Openings: Vintage Store on Houston

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Vintage Store is now open at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (The storefront is on the western end of the residential complex FKA as Red Square.) 

This is a sibling to the Upper East Side Thrift Shop, which has locations on First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Here's a look inside the brightly-lit space, which has a sizeable amount of clothing and shoes from the 1960s-1990s ... as well as some records, framed pictures, custom jewelry, dishes, etc.

It seems a little more thrift than vintage ... but there's some good stock, and the staff says they add new items daily. 

Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Signage alert: Vintage Store on Houston

Photos by Stacie Joy

Signage for Vintage Store recently arrived in the retail spaces (previously Decorazon Gallery) at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The shop is supposed to be open soon (as early as tomorrow).

We're not sure who's behind this venture. 

There's a cool shop called Vintage Store NYC at 129 Eldridge St. between Delancey and Broome. We reached out to them — it is not this Vintage Store moving to Houston.

280 E. Houston St. prepped for new building construction

Workers have extended the plywood and set up a construction zone along 280 E. Houston St., where a new 12-story building will rise here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

For the foreseeable future, pedestrians and cyclists will both be using the roadway to pass this property...

There are a few pieces of equipment on-site, though it doesn't appear to be a full-blown operation just yet...

As a reminder, here's what in store... still no word on the number of units... 

In October, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar and investors picked up the property from members of the Hirsch family for $36.8 million.

Per TRD's report, "the Hirsch family obtained demolition permits and did enough foundation work to qualify the site for the 421a property tax abatement before it expired in June."

In the fall of 2021, workers demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.) adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

Dunkin' debuts on East Houston

Photos by Stacie Joy 

There's a new Dunkin' in town... the outpost debuted Tuesday at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B (first mentioned here). 

And it's a pretty spiffy-looking Dunkin' ...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy met the family running this franchise...

There was a Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins combo along this stretch previously... though in the one-level storefronts were demolished to make way for a new 11-story residential building.

Here's the new, larger residential building planned for 280 E. Houston St.

New renderings have arrived for the much-larger residential building slated for 280 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to the reader for the tip and top photo!) 

The new building appears to be 12 stories with a bulkhead. The DOB permit posted with the rendering still lists a "6-story mixed-used building" ...

This past January, we had the scoop on this new building when the permit for a 6-floor, 68,000-square-foot residential building on this property first arrived. At the time, however, a reliable source involved with the project said the building was likely to be taller than 6 stories.

That source was correct. 

In October, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar, whose descriptions in the press often include the words "notorious" or  "oft-embattled," and investors picked up the property from members of the Hirsch family for $36.8 million.

Per TRD's report, "the Hirsch family obtained demolition permits and did enough foundation work to qualify the site for the 421a property tax abatement before it expired in June."

The apartment building and retail space [the former Red Square at 250 E. Houston St.] were partially sold in 2016 to a group led by Dermot Company in a condominium structure, with the family entities retaining a percentage. When the site was later upzoned to R8-A, which permitted bonus floor area for voluntary inclusionary housing, it added roughly 65,000 square feet as-of-right to any project, which would nearly double to 127,000 square feet if it qualified for 421a. 

We don't know at the moment how large the new building will be, and how many "affordable" units will be available.

The rendering lists a December 2024 completion date.

In the fall of 2021, workers demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.) adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

Dunkin' to make triumphant return to 250 E. Houston St.

Photo by Stacie Joy

Don't look now, but a Dunkin' is returning to 250 E. Houston St. 

Signage is now up in one of the recently remodeled storefronts here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins combo was a casualty late last summer when the storefronts on the eastern end of the retail strip were emptied ahead of demolition for a new residential building. (See those plans here.) 

Anyway, this looks to be a solo Dunkin' operation. No sign of Baskin-Robbins. So you'll have to settle for doughnuts/donuts.

Wheatpasters 1, Property Managers 0

Earlier this summer we noted how the plywood along the demolished storefronts at 250 E. Houston St. had become a wheatpaste hotspot in recent months.

Later, the property managers here between Avenue A and Avenue B unveiled their line of wheatpaste defense — some rando 2x4s on the plywood, intended to prevent the Wheatpasting Gangs of New York from putting up ads for, say, that sold-out Andrew Bird show at Pier 17 or the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs' record, Cool It Down (which I think will be good). 

Anyway, as the top photo shows... the green guards are fairly useless. Hope there's a money-back guarantee! 

Let the wheatpaste battle BEGIN!

The plywood along the demolished storefronts at 250 E. Houston St. has become a wheatepaste hotspot in recent months...

Now, the property managers here between Avenue A and Avenue B have unveiled their line of wheatpaste defense ... thanks to Salim for these shots...

So far, the green guards are almost 100% effective...

As we first reported, a six-story residential building is in the works for the lot.

Noted

Rendering commentary at the site of an incoming 6-floor residential building at 280 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

"Yet another over-priced yuppie ghetto housing project."

