Park View Office Suites available on Avenue A and 7th Street

[Photo from July 18]

Throughout the summer a crew had been working on the second floor at 130 E. Seventh St. ... in the space above Miss Lily's.

All that was finally cleared up a few weeks ago... and over the weekend, for lease signs arrived in the second-floor windows offering Park View Office Suites ...



..the sign says from $1,500 (a square foot? Well, we shouldn't joke.)



We haven't spotted a listing for the offices anywhere. The number goes to an answering machine.

The 7-floor building on the southwest corner has been through a luxury makeover in recent years. The new residential rentals were fetching $16,995 and $14,995. Longtime corner restaurant 7A closed in January 2014... and later replaced by Miss Lily's.

Public records show that the University of the Streets sold the building to Park Corner Development, LLC in September 2011 for $5 million.

After 46 years of music and arts programs here, the University of the Streets cleared out of the second floor in April 2015 and relocated to the Bronx.

Thanks to Steven for the photos

---

The address was home to L.W. Schwenk… and here's a photo dated July 24, 1914, titled "Depositors at failed bank."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Penthouse life above 7A will cost you $16,995 monthly

The continued exterior transformation of the 7A space

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Here's how the incoming Miss Lily's 7A Cafe was looking late afternoon yesterday.

As previously reported, the new space here on Avenue A and East Seventh Street will be a combo of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's on West Houston ... mixed with the cafe ambiance of 7A.

No word on an opening date just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

The former 7A will apparently be called Miss Lily's 7A Cafe (27 comments)

The former 7A will apparently be called Miss Lily's 7A Cafe

It appears that last night's storm brought down the tarp protecting the new sign at the former 7A space... revealing that the new place will be called Miss Lily's 7A Cafe here on East Seventh Street and Avenue A ...



Various EVG tipsters told us previously that the place will be the second outpost of restauranteur Paul Salmon's Miss Lily's along with a Melvin's Juice Box.

A rep told Eater last month that the new place will "pay homage to the cafe history of 7A," but it will also have "elements of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's."

Looks pretty accurate by the look of the new signage.

7A closed after nearly 30 years on Jan. 26.

H/T @derbyon

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Renovations underway at former 7A space

[Updated] Rumors: 7A space will become a 2nd outpost of Miss Lily's and Melvin's Juice Box

A quick look inside the former 7A

There has been activity of late at the former 7A space on Avenue A and East Seventh Street … where workers are renovating the interior for a new restaurant-bar-cafe … various EVG tipsters told us that the place will be the second outpost of restauranteur Paul Salmon's Miss Lily's along with a Melvin's Juice Box.

A rep told Eater last month that the new place will "pay homage to the cafe history of 7A," but it will also have "elements of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's."



EVG regular Dave on 7th sent along the above photo showing how the interior is shaping up.

7A closed after nearly 30 years on Jan. 26.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Renovations underway at former 7A space

[Updated] Rumors: 7A space will become a 2nd outpost of Miss Lily's and Melvin's Juice Box

[Updated] Rumors: 7A space will become a 2nd outpost of Miss Lily's and Melvin's Juice Box

That's the word we're hearing from three different sources. Of course, nothing official has been mentioned yet about the former home of 7A, which closed on Avenue A and East Seventh Street on Jan. 26.

As previously mentioned, Paul Salmon, one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, will be overseeing the new restaurant's day-to-day operations.

CB3 documents noted the following: "As a nod to the venerable history of this establishment, the new owners plan to incorporate some variation of the current trade name, 7A, into the new trade name."



So perhaps the name would be something like "Miss Lily's at 7A."

As for Miss Lily's, here's a recap of the place by the Underground Gourmet at New York magazine from September 2011:

This week, the Underground Gourmet pays a visit to Miss Lily's, Serge Becker's (La Esquina) hip luncheonette-themed eatery, where both the service and the food are much better than expected. "The mood was festive, the old-school ska and reggae thumping at a lively but non-deafening decibel level, the multiculti, multigenerational crowd exuberantly gnawing on their spareribs," they write of a recent Friday-night visit. Also worth eating: "golden craggy codfish fritters," "moist and meaty jerk chicken garnished with mango chutney, a truly sensational curried goat with a mouth-tingling heat, and a rich oxtail stew with bits of sweet potato and broad beans." The restaurant earns three stars.

If this rumor is true, then this would also mean the third outpost in the city for Melvin's Juice Box, operated by "downtown juicing legend" Melvin Major, Jr. The juice shop has a separate entrance and is just one part of the Miss Lily's complex over at West Houston and Sullivan.

The application for the Avenue A space was never brought before last month's CB3 meeting. It was listed as "not heard at committee," which meant that there wasn't even a vote by the committee for approval. As we noted earlier, it seems a little strange that they will completely change the 7A concept (with an all-new staff) … and there's not any discussion on the matter.

