EVG contributor Derek Berg shares these photos this morning ... showing that State has seized the restaurant here at 99 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street for nonpayment of taxes ...
In March 2016, the State seized the other two Brick Curry locations in the city, in Midtown and the Upper East Side.
According to Eater, Brick Lane owner Sati Sharma owed nearly $350,000 in unpaid taxes "when combing all four of his NYC restaurants, including the locations of Brick Lane Curry House and an Italian restaurant in Midtown called Radicchio Pasta and Risotto, which has been closed since at least January [2016]."
The "vast majority" of owed cash at that time was from unpaid sales tax, per a spokesperson for the Department of Tax and Finance.
The Second Avenue location is the last of the Brick Lane empire in the city.
Brick Lane moved to Second Avenue from Sixth Street in 2014.
Updated 9/21
The tax issues have apparently been taken care of... Brick Lane is back open today...
[Photo by Steven]
So charging for and collecting the sales tax but then not paying it? Burning the customer and the state. Will hold conclusions for more information if it comes...
ReplyDeleteWildly expensive for takeout. I think an entree, naan, and padadem to go was over $40..
With Haveli due to close, this will make the 7th or 8th empty restaurant on 2nd Ave between 4th and 6th Sts. Ciala (?), the new Georgian restaurant, doesn't look like it will make it, always empty.
ReplyDeleteI am curious what the Dept of Tax and Finanace is going to do with the restaurants? Pay their rent while they are closed? Grab some tables and chairs to cover the tab?
ReplyDelete@11:49Am. Last I checked Haveli is still open and doing fine, when did you hear it was closing? As for Brick Lane this was a bit pricey and the food was not as good as Haveli or the old Mitali. There is a lot of competition from fast casual Indian, like Desi Galli on Ave B. and Masala Times on Bleecker St. plus all themes kati roll spots. There's a Chipotle style Indian spot called Indikitch, near Eatlley on 23rd St that's quite good too. Has anyone tried the Old Monk, the place that replaced Babu Ji on Avenue B? It looks pricey. I still miss those under $5 dinners at Shah Bagh on 6th St. with the the best samosas, giant plates of biryani, free firni for dessert, and bottomless kettles of spicy hot tea.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad. The food was better when they were in their old location on 6th. I really hope Haveli can find a new location; their food is good and I really like the family (now families?) that runs it. Mitali used to be good but now the food prep and presentation are so careless.
ReplyDeleteSomething has got to give. If the rent is too high, don't pay your taxes.
ReplyDeleteWe need a few Woo Hoo bars to brighten up that strip
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, don't move to the Bowery. It's a retail graveyard over there.
ReplyDeleteWow. For my money, Brick Lane was the best Indian restaurant in the nabe, though it was expensive as fuck. There are other good options -- Malai Marke and Masala Walla come to mind, in addition to the old standbys like Haveli (the few that remain). Still, I'm gonna miss their food (even if I could only afford to order it on my birthday).
ReplyDeleteAnd what an asshole that guy is, charging out the nose and not paying his damn taxes! I hope he goes under, unlike the wage garnishing assholes at Babu Ji, who are already back on their feet after getting shut down for fucking over their workers. There ought to be some justice in that world.
I just hope they were "only" failing to pay state sales tax, and not income tax withholding or FICA for their employees.
ReplyDelete(And agree that food was better in prior location.)
I liked the Old Monk on Avenue B, I didn't think it was expensive especially compared to the restaurant they replaced. Great service, nice atmosphere and most importantly great food.
ReplyDeleteFunny how they seize restaurants that don't pay taxes but look the other way when landlords rack up (and don't pay) millions in fines. I guess that's the difference between city and state? Or maybe it's greased palms & corruption at work? I miss Mitali East :(
ReplyDeleteIs Panna 1 and 2 still thriving?
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be an ld story for the other locations these guys used to operate. I walked past it late lat night and there were people in there cleaning up and told me that they will open again today. The guy said there was some misunderstanding about past tax issue and that they had resolved it and will be open from Lunchtime today.
ReplyDeleteI was at Haveli for dinner recently and the owner/manager said that the landlord was pricing them out of the location. He asked us to add our email address to a list so that we can be notified when/if they find a new location.
ReplyDeleteBrick Lane was a good place, and one of the last 6th street Indian places left. Nothing seems to be able to survive anymore, sigh.
ReplyDelete@9:10 - Panna 1 burned down years ago, but Panna 2 is still going strong.
ReplyDeleteLittle India on E 6th Street is gone. At one time there were more than a dozen on the block and several around the corners on both First and Second Avenues. Mitali East was always the one to beat though....with their real Tandoori oven, they easily stood out on top. Haveli was always just a bit more money, but the ambiance and service was an added value. Brick Lane....well...they have had their share of problems with health codes even years ago when they were on E 6th. I never went there because of that problem. With Haveli moving on...very sad to hear that.....there won't be a single good Indian restaurant in the area. Time to go uptown to Lexington in the 20's.
ReplyDelete99 Second Avenue, also has a VACATE notice on the door to the apartments from the street....it was evidently being run as a SRO (read illegal and unsafe hotel)
ReplyDelete