The retail space housing NYC's first dog cafe, Boris & Horton, is for rent on Avenue A

Top photo by Stacie Joy

The retail space at 197 Avenue A on the NW corner of 12th Street is now on the rental market. 

This has been the home for the past six-plus years to Boris & Horton, the city's first dog cafe. 

Early last week, ownership (daughter-father Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman) posted notices that they would close at the month's end. This development comes even after a successful crowdfunding campaign and a newly enacted subscription plan earlier this year. 

From an Instagram post on Nov. 11: 

Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close. 

Last Wednesday, the retail listing arrived on Loopnet. (REQCE is the broker.) The asking rent for the 3,000-square-foot space (as you may recall, B&H expanded and combined storefronts in 2018) is available upon request...

In the initial Instagram post, Mikhly and Holzman said they've met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal. 

Unless a new suitor arrives ASAP, Boris & Horton will shut down at the end of next week.

Boris & Horton preparing to close East Village cafe at the end of the month

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

At Boris & Horton on the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street, management has posted notices that NYC's first dog cafe will be closing at the end of the month... they're also asking for any job leads for their staff...

Nine months after a successful crowdfunding campaign and newly enacted subscription plan, Boris & Horton announced that it would have to close unless it found a buyer for the business. 

In an Instagram post on Friday, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman stated that the financial challenges returned even with hiring additional staffing and enhancing events. 

"Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close.

We reached out for more details.

"We've decided not to do press and just work on connecting with potential buyers or closing down," Mikhly told us. She promised to keep us posted if there were any updates. 

The space was pretty mellow late yesterday afternoon...

Following a customer fundraiser, Mikhly and Holzman reopened the Avenue A location in March after a deep clean and reorganization. They announced they had hired a general manager and an events manager and updated the HVAC system and refrigeration. 

Boris & Horton still had to shutter its year-plus-old Williamsburg location in May.

Boris & Horton seeks new owner to save East Village cafe despite crowdfunding success

Photo from February by Stacie Joy 

Nine months after a successful crowdfunding campaign and newly enacted subscription plan, Boris & Horton's ownership announced that unless they find a buyer for the business, the city's first dog-friendly cafe will close this month on 12th Street and Avenue A. 

In an Instagram post on Friday, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman stated that the financial challenges returned even with hiring additional staffing and enhancing events. 

"Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close."

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boris & Horton (@borisandhorton)

In May, Boris & Horton still had to shutter its year-plus-old Williamsburg location. 

Greenpointers noted that a few customers "had concerns about what happened to the money from the fundraiser, considering how quickly the cafe raised the money and made the decision to call it quits shortly after." 

Some of these same concerns appeared in the comments section of the Instagram post. (Most comments were positive, with people sharing how much they liked the Avenue A space and enjoyed spending time there with their dogs.) 

In March, after a deep clean and reorganization following a customer fundraiser, Mikhly and Holzman reopened the Avenue A location. They announced they had hired a general manager and an events manager and updated the HVAC system and refrigeration. 

This past Feb. 16, Mikhly and Holzman announced that the cafe would close on Feb. 26 after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. They weren't making enough money, and as Holzman told NY1, "It's expensive to maintain top safety measures for a dog-friendly restaurant required by the Department of Health." 

However, the unwavering support of the cafe's fans turned the tide. They devised ideas to keep the business going, such as selling subscription boxes filled with dog treats and merchandise from Boris & Horton's line of products. Boris & Horton hit their $250,000 goal from Feb. 23-25. 

In Friday's Instagram post, Mikhly and Holzman said they've met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal. 

"After almost seven wonderful years, we hold onto hope that Boris & Horton can begin a new chapter, perhaps with someone from our incredible community stepping in to carry on this journey."

Boris & Horton reopens on Avenue A

Boris & Horton returned to service yesterday on Avenue A. 

The business was closed for the previous 10-plus days for a deep clean, new AC installation, and reorganization following a successful crowdfunding and subscription plan that kept the city's first dog-friendly cafe (as well as the Williamsburg outpost) open.

Ahead of the return, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman emailed patrons with a few of the changes:

• We brought on a General Manager to ensure the smooth running of both locations and an Events Manager to expand our dog-friendly programming 

• We started a loyalty program for guests to earn cafe discounts and rewards

• We're now laptop-free on weekends after 10 a.m.

