ABC Animal Hospital makes move to Avenue A

Last Thursday, ABC Animal Hospital on East 14th Street began the move to its new home at 200 Avenue A (the former Superdive!).

Per the signs out front....



And here's their message online:

Our new space is still under construction, but our pharmacy and store for food purchases will continue to operate in the basement of our new space. We expect to start seeing appointments as usual by April 16th. If you need assistance after Wednesday March 27th we can still provide basic treatments in our new space, can provide advice over the phone, or will refer you to another veterinarian.

Please excuse our appearance at the new location as we work towards building a beautiful space for you and your pets.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support.

Dr. Tufaro and staff,
ABC Animal Hospital

200 Ave A, Ground floor and basement
NY, NY, 10009
(212) 358 0785

The hospital is one of the many businesses on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B to either relocate or close. As we first reported in December, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. were leased for a 99-year period for some yet-unspecified project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

East 14th Street exodus continues

With new development looming on East 14th Street, businesses in the way of the still-unspecified project continue to leave... Bargain Bazaar closed for good on Jan. 3 ... its neighbor to the east, Petland, moved to First Avenue... and now the last tenant in this three-store strip, the ABC Animal Hospital, has announced that it will relocate to 200 Avenue A, per the Local.

The move isn't a surprise — EVG regular Gojira passed along word in September that Dr. Tufaro and staff were looking for a new home.

As we first reported in December, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. were leased for a 99-year period by the respective owner to East Village 14 LLC. (East Village 14 LLC is a Delaware Company that registered with the New York State Department of State in October 2012.) Public records put the cost of this parcel at $35 million.

So we're looking at everything from where Stuyvesant Grocery and Pete's-a-Pizza were before the fire on May 12, 2010 at Avenue A east to, and including, the Animal Hospital. The lone exception: 520 E. 14th St. Presumably new development will happen on either side of this building.

Meanwhile, the new tenant at 200 Avenue A ends an ugly chapter in recent East Village history. The space was home to Superdive, which started its reign of woorrorism on June 25, 2009. (Relive that night here) ... then came the lengthy battle for a liquor license with the applicants who wanted to open an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant." The State Liquor Authority finally granted them a license last April after the applicants agreed to a midnight closing time, as we reported here.

However, the group, going by Hospitality LLC, figured that they wouldn't be able to make a go of it with a midnight closing time, and they moved away from the project. In October, 200 Avenue A was back on the market.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

Those ongoing rumors about the future of East 14th Street between Avenue A and B

Petland is moving away from East 14th Street, fueling more new development rumors

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

Bargain Express has closed on East 14th Street

200 Avenue A back in play?

What's going on with the storefront space at 200 Avenue A, previously haunted by Superdive? A group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" had appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times.

They fought and fought and fought... and finally, in April, the State Liquor Authority OK'd a liquor license for the group.

Now this sign recently appeared on the front window...

We'll see what we can find out about the situation here...

Updated 9:09:
Word along here is that Hospitality LLC figured they wouldn't be able to make a go of it with a midnight closing time, per the SLA stipulations.

Perhaps the new owners of 200 Avenue A would consider straightening up their front windows

Some folks along Avenue A here between 12th Street and 13th Street are wondering if the new owners of the storefront at 200 Avenue could tidy the windows up... Considering how long and hard the owners fought to open their restaurant-bar-gallery concept and all...

SLA approves liquor license for 200 Avenue A

[File photo of 200 Avenue A]

Finally, an end to the ongoing saga of 200 Avenue A, the corpse of Superdive... As you may recall, a group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" (smell machine!) concept had appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times.

The group then decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. Read the background here. Then they went back to the CB3/SLA committee in March. Rejected again.

And, they kept fighting. Today, the group went before the State Liquor Authority. According to an interested observer there, "When it became clear that things might not go Hospitality LLC's way, they more or less surprised everyone and at the last minute agreed to a midnight closing on weekends. Didn't see that one coming."

Ditto.

Anyway, they really want to open here regardless of what the neighbors might think.

Here is what we know about them based on their CB3 documents from the March CB3/SLA meeting:

The three principals are looking at business hours of 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday; until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The kitchen will be open to within one hour of closing. The application also shows that they'd be 19 tables seating 52 people, plus one bar with 12 additional seats. The gallery-restaurant would employ between 20-25 people. Lastly, there are proposed "promoted events, scheduled performances."