There was plenty of discussion at the Community Board level in June 2010 when Miss Lily's went for a liquor license. Neighbor Anna Wintour was among those who spoke out against Miss Lily's during a contentious CB2 meeting.

Updated 1:19 p.m.

From Eater today:

A rep for the Miss Lily's team explains that the new place will "pay homage to the cafe history of 7A," but it will also have "elements of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Renovations underway at former 7A space

Renovations underway at former 7A space

Renovations have started at the former 7A space on Avenue A and East Seventh Street. Workers removed the awning last Thursday.



… and the crew is gutting the interior…



The Avenue A mainstay closed on on Jan. 26. CB3 documents show that Paul Salmon, one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, and Joe's Pub, will be overseeing the new restaurant's day-to-day operations.

While there have been rumors of a southern-themed restaurant with some part of 7A remaining in the name, there haven't been too many other details about what's next. We will be curious to see which route ownership goes to announce the details … maybe UrbanDaddy ("A New East Village Eatery with Balls — Meatballs.") Or perhaps the owners will take the more upscale route with a piece in the Dining & Wine section at the Times ("A New Look for an Old East Village Favorite. Hold the Punk, Pass the Lobster Pappardelle.")

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

7A 2.0 looks to keep the sidewalk cafe

[Photo by Crazy Eddie]

We don't know many, if any, details about the new version of 7A, the Avenue A mainstay now sitting empty since it closed on on Jan. 26.

CB3 documents show that Paul Salmon, one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, and Joe's Pub, will be overseeing the new restaurant's day-to-day operations.

Here's one thing we know, though: New management plans to keep the sidewalk cafe. There's a notice about a public hearing to continue with it next Wednesday...



Not sure who'd oppose this. Maybe residents living in the pricy new penthouses upstairs?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

[Photo by Bride of 7th]

As we first pointed out last Thursday, Paul Salmon's name is on the application that's on file at the CB3 website for the 7A space ahead of this month's SLA committee meeting. Salmon is the one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, and Joe's Pub.

There's now more paperwork on the CB3 website (PDF). It's a little tough to make it all out (did they use disappearing ink?) … the paperwork shows that Moshe Hatsav is the name of the partner leaving the corporation… and Paul Salmon is joining the corporation… the form shows that his position is "full time manager, overseeing day to day operations."



The form also asks, "Will the business name be maintained?"

The answer… "As a nod to the venerable history of this establishment, the new owners plan to incorporate some variation of the current trade name, 7A, into the new trade name."



How about — "7A — You No Longer Can Afford Our Food." (Haha. Kidding! Kind of!)

One more observation about the application. CB3 has it listed this way for the meeting:

Corporate Change (not heard at committee)
• New 7A Cafe LLC, 109 Ave A (op)

So, "not heard at committee." As far as we understand how this works, this means that there won't even be a vote by the committee for approval. Seems a little strange that they will completely change the concept (with an all-new staff) … and there's not any discussion on the matter.

7A closed on Jan. 26.

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[The former 7A on Tuesday via Bobby Williams]

The paperwork on file ahead of next month's CB3/SLA meeting provides some information about what's to come to 7A, which closed after Sunday, and the Odessa Cafe & Bar.

7A
The applicant's name (PDF!) for the space is New 7A Cafe LLC. The name of the managing partner on the application is Paul Salmon. He is a co-founder of Joe's Pub (along with Kevin Abbott, Serge Becker and Josh Pickard) and Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston.

The rumor out there was that Becker and Pickard were opening some kind of Southern-themed restaurant here.

The Odessa Cafe & Bar
The applicant's name for the space at 117 Avenue A is simply Avenue A Project LLC. However, an email address associated with the applicant (PDF!) is for DeRossi Global, the company behind Death and Co., Amor Y Amargo, Mayahuel, the Bourgeois Pig, Gin Palace and Proletariat.

There's no other information on the application about what's to come. Based on the other DeRossi establishments, you could go with "high-end cocktails" and likely be close to being right.

The Odessa Cafe & Bar closed last Aug. 31. The Odessa dates here to 1965.

Applicants for 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar highlight February CB3/SLA docket

[The former 7A on Tuesday via Bobby Williams]

The February CB3/SLA licensing committee meeting will be split over two nights. Items of interest this month include the mystery applicants for two former Avenue A mainstays — 7A and Odessa Cafe & Bar.

Here are some of the highlights from each night.

