Reader mail: What is that smell in Tompkins Square Park?

An EVG email exchange this morning... 

What is that horrible smell in TSP? 

Smelled on April 29 throughout the park! 

not sure TBH... I walked around the Park yesterday, but not through it. 

how would you describe the smell? 

The smell reminds me of a decomposing animal...the smell of death. It was in the Ave B as well as the A side.

‘Justice for Abdul’: Advocates push for protections for bodega workers

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

In the wake of the fatal shooting that has shaken the East Village and the Yemeni American community, business advocates and local leaders held a press conference yesterday calling for accountability and stronger protections for bodega workers.

The gathering follows the killing of Abdulrahman Saleh, aka Abdul Saleh, a 28-year-old father of two, who was shot late Saturday night outside Sal's Deli & Grocery on 13th Street and Avenue B, where he worked at the family-run business.

Speakers at the press conference included Saleh's brother, Hussein Ahmed Saleh (below), along with Yemeni-American community leaders such as Yahya Elisai, Labib Nasher, Amad Zaid and Zaid Nagi, representatives from the Alliance of Yemeni American Businesses (AYAB), and Francisco Marte, president of the Bodega and Small Business Group.

Elected officials and city representatives were also on hand, including local City Councilmember Harvey Epstein and Jagpreet Singh, the city's first deputy commissioner of mass engagement. 

Much of the discussion focused on safety, accountability and justice — including calls for expanded use of panic buttons, improved police response to complaints, and broader protections for bodega workers, who speakers said are essential to their neighborhoods but often lack adequate support. 

As several media outlets noted, ABC 7 featured Saleh in a news report last May, calling for the installation of panic buttons as part of a United Bodegas of America campaign to help address the uptick in violence workers faced. 

Given Saleh's warning last year about the dangers facing bodega workers, organizers said his death cannot become another forgotten headline. 

The Saleh family is also urging the mayor's office and New York's congressional delegation to coordinate with the U.S. State Department to expedite humanitarian travel for his wife and children, who live in Yemen.

AYAB also had other demands:

• Full Prosecution and Family Protection

Those responsible must face the full force of the law. Saleh's family must be protected from threats and intimidation.

• Stronger Protections for Bodega Workers

Increased NYPD presence, faster emergency response, and meaningful city investment in frontline worker safety.

• Action — Not Just Statements

City and state leaders must act before another bodega worker loses their life.

Emergency Funding for Worker Safety

• Dedicated city and state funding for alert systems, security upgrades and rapid-response resources for bodega workers across all five boroughs.

Organizers said that Saleh's death must be a turning point.

A candlelight vigil to honor Saleh is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 on 13th Street and Avenue B.

According to police and media accounts, an argument that began inside the deli spilled out onto the street, where Saleh was shot. 

The NYPD has confirmed that 28-year-old Kavone Horton, who lives a block from the scene, has been charged in the shooting. He remains hospitalized after reportedly being struck by his own bullet Saturday night.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• 'He looked out for absolutely everyone here': Friends and neighbors discuss slain deli worker Abdul Saleh

Coming attractions (aka, signage alert): The East Village is getting a Regina's Grocery & Deli

Photo by Steven 

The old-school signage for Regina's Grocery & Deli went up yesterday at 111 First Ave., between Sixth and Seventh Streets. 

This will be the fifth outpost for the classic Italian-American sandwich shop "born in Bensonhurst" ... and the sandwiches are named after family members, like Uncle Jimmy or Grandma Lucy. 

No word yet on an opening date ... until then, you'll still have to trek down to lower Orchard Street for a Regina's run.

No. 111 previously housed an unlicensed smoke shop.

Fire Escape debuts on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Fire Escape, a licensed cannabis dispensary, debuted earlier this month at 103 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

The family-run shop is led by Ash and her wife Kristin, along with Max, Mark and Clay — a mix of longtime New Yorkers with ties to the neighborhood (and yes, a firefighter in the group).

Inside, there are plenty of East Village touches, from local books and an EV Cookbook to a built-out fire escape installation that doubles as décor. There's also a chess table and space for film screenings and other events.

The team says they're hiring locally and working with people who have faced barriers to employment, including Diesel (below), their head of security. They also aim to source cannabis from New York growers.

A few notes: ID is required to enter, there's no on-site consumption and there's a pick-up window out front (you can order ahead online).

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with a midnight close Thursday to Saturday.

People went nuts for the Nuts Factory opening on 3rd Avenue

Photos by Stacie Joy 

We happened to be walking along Third Avenue on Sunday and caught the lines for the grand opening of the Nuts Factory on the NW corner of Ninth Street.

