From the EVG archives:
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Tuesday's parting shot
The Avenue A 7-Eleven is now closed. The reason why may not surprise you.
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Yesterday, workers began dismantling the 7-Eleven on the SE corner of Avenue A and 11th Street, including painting over the wraparound sign.
As expected, the store officially closed after 11 years in business.
I spoke with Mr. Singh, who bought the business from the previous owner seven years ago. He was emotional but optimistic about the store's closure. He declined to have photos taken but spoke a bit about his life, his philosophy and faith, and the now-shuttered franchise he licensed on Avenue A.
Singh, 50, and his wife and kids live in Queens after immigrating from India in the early 2000s. He credits his strong Sikh faith with keeping him optimistic about the future.
He used to work the overnight shift at Punjabi Deli on Houston Street to save money to buy the franchise. He spoke movingly about his history working his father's land in India by hand, taking care of his family as a breadwinner from his teenage years until now.
When I asked him why the store was closing, he reiterated what I'd heard on my last visit: rampant theft.
He explained that he is responsible for paying for everything that happens in the store. For example, when two armed robbers stole most of his cigarette packs, he was responsible for the $17 or $18 per pack. He still had to pay the distributor when people shoplifted six-packs of beer.
While the 7-Eleven parent company covers the store's rent, he pays 51% of every dollar he makes to the parent company. He also rents 7-Eleven machines from them. The Slurpee machine, he said, costs $700 per month to rent, and he has three of them. And when they broke, he had to pay for repairs. He also had to pay payroll, which he said was a high cost for two employees per shift.
He mentions daily shoplifting by kids from a nearby school, plus people who just saunter in, take what they please, and walk out. He said he is not allowed to stop them, and even if his cashier were to run after them and take the purloined items back, they'd be leaving the register unattended to do so.
They called the police occasionally, though the thieves were always long gone when the officers arrived.
I asked him what he plans to do next. Singh said he might look at another space in Queens near where he lives. He says he doesn't have ill will or bad feelings toward people and credits his faith in God and the holy book to the fact that things will be alright.
He thanked all the customers who visited the shop over the past seven years and wished everyone well in the future.
As I was leaving, the third-party contractors were putting paper up on the windows, and we watched them for a minute.
Singh looked at me and said, "I am not afraid of hard work. I have been a hard worker my whole life. God will protect me, and I am not sad."
This is the third 7-Eleven to close in the East Village since 2013. The last one, on the Bowery, will be shutting down next. Look for that post tomorrow.
Boris & Horton preparing to close East Village cafe at the end of the month
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
At Boris & Horton on the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street, management has posted notices that NYC's first dog cafe will be closing at the end of the month... they're also asking for any job leads for their staff...
Nine months after a successful crowdfunding campaign and newly enacted subscription plan, Boris & Horton announced that it would have to close unless it found a buyer for the business.
In an Instagram post on Friday, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman stated that the financial challenges returned even with hiring additional staffing and enhancing events.
"Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close.
We reached out for more details.
"We've decided not to do press and just work on connecting with potential buyers or closing down," Mikhly told us. She promised to keep us posted if there were any updates.
The space was pretty mellow late yesterday afternoon...
Boris & Horton still had to shutter its year-plus-old Williamsburg location in May.
Signage alert: Joe's Wine Co. on 3rd Avenue
We first spotted the coming-soon signage back in early May.
According to its Instagram account, "From classics to surprises, our wines and spirits in the East Village have it all."
As previously noted, there was some discussion about the name and whether it was an attempt to capitalize on Trader Joe's Wine Shop, which closed around the corner in August 2022. (And as someone noted, do people think Joe's Pizza on 14th Street is part of Trader Joe's?)
No word on an opening date. You can find the business website here.
Licensed cannabis shop The Flowery blooms on 3rd Avenue
Coming soon signage marks the space (h/t Steven!).
This will be the latest branch for the Florida-based medical and recreational cannabis provider... which recently opened in Forest Hills. The Flowery, which offers a delivery service, also plans locations in Soho and Williamsburg.
This corner space previously housed TD Bank, which downsized in 2022 to a storefront in the same building next door. The game hall Sugar Mouse is on the lower level here.
Monday, November 11, 2024
Mondays parting shot
Lower East Side indie mainstay Rockwood Music Hall abruptly closes, musicians say
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Last night, word spread that Rockwood Music Hall had abruptly closed on Allen Street, just south of Houston.
