What's going on with Pop's Eat-Rite on St. Mark's Place

Workers recently removed the Pop's Eat-Rite signage outside 123 St. Mark's Place. 

The quick-serve plant-based burger joint had been closed the past year, prompting occasional queries from several EVG readers. So we reached out to Robert Ceraso, owner and creative director of the Endless Hospitality Group, about the status of Pop's, which debuted in September 2020. 

For starters, he said that this was always meant to be a temporary pop-up between Avenue A and First Avenue ... "utilizing the space during the pandemic and getting our employees back to work following the shutdown." 

However, Pop's did build a following during its time here. 

"We have been talking to some landlords in the neighborhood about a smaller space to re-open Pop’s. We think that it would be better served in a smaller space with fewer seats inside and more of a focus on to-go and delivery," said Ceraso, whose other East Village establishments include the Wayland, Good Night Sonny and the Wild Son. "People still ask about it all the time, and we would love to get it back open as soon as possible."