Artist-curator Jamian Juliano-Villani (pictured below in July) announced on Instagram yesterday that she was moving her gallery into this space between Third Street and Fourth Street.
Per the post:
We are THRILLED to announce that as of today, O’Flaherty's officially has a NEW HOME!!!!! Opening this February, we welcome you to our new location at 44 Avenue A (formerly the UCB theater). More details on our first opening soon.
O'Flaherty's had a year-long run at 55 Avenue C at Fourth Street (we covered the opening here), culminating with a barn burner of a show late this past summer.
And for some background... citing financial difficulties, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater closed UCBeast in February 2019. The comedy venue opened in September 2011, and UCB took over part of the expanded Two Boots empire — the video store on Avenue A and the Pioneer Theater around the corner on Third Street.
The Pioneer Theater, which screened indie, underground and cult fare, closed on Nov. 7, 2008, after an eight-year run. As owner Phil Hartman said at the time: "[I]t was always a labor of love and never commercially viable."
In the spring of 2021, Marcello Assante was looking to open Cinema Paradiso here... a cafe, restaurant, and center for cinephiles to enjoy foreign and independent features. However, Community Board 3 would not approve a full liquor license for all hours of the space, which Assante argued was necessary to help the venture be profitable.
In the spring of 2021, Marcello Assante was looking to open Cinema Paradiso here... a cafe, restaurant, and center for cinephiles to enjoy foreign and independent features. However, Community Board 3 would not approve a full liquor license for all hours of the space, which Assante argued was necessary to help the venture be profitable.
Top photo from August by EVG/photo of Jamian Juliano-Villani from July by Stacie Joy
That show on Avenue C was incredible! This is good news.
ReplyDeleteI understand that rent being sought there is in the area of $75-80 per square foot. I hope they can pull it off without having to sell liquor, but that has become a necessity in these days of hyper-gentrified commercial rents.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, with self-appointed UN-elected quality-of-life "czar" Susan Stetzer and NYS Assemblyman Harvey Epstein living in the luxurious apartment complex across the street, both of whom seem to prefer EMPTY storefronts on the LES, especially in that location, they may be stopped before they can start.
Such interference with the operation of a law-abiding business ought to be ACTIONABLE.