Monday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. 4th St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Renewal with Complaint
• Mama Bar LLC, 34 Ave B (op)

Applications within Saturated Areas
• ABC Beer Co (Alphabet City Beer Co LLC), 96 Ave C (wb/extend license to backyard)


[EVG file photo]

• Avenue A Project LLC, 117 Ave A (op) (Odessa)

We're curious to see what is taking the space that belonged to the Odessa Cafe & Bar, which closed for business last Aug. 31. Previous plans for the space fell through.

• Klong (Auanthai Inc), 7 St Marks Pl (op)

Sidewalk Cafe Application
• Mama Bar LLC, 32 Ave B

New Liquor License Applications
• To be Determined, 600 E 14th St (op) (Alphabet Cafe)

• Eric Thant Corporation, 57 1st Ave (wb) (Pudgie's)

Oh! A taker for the former Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo!

• To be Determined, 325 Bowery (op) (Peels)

Eater reported that Andrew Carmellini and business partners Luke Ostrom and Josh Pickard are opening a "casual pasta shop" called Bar Primi at the now-shuttered Peels.

Corporate Change (not heard at committee)
• Euzkadi Restaurant (PYB Inc), 108 E 4th St (wb)

• New 7A Cafe LLC, 109 Ave A (op)

The 24-hour restaurant closed for business after Sunday. The rumor is that bold-face namers Serge Becker and Josh Pickard are opening some kind of Southern-themed restaurant here.

-----

Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. -- University Settlement at Houston Street Center - 273 Bowery

New Liquor License Applications
• To be Determined, 117 2nd Ave (wb) (Picnic)

A taker for the very short-lived Picnic on Second Avenue and East Seventh Street.

----

b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

So long 7A

[Photo yesterday by EVG reader Thomkat]

After 30 some years, 7A has closed... the owner of the restaurant that had anchored the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street since the mid-1980s announced earlier in the month that he was closing the business... we never did hear an official reason for the closure.

Meanwhile, by all accounts, the place was busy yesterday on its last day...

Even on its last day, there's a line out the door at 7A. & it includes me & Jimmy McMillan. @damnrentparty @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/2TibvifWi4

— Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) January 26, 2014

@evgrieve Yep. Festive atmosphere in here. You'd never know it's their last day. pic.twitter.com/OXksvbRYUJ

— Chris F. (@fnytv) January 26, 2014

And there was a late-afternoon happy-hour-till-we-run-out-of-booze special...


[Photo via @fnytv]

... and some other sentiments on the last days of 7A via Twitter...

Had my final meal at @7ACafeAlphaCity last night...so sad to see them close...so many memories there.

— The Daily Guru (@TheDailyGuru) January 26, 2014

It's the end of an era. Just had my last late night drunken meal at #7A Thanks for employing me 15 years ago! #eastvillage #nyc

— bottomlesspitnyc (@foodfreaknyc) January 25, 2014

Today is the last day for 7A. Another win for the blandification of New York. Whether you loved or hated the... http://t.co/aHlNdJSvgO

— JustDean (@deanpkny) January 26, 2014

The rumor is that bold-face namers Serge Becker and Josh Picard are opening some kind of Southern-themed restaurant here. Yesterday, members of the staff said that none of them will have jobs at the new place.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Are Serge Becker and Josh Picard taking over 7A?

100 years before 7A, there was L.W. Schwenk

[EVG file photo]

7A is now closed on the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street… the restaurant, which opened in the mid 1980s (anyone have the exact date? We've heard several different years), ended service as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, almost 100 years ago, the address was home to L.W. Schwenk… and here's a photo dated July 24, 1914, titled "Depositors at failed bank."



Wow. Seems like 100 years ago! (Ugh, sorry, that was bad.) But to think in better times some of the people in this crowd went to McSorley's ... or Katz's ... or Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery... or Veniero's ... or DeRobertis Caffe... or John's of 12th Street ... or...

A day of 'Songbyrd'

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

A lot of people have asked us what is filming around East Seventh Street and Avenue A today/tonight… crews for the pilot of "Songbyrd," a new E! series, have been here…

Per Deadline Hollywood, the show "centers on songwriter Lauren Byrd (Bethany Joy Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Diane Warren, and her staff." Andrew McCarthy is directing the pilot.

As noted earlier, 7A is closed today for the shoot. There were also scenes filmed in St. Brigid's… and in Tompkins Square Park…



… and a crew member put up this sign outside Tompkins Square Park. Annnnnnnnnd, noted.

Closing date set for 7A, which will won't be open today

As we first reported last Wednesday, 7A is set to close at the end of this month.

The 24-hour restaurant, which has anchored the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street since the mid-1980s, will close following service on Sunday, Jan. 26, according to our 7A tipster. (An employee confirmed the date.) So far, we haven't heard about an exact closing time… whether it is after brunch… or dinner remains to be seen.

Nightlife heavy-hitters Serge Becker and Josh Picard are rumored to be taking over the space.

