Reader appreciation: Abraço

Trevor J. shares this via the EVG inbox...

The last quality coffee shop standing in the East Village? As if their signature espresso and olive oil cake slices weren't enough to maintain a little of the good life at this time, they're bottling cocktails to go and have added breakfast and lunch kits — and an occasional surprise (keep an eye on Instagram).

All available for pickup on East Seventh Street, with an option to order on their website in advance. They went takeout-only before PAUSE, have six-foot markers on the ground, and now accept credit cards.

Abraço is at 81 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. They are open Wednesday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 9 a.m. start on Sunday.

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)

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A post shared by @abraco_espresso on Apr 2, 2020 at 10:51am PDT

Some temporary signage for Abraco on 7th Street

Earlier this week, a temporary sign arrived outside the newish home of Abraço at 81 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Abraço owners Jamie McCormick and Elizabeth Quijada moved into this larger space from across the street from their former address back in September...

Perhaps the new sign will help those who think that Abraço closed at 86 E. Seventh St.



We've heard from a handful of people, who saw the for rent sign at No. 86 in recent months, asking when/why Abraço was no more.

The cafe, now in its 10th year of business on the block, has an active Instagram account showing some of the daily specials.

Abraço's new home on 7th Street debuts today

[Last day yesterday for Abraço at No. 86 via]

After nearly nine years at 86 E. Seventh St., Abraço has moved into a larger space across the street here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Photo by Steven]

...the new address is 81 E. Seventh St. ...


[Photo by Vinny & O]


[Photo by Vinny & O]

With the larger space, Abraço owners Jamie McCormick and Elizabeth Quijada will also expand their menu offerings. (They were also OK'd for a beer-wine license.) Not sure just yet of the new hours... will update later.

A photo posted by @abraco_espresso on Sep 10, 2016 at 6:05am PDT

This space was previously home to Krystal's Cafe 81, which closed earlier this year. (Until Jan. 1, 2005, the address was home to Verchovyna Tavern aka George's Bar aka Bar 81.)

H/T Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
Abraço looking to move into a larger space across 7th Street

Abraço looking to move into a larger space across 7th Street

[Abraço before opening the other day]

The owners of Abraço, the popular coffee shop/cafe, have plans to move into a larger space across from their current Seventh Street home.

EVG correspondent Steven says that Jamie McCormick, who runs the shop along with his wife Elizabeth Quijada, had been searching for new space ... and decided to stay right on the block between First Avenue and Second Avenue when the former Krystal's Cafe 81 became available.


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Krystal's Cafe 81 closed earlier this year. (Until Jan. 1, 2005, the address was home to Verchovyna Tavern aka George's Bar aka Bar 81.)



With the larger space, Abraço will also expand their menu offerings ... they are also seeking a liquor license, and will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Monday night.

According to the questionnaire (PDF here) posted on the CB3 website, the proposed hours are daily from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The questionnaire also includes a menu...



Abraço opened at 86 E. Seventh St. in October 2007.

The CB3 SLA committee meeting is Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Thelma Burdick Community Room, 10 Stanton St. (corner of the Bowery).

Listen in to the vinyl sounds of Abraço and A1 Records from wherever you are

East Village resident Matt Newberg, a self-described vinyl collector and entrepreneur, has launched a site called Pulse.fm that is live broadcasting the music being played at venues around the country.

He started locally, selecting Abraço Espresso on East Seventh Street and A1 Records on East Sixth Street for the site. (The third venue is Detroit Threads in Michigan.)

"I'm inspired by many things East Village, and the musical backdrop that exists here — whether it be strolling into A1 or walking past a storefront — really roots me in the daily experience of living here," Newberg told us. "I really wanted to share that feeling with the rest of the world by re-contextualizing that offline experience for the web. As corny as it sounds, there's an inexplicable feeling you get from hearing the raw crackling of a record being dropped at a place like Abraço from the convenience of your home."

Abraço takes its name from the 1969 Gilberto Gil song, "Aquele Abraço." At Pulse.fm, Abraço owner Jamie McCormick describes the small coffee shop this way: "Brazilian pop from early-mid 70s epitomizes the vibe here." As far as records go, Charles Mingus, The Meters, Curtis Mayfield, Tim Maia, Horace Silver and Donald Byrd are among the many records on the playlist.

From a business perspective, Newberg said said the goal of pulse.fm is to create a technology platform around transporting listeners to a specific place in real time, whether it be a club or a bedroom studio. "It's the next best thing to being there."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Live from A1 Records…

Why Abraco is closed today

EVGayBear notes the the following today outside Abraco on Seventh Street...

When Abraço is away...

On Seventh Street, the folks who run the popular coffee shop Abraço took a few days off...



On Monday night, I spotted Carl in a beer-induced slumber out front... (You may know Carl as "Santa Claus" from the pages of Neither More Nor Less)



I didn't think much of this, until a reader sent me an e-mail saying that, later on Monday night, Carl and a friend turned this spot into an encampment with papers, blankets and more beer cans. The reader described it as an "old-time East Village scene."