People were going nuts (SORRY WE KEEP DOING THAT) for the freebies, like Dubai chocolate strawberry cups. 

The Nuts Factory folks were nice enough to let us cut the line for a quick look inside...

As previously noted, this is the 11th NYC outpost for the family-owned business, which also has locations in New Jersey and Massachusetts. The shop sells nuts, dried fruits and premium candy like Dubai Chocolate everything. 

Vivi Bubble Tea closed here early last fall, after its 10-year lease expired.

Wednesday's parting shot

Sky view from Third and A today...

Report: Rushed shelter shift tied to death, raises questions about East Village Intake plan

Kenton Hall on the Bowery 

A rushed city effort to close the longtime Bellevue intake shelter and shift services to new sites — including facilities on the Bowery and Third Street in the East Village — has drawn scrutiny after a man died by suicide following an abrupt relocation, according to a report by Politico. 

Steven Rosa had been staying at Kenton Hall, a behavioral health shelter in the East Village, when he was told to pack up and move the next day to a hotel in Brownsville, Brooklyn. 

Family members say the sudden transfer — which may have fallen short of the city's 48-hour notice standard — disrupted his care and support system. He was found dead in early April. 

The move was part of the city's push to vacate the East 30th Street intake center near Bellevue and convert two East Village sites into new intake facilities. That plan required relocating hundreds of shelter residents from both Bellevue and the East Village buildings. 

Advocates had warned that quickly moving vulnerable residents — many dealing with mental health and substance use issues — could pose serious risks if not handled carefully. 

The intake-site plan, including the East Village locations, is now on hold after a judge paused the rollout amid a lawsuit from local residents who say the city bypassed required review and notice processes. 

Read the full Politico article here. 

A community task force, VOICE (Village Organization for the Integrity of Community Engagement), has organized a petition, which "demands that the City rescind the emergency orders which have bypassed community safety." 

Find the petition here.

Former Chris French Cleaners lot awaits its condoplex

The NE corner of Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue is now free of the pesky one-level building that previously housed Chris French Cleaners.

As we noted, a 10-story condoplex with 10 residential units is in the works for the corner.

According to Crain's, Ilyas Abayev, founder of the real-estate firm Moonshot Development, is behind the new project. BKSK Architects LLP, whose local credits include The Jefferson on 13th Street between Second and Third Avenues, is listed as the architect of record.

The plywood rendering, with a sarcastic "thank you, Jesus!" message, lists a fall 2027 completion date.

The dry cleaner closed its doors for good last September, marking 65 years in business. 

In the spring of 2022, we noted that the corner property was being pitched as a development site, shortly after the family patriarch, Chris Mitrofanis, passed away. Public records show the family also owned the one-level structure. 

Table Mercato bringing 'Boston's best sandwich' to 10th Street

Signage recently arrived for Table Mercato at 214 E. 10th St., between First and Second Avenues. (Thanks to EVG reader Lauren G. for the photo!) 

The Boston-based restaurant-café has a solid sandwich rep, particularly the vodka chicken parm. 

This is the brand's first outpost outside Boston. Their Instagram account lists a summer 2026 opening. 

Curry-Ya was the last business in this long-vacant storefront.

Step right up: A game show experience is coming to the Bowery

Signage is up for Game of 1000 Boxes at 302 Bowery between First Street and Houston. 

This will be the permanent home for the "live game experience" currently popping up on West 37th Street. 

How it works, per the Go1000 site: 

1000 Boxes is a live game show experience where teams of 4 compete using handheld buzzers through multiple rounds of trivia, reaction games, and team challenges. It's like being a contestant on your favorite game show, but with your friends! 

The Bowery outpost will include "a dedicated bar and lounge." 

The last full-time (not a pop-up) biz here was Olde Good Things in 2022.

Tuesday's parting shot

Here's a late-afternoon look at the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Avenue A.

As we reported on Friday, the newish landlord here has decided not to paint over the 13-year-old "Liberty" mural here created by the UK artist STIK. A rep told EVG's Stacie Joy that the landlord was surprised by the outpouring of support for the 13-year-old, four-floor-tall artwork. 

"The importance to the community is what did it," the rep said. "We will paint around it in some form." 

We asked the landlord whether the background around the mural will remain as is or if there are plans to frame it. We'll see what they say.

‘He looked out for absolutely everyone here’: Friends and neighbors discuss slain deli worker Abdul Saleh

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Loved ones are mourning the loss of Abdul Saleh, 28, who was shot and killed late Saturday night outside Sal's Deli & Grocery on 13th Street and Avenue B, where he worked at the family-run business. 

