Bubbleology Tea has gone out of business on 1st Avenue

The East Village outpost of the London-based Bubbleology Tea chain has closed at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

Steven shared these photos of the now-empty space, which closed without any notice... (apparently, this happened a few weeks back...)

The outpost opened in February 2019 in a crowded bubble-tea market.

Previously, the landlord here, convicted felon Steve Croman, didn't/wouldn't renew the lease of the International Bar ... which closed in November 2017 before merging with the Coal Yard, down the block.

RIP Molly.

The DOH temporarily closes Bubbleology Tea on 1st Avenue

Updated 3/29: Bubbleology Tea has reopened.

The DOH has temporarily shuttered Bubbleology Tea, the London-based chain that opened at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place in early February.

The report from the inspection, which took place yesterday, has yet to be posted online.

Thanks to EVG reader Sawyer Mitchell for the tip/photo!

Updated 7 p.m.

The inspection report is still not online... and a "closed for repairing" sign is now on the door...


[Photo by Steven]

Bubbleology Tea debuts tomorrow with an Instagram Boomerang photo booth

The London-based Bubbleology Tea chain opens its EV outpost tomorrow at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As the Times noted last spring, this outpost "will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni." Not to mention concoctions like bubble waffles and gelato.

Here's what is in store for tomorrow...

View this post on Instagram

GRAND OPENING: East Village, New York 🥳 Come join us between 4pm - 6pm on Saturday 2nd Feb for FREE bubble tea, an Instagram Boomerang photo booth, Bubbleology vouchers and the chance to win Beats headphones when you post your Boomerang on Instagram by 10pm the next day. Don’t miss out on being one of the first to explore our incredible new store in the heart of East Village 🤩 Join the party at: 120 ½ First Avenue New York NY 10009. See you there!

A post shared by BubbleologyUSA (@bubbleologyusa) on Jan 26, 2019 at 12:56pm PST

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed in this now-sanitized space in November 2017. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, down the block.

The incoming Bubbleology Tea now with Bubbleology Tea signage

As noted (a few times) earlier this year, the London-based Bubbleology Tea chain is opening an outpost at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The Bubbleology signage is up now on the front window (H/T William Klayer!) promising "the Delicious Science of the Bubble Tea." In a real-estate transaction from May, the Times reported that the owners of this franchise signed a seven-year lease for the space, which "will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni. "

The owners were seeking a full-liquor license for the address. However, CB3 denied their application in April, citing "insufficient public benefit ... for a business seeking to add tea-infused cocktails to its drink menu to sustain its business plan, in an area well-served with licensed businesses furnishing cocktails," per the minutes from that meeting. Not sure if the owners still plan on the alcohol portion of the drinks menu.

Here's a look inside from the other morning...



The latest iteration of the International Bar closed here in November 2017. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

Bubbleology Tea signs a lease on 1st Avenue

As previously noted, the London-based Bubbleology Tea chain was planning to open at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In its listing of recent real-estate transactions, the Times reported yesterday that the owners of this franchise signed a seven-year lease for the space, which previously housed the International Bar.

From the Times:

London-based bubble tea franchise has signed a seven-year lease for its flagship shop to open this summer in a 750-square-foot storefront, with a backyard patio, in this five-story East Village walk-up. The shop will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni.

The annual rent was listed at $105,000 — $8,750 per month.

The owners were seeking a full-liquor license for the address. However, CB3 denied their application last month, citing "insufficient public benefit ... for a business seeking to add tea-infused cocktails to its drink menu to sustain its business plan, in an area well-served with licensed businesses furnishing cocktails," per the minutes from that meeting.

It's not known at the moment if Bubbleology Tea is seeking a license directly from the State Liquor Authority for its Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni and other boozy teas.

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed this past Thanksgiving. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

Over the weekend, some Bubbleology Tea backgrounders went up on the window at 120 1/2 First Ave., where applicants are hopeful to open a franchise here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As noted last week, the applicants are seeking a full-liquor license this month for the former International Bar space... the info on the window notes how the London-based chain got its start...



... with info on the variety of bubble teas they serve...



There's also a notice that nine of their 43 bubble teas contain alcohol (in case you were wondering why they were seeking a full liquor license) ...



In addition to the beverage menu, Bubbleology Tea will serve a "variety of authentic Sweet & Savoury Toasted English crumpets, as well as assorted snacks," per their questionnaire on file at the CB3 website ahead of Monday evening's meeting.

We'll take a look at a few other applicant's on Monday evening's SLA committee docket later this week. The CB3-SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on April 16 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bubbleology Tea seeking full liquor license for the former International space on 1st Avenue

Bubbleology Tea seeking full liquor license for the former International space on 1st Avenue

There was a rumor a few weeks ago that a bubble tea shop was moving into the former International Bar space at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Looks like that might actually be happening. Applicants for Bubbleology Tea (a London-based chain) are applying for a full liquor license for the address, according to the questionnaire (PDF here) on file ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting on April 16

The proposed hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (9 p.m. for the rear yard) Sunday through Thursday; until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The specs call for seven tables serving 30 people, per the paperwork.

Aside from a variety of (boozy) bubble teas, Bubbleology Tea will have a menu featuring a "variety of authentic Sweet & Savoury Toasted English crumpets, as well as assorted snacks."

Principal Ben (Haiying) Li has has been a partner in a Gong Cha bubble tea franchise out on Long Island since 2016, according to the SLA application.

The CB3-SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on April 16 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed this past Thanksgiving. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.