of Stage. A true cross section of the community ate there on any given day.
Stage will never be forgotten.
This was heart-rending: to view the destruction of Stage Restaurant and all it represents.
ReplyDeleteThe heartless destruction of the life-work of one man and his family, the destruction of their source of income, the casual & complete disrespect for Roman & his family & for the importance of their business to this community (which went far beyond the wonderful food they served).
I would not want Icon's karma. That they can so easily and carelessly crush a small business this way is like watching an evil child pull the wings off a butterfly.
At least they could have signed a good Kati roll joint to take the space. The branch on MacDougal is slow and their rolls thin and greasy. The new Desi Galli on Avenue B is much better and offers a bigger menu.
ReplyDeleteI hope their seating is better than Stage's was. Whoever was unlucky enough to have to sit by the door would always be bumped into when anyone came in.
ReplyDelete@Caleo - "hoes" is offensive and misogynistic. Using "bros" is offensive (as it should be) but not sexist. "Woo girls" is offensive in the right way.
ReplyDeleteNo, "hos" is the correct spelling, and the correct appellation as well. I wouldn't set foot in there if it were the last place on earth. Loved you, Stage.
ReplyDeleteOof this hurts. Grieve, did the sign just get tossed in the trash? I want it!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what happened to the Stage sign... I know of several people who might want it...
ReplyDelete