Nai Tapas Bar set to open in new 2nd Avenue home

The all-new Nai Tapas Bar at 84 Second Ave. is expected to open this evening at 5. 

The outpost at 85 Second Ave. (above and below) closed down at the start of the New Year here on the SW corner at Fifth Street...

... ahead of a move across the street to 84 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (the photo below is from several weeks ago) ...

... and as seen Friday evening...

Nai Tapas Bar first opened on First Avenue in 2010 ... relocating to Second Avenue in 2018.

And Nai is the first retail tenant at No. 84 in decades. In recent years, the building changed hands several times, undergoing a gut renovation and extension. Our previous post has more background about this once-mysterious address.  

Here then, the renovated 84 2nd Ave.

Workers have removed the plywood from outside 84 Second Ave. ... offering the best look yet at the refurbished building here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (Thanks to Goggla for the photo!)

As we've been posting (check out that link farm below!), No. 84 received a gut renovation that took the building from 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet with a horizontal enlargement in the rear of the property. The modified No. 84 now also sports a retail space and four residences.

This property has changed hands twice in the past four years. Highpoint bought the building for $7.8 million in the spring of 2018. According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. The Sopolsky family had owned it for years.

Also as we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront had remained empty since her death.

And here's the plywood rendering so you can see how the real-life No. 84 matches up...



Previously on EV Grieve:
• Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

• Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

• Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

• There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• Renovations underway at the (formerly) mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• A rendering and vintage erotic playing cards (NSFW) at the under-renovation (and mysterious!) 84 2nd Ave. 

A look at the building in 2009...

The formerly mysterious 84 2nd Ave. no longer looks mysterious at all

Workers have removed the construction netting and scaffolding from outside 84 Second Ave. ... providing a look at the refurbished building here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street...



As we've been posting forever, No. 84 is in the midst of a gut renovation that will take the building from its current 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet with a horizontal enlargement in the rear of the property. The modified No. 84 will feature new retail space as well as four residences.

This property has changed hands twice in recent years. Highpoint bought the building for $7.8 million in the spring of 2018. According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. The Sopolsky family had owned it for years.

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront had remained empty since her death.

The plywood rendering shows the all-new No. 84 looking something like this...



Previously on EV Grieve:
• Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

• Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

• Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

• There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• Renovations underway at the (formerly) mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

• A rendering and vintage erotic playing cards (NSFW) at the under-renovation (and mysterious!) 84 2nd Ave.

Not much left inside the once mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

[Photo by Steven]

The gutting of 84 Second Ave. continues.

Per previous posts, No. 84 here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is in the midst of a gut renovation that will take the building from its current 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet with a horizontal enlargement in the rear of the property. The modified No. 84 will feature new retail space as well as four residences.

EVG contributor Derek Berg got a look behind the plywood the other day. As you can see, the ground level is hollowed out, with construction equipment moving through the building to the back...





This property has changed hands twice in recent years. Highpoint bought the building for $7.8 million in the spring of 2018. According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. The Sopolsky family had owned it for years.

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront has remained empty since her death.

The plywood rendering shows the all-new No. 84 looking something like this...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Renovations underway at the (formerly) mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

A rendering and vintage erotic playing cards (NSFW) at the under-renovation (and mysterious!) 84 2nd Ave.

A rendering and vintage erotic playing cards (NSFW) at the under-renovation (and mysterious!) 84 2nd Ave.

There's now a rendering on the plywood offering a look at what the under-renovation 84 Second Ave. will look like when work is complete here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street...



We noted a few weeks ago that work is underway on the five-floor building, including "a horizontal enlargement at the rear." (Read the previous post for all the details on the renovations.)

Also as noted though the years, the building had a dark, mysterious air ... there was the now-removed plastic-covered dinner jacket in the second-story window with the neon sign that read "DRESS SUITS TO HIRE."


[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

In 1974, Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop, was found bludgeoned to death, according to published reports at the time. The case was never solved ... and the storefront remained empty — save for that dinner jacket — in the years following her death.

Her sister, Betty Sopolsky, remained a tenant of the building, which she sold in 2016. It was not known who else may have lived at No. 84.