According to police and media accounts, an argument that began inside the deli spilled out onto the street, where Saleh was shot in the stomach. 

Friends said he had recently returned from Yemen, where he has relatives. Saleh, who reportedly has two young children, lived with family members around the corner on 14th Street.

A memorial for Saleh is growing outside the deli, where officers continue to staff the scene around the clock. 

Updated: The NYPD has confirmed that 28-year-old Kavone Horton, who lives a block from the scene, has been charged in the shooting. He remains hospitalized after reportedly being struck by his own ricocheted bullet Saturday night. 

Saleh's cousin told the Post that workers at the deli had previously filed police reports about Horton's history of menacing behavior. In a follow-up article, the Post has more on the alleged killer here.

Sal's Deli remains closed, with no word on when it might reopen. 

Neighbors and friends described Saleh as a deeply caring presence in the community. 

"To me, Abdul was family," East Village resident Edy Castro told EVG's Stacie Joy. "He looked out for absolutely everyone here… He had a way of making every person feel seen." 

Castro recalled how Saleh quietly helped neighbors in need. "There were so many times when my kids and I faced food insecurity, and he would look out for us… He simply wouldn't let us go hungry." 

Another resident told EVG that both Sal's and its sibling deli, Brothers on 14th Street and Avenue B, "have wonderful people working there and are really the backbone of the neighborhood."

In an Instagram post yesterday, actress Rosario Dawson paid tribute to Saleh and his family. 

"So sad, tragic and terrible. Abdul worked at the neighborhood deli that I've been going to since I was a kid. He was a very sweet and beloved member of the community," she wrote. 

Others echoed that sentiment, calling him a kind, steady presence on the block. 

"It feels like a piece of the community was taken from us," one friend told NY1.

The United Bodegas of America is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, and is again calling for more safety measures for bodega workers across the city. 

As several media outlets noted, ABC 7 featured Saleh in a news report last May, calling for the installation of panic buttons as part of a United Bodegas of America campaign to help address the uptick in violence workers faced.

We'll continue to update as more information becomes available. 

Updated 6 p.m.

The memorial continues to grow outside the still-closed Sal's...

Former St. Brigid School on 7th and B hits the market as a development site

Photos by Stacie Joy

The former St. Brigid School building at 185 E. Seventh St., on the northeast corner of Avenue B, is now being marketed as a development site. (This is just for the former school. The St. Brigid-St. Emeric church and the rectory are not part of the potential sale.)

Per the Avison Young listing, the property owned by the Archdiocese of New York is being pitched as a "premier development opportunity" adjacent to Tompkins Square Park, with the potential for roughly 71,000 square feet of residential use — or more than 94,000 square feet with on-site affordable housing under current zoning and available air rights. 

"The East Village has seen minimal ground-up luxury condominium construction in recent years, creating a rare opportunity to capture unmet demand in a supply-constrained market," the listing notes. 

The building most recently served as the city's Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center and Reticketing Center, which quietly closed in June 2025. For more than two years, the building had assisted with asylum seekers.

Before that, the site housed the St. Brigid School, founded in 1856, for generations. 

As previously reported, the Archdiocese of New York announced in early 2019 that the school would close at the end of the academic year — a move that blindsided students, parents and faculty. 

No official word on what a future project here might look like, though the listing makes clear what could rise on this corner via this rendering (brace!):

And an aerial view via Avison Young showing the corner and surrounding parts of the East Village and Tompkins Square Park...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Inside the East Village 'respite center' for asylum seekers

• At the former St. Brigid School, a generous outpouring of community support for asylum seekers

• Despite the city's endless bureaucracy, East Village residents continue to aid asylum seekers at the former St. Brigid School 

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

A mattress-with-a-message discard on Ninth Street this afternoon...

Remembering Wayne, who made friends on every walk

Thank you to EVG reader Danny for sharing this... 

Wayne, a 16-year-old long-haired dachshund and blue heeler mix, died peacefully at home this past Wednesday. 

Born on a farm outside San Marcos, Texas, in February 2010, he was adopted as a puppy by Taylor Davis at 8 weeks. Together with Taylor, he moved briefly to Austin, Texas, before his big move to NYC. After stints in Harlem and Bushwick, where he lived for nearly a decade, he became a resident of East Fourth Street in the summer of 2022. 

The East Village was Wayne's retirement home, and he had many canine and human pals on the dog-heavy stretch of Fourth Street between First and Second Avenues. Wayne was loved by all who met him — even those who admitted they usually didn't like dogs. 

He was a fan of long, meandering walks, fighting the pillows, and feeling the wind blow his hair back. He licked like no dog you'd ever met - cleaning his paws obsessively whenever given the opportunity. He was instantly recognizable by his tartan plaid bow tie, which he wore with pride. 

In early 2026, Wayne was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in his muzzle. He lived his final days happily, getting visits from all his friends, getting regular walks, and still doing the stairs every day, and getting to eat all the things a dog isn't normally allowed. 

He was put to sleep peacefully in his bed, surrounded by loved ones. Wayne is survived by his parents, Taylor and Danny, and although his physical form has left us, his spirit lives on in the hearts of everyone whose lives he brightened. 

A 3rd Street staple, Rossy’s Bakery & Café, closes after 16 years

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Rossy's Bakery & Café at 242 E. Third St. has closed after 16 years in the neighborhood. 

As owner Roselia "Rossy" Caba told us last year, trying to stay affordable while covering costs was no longer sustainable. In addition, her mother, Norma Ortiz, who started the business, was retiring.

Caba's brother, Gabriel Escalante, was also part of the operation.

Ortiz began by baking cakes for family and friends from her Second Street apartment. As demand grew, the mother-daughter team opened a storefront a few blocks away between Avenue B and Avenue C in 2010. 

Over the years, Rossy's became a go-to for affordable, home-style Dominican and Spanish food — from BBQ ribs and baked chicken to rice-and-beans plates, along with empanadas, smoothies and coffee. 

Said Caba: "With the way things are, it makes no sense for us to continue… We can't keep trying to be affordable to the community and still make money anymore." 

We recently stopped by as the family was packing up the shop between Avenue B and Avenue C...

The business had been on the market as a turnkey opportunity, though no qualified buyer ultimately stepped forward. 

Rossy's drew a wide cross-section of the neighborhood — regulars grabbing coffee in the morning, workers stopping in for lunch, kids after school, and plenty of familiar faces who didn't need to look at the menu. It was the kind of place where orders were remembered and conversations picked up where they left off. 

A neighborhood spot in every sense.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A visit to Rossy's Bakery & Café on 3rd Street 

Blank Street is leaving 149 Avenue A

A for-rent sign (listing) hangs in the front window at Blank Street Coffee at 149 Avenue A between Ninth and 10th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Dena for the pic!) 

This outpost, which opened in November 2021, will be closing. We hear the lease is up, and management declined to renew, citing the storefront's (alleged) outdated electrical system as the reason for the departure. 

Staff will be reassigned to our BS outposts. 

This pending closure marks the last of the East Village Blank Street outposts. The V.C.-funded coffee chain also had locations on Third Avenue... First Avenue and in the Bowery Market. 

As previously noted, not everyone was a fan of the company. Per the Times in 2022: "When word got out that Blank Street is not an independent chain ... but an enterprise with global ambitions backed by private equity financing, many became curious — and sometimes suspicious."

Signage alert: Olio e Più on 3rd Avenue

Doorway signage has arrived for Olio e Più on the NW corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Helena Kohl for the tip and pic!) 

This will be the third NYC outpost for the Italian trattoria that also has locations in Chicago and Washington, D.C. 

Per its website, the EV spaces will also offer a "warm and welcoming setting for private events, cocktail receptions, and group gatherings across two floors. Our private balcony looks out over one of downtown's most beloved streets..." [Ed note: Heh. Also, Taco Bell is across the street.] 

No word on an opening date. 

The address (106 Third Ave.) last housed Thirty Love Sports & Leisure and the Memory Motel pop-up. The corner spot was also previously home to various sports bars with animal names in their titles: the Brazen Fox, Ugly Duckling and blue bird.

Signage alert: Art Laboratory Wine Bar at 40 Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy

The Wine Art Laboratory signage has arrived at 40 Avenue B, between Third and Fourth Streets. 

Per the questionnaire on file with CB3 this month, this will be a Georgian-style restaurant with a wine bar.

Despite concerns about the history of this space (see below) and the block, CB3's SLA committee OK'd a beer-wine license for the operator, though with the added stipulation that the business closes daily at midnight. (Find the full CB3 vote sheet here.)

No. 40 had an uneven run of tenants in recent years — from the good, like Fonda (RIP 2020), to the more problematic. El Carnaval, a notoriously loud Panamanian restaurant and bar, was accused of serving liquor without a license in the summer of 2021 (and caught on video)... Dora's Restaurant, which followed with similar allegations, and DJs playing to an empty establishment.

Sunday's parting shot

This was the second Sunday morning this month that included a vehicle turning right on the corner of Clinton and Houston ... and ending lodged atop the safety bollard. 

Time to put the bollard on hazard pay?