The Joint (fka 99 Miles to Philly) has closed on 3rd Avenue

Multiple readers have shared the news that The Joint closed earlier this month on Third Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street. (The first report that I heard was on Jan. 5.)

There's now a for rent sign on the space. The cheesesteak specialists started as 99 Miles to Philly in February 2005. They rebranded as The Joint this past July. Here's what 99 Miles partner Neil Barsky told me at that time:

"After 12 years and outlasting every other cheeseteak joint that did not have a bar attached to it, we could no longer survive the costs of doing business in NYC with only having basically one product," he said via email. "We had a choice — close or take advantage of the vacancies left by the closing of Blue 9 and other restaurants in the area. We felt by rebranding with an expanded new menu, which will ... feature Pat LaFrieda's burgers, specialty hot dogs and monthly specialty sandwiches, we could continue to survive and keep good people employed."

I did not hear back about this closure.

The Joint's neighbor, Blue 9 Burger, closed earlier in 2017. That space remains on the rental market...

Updated: 99 Miles to Philly is now The Joint on 3rd Avenue

There is a branding/name switcheroo at 94 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street ... where cheesesteak specialists 99 Miles to Philly are now The Joint.

EVG reader Kerry on E. 12th shared the above photo from Tuesday night. Per Kerry:

Looks like 99 Miles to Philly has re-branded as The Joint and is now serving burgers and dogs in addition to their awesome cheesesteaks. The team is the same and they treat their neighborhood regulars like family. Those guys put up with a lot of tough customers in the wee hours of the morning, but they take good care of their neighbors. Place looks a little spiffier and in the name of independent neighborhood journalism, I sampled both a burger and a hot dog: both great!

I reached out to the 99 Miles to Philly ownership to learn more. The quick-serve restaurant first opened here in February 2005.

Updated 10 a.m.

99 Miles partner Neil Barsky shared more about The Joint.

"After 12 years and outlasting every other cheeseteak joint that did not have a bar attached to it, we could no longer survive the costs of doing business in NYC with only having basically one product," he said via email. "We had a choice — close or take advantage of the vacancies left by the closing of Blue 9 and other restaurants in the area. We felt by rebranding with an expanded new menu, which will ... feature Pat LaFrieda's burgers, specialty hot dogs and monthly specialty sandwiches, we could continue to survive and keep good people employed."