Another curiosity about the address was discovered last week. (NSFW below!) A worker with the crew renovating the space showed EVG correspondent Derek Berg these vintage erotic playing cards that were found inside a wall in one of the rooms...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Renovations underway at the (formerly) mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

The plywood recently arrived outside 84 Second Ave. ... marking the beginning of the renovation phase here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

There are now approved work permits on file with the city for this address, including "a horizontal enlargement at the rear of the building."

This 5-floor building has been the subject of much curiosity and speculation through the years.

Here's a quick recap of the permitting required to renovate the building.

Last July, the newish owners of the currently-empty building, reportedly Highpoint Property Group, a real-estate development company, appeared before CB3's Landmarks Committee for a proposal on a Certificate of Appropriateness for the address. (Landlords of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for major work.)

According to the alteration permits filed with the city, the additions would take the building from its current 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet with a rear-yard addition. The modified No. 84 would feature new retail space as well as four residences.

As for that July 2018 meeting, CB3 conditionally approved the front façade plan only if the trapezoidal storefront window could be retained. CB3 opposed the rear-yard addition. According to the minutes from that meeting, neighbors submitted a petition against the proposal containing 160 signatures.

In late October, the LPC voted to approve the proposal to modify and replace the storefront and construct additions out back and on the roof. Per the LPC: "[I]n voting to approve this proposal, the Commission stipulated that the applicant work with the Commission's staff to reduce the visibility of the rooftop work from public thoroughfares. No work may begin until a Certificate of Appropriateness has been issued. Upon receipt, review and approval of two signed and sealed sets of the final Department of Buildings filing drawings for the approved work, a Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued."

Apparently all this work received the proper blessing along the way, as the permits show.

This property has changed hands twice in recent years. Highpoint bought the building for $7.8 million in the spring of 2018. According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. Betty Sopolsky via an LLC was the seller, with the buyer listed as West 26th Street LLC.

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront has remained empty since her death.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

The current state of 84 2nd Ave.

Here's how 84 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is looking these days. (Photo from Saturday!) Someone recently broke out the fire extinguisher for the latest tag here.

What follows is a recap of the permitting required to renovate the building.

This past July, the newish owners of the currently-empty building, reportedly Highpoint Property Group, a real-estate development company, appeared before CB3's Landmarks Committee for a proposal on a Certificate of Appropriateness for the address. (Landlords of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for major work.)

According to the alteration permits filed with the city last June, the additions would take the building from its current 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet with a rear-yard addition. The modified No. 84 would feature new retail space as well as four residences.

As for that July 2018 meeting, CB3 conditionally approved the front façade plan only if the trapezoidal storefront window can be retained. CB3 opposed the rear-yard addition. According to the minutes from that meeting, neighbors submitted a petition against the proposal containing 160 signatures.

In late October, the LPC voted to approve the proposal to modify and replace the storefront and construct additions out back and on the roof. Per the LPC: "[I]n voting to approve this proposal, the Commission stipulated that the applicant work with the Commission's staff to reduce the visibility of the rooftop work from public thoroughfares. No work may begin until a Certificate of Appropriateness has been issued. Upon receipt, review and approval of two signed and sealed sets of the final Department of Buildings filing drawings for the approved work, a Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued."

The LPC is currently reviewing the Certificate of Appropriateness (as of Dec. 5, 2018). The work permits are still pending with the DOB.

This property has changed hands twice in recent years. Highpoint bought the building for $7.8 million in the spring of 2018. According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. Betty Sopolsky via an LLC was the seller, with the buyer listed as West 26th Street LLC.

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront has remained empty since her death.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

There are new plans to expand the mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Tonight, CB3's Landmarks Committee will hear a proposal on a Certificate of Appropriateness for 84 Second Ave., the circa-1841 Greek Revival-type rowhouse (aka that rather mysterious building with a dark past) just south of Fifth Street.





The new owners of the currently-empty building, reportedly Highpoint Property Group, a real-estate development company, are — in DOB speak — looking to modify and replace the storefront infill; replace windows; construct rear yard and rooftop additions; and install railings.

According to the alteration permits, filed with the city on June 28, the additions would take the building from its current 5,829 square feet to 8,439 total square feet. The modified No. 84 would feature new retail space as well as four residences.

If you're interested, then this 51-page PDF has all the details, including some historic photos.