Superdive will never die, probably

As we pointed out yesterday, 200 Avenue A was on the State Liquor Authority's full board meeting agenda. Well, we should have caught this one...

A group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept has appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times. The group then decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license.

However, as you can see, the SLA hearing had 200 Avenue A on the agenda under Rapture Bookstore LLC — the trade name for Superdive.

According to someone in attendance, the Hospitality LLC reps were not at the hearing. It was Allan of Superdive and his lawyer present to argue the legality of their denied license renewal last year.

As we understand it, district manager Susan Stetzer was prepared for Team Superdive's appearance. SLA Chair Dennis Rosen tabled their hearing so he could meet with all the interested parties later this month. There's some question about the legality of denying a renewal for Superdive.

At this point, it's unclear whether Superdive wants to reopen as, well, Superdive, or whether the management wants to be part of whatever new venture opens here.

We sent an email to Allan at Superdive seeking comment.

Previously.

Former Superdive space on today's SLA agenda

An Avenue A tipster tells us that the folks hoping to open a bar-gallery space at 200 Avenue A (the former Superdive, of course) is on today's agenda for the State Liquor Authority's full board meeting...

The people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times — decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license.

The group, calling themselves Hospitality LLC, appeared before the CB3/SLA committee in November 2010 with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine. They came back in April, and were told to do more community outreach. The didn't have any better luck in May given the strong opposition from neighbors.

In case you are wondering... the board meeting starts at 10 a.m. at:

Harlem Center Tower Office Building
317 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Entrance to the Main Lobby is located on Lenox Avenue near 126th Street.

Workers gutting the former Superdive space

Dave on 7th notes that workers are gutting the retail space at 200 Avenue A (aka, the former Superdive) this afternoon. The pop-up art gallery left the space on July 10. After being rejected three times by the CB3/SLA committee, a group going by Hospitality LLC went to the State Liquor Authority on July 12 for a full liquor license. The group aspires to open a bar/restaurant/art gallery here. A decision on the license is expected in the next week. Or so.

Oh, and the DOB does have permits on file for this work.

200 Avenue A going directly to SLA for its license

The people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times — are now going directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. The group, calling themselves Hospitality LLC, hope to open in the former Superdive space.

The group appeared before the CB3/SLA committee in November with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine. They came back in April, and were told to do more community outreach. The didn't have any better luck in May given the strong opposition from neighbors.

The meeting is tomorrow at 11 a.m. at 317 Lenox Ave.

One resident noted that there weren't any notices about Tuesday's hearing on the gate outside 200 Avenue A. Meanwhile, this weekend, AD Projects ended its run using the space as a temporary art gallery. As another resident said, "it's been great for the neighborhood to have this kind of use made of this space — without the need of a liquor license."

Sunday afternoon demolition inside the former Superdive space

EV Grieve reader dwg notes the work going on now at 200 Avenue A. There aren't any permits on file for work here via the DOB.

Meanwhile, we understand that the people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have twice appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee — are now going directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. Their hearing with the SLA is on July 12 at 11 a.m. We'll have more on this later.

We'll have to wait longer to find out about plans for 34 Avenue A

34 Avenue A was one of the most intriguing items on tonight's CB3/SLA docket. In March, the committee rejected the proposal to turn the former Aces and Eights space back into a performance venue.

No name was on the appliacation for the space in May, simply: "To Be Determined, 34 Ave A (op)"

In any event, we'll have to wait longer to find out about the plans for the space: 34 Avenue A is a scratch for tonight.

Meanwhile, one other item of interest: 200 Avenue A, the art gallery with a full liquor license. In previous posts on this the gallery, several readers claimed that they were misled when it came to sign a petition of approval for the plans.

For instance, per Cat Sitter in the City:

I wish I could take my signature off that Superdive/now we're an art gallery petition I signed. It really bugs me that the girls were telling me they were creating an art gallery. I had no idea it was an art gallery with a liquor license, and I wonder if they duped others in the same way.

And!

Anonymous said...
Oh, great. I signed their petition. They said it was going to be an art gallery. They were two nice girls who didn't say anything about booze. I feel like I was hoodwinked.

About the dueling art galleries at the old Superdive space

Yesterday, we reported that AD Projects has taken over the former Superdive space at 200 Avenue A. Just for clarification: This is just temporary. This is not the same art gallery concept that went before the CB3/SLA committee last month. The committee turned down that group's bid to take over the space.

