As previously reported, a large rent hike forced the closure of Café Cortadito on Third Street just east of Avenue B. (The owners are hoping to reopen in a new space nearby.)
Meanwhile, someone left an In Memoriam behind on the front gate...
Block R.I.P. Cortadito but don't fret!! Coming soon.... BLANK ST COFFEE the hedge-fund sponsored Starbuck's in sheep's clothing where the coffee, atmosphere and philosophy is blah, blah, blah, contributing to the Death of the NYC Mom & Pop...
For starters, there isn't any truth to a Blank Street opening an outpost in this space.
Blank Street, which some residents presume is a mom-and-pop enterprise, the brand raised $67 million in 2021 thanks to high-profile venture capital funds like General Catalyst and Tiger Global, the founders of Allbirds and Warby Parker, and real-estate titan Tishman Speyer, as The New York Times reported this past September.
Thanks to E3CD for the photo!
Really dumb sign, when the subject matter is not even taking over the space.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with anonymous above. All I see here is a piece of cardboard, a red sharpie and a poor attempt to be clever.
ReplyDeleteI agree it was a bad attempt at humor, and pointless in its location, but maybe it will get even one out of towner or tourist to question what Blank Street is before patronizing one.
ReplyDelete1/10 for at least trying.
The execution was weak, but the message relevant. We are blessed with lots and lots of really excellent coffee shops in the EV. Patronizing Blank Street or Starbucks should be considered sacrilege for coffee drinkers and defenders of mom+pop stores everywhere.
ReplyDeleteTransplants do not give a damn on mom and pop businesses.
ReplyDelete.....looks like you all had a bad old night for such posting stupid comments about something so obvious and relevant!!!! Nightie night blanketed trolls!!!!
ReplyDeleteTishman Speyer has entered the chat
ReplyDelete@anonymous 8:36 - well done! still chuckling.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Blank Street but better that than an expansion of Poco who are the most inconsiderate neighbors in the world.
ReplyDeleteI'm a transplant and I get my coffee at the local bodega owned by one person who is always working and appreciates my business. As is typical in the comments section of this blog, statements that are broad generalizations are typically 100% wrong.
ReplyDeleteBOYCOTT BLANK STREET COFFEE SHOPS. THEY ARE A HUGE CORPORATION OUTBIDDING LOCAL SHOPS FOR LEASES OFFERING $1000 OVER ASKING PRICES.
ReplyDeleteblank coffee has no soul and neither will the east village if we keeping turning it into a corporate-owned tourist-acceptable anywhere, USA. I applaud the sign maker.
ReplyDelete