This property changed hands for the second time in as many years back in May, selling for $7.8 million.

The previous owners were looking to make similar alterations to the building. In January, CB3's Landmark's Committee issued a partial Certificate of Appropriateness for the address.

According to the official minutes from the January meeting, CB3 approved the front façade plan and opposed the rear yard addition. Among other points, CB3 officials said that "great care should be taken to monitor this fragile building and its neighboring buildings." (There was also a petition in circulation in opposition to the planned alterations to the rear of the building.)

However, the previous owner didn't follow through with the plans with the Landmarks Preservation Committee, instead selling the building. (Landlords of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for major work.)

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront has remained empty since her death in 1974.

The Landmarks Committee meeting is at 6:30 tonight, taking place at the Lee, 133 Pitt St. at Houston.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

Mysterious 84 2nd Ave. sells again, this time for $7.8 million

[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

Ownership of 84 Second Ave. has changed hands now for the second time in two years.

In its real-estate transaction listings this week, the Times noted that the property was sold for $7.8 million. (The paperwork hit public records on May 16.)

Per the Times:

A local private investor has bought this vacant four-and-a-half-story mixed-use walk-up in the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. The 4,812-square-foot building, to be gutted and renovated, was once the site of Sopolsky’s Dress Suits, which rented dinner jackets and tuxedos, and in the mid-19th century served as a temporary home for women. Any development of air rights, totaling 4,788 square feet, is subject to approval by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Buyer: 84 2nd Avenue Owner L.L.C.

Seller: West 26th Street L.L.C.

The buyer shares the address of Highpoint Property Group, a real-estate development company.

According to public records, the building sold in May 2016 for $5.1 million. Betty Sopolsky via an LLC was the seller, with the buyer listed as West 26th Street L.L.C.

The previous set of owners were looking to make some major renovations to this walk-up between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. Landlords of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for major work.

Among other things, there were plans to create four residential units (condos?). Those work permits had yet to receive city approval. (The city disapproved them last October, per the Department of Buildings.)

There was also a petition in circulation in opposition to the planned alterations to the rear of the building.

In January, CB3's Landmark's Committee issued a partial Certificate of Appropriateness for the address. (They issued a similar partial approval in October 2017.)

According to the official minutes from the January meeting, CB3 OK'd the front façade plan and opposed the rear yard addition. Among other points, CB3 officials said that "great care should be taken to monitor this fragile building and its neighboring buildings."

As we understand it, the previous owner didn't follow through with the plans with the LPC, instead selling the building.

As we've noted several times through the years, the address has a dark past, which includes the still-unsolved murder of Helen Sopolsky, proprietor of the family's tailor shop who was found bludgeoned to death in 1974, per an article at the time.

The storefront has remained empty since her death in 1974.


[Undated image via]

The new owners haven't filed any new work permits with the city to date.

The front door was open yesterday, revealing a gutted interior ... and door to a garden out back, as these photos by Derek Berg show...





Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Plywood and a petition at 84 2nd Ave.

[Photo Thursday by peter radley]

On Thursday, workers boarded up the second-floor window of the long-empty storefront at 84 Second Ave. just south of Fifth Street.

This was apparently done to take care of a "failure to maintain" complaint about a crack in the second-floor window, per city records.

As previously reported, the newish owners are looking to make some major renovations to the building that's in the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. (Owners of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for major work.)

Among other things, there are plans to create four residential units (condos???) at No. 84. The work plans are still awaiting city approval. (The city disapproved them on Thursday, per the Department of Buildings.)

There is also a petition in circulation in opposition to the planned alterations to the rear of the building.

Per the petition:

The proposed changes would:

1 - Alter the building’s footprint by tearing down the rear wall, extending the building 12 feet into the backyard and bricking over 5 windows.

2 - Allow for construction of a one story commercial extension to occupy the remainder of the backyard, with a full basement and a roof terrace.

3 - Alter the rear wall profile by adding two balconies and a roof terrace.

The building’s architectural integrity and the character of the property would be lost if this application is approved.

Its approval would permit drastic and irreversible changes to a 175-year-old property that has historically complemented the surrounding buildings and yards.

Neighbors only within the vicinity of 2nd Avenue & 5th Street and 2nd Avenue & 4th Street are invited to sign this petition. If signing YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMENT FIELD.

This Monday (Jan. 15!) is the deadline for signing the petition.

And to the history... which we've noted several times through the years... the address has a dark past. This is from The New York Times, dated Jan. 18, 1974:

The nude body of a 40-year-old woman propiretor of a tailor shop that rents tuxedos on the Lower East Side was found bludgeoned to death. The victim was Helen Sopolsky of 84 Second Avenue, near fifth Street, whose shop is one flight up at that address. The motive of the attack was not determined immediately....

As far as some longtime residents can remember, the storefront has remained empty since Helen's death in 1974. (Helen was Betty's sister.)

For years, you could see a plastic-covered dinner jacket in the second-story window with the neon sign that reads "DRESS SUITS TO HIRE."


[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Renovations proposed for mysterious 84 2nd Ave.

Renovations are in the works for the mysterious 84 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Fourth Street.

This address is on Community Board 3's Landmarks Committee docket tonight. (No. 84 falls within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. Owners of buildings located within a designated New York City historic district must receive a permit from the Landmarks Preservation Commission before performing any type of work.)

The agenda item reads as follows:

• Certificate of Appropriateness, 84 Second Ave: Exterior work includes façade restoration; storefront alteration; installation of new dormer at roof; elevator, stair and mechanical additions; and rear-yard additions

Betty Sopolsky, the longtime owner, moved away in 2016, around the same time as an LLC with a Hempstead, N.Y., address bought the building for $5.125 million, per public records.

The new landlord, listed on the CB3 paperwork as EA Development Partners, is looking to make some upgrades to the building and long-empty storefront, which is on the rental market ... There are diagrams galore for the proposed work. (Find the PDF here.)


[Click on image for more detail]

The owners are seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness, and this type of permit requires a public hearing at the local community board and LPC offices.

As previously noted, the address has a dark past. This is from The New York Times, dated Jan. 18, 1974:

The nude body of a 40-year-old woman propiretor of a tailor shop that rents tuxedos on the Lower East Side was found bludgeoned to death. The victim was Helen Sopolsky of 84 Second Avenue, near fifth Street, whose shop is one flight up at that address. The motive of the attack was not determined immediately....

As far as some longtime residents can remember, the storefront has remained empty since Helen's death. (Helen was Betty's sister.)

For years (decades?), you could see a plastic-covered dinner jacket in the second-story window with the neon sign that reads "DRESS SUITS TO HIRE." Previous posts have more on this residence ... here and here and here.

The Landmarks Committee meets tonight at 6:30, JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at the Bowery.

Retail space with tragic past now on the market for the first time in decades

Nearly one year has passed since workers were spotted clearing out the long-empty storefront at 84 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Fourth Street.

A worker said that Betty Sopolsky, the owner, had recently moved away around the same time as an LLC with a Hempstead, N.Y., address bought the building for $5.125 million, per public records. (A few EVG readers said that she was estranged from her family, and only a niece remained.)

Now, in the last few days, retail for rent signs arrived on the building (thanks to Goggla for the photos!)...







As previously noted, there have been several deaths inside this house. This is from The New York Times, dated Jan. 18, 1974:

The nude body of a 40-year-old woman propietor of a tailor shop that rents tuxedos on the Lower East Side was found bludgeoned to death. The victim was Helen Sopolsky of 84 Second Avenue, near fifth Street, whose shop is one flight up at that address. The motive of the attack was not determined immediately....

As far as some longtime residents can remember, the storefront has remained empty since Helen's death. The perceived lack of activity inside the building along with the preserved window display on the second level was long a source of mystery.

Here's Jeremiah Moss writing about it in 2011:

It seems the shop has stayed virtually frozen in time since that terrible moment. The dinner jacket, never hired out to a party, is white beneath its dusty plastic, and the shirt and tie are the orange sherbet color of baby aspirin. Above hangs a crooked neon sign announcing DRESS SUITS TO HIRE. The ITS in SUITS is broken and dangling.

[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

For now the only mystery here will be with who arrives as the new retail tenant.

Workers clearing out the mysterious 84 2nd Ave. storefront

Several EVG readers yesterday alerted us to some dumpster action outside 84 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Fourth Street.

Mr. Baggs spotted workers removing misc. items from the long-empty storefront...





Here's a cut-n-paste from a previous post about this address, which has prompted some mystery through the years:

In February 2009, a man who said that he lived and worked nearby for years told Jill the following about the building:

It used to be a place that sold tuxedos and formal wear. The family had several children, but one of them, a daughter, was raped and murdered in the top floor, possibly in the 1940's [note: it was actually 1974].

The killer was never found. The children (or one of them and a spouse?) still live there and refuse to renovate or change anything. The top floor is exactly the way it was when the daughter was murdered and you can still see the powder where the cops dusted for fingerprints. This man had been inside once and was witness to its originality. He said they have no intention of selling or changing or even of renting out the storefront.

The name of the family is Sopolsky.

This is from The New York Times, dated Jan. 18, 1974:

The nude body of a 40-year-old woman propietor of a tailor shop that rents tuxedos on the Lower East Side was found bludgeoned to death. The victim was Helen Sopolsky of 84 Second Avenue, near fifth Street, whose shop is one flight up at that address. The motive of the attack was not determined immediately...."

Here's more history of 84 via Lost City from February 2012:

It was a temporary home for women in 1884, open to "self-supporting homeless young women, with or without a child." Morris Kosturk, 40, was found dead there in 1921. And Aaron Schneider, who lived here in 1964, was the victim of a hit and run driver.

For years (decades?), you could see a plastic-covered dinner jacket in the second-story window with the neon sign that reads "DRESS SUITS TO HIRE."

[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

Here are more photos from yesterday via EVG reader Paul Dougherty...





One of the workers yesterday told EVG correspondent Steven that the woman who had lived in the building (and the owner of it) was taken to a nursing home several months ago.

The worker was unsure what was going to happen to the space. There aren't any work permits on file with the DOB for the address. And public records show that building is still in possession of the Sopolsky family...


[Photo by Steven]

A change at 84 2nd Ave.

[Photo by Jill from 2009]

There has been some activity this week at 84 Second Ave. near East Fifth St. … a building that has intrigued many of us for years…

First, before any history … on Monday, workers started replacing the long-empty storefront's front windows…


[Photo by Paul Kostabi]


[PK]

The first thought among 84 watchers: The storefront is being put to use again as a… storefront… there's nothing on file with the DOB to offer any hints… for now the work has stopped…


[Photo Wednesday by Derek Berg]

As for history.

In February 2009, a man who said that he lived and worked nearby for years told Jill the following about the building:

It used to be a place that sold tuxedos and formal wear. The family had several children, but one of them, a daughter, was raped and murdered in the top floor, possibly in the 1940's [note: it was actually 1974].

The killer was never found. The children (or one of them and a spouse?) still live there and refuse to renovate or change anything. The top floor is exactly the way it was when the daughter was murdered and you can still see the powder where the cops dusted for fingerprints. This man had been inside once and was witness to its originality. He said they have no intention of selling or changing or even of renting out the storefront.

The name of the family is Sopolsky.

This is from The New York Times, dated Jan. 18, 1974:

The nude body of a 40-year-old woman propietor of a tailor shop that rents tuxedos on the Lower East Side was found bludgeoned to death. The victim was Helen Sopolsky of 84 Second Avenue, near fifth Street, whose shop is one flight up at that address. The motive of the attack was not determined immediately...."

Here's more history of 84 via Lost City from February 2012:

It was a temporary home for women in 1884, open to "self-supporting homeless young women, with or without a child." Morris Kosturk, 40, was found dead there in 1921. And Aaron Schneider, who lived here in 1964, was the victim of a hit and run driver.

For years (decades?), you could see a plastic-covered dinner jacket in the second-story window with the neon sign that reads "DRESS SUITS TO HIRE."


[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

More recently there was an ad for Jamie's now-closed check-cashing shop around the corner … as well as for a walker for $60.

Here's Jeremiah Moss writing about the building in July 2011:

We're all a little nervous about #84. There are those of us who watch it and wait, anxiously, for the day when it will be sold, when a multi-millionaire will turn it into a grand mansion, or the ground floor will be converted into a trendy farm-to-table restaurant, and all the mystery will be sucked away.