This was the second time they had come before the Board. (The new venture is from the same group who appeared before the CB3 in November with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine.)

In April, CB3/SLA told the group — going as Not A Bookstore LLC — to do more (and better!) community outreach. They will appear again before the CB3/SLA committee on Monday.

For starters, they dropped the cutesy Not A Bookstore name and are going by Avenue A Hospitality LLC. The group did meet with neighborhood power brokers last Thursday.

Meanwhile, more about what's coming to 200 Avenue A is on the CB3 website. (Warning! PDF!)

The concept: An "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" open seven days a week. According to the CB3 questionnaire, their proposed hours are 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday; 11 a.m. - 4 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. In total, there will be 19 tables, with a capacity (bar included) of 150. No TVs, though the yet unnamed art gallery-restaurant will employ a DJ for "ambient background music" and have "occasional acoustic" music.

In any event, this will be a more challenging sell now that the liquor license for this address has expired.

The Superdive space is now home to an art gallery

RyanAvenueA snapped this photo yesterday... some people were transforming the former Superdive space into a temporary art gallery... Per the Ad Projects website:

AD Projects is an independent, migratory curatorial organization. Founded in April 2009, AD Projects has staged three group exhibitions of emerging and mid-career artists in borrowed spaces.

This week, you can find the following:

AD Projects is setting up a temporary home at 200 Avenue A with the exhibition Reliquary/SUPERDARK. Reliquary will be an evolving display of artifacts and SUPERDARK is an evening performance series over the coming weeks. Every few days, objects by one artist will be displayed on a pedestal in the vacant storefront of 200 Avenue A, the former location of Superdive. The relics displayed allude to such varied topics as the personal history of the artist, the contemporary mania for collecting celebrity memorabilia, and utopian visions of the future.

The performance series SUPERDARK complements the transformation of Superdive into a reliquary for contemporary artifacts, giving artists the opportunity to step into the spotlight and position themselves as modern-day idols, dictating and commenting on contemporary culture.

Our inaugural exhibition at 200 Avenue A will feature the works of Wonderpuss Octopus. We will hold a soft opening on Sunday, May 8th, with the official event Wednesday, May 11th.

Our hours will be Saturday & Sunday, 12 – 6 pm, and weeknights 7:30 – 10 pm. Stay tuned for details about Friday night performances.

200 Avenue A's future: Art gallery, with a full liquor license

200 Avenue A, currently the home of the empty Superdive, is on the docket for the CB3/SLA meeting next Monday. The group is calling themselves "Not a Bookstore Inc" — a nod to Superdive's Rapture Cafe & Books past.

During the weekend, workers representing the prospective tenants were on Avenue A collecting signatures in support of the new venture. According to residents, the new venture is from the same group who appeared before the CB3 in November with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including maybe a smell machine. And what is the new idea for 200 Avenue A? "Art gallery with full liquor license."

Live above Superdive!

That's right! Now's your chance... there's a new listing this week for 200 Avenue A... Here's the description via StreetEasy (the link to the realtor was broken...):

Duplex with Roof Deck!*2 Baths!*A Must See!
Huge duplex with 2 baths.
Roof deck that is private to this unit.
New hardwood floors.
20 Foot Lofty Ceilings.

The one-bedroom unit is going for $2,400... Think how close you'll be to the action once Superdive reopens! And with two bathrooms, you may be able to charge Superdivers to use your restroom when their lines get to0 long...

The possible future of 200 Avenue A: A destination restaurant 'that involves all the senses'

Tonight, the folks who want to take over 200 Avenue A (aka, Superdive) go before the CB3/SLA subcommittee... Last Monday, the team who plans to open a new restaurant here met with neighbors to explain the concept...

I did exchange e-mails with one of the partners who wants to take over the space... However, we never were able to meet to discuss the concept. Jill at Blah Blog Blah attended last Monday's confab... and she passed along some notes....

• They were very sincere in their desire to create something special and unique that would also provide a high return on investment.

• They were truly surprised that there would be opposition to their concept. They knew that SuperDive had a lot of problems ... but did not seem sensitive to the issues about how SuperDive had impacted the residents.

• Most of the owners/investors (there were about 6 people there from their organization) had never been to the block on a weekend night. The residents with the most vocal opposition were those that have been directly impacted by the problems that SuperDive caused in terms of direct noise and loss of sleep and lowered quality of life from those crowds. The next set of opposition came from people who are dismayed with the change of character in the neighborhood brought on by the frat bars, as well as the loss of retail diversity.