• We're offering tableside ordering during busy times

On Feb. 16, Mikhly and Holzman announced that the cafe was closing on Feb. 26 after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. 

They weren't making enough money, and as Holzman told NY1, "It's expensive to maintain top safety measures for a dog-friendly restaurant required by the Department of Health." 

However, the unwavering support of the cafe's fans turned the tide. They devised ideas to keep the business going, such as selling subscription boxes filled with dog treats and merchandise from Boris & Horton's line of products.

Boris & Horton hit their $250,000 goal from Feb. 23-25.

Boris & Horton fans work like a dog to save cafe

Photo last week by Stacie Joy 

The owners of Boris & Horton announced yesterday that their ambitious crowdfunding and subscription plan was a success, and the city's first dog-friendly cafe will remain open. 

On Feb. 16, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman announced that the cafe was closing on Feb. 26 after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. An outpost that opened last year in Williamsburg was also shutting down.

Bottom line: They weren't making enough money, and as Holzman told NY1, "it's expensive to maintain top safety measures for a dog-friendly restaurant required by the Department of Health." 

However, the unwavering support of the cafe's fans turned the tide. They devised ideas to keep the business going, such as selling subscription boxes filled with dog treats and merchandise from Boris & Horton's line of dog treats and toys ... plus mugs, t-shirts, baseball caps, etc.

Boris & Horton hit their $250,000 goal from Friday to midnight Sunday.

First, though, both outposts will temporarily close. Late last week, the co-owners said some of the money would go for capital improvements, including replacing the air conditioning at the Avenue A space and giving it a deep clean. They also plan to hire management to streamline B&H operations. 

From an Instagram post yesterday announcing the news:

Thank you so much to everyone who supported this campaign. We're thrilled that both locations will be reopening in the coming weeks, and we'll be sharing more details on what to expect very soon. We're humbled and grateful, and we can’t wait for what's to come.

Boris & Horton opened here in February 2018 and expanded into the storefront next door later that year. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• 'Something big is happening' at Boris & Horton, the dog cafe set to close next week

Boris & Horton hopes to raise money through subscription boxes and crowdfunding to stay open

Photo and text by Stacie Joy 

Updated 2/28: The cafe will remain open. Read more about it here.

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The owners of Boris & Horton have put in motion an ambitious crowdfunding and subscription plan to help keep the city's first dog-friendly cafe open.

On Feb. 16, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman announced that the cafe was closing this coming Monday after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. The new Williamsburg outpost was also shutting down.

Bottom line: They weren't making enough money, and as Holzman told NY1, "it's expensive to maintain top safety measures for a dog-friendly restaurant required by the Department of Health." 

However, the cafe's fans rallied with ideas to help the business remain open, including selling various subscription boxes featuring dog treats as well as items from Boris & Horton's line of toys, mugs, t-shirts, baseball caps, hoodies and stickers. 

Starting today, there's a crowdfunding campaign (info here) ... and a subscription box offered at different tiers to help raise $250,000... which needs to happen by Monday.

Here's more...

 

"We're hoping to generate some recurring revenue, which will allow us to keep the cafes up and running," Holzman told me last night. "We have a short amount of time to pull this off, and we're looking to the community to help amplify this effort. We're humbled by the outpouring of support so far, and we feel energized and excited about keeping the cafes open." 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• 'Something big is happening' at Boris & Horton, the dog cafe set to close next week

'Something big is happening' at Boris & Horton, the dog cafe set to close next week

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 2/28: The cafe will remain open. Read more about it here.

------

It has been a week of lows and highs at Boris & Horton.

Last Thursday, the city's first dog-friendly cafe announced that it was closing on Feb. 26 after six years of anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. The newer Williamsburg outpost was also shutting down. 

The announcement from daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman shocked regulars, more than 1,800 of them leaving comments on the Instagram post that broke the news.

Holzman was candid in interviews, saying they simply weren't making money. Boris & Horton fans had something to say about that and have "rallied around them with ideas that could help the business remain open," as NY1 first put it. 

"Logan and I are humbled," Holtzman told me yesterday from inside the crowded cafe. "We received lots of input and lots of love. We always tried to be a happy and joyful place, and dogs are a catalyst for conversation among our community of wonderful folks."

They plan on making an announcement very soon about the future of the cafes. When asked for more details (throw us a bone here!), Holtzman would only offer "something big is happening." 

