As co-owner Matt Kliegman explained in a phone call with EVG yesterday, the lease was up, and the company no longer needed such a large space. The First Avenue shop is twice the size of the brand's other storefronts outside the commissary in Bushwick.
When it opened in October 2015, the space served as Black Seed's commissary for five years, where they prepared their salads and spreads and operated the catering office. In 2020, they relocated that part of the business to a Bushwich location with more functional space.
"If you open businesses like this, you have to be comfortable closing them at some point. Kind of the nature of the beast, but it's always a bummer," said Kliegman, who attended NYU and later lived in the East Village for 13 years.
He reported that all of the East Village staff will be retained and employed at Black Seed's nine other locations throughout the city, including the latest outpost set to open next month in Long Island City.
Black Seed, which specializes in hand-rolled, hand-boiled, and wood-fired bagels, took over the storefront from DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffè, which had been in operation for 110 years until December 2014. The economy, age and health reportedly compelled the four DeRobertis siblings to sell the building.
Kliegman and the Black Seed team got to know the DeRobertis family and even attended the opening of their new bakery in Clifton, N.J.
"The vibes were good," said Kliegman, who is a history buff and prefers older buildings with character for his businesses. (By the way, the iconic DeRobertis neon sign is preserved on the residential roof deck of 176 First Ave.)
An EVG reader who tipped us off to the closing called this "a real loss." The reader, a longtime EV resident, continued: "Black Seed was a place to grab a good sandwich and a seat. They played decent '90s music as well. A real go-to for me and many others."
The original Black Seed on Elizabeth Street remains open for business. And in talking with Kliegman, don't rule out an EV return someday.
"I love the area. And you know, I wouldn't be surprised if at some point we just find a smaller format store in maybe a different part of the neighborhood," Kliegman said. "It's a neighborhood that has welcomed us into their arms. There's a great school across the street with terrific teachers and parents ... but we'll be back. I feel pretty good about that."
