Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Despite being surrounded by plywood, this East Village Japanese restaurant is very much open

Photos by Stacie Joy 

For the past six weeks, a section of sidewalk and two storefronts have been behind plywood on First Avenue just south of Fourth Street.

There are posted DOT notices, though it isn't immediately clear what workers are doing here.

And a plywood tunnel leads into the residential entrance at 59 First Ave.
At first glance, you'd assume the two businesses at the address are shuttered. Well, Giggles Convenience, an unlicensed cannabis shop, is closed — complete with NYPD stickers on the rolldown gate. 

However, Cho-Ko, a homey Japanese restaurant serving a variety of ramen and gyoza, is very much open... and they could use some business while obscured behind the sheets of plywood...
The employee on duty was grateful that we stopped by and expressed frustration over the construction out front that they have no control over ...
You can find the Cho-Ko website here. They offer delivery via the usual platforms. Phone: (212) 388-0885.

Their listed hours are noon to 2 a.m. daily, with an 11 p.m. Sunday close. 
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14 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 8:19 AM

    Thanks for this. I'll go by and support them. This plywood has been an obnoxious mystery.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 9:26 AM

    Wow, this is brutal. I definitely feel for them. That said, their website is kind of low-key hilarious: "Best Asian restaurant in New York." I mean, maybe, and it's good to set your sights high, but even so...

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 9:48 AM

    Thanks Stacie for the report and tip! This is unfortunate for them, so I and I hope others will stop by

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 11:14 AM

    CHO KO is awesome.... that is brutal... I forgot they were even behind there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. NOTORIOUSAugust 16, 2023 at 11:50 AM

    This is ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 12:06 PM

    Nothing like NYC construction to destroy a business.

    ReplyDelete
  7. OlympiasEpiriotAugust 16, 2023 at 12:08 PM

    Thanks for the heads-up!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. SarahAugust 16, 2023 at 12:58 PM

    Phew, that's rough. Good luck to them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 2:10 PM

    Thank you for highlighting this restaurant!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 7:31 PM

    Thanks for highlighting this. I live around the corner and noticed this travesty a couple of weeks ago…poor Cho-Ko. Lovely place with polite, hard working staff. Glad to see the awful smoke shop is closed though.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 16, 2023 at 11:04 PM

    I kinda love that place.

    ReplyDelete
  12. 2ndAveSilverPantherAugust 16, 2023 at 11:25 PM

    Thanks, EV Grieve. You have tossed your hat in the air, and us true East Villagers are on the way to help a brother out. CHO-KO, I see sunshine through the clouds.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 17, 2023 at 6:47 PM

    I just picked up some dinner from here and I encourage everyone to go in! The entrance is in the same passage as the door to the residence. It's not obvious from the street until you walk in there. No one was there when I went in when it should be busy with dinner customers. Excellent food and people!

    ReplyDelete
  14. SommerAugust 20, 2023 at 4:16 PM

    Is there contact information on the DOT notice? I wouldn’t mind calling to see why the plywood is there and seeing if they can move at least some of it so the restaurant doesn’t have to take such a hit.

    ReplyDelete

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