The renovation and expansion of 188 1st Ave.

Structural repairs continue at the five-story 186-188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

Both buildings were severely damaged during a six-alarm fire at 188 First Ave. in October 2018. Fourteen people, 11 of them firefighters, sustained minor injuries, the Times reported. 

As you can see, the renovations include a horizontal expansion ...

Uogashi occupied No. 188's ground floor and an extension in the lot's backyard. FDNY officials said the fire began in the restaurant, per published reports. The back structure was demolished. 

In total, No. 188 had eight apartments. Both 186 and 188 have been vacant since the first.

The retail spaces at 186 First Ave. both have new tenants on the way, Mr. Pizza and Lilly's Shakes & Crepes.

According to public records, HUBB NYC Properties has been the landlord of 186-188 since January 2018, paying $14.25 million.

That's Mr. Pizza to you

Photos by Steven

Coming-soon signage is up for a venture called Mr. Pizza at 186 First Ave. ...

This is the first business for the retail space since Handsome Dan's Snocone & Candy Stand closed here between 11th Street and 12th Street in September 2018. 

In early October 2018, a six-alarm fire next door at 188 First Ave. caused extensive damage to the surrounding properties ... and the residential spaces at No. 186 and No. 188 remain without tenants. 

A garden party tomorrow to help rebuild the East Side Outside Community Garden

[Photos from Sept. 20]

A sizable chunk of the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street just east of First Avenue has been damaged during the post-fire work behind First Avenue.



In recent months, workers have accessed the garden space to gain entry to the rear of 188 First Ave., which suffered a major fire last October. While the structural stability of No. 188 was reportedly unaffected by the fire, the extension behind the permanently closed Uogashi needed to be removed.

Meanwhile, the garden is in poor shape as a result of the demolition work...



Tomorrow (Sept. 28), garden volunteers and other community members are coming together in support of East Side Outside at El Sol Brillante Garden, 522 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B starting at noon (to dusk). Per the invite:

Come join us for food, drink, and raffle prizes from local businesses! Raffle will happen at 4 p.m. ... We are excited to announce that photographer David Croland has donated a beautiful portrait of Debbie Harry in her prime, for sale to benefit the garden!

East Side Outside Community Garden was partly destroyed in the aftermath of the October 2018 fire at 188 First Ave. We need to clean up and rebuild almost everything from scratch, and are trying to raise funds to help us reopen for the 2020 season.

East Side Outside Garden is a public community garden in the NYC Parks GreenThumb program. We offer green space and programs for community members and businesses, provide a learning lab for students at the adjacent schools, and operate a community composting program. Help us rebuild better and stronger!

There's also a crowdfunding campaign underway at this link.



The stone wall dating to the 1860s that lines the garden was also badly damaged during the work behind the First Avenue buildings. You can read more about that at the link below...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue

'Continuing adjustments' at Tree Bistro

Tree Bistro returned to service in mid-June ... nearly eight months after the six-alarm fire tore through neighboring 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

That fire wiped out Tree Bistro's garden dining area ... and caused other damage inside the restaurant.

Despite the recent re-opening, there's still fire-related work that needs attention. A sign on the gate for patrons this past weekend notes that "continuing adjustments" are necessary. Tree Bistro will be back in action on Aug. 7.

Tree Bistro returns, though without the garden space for now

Tree Bistro is back in service this week ... nearly eight months after the six-alarm fire tore through neighboring 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

That fire also wiped out Tree Bistro's garden dining area ... and caused other damage inside the restaurant.

For now, the restaurant's outdoor space remains closed, which causes some space issues. Here's more via the Tree Bistro website:

We miss the garden more than anyone — but the delicious cuisine, charming and eclectic decor, and above all attention to our customers that is the hallmark of Tree Bistro will be in abundance in our inside dining room.

Since our capacity has been reduced by more than a third, we recommend reservations at all times, and we do please ask that you confirm or cancel your reservations should plans change so that we can accommodate all who wish to experience Tree Bistro. We appreciate your understanding as we all adjust to this temporarily smaller format and are excited to see you soon ...

Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant in the retail space at 188 First Ave., is not expected to return. The Uogashi website, now offline, had listed "permanently closed" under their hours of operation.

Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began inside Uogashi. An exact cause has not been made public.

Tree Bistro is returning after October fire

Tree Bistro has not been open since the six-alarm fire this past Oct. 3 at neighboring 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

That fire wiped out Tree Bistro's backyard garden ... and caused other damage inside the restaurant.

Now EVG regular Lola Sáenz reports that the space is under renovation, and will reopen later this spring.

Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant in the retail space at 188 First Ave., didn't fare as well, and is not expected to return. The Uogashi website, now offline, had listed "permanently closed" under their hours of operation.

Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began inside Uogashi. An exact cause has not been made public.

Meanwhile, Fiaschetteria Pistoia returned to service on March 6 after a late December fire badly damaged its space on 11th Street near Avenue C ... while the storefront housing Yakiniku West at 218 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue is under renovation. The Japanese restaurant's Facebook page states that they plan to reopen some time this year after a fire in the building last April.

Report: 186-188 First Ave. changes hands for $14-plus million

There's a new owner for 186-188 First Ave., a pair of 5-story walk-ups between 11th Street and 12th Street.

News of the all-cash transaction earlier this month was posted in a piece at The New York Times yesterday:

Hubb NYC, described as a local investor, bought the buildings from Allen Park, who owned the properties since 1980, for $14.25 million.

Per the Times:

They offer 16 two-bedroom apartments, which are mostly free-market, as well as three retail spaces occupied by a computer store, Handsome Dan’s candy shop and Uogashi, a Japanese restaurant. Air rights come to about 5,000 square feet.