Monday, July 11, 2022

Fast-food chain getting ready to Express itself on 1st Avenue and 14th Street

Several EVG readers have pointed out that the Panda Express Chinese Kitchen is looking closer to opening on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street.

Workers have removed the paper on the front windows, offering a view inside...
No word on an opening date (and this outpost has yet to make the PE website).

News
 of the PE arrival first surfaced in January

This marks the latest outpost for the quick-serve Chinese restaurant chain that launched in California in the early 1980s ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC).  

An AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.
And previous posts about PE's arrival have brought out comments of support for the delicious and affordable Mee Noodle Shop & Grill down the block at 223 First Ave. (between 13th Street and 14th Street). It was Allen Ginsberg's favorite restaurant (when it was at the former location at 219 First Ave.). You can find their menu via all the online delivery platforms. (212) 260-7838.

9 comments:

  1. Mee Noodle has opened up indoor seating again. I hope people will continue to eat there. Such an anchor for the neighborhood!

    ReplyDelete
  2. On the one hand... this is very strange. On the other, with how terrible that intersection has gotten, having more new tenants that aren't smoke shops sounds like at least a partial win in my book. Maybe between Panda Express and whatever replaces Papaya Dog, there will be enough of an in-flow of customers that the homeless back away a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Another long-time customer of Mee Noodle here! I was so happy to see them open during the lockdown and I've been getting takeout all though and giving them the same tips I would if I were eating at their tables and being served. They've added some shrimp dumplings, too, during the lockdown. I don't think they are always available as they still aren't on the menu, but, there's a sign up near the register.

    Although Panda isn't a fav of mine, I am happy to see something in the space though. Still missing Love's!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very mixed feelings here. But definitely an improvement over the Vitamin Shoppe, which seem ubiquitous but who the hell shops there? And for what, powdered "nutritional" substances?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been thinking about it, and I suspect an ultra-low-end chain like PE is just going to end up providing bathroom/shooting gallery facilities for the circus across the street.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MEE Noodle for Life! agree with the need for businesses but PE ug

    ReplyDelete
  7. i don't eat fast food, but that corner is in sad shape with all the homeless people camped out there. maybe it'll be better for the neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Having moved away from the EV a while ago, Mee Noodle has sustained me on many occasion. Noodles with Peking Style Meat Sauce all day, every day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mee was very good many, many years ago (living here 43 years as Gramercy resident)...standards and ingredients have grown poorer and nostalgia won't help them. 14th Street was a burlesque and red light district for over 100 years, never made a real recovery either (14th Street in the 1970's? anyone?).

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.