Meanwhile, today…



… 7A will be closed … crews for the pilot of "Songbyrd," a new E! series, will be filming in the restaurant… Per Deadline Hollywood, the show "centers on songwriter Lauren Byrd (Bethany Joy Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Diane Warren, and her staff." Your 1980s crush Andrew McCarthy is directing the pilot.

Updated 12:44



Here's 7A all prepped for tonight's TV shoot...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month 956 comments)

Are Serge Becker and Josh Picard taking over 7A?

Claim: Serge Becker and Josh Picard are taking over the soon-to-be-former 7A

Since our post this morning about East Village mainstay 7A closing by the end of this month... various readers/tipsters have passed along word of who is apparently taking over the space: Serge Becker and Josh Picard.

Becker and Picard are heavy nightlife/hotspot restauranteurs with names like Lafayette, Miss Lilys, the revamped Joe's Pub and The Dutch among their credits.

Here's a passage from a feature on Becker from the Times in 2011:

After three decades of designing many of downtown’s most distinctive hot spots, Mr. Becker has earned a reputation as a night life impresario whose presence assures an attractive clientele and discerning doormen. The Box is a nightclub that mixed bottle service with burlesque. La Esquina is a taco stand that propelled the speakeasy trend (there’s a “secret” Mexican restaurant underground) to absurd heights. Before that, there were the Bowery Bar, Fez, M.K. and Area. His latest project, Miss Lily’s, is a Jamaican restaurant on West Houston Street with hosts whose job often involves shepherding patrons elsewhere.

A tipster told us back in November that 7A would become a southern-themed restaurant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Back in November, we started hearing rumors that Avenue A mainstay 7A would close in the coming months… sold to a group who planned to open a southern-themed restaurant. (Mama Lulu's or something similar, said a tipster at the time.)

Fast-forward to yesterday when, according to a tipster, management informed staff that the 24-hour restaurant will close at the end of January.

We didn't hear any official reason for the closure. However, it is not because of a rent hike, we're told. 7A owner Moshe Hatsav also owns part of the building at 130 E. Seventh St., which was recently renovated ... where the penthouse is fetching $16,995 a month. (Also, 7A had been closed for renovations last January … as well as in January 2011.)

In any event, there have been rumblings that the restaurant that has anchored the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street since the mid-1980s had been going downhill of late, that staff moral was waning.

Per our tipster: "The saddest part, other than the loss of an institution in the community, is that many of the employees have worked there for a decade at least."

No official word just yet on what will take 7A's place.

Updated 1 p.m.

7A confirmed the closure on the restaurant's Facebook page, noting simply: "7A will be closing for good by the end of the month."

Updated 2:22 p.m.
Are Serge Becker and Josh Pickard taking over 7A?

Construction gear coming down from new residences on Seventh and A

[Bobby Williams]

On Wednesday, workers started removing the scaffolding and construction netting from 130 E. Seventh St. at Avenue A...


[Yesterday morning]

Since fall 2011, the building that houses 7A on the corner has been undergoing renovations... including converting some existing commercial space to residential use and reconstructing a portion of the existing penthouse, per the DOB. Public records show that the University of the Streets sold the building to Park Corner Development, LLC in September 2011 for $5 million.


[Yesterday afternoon]

No word if this units will be rentals or condos or something else...

Anyway, look for the rest of the sidewalk bridge to come down soon enough ... and maybe the 7A sidewalk cafe will see the sun again.

7A reopens this morning

7A closed the last week of January to upgrade some electrical equipment and put in a new sprinkler system... the cafe on Avenue A and Seventh Street was supposed to reopen Feb. 1... but all the work took longer than expected to complete... signs now point to a reopening this morning at 10...

And we'll see if management kept its promise of not painting fingers on the back walls again...

Previously.

[Updated] 7A will reopen Friday; management promises no painted fingers on the back wall

7A on East Seventh Street and Avenue A is closed this week for renovations — back open Friday at 6 p.m. ... the chalkboard out front notes that workers are installing a new sprinkler system, etc.

The sign also points out, "Don't worry we will not be painting fingers on the back walls again."

7A closed for renovations back in January 2011 ... and afterwards debuted the jungle motif...

Updated:

The work has proven to be more extensive and time-consuming than originally thought ... so the new re-opening date is Friday, Feb. 8.

Perhaps you consider parking elsewhere?

On East Seventh Street alongside 7A and under a debris chute ... Hey, is there a sun roof?

Anyway, as you probably noticed since the fall, the building that houses 7A on the corner (109 Avenue A) has been undergoing renovations... including converting some existing commercial space to residential use and reconstructing a portion of the existing penthouse, per the DOB. We had planned a post on this earlier... perhaps we'll pick it up again later.

[Photo via Doug Quint at the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop]