Photo of Lucy's interior last night by Stacie Joy
As we reported in May, the owners of Golden Age Hospitality, whose portfolio includes establishments like Le Dive, The Happiest Hour and Deux Chats, seek to take over Lucy's, the decades-old Avenue A favorite owned by Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius that has been closed since late November.
However, Golden Age withdrew their application before the May meeting, and it happened again in June, per public records. This is not uncommon and can mean anything from the paperwork not being in yet to the applicant still negotiating a lease with the landlord.
The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website for public viewing (PDF here) ahead of the meeting on Aug. 19 shows that the trade name would remain Lucy's with the same hours — 5 p.m. to 4 a.m.
The questionnaire packet includes a letter from Golden Age Hospitality CEO Jon Neidich to the local block association.
The letter reads in part:
While we are taking over the operation of the bar, our involvement is solely premised on preserving an East Village institution: Lucy herself will very much still be a part of this project (and will still be behind the bar!). We will not be changing the concept or design of the space (we will be adding some soundproofing in the ceiling and an ADA bathroom).
The floor plan shows the same configuration with two pool tables, etc. The storage space behind the pool tables will be a prep area for the limited menu with five sandwich offerings. (There's a BLT, turkey club, croque monsieur, etc.)
Several tipsters have told us Neidich was a big fan of Lucy's and interested in buying the bar. (We're told Neidich once lived in the apartments above the bar at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.)
During several conversations in February, Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that she had many potential suitors for the bar and may have a role in the new incarnation.
As we first reported, attorneys for the building's new landlord served Lucy with a 30-day Notice of Termination in early February with a demand to vacate the space by the end of the month.
Her lease expired in May 2015, and she was on a month-to-month arrangement with the previous landlord. Lucy told us that her last rent was $8,000 per month, and the new landlord, as of late December (West Lake 135-139 Avenue A LLC), was seeking a hefty increase.
The bar (aka Blanche's Lucy's Tavern) has been closed since November when some paperwork issues forced what was to be a temporary closure.
Golden Age Hospitality also has a pending application for the former Boiler Room space on Fourth Street at Second Avenue.
Previously on EV Grieve:
How can we trust anyone from "le dive" who has helped slowly ruin a great neighborhood and greedily take over a Main Street with their tables and noisy tourist and pretentious patrons?
ReplyDeleteI don't like Dimes Square but are we pretending that bit of no-man's-land between the LES and Chinatown was *great* before? Seems a bit much.
ReplyDeleteIt actually was. Good World was a really cool spot. The owner, Anika was mental, but she ran a fun bar.
DeleteLower Ludlow had a very cool little scene 20-25 years ago.
DeleteWas good world the spot with the burgers ? Went once or twice in my early 20s and could never remember what the name was or location
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