A Snack Stop for St. Mark's Place

A rather generic-looking business called Snack Stop is setting up shop in the eastern storefront at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Vegan Grill is in the western space.)

The signage (with a typo — GROICERIES) promises exotic soda and snacks... as well as an ATM. 

The space has been vacant since Clay Pot didn't reopen after the PAUSE of March 2020.

Can't believe it has been 10 years since Natori, a longtime favorite, closed here.

Thanks to the readers who shared photos of the new signage! This pic via Steven.

Vegan Grill makes it signage official on St. Mark's Place

Updated: Open as of 1/27

Signage is up now for Vegan Grill, a quick-serve, plant-based restaurant debuting soon at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (First reported in October.)

The business got its start in late 2019 on Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx; this will be its third outpost after a grand opening in Williamsburg this week. You can find a menu here and some food pics on Instagram.

The Dip, which served a variety of sandwiches, opened here in late 2019...  and barely had four months in business before it shuttered during the pandemic. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Vegan Grill coming soon to 58 St. Mark's Place

A quick-serve, plant-based restaurant is in the works for 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Coming-soon signage is now up on the vacant storefront for Vegan Grill. The business got its start in late 2019 on Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx... this will be its second outpost. 

You can find a menu here, and some food pics on Instagram.

The Dip, which served a variety of sandwiches, opened here in late 2019...  and barely had four months in business before it shuttered during the pandemic.

The Dip is coming to St. Mark's Place

Signage is up at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue for a new quick-serve food operation — The Dip...



The Dip will serve dipped beef sandwiches, per their Instagram account. (No photos yet!) The Dip website remains under construction. So we don't know too much else about the place just yet.

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, was set to take this long-vacant space in early 2017, but that venture never materialized.

Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge closed here at the end of February 2016. (Hakata Hot Pot combined with sister restaurant Zen 6 the next block to the west at 31 St. Mark's Place. BTW that place remains shuttered these past nine months.)

The well-liked Natori closed at 58 St. St. Mark's Place in November 2012.

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, no longer coming to St. Mark's Place

[Photo from May 2017]

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, had been set for 58 St. Mark's Place. The signage first arrived in February 2017.

Apparently that's no longer in the works — a for rent sign is now up on the storefront here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



Next door, Clay Pot, serving traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice, opened in February...

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, coming to St. Mark's Place

Two weeks ago, we noted that Clay Pot, serving "traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice," is coming to 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

On Monday, signage arrived for a new restaurant arriving in the open space on the west side of the building — Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store...



A Chi Ken location opened in Sunset Park last summer...



Chi Ken sells a variety of quick-serve items, including milk tea, popcorn chicken and Crazy Jumbo Squid "that's bigger than your face." You can find the Chi Ken website here.

And here's a feature on the shop from last summer...



Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge closed here at the end of February 2016. (Hakata Hot Pot combined with sister restaurant Zen 6 the next block to the west at 31 St. Mark's Place.)

Natori closed at this address in November 2012.

Clay Pot, from Hong Kong to St. Mark's Place

Signage is up for a new restaurant called Clay Pot at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



According to their Facebook page, they will be serving "traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice."

Here's more:

Clay Pot Rice – a literal translation from the dish called “Bao Zai Fan” (煲仔饭) – is revitalizing a traditional style of cooking rice in a clay pot over an open-flame setting. A flavor packed combination of aromatic Jasmine rice, topped with fresh ginger, scallion, a splash of soy sauce, and enriched with your choice of protein, come together to deliver your taste buds on a powerful and savory exotic journey.

From the streets of Hong Kong ✈️ all the way to New York City!! We are super excited to announce our grand opening soon on St.Mark's Place. pic.twitter.com/mM6QHhiYvI

— Clay Pot NYC (@ClayPotNYC) February 6, 2017

Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge closed here at the end of February 2016. (Hakata Hot Pot combined with sister restaurant Zen 6 the next block to the west at 31 St. Mark's Place.)

Natori, a longtime favorite, closed at this address in November 2012.

Restaurant-ready space at 58 St. Mark's Place asking $19k

[Image via LoopNet]

Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge, housed in the retail spaces at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue, closed at the end of February.

In a message on Facebook, the owners said that they had lost their lease. (Hakata Hot Pot combined with sister restaurant Zen 6 the next block to the west at 31 St. Mark's Place.)

The two spaces are now on the market. According to the listing at Sinvin, the 1,400-square-foot space can be leased separately or together. Each space is asking $9,500; $19,000 for the whole thing.

Some bullet sales points:

• Charming intimate spaces for restaurants or coffee shops
• Brick walls & wood floors
• As of right, space for two tables in front of each store
• Landlord presenting each as a vanilla box
• Restaurant ready with venting, grease trap, 200 am electric panel, HVAC, and stubbed for gas and plumbing
• Wine & beer only, next to a church

Raphael Toledano became the building's landlord last fall.

Natori, a longtime favorite, closed at this address in November 2012.