[Photo from October]
Back in the fall, an EVG reader told us a worker was upgrading the electricity at 131 Avenue A ... because he said a Starbucks was going to be renting the former Nino's and Hop Devil Grill spaces on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place.
Meanwhile, last week, an Avenue A business owner asked us if we heard about a Starbucks opening on Avenue A. Now the rumor continues to pick up steam, as The Villager cites an unnamed source who tells the weekly paper: "I would say it’s a 90 percent certainty that Starbucks will be in the space."
Last fall, a tipster shared the flyer in circulation for the property...
At the time, a source with knowledge of the asking rent said that the corner space was seeking $15,020 per month and the inline storefront was going for $42,072 per month. The landlord was asking $52,000 for the combined spaces.
So far, there isn't any other evidence that this space has a tenant just yet. And Starbucks has been a handy rumored tenant in recent years ... for the corner of Avenue A and 11th Street and Avenue B and Fourth Street ... the contractor who said that a Starbucks was coming to First Avenue and 13th Street turned out to be correct, though.
James Morrissey, who owns The Late Late on East Houston and now VNYL on Third Avenue, had been after the spaces to create The Honey Fitz, a bar-diner-restaurant-cafe-networking space. Those plans never materialized early last year.
[Photo from yesterday]
To recap, Nino's closed in October 2015. As previously reported, owner Nino Camaj accepted a low six-figure amount to walk away from his remaining 10-year lease and surrender the pizza shop that he opened in 1989. He had been in a dispute with the landlord over back rent and a closure due to a gas leak in the building. Hop Devil Grill and its sister bar next door, The Belgian Room, were seized by the state in April 2015 for nonpayment of taxes.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the retail listing for the northwest corner of A and St. Mark's Place
The former spaces for Nino's and Hop Devil Grill have been combined
19 comments:
It was just a matter of time before there was a Starbucks on this Ave and yes there will be enough tourist and millennials around to pay that ridiculous rent. I do wonder how much longer that company can keep opening new shops until they are in complete competition with themselves?
PS I wonder if they will keep those "Egyptian" style granite columns or reveal what I assume are the buildings original cast iron elements?
The Starbucks @ 17th St & Bway (NW corner of Union Sq Park) moved down to the middle of the block between 15th & 16th Sts when their 10 year lease expired. The rent increase was above what the corporate office allowed. With the name recognition, etc., they are giving up the higher rent corners for mid-block locations all over the city. Maybe there's a ray of hope here????
This is very sad. There's two Starbucks equidistant'ish from here on First Avenue. With these asking prices what can realistically take a punt on this as a small business? The landlord power is infuriating and corp wankers with BA's in sitting on their thumbs "decide" this would be a good location for our brand...
In a dream world there would be vacancy penalties. Lease renewal caps. And no tax write-off's for "improvements" and such where landlords can do shifty things to compensate for holding out for that TD Bank money.
Back in the early 2000's Starbucks closed down a bunch of stores due to over expansion, including one on 8th St near 5th Avenue. They started opening smaller take out stores with fewer tables and no batroooms. Now they are moving stores to cheaper locations again. It was surprising that Starbucks moved out of that 17th St. & Bway. corner location because it (along with Astor Place) was one of their highest grossing locations in the city. The long lines were constant, and if they can't make money at these rents almost no one can. The new Union Sq. space is much nicer but since they moved It doesn't seem to be as busy as the old store. This St Marks Place & Avenue A location would be busy but it seems out of place. Starbucks do best near major transit hubs which this location lacks. At least The Crusties won't have to go over to 2nd Avenue to use their bathrooms anymore.
Funny how there was big protest for 7 11 store on avenue A
but nothing when t cafe beme also a chain opened up
Starbucks and Target are next
when Aveneue A L Train entrance opens
I am sure this trend will accelerate
Oh my Mary what are we to do? They are asking us to leeeeave...Get 'em out by Friday..
Crap.
Giovanni - The manager at the new (moved) Starbucks said their numbers were equal to the corner location within a week of the move and have remained so. The different layout of the store and the introduction of order ahead make it appear less busy. They remain one of the top 10 grossing Starbucks in the city. I don't know how the one across the park does, but I don't think it is nearly the same.
