Aoi Kitchen coming soon to 6th Street

Signage is now up at 320 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second for Aoi Kitchen (thanks to the EVG reader for these photos and tip!) ...



The incoming restaurant's Instagram account promises "Japanese yoshoku and izakaya."

Aoi marks the fifth restaurant to try this spot in recent years. There was Zerza, which closed in September 2016. Then came the World Famous 'Merica, an alleged attempt at satirizing the "real America," which bombed after three weeks in business. Zerza then returned to service for four months, then there were blink-and-you-missed it stints by Amoun and Mazmaza.

Space that was 5 restaurants in 1 year now for rent

In one year, 320 E. Sixth St. has been home to:

• Zerza
• 'Merica (for three whole weeks!)
• Zerza again
• Amoun Moroccan Mediterranean Cuisine & Lounge
• Mazmaza

Now the space between First Avenue and Second Avenue is on the rental market. Been waiting for the listing to show up online... but it's not there just yet.

As No. 320 turns: 5 restaurants have come and gone in this space in 1 year

It appears is if 320 E. Sixth St. is without a restaurant again... the gates have been down here between First Avenue and Second Avenue on recent weekends...



This past summer, Mazmaza was the latest restaurant to try the space... taking over from Amoun Moroccan Mediterranean Cuisine & Lounge, which relocated here from the Upper East Side.

There has been a lot of changes at No. 320 since September 2016, when Zerza announced it was closing for renovations. It turned into 'Merica, co-founded by Zach Neil, an owner of the Tim Burton-themed Beetle House as well as the now-closed Stay Classy on Rivington Street. 'Merica, which aspired to satirize the "real America," closed after three weeks in business... with Zerza returning to service for several months.