Meanwhile, around the cafe (dogs are only allowed with their humans in one closed-off area of the storefront, per Department of Health rules), everyone I spoke to was sad about the possibility of a closure... 

Boris & Horton, NYC's first dog-friendly cafe, announces the 'devastating' decision to close on Feb. 26

Photo by Claire Esparros via the Boris & Horton website 

Updated 2/28: The cafe will remain open. Read more about it here.

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After six years anchoring the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street, Boris & Horton, the city's first dog-friendly cafe, announced today that it was closing effective Feb. 26. 

The notice came via Instagram from daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman... the brand is also closing the newer Williamsburg location...

Ownership did not offer a specific reason behind the closings and said they were opting to "celebrate the great times we've had as New York's first dog-friendly cafe." 

For the next 11 days, Boris & Horton will sell merchandise and fixtures "at a deep discount." 

Later in 2018, Boris & Horton expanded its footprint in the building along Avenue A.

News of the closing shocked regulars, with the Instagram post prompting hundreds of comments in less than 20 minutes.

Saturday: Santa at the 9th Precinct; pet adoption at Boris & Horton; cookies at the Girls Club

Three activities tomorrow via the EVG inbox...

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The Community Council of the 9th Precinct is holding its annual Children's Christmas Party tomorrow outside on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue from 9 a.m. to noon. (Rain or shine...)



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The Animal Care Centers of NYC will be at Boris and Horton, 195 Avenue A at 12th Street, "with great cats and dogs available for adoption" from noon to 4 p.m. ACC adoptions include vaccinations, spay/neuter, a pre-registered microchip, an identification tag, a collar and a certificate for a free initial exam at a participating veterinarian. Details at this link.



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The Lower Eastside Girls Club is hosting the Cookie Bake-Off and Holiday Sweet Sale from noon to 3 p.m. at Girls Club HQ, 402 E. Eighth St. at Avenue D.

Per the invite: "We have over 20 bakers competing for the best holiday cookie, and guests get to take them home. Just fill an empty tin ($20, $35 or $50) with delicious “Angel Baked” homemade cookies while our celebrity judges (including Amy Sedaris, Amirah Kassem and Connie Girl Fleming, to name a few) taste the cookies and crown the Cookie Queen."

Who let the dogs in: Expanded Boris & Horton debuts on Avenue A

Boris & Horton, the dog friendly cafe, opened its expanded space yesterday at 195 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...



There's now more space for pups and their parents...

Making the scene at the awesome new expanded @borisandhorton, now with plenty of room for lanky galoots such as myself _ #dogsofinstagram

A post shared by Dusty, the dog (@oneup_onedown) on Sep 2, 2018 at 5:55pm PDT

As previously noted, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman created three separate areas in the cafe, including an indoor seating area where dogs can go but food cannot be ordered, and a cafe separated by plexiglass where dogs are forbidden per Department of Health rules.

Boris & Horton opened on Feb. 2.

No. 195 was Gabay's Outlet until the end of 2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Lucky dog: Boris & Horton expanding on Avenue A

Lucky dog: Boris & Horton expanding on Avenue A

Workers are renovating the empty storefront at 195 Avenue A near 12th Street...



Boris & Horton, the dog friendly cafe next door, is taking over the space, which was Gabay's Outlet until the end of 2017.

The owners are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for the expansion. According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website, they are "expanding seating on dog side of cafe."

As previously noted, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman created three separate areas in the cafe, including an indoor seating area where dogs can go but food cannot be ordered (this appears to be the area to be expanded), and a cafe separated by plexiglass where dogs are forbidden per Department of Health rules.

Boris & Horton opened on Feb. 2.

The August CB3-SLA meeting is Aug 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

That dog-friendly cafe opens today on Avenue A

After much hoopla these past few months, Boris & Horton, the dog-friendly cafe, opens this morning at 7 on Avenue A and 12th Street ... (H/T Greg Masters for the photos!)



As previously reported, with the approval of the Department of Health, daughter-father co-owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman created three separate areas in the cafe, including an indoor seating area where dogs can go but food cannot be ordered, and a cafe separated by plexiglass where dogs are forbidden.

The cafe, named after the owners' dogs, is serving City of Saints coffee and Balthazar pastries, among other items. (They were OK'd for a beer-wine license.) The space will also host the occasional dog-adoption events.

Boris & Horton's hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Find their website here with more details.

Meanwhile, let us know in the comments if you stopped by the space...

