325 E. 14th St., sells, and farewell to the Crocodile Lounge sidewalk awning

After more than a year on the sales market, 325 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has a new owner. 

In a transaction posted early last month, an LLC connected to The Sabet Group bought the four-story building for $3.3 million, down from its initial $5.5 million ask. 

For generations, a family has owned the building known as The James McCreery House. Daytonian in Manhattan has some history here. 

The retail space has been restaurants going back many years, including Il Faro and, in the 1990s, Manila Garden. And in recent years, the place was home to Crocodile Lounge, which never reopened after the COVID shutdown in March 2020. 

The green awning (it changed color in 2016) remained up, however... providing some hope to its fans (and the free 10-inch pizza served with every drink) would return. 

Last week, workers hauled off the awning... (thanks for the tip, Pinch!)

We never set foot in the place, but we know it had its fans. The free pizza, skee ball, and photo booth seemed to draw a solid happy hour crowd.

Above photo from April 2023 by Steven