Yesterday, musicians scheduled to play at the 19-year-old venue beyond Nov. 9 received emails from the venue stating that they had closed effectively immediately.
Last night, when several musicians were on the bill to perform, the space was dark. Concertgoers were not notified of the closure on-site, online or via Rockwood's social media.
While there was no official notice from the club, there were several social media posts from musicians and journalists about the abrupt shutter.
Rockwood Music Hall, facing financial challenges, announced last November that the venue was "getting back to basics" and closing its Stage 2 space, which debuted in 2010 with a 175-person capacity. Nick Boder of Baker Fall is opening at the old Stage 2 address, as we first reported.Another heartbreaking loss for the city's indie music scene. 😢
— Adam Bernard (@AdamsWorldBlog) November 10, 2024
I can't even begin to tell you how many great artists I discovered at @RockwoodNYC.
This is an absolute bummer. pic.twitter.com/ZQMMJK2BTj
Updated 11 a.m.: Bodor told us he has NOT had any conversations with anyone at Rockwood or the landlord about Stage 1. Stage 2 is in a separate space on the same block. While he hasn’t ruled out interest in the former Stage 1, he would consider it if he had investors, though nothing is in place for now.
In June 2023, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles launched a #PreserveRockwood benefit concert series to help keep the indie venue open after the pandemic.
Unfortunately, this effort doesn't appear to have been enough in the long term.
As the June 2023 GoFundMe noted, the closure of Rockwood would end "a vital place for independent and up-and-coming musicians to develop their artistry and give fans the opportunity to discover new music in a live setting."
Boris & Horton seeks new owner to save East Village cafe despite crowdfunding success
Photo from February by Stacie Joy
Nine months after a successful crowdfunding campaign and newly enacted subscription plan, Boris & Horton's ownership announced that unless they find a buyer for the business, the city's first dog-friendly cafe will close this month on 12th Street and Avenue A.
In an Instagram post on Friday, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman stated that the financial challenges returned even with hiring additional staffing and enhancing events.
"Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close."
Greenpointers noted that a few customers "had concerns about what happened to the money from the fundraiser, considering how quickly the cafe raised the money and made the decision to call it quits shortly after."
Some of these same concerns appeared in the comments section of the Instagram post. (Most comments were positive, with people sharing how much they liked the Avenue A space and enjoyed spending time there with their dogs.)
In March, after a deep clean and reorganization following a customer fundraiser, Mikhly and Holzman reopened the Avenue A location. They announced they had hired a general manager and an events manager and updated the HVAC system and refrigeration.
This past Feb. 16, Mikhly and Holzman announced that the cafe would close on Feb. 26 after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street.
They weren't making enough money, and as Holzman told NY1, "It's expensive to maintain top safety measures for a dog-friendly restaurant required by the Department of Health."
However, the unwavering support of the cafe's fans turned the tide. They devised ideas to keep the business going, such as selling subscription boxes filled with dog treats and merchandise from Boris & Horton's line of products.
Boris & Horton hit their $250,000 goal from Feb. 23-25.
In Friday's Instagram post, Mikhly and Holzman said they've met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal.
"After almost seven wonderful years, we hold onto hope that Boris & Horton can begin a new chapter, perhaps with someone from our incredible community stepping in to carry on this journey."
Awning alert on the Bowery as Dark Matter Coffee's new cafe comes into view
Awnings arrived for the respected coffee roaster on the SE corner late last week.
They had a sneak preview of the space on Saturday... with a livestream of the International Chocolate Awards World Finals (Dark Matter was nominated for its Sleep Walk chocolate — and they won a Gold, Silver, and two Bronze.)
Dark Matter started on Chicago's west side in 2007, and there are now multiple locations (not to mention an online shop).
Once open, this outpost will serve Dark Matter coffee and other cafe fare and include a Sleep Walk Chocolateria.
Dark Matter, founded by Jessie Diaz, is known for its music-inflected, irreverent branding and transparent sourcing practices built on direct relationships with Latin American farmers.
We haven't seen anything official about this... but given its location a block south of the former CBGB, ¡Adios Amigos! is likely taking its name from the 14th and final studio record by the Ramones.
No word on an opening date. You can follow them on Instagram for updates.
Coming attractions: Fomo Momo on 1st Ave.
Owners Impreet Sodhi and Ankita Nagpal started selling momos (a type of steamed or fried dumpling) via bright pink food trucks in Jersey City in 2021... and later vended at the various Smorgasburg locations.