Previously on EV Grieve:
On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Boris & Horton, New York's first dog friendly coffee shop

Looking at Boris & Horton, opening soon on Avenue A

Signage is up over on Avenue A at 12th Street, where Boris & Horton is expected to open this month...





As previously noted, this is billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space." And this is not an actual dog cafe, as some media outlets have implied.

Eater recently set the record straight:

[C]o-owner Logan Mikhly tells Eater. “I think it’s awesome that people are super excited, but we definitely are a different experience than the animal cafes you’re seeing opening in the States that are like in Asia.”

In a deal with the Department of Health, Mikhly and co-owner Coppy Holzman [Logan's father] created three separate areas: a street takeaway window to order food and drink, an indoor seating area where dogs can go but food cannot be ordered, and a regular cafe area separated by plexiglass where dogs are not allowed. Basically, Boris & Horton cannot serve food where dogs are, but people can order food and bring it into the designated area with their dogs.

There are two entrances... the one on the corner. No pups can come in this way...



Dogs and their owners can enter in a separate entrance on Avenue A (this is the former Racelette space) ...





There is also a to-go coffee window on the 12th Street side...



The cafe, named after the owners' dogs, will reportedly serve City of Saints coffee, Balthazar pastries and Murray’s Cheese cheese plates, among other items. (They were OK'd for a beer-wine license.) The space will also host the occasional dog-adoption events.

Boris & Horton will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Find their website here with more details.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Boris & Horton, New York's first dog friendly coffee shop

Boris and Horton, the dog friendly coffee shop, now hiring on Avenue A

Work continues at the northwest corner of Avenue A and 12th Street for Boris & Horton, billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space."

Signage points to a winter 2017 debut (sometime before March 20 then).

Meanwhile, Boris is hiring... (Must love dogs?)



As cut and pasted previously: the space will be divided by a glass wall into two sections, per Department of Health rules. There will be a cafe side with food and drinks for humans, and a dog-friendly side that will sell pet supplies.

The owners are Logan Holzman and her father, Coppy. The cafe is named after their dogs. The Holzmans have said that they will host dog adoption events here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Boris & Horton, New York's first dog friendly coffee shop

Dec. 1 date set for Boris & Horton, Avenue A's new dog cafe

Dog's cafe life: Boris and Horton signage arrives on 12th and A

The signage went up yesterday on the northwest corner of Avenue A and 12th Street for Boris & Horton, billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space." (Thanks to EVG regular Greg Masters for these photos!)

The sign points to a winter 2017 debut (New York magazine previously listed a Dec. 1 opening date)...



As DNAinfo reported back in the summer, the space will be divided by a glass wall into two sections, per Department of Health rules. There will be a cafe side with food and drinks for humans, and a dog-friendly side that will sell pet supplies.

The owners are Logan Holzman and her father, Coppy. The cafe is named after their dogs. The Holzmans have said that they will host dog adoption events here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Boris & Horton, New York's first dog friendly coffee shop

Dec. 1 date set for Boris & Horton, Avenue A's new dog cafe

More about Boris and Horton, the dog-friendly cafe coming to Avenue A

[The same photo I posted on Monday]

Back on Monday, I reported that Boris and Horton, billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space," was in the works for the former Ost Cafe and Raclette spaces on Avenue A at 12th Street.

The applicants, Coppy Holzman and his daughter, Logan Holzman, appeared before CB3's SLA committee meeting that night for a new beer-wine license.

Allegra Hobbs at DNAinfo was at the meeting, and has more details in this article:

Boris and Horton, named for owners Coppy and Logan Holzman's respective pooches, will be divided by a glass wall into two sections per Department of Health rules — a cafe side will offer up beverages alongside pastries and sandwiches, while the pet-friendly side will provide a lounging space for folks with dogs, plus a photo booth and pet supplies.

"It's like basically going to someone's nice living room with your dog, and it's adjacent to a place where you can get all your food and coffee," said Coppy Holzman.

And!

Patrons are free to move between the spaces as long as their dogs stay on the designated dog side, explained the Holzmans — and staff will be on hand to momentarily watch dogs if an owner has to dash to grab a coffee.

And dog-less New Yorkers who just want to hang out with a bunch of dogs are welcome throughout, they said.

The CB3-SLA committee approved the application with some stipulations, "including installing soundproofing and monitoring noise from canine visitors."

Boris and Horton is expected to be open this winter.