Supposedly, the rent for the corner location had risen to $150,000/mo.- as per the building mgr. I rent an office in the building.
The corner space is now a make-up store, one of three surrounding the park (Sephora, MAC and NYX). I guess if this area can support so much makeup and skin care purchases (and with two more toiletry/skin care stores just up Broadway), coffee must be a necessity to fuel whatever work these people do to earn this kind of money....
@1;10PM. Interesting, because it always seems so much calmer and less busy in the new location than in the old spot. $1.8 million per year is a lot of cups of coffee, but if it helps the owner pay for a mega mansion in the Hamptons and Swiss boarding schools for the kids then at least it's going to a good cause!
I bet Starbucks cut down on their abandonment rates because when you walked into the old location the line would be almost out the door, and many people would just turn around and leave because the line looked so long, even though it moved fast. Same problem with the location on the East Side on Union Sq, but the line doesn't look as long as it wraps around a bend before you get to the counter, and it's a bit less claustrophobic.
Cosmetics is one of the highest margin businesses in the world besides name brand pharmaceuticals and prostitution, so it makes sense they would move in.
Please, no!!! *chugs MUD coffee
I thought Starbucks was beginning to close locations nationwide. These prices seem too high for them. That said, didn't they agree to $25k on 1st & 3rd, where the Bean was?
It's been said here before, and I know it's a fantasy, but it would be so great if this space could be a cafe/bookstore with performance space for music and readings.
ugh
Dare I say I'd rather have a Star*ucks take up that now immense space than the potentially raucous theme bar that Honey Fitz would have been?
EVQP
My thoughts exactly.
Seriously I love this neighborhood, long time resident (1981) but there is no stopping the chain stores invasion short of a bomb from N Korea landing on TSP. The best we can do is fight the (over) developers as with the former post office spot on 14th street. Bring attention to slumlords like Croman and Raphi. We also need to let the city know we don't want to become another "nightlife" nab like what has happened to those living below E. Houston.
I miss Alt Cafe. Maybe all the nutters will hang out at the new StarBucks that would be okay. Free wi-fi and nice bathrooms to shoot fentanyl in.
I've said it before and I'll say it again on here. I know and have heard from various sources that Starbucks is indeed arriving to that spot. Look at Ave A. In the past few years, it has changed increasingly. It is very much a destination. The new condo down the street commands over four million for a one bedroom. Those very individuals who pay that much can certainly afford to frequent Starbucks. NYC is changing kids. Especially the EV. We either have to embrace and adapt or get left behind.
@5:14 Agreed better off a Starbucks
However-FYI the East Village s a nightlife destination.
This is the worst douchey nightlife location in the East Village. In a row-Empellon;BUA; EVS; Augers Well;Ten Degrees Bar;. Once the weather changes they open the accordion windows and spill out onto the street. Hanoi House is just another foodie yuppie filled (Steven Starr Alumni run) destination. They too will soon spill out, and another foodie destination is opening next door. At the other end of St. Marks Pl. are two more-V Bar and Good Night Sonny(a crowded yuppie bar where people wear casual expensive clothes), fortunately for us they have frosted windows so we don't have to look at them but once the weather turns they will spill their glory on the block.
Yes, Starbucks is better than another bar with loud noise and loudmouths spilling out into the street, but it will just draw in more chains to the EV which is probably inevitable anyway. The one positive thing Starbucks brings is a place to sit down when it's too hot, too cold or raining, a decent bathroom where you can fill up a water bottle and wash up, free napkins and sugar packets. "free" newspapers since almost no one pays for the ones they have on their racks, and free WiFi. None of the bars offer any of these amenities, and their bathrooms are usually gross from all the drunks missing their mark. It's better than a GAP which offers nothing, and their clothes suck these days, or another Duane Reade, which is closing stores all over Manhattan right now, At these rents who else is going to move in besides a bar? It's probably the best option in a world full of bad options.
Looking forward for a Full-Body Latte.
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