Friday, May 2, 2025

NYC institution Corner Bistro eyeing an East Village expansion

Photo by Stacie Joy 

An iconic East Village corner space may soon be home to an NYC classic.

Reps for Elizabeth McGrath, owner of the decades-spanning Corner Bistro on West Fourth Street, are on this month's Community Board 3 SLA Committee agenda, seeking a liquor license for 94-96 Avenue A at Sixth Street — the onetime home of Sidewalk Cafe.
So far, only the application is on file with CB3. The accompanying questionnaire, which typically offers more insight into an applicant's plans, has not yet been made public. The CB3 SLA Committee is scheduled to meet on May 19. (Keep in mind that an application doesn't guarantee a concept will move forward — as we saw in December 2023 with the Paulie Gee's outpost that never materialized at 107 First Ave.) 

We've reached out to McGrath — daughter of Corner Bistro's original owners, Bill and Lorraine O'Donnell — for more details on the potential expansion. 

This wouldn't be the burger institution's first time branching out. Corner Bistro opened a location in Long Island City in 2012, which shuttered in 2020 due to pandemic-related pressures. An outpost at the Gotham West Market food hall in Hell's Kitchen also closed in 2020. 

The most recent tenant at 94-96 Avenue A, Offside Tavern, closed late last year. Before that, August Laura had a brief run beginning in October 2019 but faced a stop-start schedule during the pandemic and finally closed in December 2021. 

The address is best known as the longtime home of Sidewalk — the restaurant, bar, and live music venue (and host of the Antifolk Festival) that closed in February 2019 after a 34-year run.
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3 comments:

  1. Mr Nice GuyMay 2, 2025 at 9:43 AM

    This would be such a great addition to the EV! Despite being thoroughly discovered by tourists, Corner Bistro still maintains a neighborhood bar feel. They also keep prices low and man, they make one hell of a burger.

    ReplyDelete
  2. seedyfilmz May 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM

    Cool!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. CajsaMay 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM

    Would love for Corner Bistro to move into this classic corner! Yes please.

    ReplyDelete

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