This will be the brand's second storefront. (They also have one in Jersey City.) You can check out the Fomo Momo menu here.
No. 85 was previously The Chippery, which closed at the start of 2024 after nearly four years.
On 13th and A, corner markets come and go
Meanwhile, on the SE corner... you will have one less place to purchase bongs or exotic flavors of Doritos...
Law enforcement officials have sealed up ZEE Convenience & More...apparently, it was zee unlicensed sale of cannabis products here that got the business into trouble...
ZEE debuted in October 2022. Previously, Caffè Bene closed here in December 2021 after nearly six years in business.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
At the sneak preview of Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop on 7th Street
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Earlier today, Mary O'Halloran treated her neighbors with free Irish soda bread scones and coffee or tea from her new shop at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenues.
And her new neighbors turned out in droves to sample the creations that O'Halloran has served from her Avenue A restaurant, Mary O's.
Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop will officially open at 7 a.m. this coming Saturday.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Week in Grieview
• Election Night 2024 (Wednesday)
• Mixed messages about the future of 7-Eleven on Avenue A (Monday)
• The return of O'Flaherty's, now on Allen Street for the next month with Matthew Barney & Alex Katz (Thursday) ... At the opening of 'The Bitch' at O'Flaherty's (Saturday)
• On Sunday, a sneak preview of Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop ahead of its Nov. 16 grand opening (Friday)
• A new East Village vintage clothing store opens, and a cat is the curator (Tuesday)
• Halloween night with Pretty Sick at Bowery Ballroom (Monday)
• B Cup Café is on the move on Avenue B (Tuesday)
• About the Community Boutique & Café, an inclusive gathering place on 12th Street (Thursday)
• It's not just you — the whole area smells like smoke. Here's why. (Saturday)
• More stabilization work at the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center (Thursday)
• 325 E. 14th St., sells and farewell to the Crocodile Lounge sidewalk awning (Monday)
• Owner of 2 Brooklyn restaurants taking over the Lollo space on Avenue B (Thursday)
• Coming attractions: Mrs. Green on 14th Street (Tuesday)
• Renovations underway at the former Boulton & Watt (Thursday)
• The former Houston Village Farm is for rent (Tuesday)
• A bad sign at the Sunflower East Village on 2nd Street (Monday)
• Stuffed closes and the owners promise 'a brand new, never seen before' ice cream concept (Monday)
Also, this past week, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from Third Street and Avenue A (part of the ongoing work at the First Houses).
Also! The Budget Mart on A between Second and Third is expected to open SOON (photo below by Stacie Joy).
Fabano Florals departs Avenue B for a new home base in Minneapolis
Photos by Stacie Joy
ICYMI: Fabano Florals has left its retail space at 106 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street and is relocating its home base to Minneapolis.
The door signage for patrons states the business will be "focusing on larger-scale events in the NYC area."
Also: "We have loved being part of this neighborhood and will miss it dearly, and truly appreciate all the love and support the community has given us."
Owner Andrea Fabano, who lived in the East Village, originally started the business as a pop-up shop (and online).
Sunday's opening shot
Read some history of the fountain, which dates to 1888, here.
Saturday, November 9, 2024
You'd be out of your gourd to miss this pumpkin smashing event
Photo by Stacie Joy
A. Sorry for that headline.
B. La Plaza Cultural is hosting a Pumpkin Smash tomorrow (Sunday) from noon to 3 p.m. Bring your pumpkins, Jack-o-lanterns and gourds to the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street.
Afterward, the LES Ecology Center will turn the smashed remains into compost for city parks and green spaces.
C. It is a rain-or-shine event, though no worries since it doesn't rain anymore.
At the opening of 'The Bitch' at O'Flaherty's
Photos by Stacie Joy
Thursday night saw the opening of "The Bitch," a new show featuring work by Matthew Barney and Alex Katz at a temporary home for O'Flaherty's at 165 Allen St. between Stanton and Rivington...
Artist, curator and owner Jamian Juliano-Villani and gallerist Billy Grant will be here through Dec. 15.
Here's a look at the bi-level space... and some of the gallery-goers who packed the place...
Afterward, there was a post-opening party at the former O'Flaherty's space at 44 Avenue A and Third Street...
... where neighbor Two Boots Pizza came in handy...
"The Bitch" will be on view at 165 Allen St. Wednesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 2-7 p.m.
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