For the first time in a long time the gate was open on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street yesterday ... bringing into the view the fairly well-preserved storefront of the previous tenant — Benny's Burrito's... the menus are still posted outside the front door...
Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014 after 27 years in business.
The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)
Anyway, no idea why the gate is finally open. The original rental ask for the spot was $22,000.
Mark Merker, who launched Harry's and Benny's Burritos in 1987, attempted a revival with Benny's Burritos & Empanadas at 86 E. Seventh St. in January 2018, but it didn't last.
Hope it opens again. Great spot and great people that worked there.
ReplyDeleteI still miss Benny's...
ReplyDeleteI really miss that place they had the best chicken burritos and enchiladas and had excellent Sol beer which many places do not have. It was always busy in there but they would always find a table for me quickly when I arrived and the prices were always reasonable. Places like this are harder and harder to find in NYC.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to Benny’s when it first opened and was the trendy hot place and their frozen margaritas were served in cone shaped “paper” containers set in colorful plastic holders
ReplyDelete*Sigh* And EFF that landlord and the regulations that let storefronts sit empty for years.
ReplyDeleteRavi, who owns the two restaurants on the northwest corner of 6th and A told me that he pays $16k/month rent. The owners of the new August Laura spot on the northeast corner of 6th and A pay... $30k/month. How much business do they have to do to make that work? Ravi said he also has access to the back yard.
ReplyDeleteAL is closed Mondays so they have 26 days per month to pay the $30k plus other expenses.
Anyone missing Benny's or Burritoville or its ilk should support Hotel Tortuga on 14th... Their food is great and very similar!
ReplyDeleteI loved that place.
ReplyDeleteHarry's was much better than Benny's. Everything tasted fresher, lighter...That's the place I miss.
ReplyDeleteIdiot landlord - even if they'd rented at $10K/month, they'd have made $600,000 in the 5 years the place has been shuttered. I guess half a million means nothing to landlords any more.
ReplyDeletesome of these leases are 10-20 years. this isnt residential where people get 1 -2 year leases. Its not easy to find tenants who have a good business plan and the experience and cash reserves to survive. These people want a long term tenant and they also want to not give a rent that is too cheap. good tenants are hard to find. property taxes always go up too. its not as simple as some people think. Many shops got deals in the late 80s and then used 9/11 to extend those deals. those days are over.
ReplyDeletecan't believe it's been 5 years. never heard of the east 7th street venture last year. What happen to the Mayor's " we're gonna slap fines on empty storefronts"? It's criminal the landlord gets a tax break for letting the property sit there empty.
ReplyDelete1:24: It has been discussed on this site there is no tax credit for leaving the spaces empty although I imagine there is some crafty accounting involved.
ReplyDeleteWas going to say the same as JM. But he already said it.
ReplyDeleteHAMMERBRAIN🤘🤘🤘🤘
ReplyDeleteI really do not understand how any restaurant or retailer can make their business work based on rents that are that high...hence why so many storefronts are sitting vacant.
ReplyDeleteI really do not understand how any retailer can make a business work based on rents like that. hence why so many storefronts are sitting empty.
ReplyDelete