• Their concept is more about the concept and the branding than about food. They don't have a menu, prices or chef, but they do have an idea, funding and a manager.

• The landlord representative said that the owner of the building will not consider any tenant other than a restaurant ... but did not want something that was only a bar.

• They want to create a "destination restaurant" that involves all the senses. They will have several large video screens in the back room lounge, with couches and maybe a smell machine. In the front there will be a 13-foot bar with an unknown number of seats and an unknown number of tables seating an unknown number of people.

• They want to build a brand and then take it to the west coast (or possibly sell it?). To my ears, I heard something akin to "Hard Rock Cafe" — a branded theme chain with locations all over the world.

• They did not have a menu, a potential menu, or a chef. When asked the price point of the entrees, they had no idea. When asked $8 or $30, they said "somewhere in between."

• They intend to operate 6 pm-4 am 7 nights a week, serving food until within an hour of closing. When asked if they would consider closing earlier, they said absolutely not.

• They will have doormen and not encourage the fratboy scene

• They intend to do extensive work to soundproof the interior

• They were unclear about the music but it would fit into their "sense" theme, and would be bringing in live music and djs for an event or specific purpose. Not rock bands, but amplified music is in their agenda. But it's not a nightclub. When asked if they would consider not having live music, they said absolutely not.

• They have never owned a restaurant with a liquor license. They ran a themed sandwich shop called Project Sandwich in Soho which closed after 9 months. They run 40+ sushi bars in supermarkets around the city and Long Island.

• They plan to invest $1 million in this venture

• They served delicious sushi and cookies, which I enjoyed to their fullest

I asked the Superdive owners about the future here... and via e-mail, Team Superdive said: "The liquor license has been put in safekeeping and we all look forward to Nov. 15 when a prospective purchaser, (a fine intelligent respectful gentleman i might add), appears before the beloved community board.

Hopefully, the trial by kafka is not the experience he undergoes. a bright light perhaps but please comm bd 3 — no waterboarding!!!"

Speaking of night's meeting, we hear that CB3/SLA chair Alexandra Militano won't be able to attend. We heard that she fell last week and had to have emergency surgery on her elbow.

What is taking over the Superdive space

The owner of the former Aces and Eights space at 34 Avenue A isn't the only person reaching out to the neighborhood.

Signs are up now at the Superdive space. The new owners of the space are on this month's CB3/SLA docket.




As you can see, the new owners want to meet the neighborhood tonight — with promises of cider and pastries. I sent Han Kao an e-mail Saturday morning asking for more details on what people can expect here, though he didn't respond.

However, a neighborhood power broker tells me the new owners are thinking something nouveau American cuisiney but aren't going to commit to anything until they meet with the neighborhood. The resident says while the new owners sound friendly enough, nearby neighbors would love a business that doesn't require a liquor license. One resident along Avenue A asked, "Why can't the landlord bring in a Yoga/Meditation center with a juice bar?" Noted another neighbor: "Great idea. Wrong lifetime."

Breaking: "Fear not — the SUPERDIVE sign burns brightly!"

Well, since I noted the gates were down last weekend at Superdive, Superdive watchers have been busy speculating about the bar's future... with some rumors even suggesting that the keg-tapping gang's space at 200 Avenue A had been seized by the marshal's office.

Not so!



After asking the landlord of 200 Avenue A what was what... we heard from the Superdive Team firsthand:

We are currently closed through the summer for completion of our PA work and AC upgrade. In addition, we are scheduled to appear before CB 3 for an alteration application. This gives us more time to enjoy the sun and surf during this torrid summer.

As one of our favorite bands says " Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world!"

Fear not — the SUPERDIVE sign burns brightly!

Keep cool and try to minimize water and electric usage. (yes those are low wattage energy efficient bulbs in our sign!)

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we will keep you updated on any new and exciting developments at the super bar SUPERDIVE!

Superdive now only open two nights a week -- but new hours are on the way

Uh-oh, though -- new spring hours on Monday, May 3. Does this mean the joint will be open during the week when/if the new owners take over?

Beer and loathing: Superdive eyes Las Vegas expansion

Eater has the first word...Aside from expansion news to Las Vegas (glitter gulp!) and a second NYC location, Eater notes:

"Also on their agenda, a 'SUPER backyard,' 'SUPER Frozen Drinks,' and 'SUPERNESIAN Bowl Drinks.'"

File under "urban legends."