Hottie Lash checks into 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Hottie Lash is the new tenant for the second-level retail space on the northwest corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue (133 Second Ave., aka 37 St. Mark's Place). 

While it sounds like a solid roller derby name, this is a salon for eyelash extensions, which takes over the address from Taiji Body Work. 

Previously, 8-Bit and Up, the retro video shop, was upstairs before moving to Third Street in the fall of 2013. 

And as we've posted before... this 1990s upstairs-downstairs combo...

The above photo is by Barry Joseph and was published in Ada Calhoun's book "St. Marks Is Dead."

P.S. 

The Gap was on the ground floor from 1988 to 2001.

This 2nd-level retail space is for rent on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue

On the northwest corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue, the second-level retail space is on the rental market... because Taiji Body Work has recently left the building (though it doesn't look like it from the main entrance) ...

The spa, one of several Taiji outposts citywide, arrived here in early 2015. 

Previously, 8-Bit and Up, the retro video shop, was upstairs before moving to Third Street in the fall of 2013. 

And once upon a time... bring back Kim's!

The above photo is by Barry Joseph, and it was published in Ada Calhoun's book "St. Marks Is Dead."

P.S.

The Gap was on the ground floor from 1988 to 2001...

New signage day for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Workers yesterday started putting up the signage for the new business on this most high-profile of East Village corners — the NW side of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

As previously reported, the Taiwan-based Xing Fu Tang, a bubble tea chain specializing in brown sugar boba, will be setting up shop here...

No word on an opening date...

Nobletree Coffee closed here in May 2019 after just five months in business. This storefront previously sat empty for three years — ever since DF Mavens closed in January 2016 ... after a Dec. 26, 2014 debut. (It took the Mavenators 14 months to open the space.)

Other tenants in recent years include Eastside Bakery (.net?) and Roastown Coffee. And the only business to last here in the past 30 years: the Gap, from 1988 to 2001.

Thanks to Steven for the photos! (And thanks to Jeff and Brian for sending some along as well!)

What might be next for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place?

3/3 update: See this update for the new tenant!

The plywooding of the vacant retail space on the northwest corner of St Mark's Place and Second Avenue continued yesterday. (Thanks Steven for the photo! H/T @unitof!) 

No word yet what might be in the works for the spot. (The workers were just there for the plywood; the work permits just mention interior renovations.) Tips welcome!

The for rent sign arrived here in August 2019 ... marking the first time in six years that this high-profile retail space was on the market. 

Nobletree Coffee closed here in May 2019 after just five months in business. A sign on the door for Nobletree's "beloved customers" offered thanks ... along with a reason for the closure: "Because of the slow foot traffic at this location we were forced to close." 

The listing at Winick noted that this is the "busiest intersection in the East Village." 

This storefront previously sat empty for three years — ever since DF Mavens closed in January 2016 ... after a Dec. 26, 2014 debut. (It took the Mavenators 14 months to open the space.)

Other tenants in recent years include Eastside Bakery (.net?) and Roastown Coffee.

And the only business to last here in the past 30 years: the Gap, from 1988 to 2001... (photo by Barry Joseph!)