Bar Veloce looking to open an outpost on the Bowery

Bar Veloce is looking to open an outpost at 245 Bowery, a few storefronts to the north of the New Museum. 

Reps for Bar Veloce will appear before CB3's SLA committee on April 11. Several EVG readers pointed out that public notices are posted on the Stanton Street entrance...

The questionnaire is not yet online. 

Bar Veloce got its start on Second Avenue in the East Village in 2000 before expanding to locations in Chelsea, Soho and Columbus Circle (with other outposts in the works). 

As Bowery Boogie previously noted, four applicants have kicked the tires on the space since Cata closed in 2019. 

The address is also still home to several residents of the Sunshine Hotel upstairs...

Bar Veloce returns from pandemic hiatus

Bar Veloce reopened in recent days here at 175 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

The wine bar had been closed since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Owner Frederick Twomey reportedly decided to keep all of his Bar Veloce outposts closed in the city. 

"It didn't feel right to open, even in some weird edification. My job is to bring people together," he told The Spirit back in August. 

He also updated the interiors of the bars during the closures. 

The locations here (the original circa 2000, expanded in 2011) and in Chelsea and Columbus Circle are open... with the Soho outpost returning soon. 

East Village hours: Daily from 4 p.m. to midnight, with a 1 a.m. close Friday and Saturday. (Reservations are accepted for the communal tables via email: info@barveloce.com.)

Bar Veloce hostage crisis from 2002 is dramatized for TV tonight

[June 2002 via the New York Post]

In June 2002, an unemployed Brooklyn barber named Steven Johnson armed with three pistols, a 30-inch sword and kerosene held 40 patrons hostage at Bar Veloce on Second Avenue. (Read the account of this at the Times right here.) Three people were shot in total.

And this ugly rampage gets a documentary-style re-creation on the Investigation Discovery network tonight at 10. (Channel 23 on Time Warner cable.) Here's the description for this episode of "House of Horrors: Kidnapped" titled "A Madman Walks Into a Bar" —

When a crazed gunman storms into an East Village bar, Ann-Margret Gidley and her friends scramble for a way to escape. Trapped in a back room with no way out, Ann-Margret must summon a strength she didn’t know she had to take down the shooter.

In March 2013, a judge sentenced Johnson to 240 years in prison. In closing, Johnson reportedly told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Daniel FitzGerald, "I'd just like to say, fuck you and suck my dick."

Man who held Bar Veloce hostage sentenced to 240 years in prison; tells judge to suck his dick

In June 2002, a heavily armed Steven Johnson held patrons at Bar Veloce on Second Avenue hostage. He fired shots inside the bar, doused patrons with kerosene and shouted, "White people are going to burn tonight!" (In total, three people suffered bullet wounds.)

He was found guilty on Feb. 4. Today, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Daniel FitzGerald sentenced Johnson to 240 years in prison, the Daily News reported.

And last words from Johnson? "In closing, I'd just like to say, fuck you and suck my dick," he reportedly told FitzGerald.

Here's more from the Post. And DNAinfo.

Updated:
Important info to add via the AP:

"It was Johnson's third trial. The first trial deadlocked in 2004. The second trial resulted in a conviction and a 240-year prison sentence but was overturned on appeal."

[Image via the Daily News]

The campaign against Bar Veloce continues with new flyer campaign

Back in January, we pointed out the flyers along Second Avenue accusing the Bar Veloce owners of allegedly underpaying workers and taking money from the tip pool.

In April 2011, several Bar Veloce workers reportedly sued the owners of the restaurant group for wage and labor violations.

Then, as Eater reported on Feb. 21, the owners were counter-suing the workers for a smear campaign that they believe is tarnishing the Veloce name.

According to the new suit: "customers have been driven away, potential investors lost, and employees unnecessarily upset and confused."

Per Grub Street on the lawsuit, "A note to disgruntled restaurant employees: Taking out a telephone-pole flyer smear campaign may not be such a hot idea."

In any event, we spotted new flyers up and down First Avenue yesterday afternoon... involving a few more parties to the smear campaign — Porsena, Porchetta and Ugly Kitchen ...

We asked chef Sara Jenkins of Porsena and Porchetta if she had seen the flyers. Jenkins said that she had, though she declined to comment on them.

Reports: Bar Veloce suing former employees over East Village flyer campaign

Back in January, presumably former employees of the wine cafe on Second Avenue placed flyers around the neighborhood accusing the Bar Veloce owners of allegedly underpaying workers and taking money from the tip pool.

In April 2011, Bar Veloce workers reportedly sued the owners of the restaurant group for wage and labor violations. Now, as Eater reports today, the owners are counter-suing the workers for a smear campaign that they believe is tarnishing the Veloce name.

According to the new suit: "customers have been driven away, potential investors lost, and employees unnecessarily upset and confused."

Per Grub Street on the lawsuit, "A note to disgruntled restaurant employees: Taking out a telephone-pole flyer smear campaign may not be such a hot idea."

Flyer campaign against Bar Veloce

evflip spotted these flyers along Second Avenue... from someone making allegations against the Bar Veloce management...

We sent an email to the "boycottveloce" account to learn more about this...

Bar Veloce now open for breakfast (brunch whatever)

Speaking of breakfast... I didn't realize that the newly expanded Bar Veloce on Second Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street was now serving breakfasty foods... open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bar Carrera closes, Bar Veloce expands

This may be old news for some of you... In any event, I meant to note this... Bar Carrera closed on Second Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street (they still have a location on West Houston)... Meanwhile, their neighbor (and sibling), Bar Veloce, has expanded into the Bar Carrera space... Oh, and Veloce Pizzeria moved from First Avenue to Midtown. And the Veloce folks may or may not have something new cooking for this space. Got all that?

[Source: Bar Carrera closing via Zagat; Bar Veloce expanding via Neighborhoodr]