First look at the new residential building for 280 E. Houston St.

A rendering for the new 6-story mixed-use building at 280 E. Houston St. is now on the plywood here between Avenue A and Avenue B... 

In January, we had the scoop on this new building when the permit for a 6-floor, 68,000-square-foot residential building on this property first arrived. (At the time, a reliable source said the building was likely to be taller than 6 stories, which proved NOT to be the case.)

Work permits classify this as R-2-Residential (Apartment Houses). Not sure at the moment how many units the new 280 E. Houston St. will feature.

Last fall, workers demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.) adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

The rendering lists "2022" as the completion date for the new building. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Workers finish demolishing the old retail spaces along 250 E. Houston St.; now what's next?

Former Red Square art hauled away

There hasn't been much happening in recent weeks (so we're told!) along 250 E. Houston St. now that workers have demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

One bit of activity: A reader shared these photos from Saturday... when workers hauled away the street sculpture that had been installed for years above the former Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins...  ... and by the way, does anyone know who created this sculpture with the Einstein license plates (among other items)...?

Our previous posts at this link have more background on what's been happening to date here.

As we first reported on Jan. 18, there is a permit on file with the city for a 6-floor residential building on this property. 

However, sources tell us that this was just a preliminary filing to allow for the demolition ... and that the plans for the building will actually be closer to the size/scope of the adjacent 13-floor residences at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square that opened in 1989. 

Workers finish demolition of the old retail spaces along 250 E. Houston St.; now what's next?

If you've walked by 250 E. Houston St. in recent days, then you likely noticed that workers have mostly finished removing the one-level strip of storefronts.

Demoliton started in mid-November ahead of a new mixed-used building for the property here between Avenue A and Avenue B. The demolition has been a challenge/nuisance to nearby residents — especially when jack-hammering starts at 7:30 a.m. on a holiday. There have also been dust complaints, per city records. 

Here's a look from late last week at the now-empty lot courtesy of EVG contributor Stacie Joy...

EVG reader Jim Knapp shared this photo below of the retail spaces at the start of the demolition. The businesses in these storefronts either relocated closer to the residential building at 250 E. Houston St. (Kapri Cleaners and the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center) or closed (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, Mattress Firm and China Town).

Jim also shared a time-lapse of the building demolition, which you can find on YouTube. 

As for what's next, there's a filing with the DOB for a 6-story mixed-use residential building, as we reported on Jan. 3 ... (click on the image for more detail) ...

However, sources tell us that this was just a preliminary filing to allow for the demolition ... and that the plans for the building will actually be closer to the size/scope of the adjacent 13-floor residences at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square that opened in 1989. 

For now, not much will likely happen on the empty plots. 

Revisit this EVG post from 2016 for a photo of this property before Red Square arrived in the late 1980s.

A 6-floor residential building will rise next to 250 E. Houston St.

A 6-floor residential building is in the works for the space adjacent to 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.  (H/T to the reader who shared the DOB link!)

According to the ALL-CAP style of the DOB online:

NEW 6 (SIX) STORY MIXED-USE BUILDING ON CURRENT VACANT LOT. 2 TAX LOTS (7503 EXISTING - 13 STORY MIXED-USE; 58 TENTATIVE - 6 STORY NEW BUILDING) ON SINGLE ZONING LOT. NO CHANGE TO EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ON LOT 7503.

The paperwork for the new building, still pending city approval, shows square footage of 68,531 with a proposed health club in the basement (building amenity?) and ground-floor retail. Passive-house specialists ZH Architects are listed as the architect of record for the project. 

To get an idea of the potential size-shape of the new building, check out this Google Maps aerial view ...

As we've been reporting, the businesses in the unrenovated stretch of 250 E. Houston St. have either closed or moved. Kapri Cleaners and the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center relocated to new storefronts closer to the entrance to the 13-story residential building at No. 250. Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins and China Town have closed. The H&R Block outpost is reopening a block away in part of the former Banco Popular space.

Meanwhile, demolition continues in the old storefronts where the new building will rise. EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos last week...

... some pics yesterday from Salim, who pointed out that the street-sign scultpure along here has been removed (a faint outline of the art by Ken Hiratsuka embedded in the sidewalk remains) ...

... and an EVG reader shared these photos showing the demolition in the rear of the structure...

Long & Short Barber Co. cuts out of 250 E. Houston St.

Long & Short Barber Co. has closed its outpost at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG regular Salim shared the photos here ... including one of a goodbye note for patrons... Long & Short will continue with its shop in Brooklyn and the new location at Columbus Circle...

This is just the latest retail change along this strip, though this one may not have anything to do with the future development on this block.

Businesses in the storefronts just to the east of this — in the unrenovated portion — have all vacated, a list that includes Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway (sandwich shop) and China Town. Workers boarded up the unrenovated section last month ahead of its demolition for an unspecified new development.

You can read our previous posts (all 34,567) on the topic right here.