There's now a sidewalk bridge outside Cafe Himalaya

Stopped by Cafe Himalaya at 78 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue the other day for some takeout ... and saw that there's now a storefront-obscuring sidewalk bridge up at the building.

The pandemic has been especially challenging for this unfussy family restaurant, now in its 20th year.

The quick-serve Tibetan restaurant was closed toward the end of the year after the passing of a family member due to COVID-19. In the fall they had to shut down for several weeks while Con Ed made gas repairs to the building. In early October, someone broke in and stole their cash drawer.

At the moment there aren't any permits filed with the DOB to provide insights on the scope of the work at the building. Hopefully, this isn't one of those cases where the sidewalk bridge stays in place for years. (And the newish Prim Thai next door remains closed.)

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon-9 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

Cafe Himalaya reopens, thanks community for support after family member dies from COVID-19

After nearly two months, Cafe Himalaya reopened yesterday on First Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Originally Con Ed work forced the temporary closing of the 19-year-old family restaurant in late October, which stretched into November. 

Sadly, it turns out they also lost a family member to COVID-19. They addressed the loss in an Instagram post yesterday:

On a personal note, thank you to everyone who reached out to us in the last few weeks. We deeply appreciate your kind words during what has been an unimaginably difficult time. In early Dec, we found ourselves as part of the now 353,000+ American families who have lost an immediate family member to covid. The pain and suffering on our personal front has been immense and we pray that no individual or family has to undergo a similar situation.

As we try to reopen our space in the midst of our loss, we thank you for being part of our community. Let’s all do our part in exercising responsibility and taking care of each other.

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon-9 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

On 1st Street, Con Ed work shutters Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai once again

Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai have been dark here in recents weeks at 78 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

In late October, Con Ed's emergency repairs at the address forced the two small restaurants to shutter for a week... their reopening on Nov. 4 was apparently short-lived as they both had to shut down again, per several EVG readers.

There haven't been any updates on either the Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai Instagram accounts... and no one from Cafe Himalaya, the 18-year-old family-owned Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant, responded to queries about their status. It has been a particularly tough year for them: In early October, someone broke in and stole their cash drawer.

Photo from Sunday evening

Previously on EV Grieve:

Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

After Con Ed work, Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai are reopening

After missing seven days of business thanks to Con Ed work, Cafe Himalaya returns to service today.

As noted last week, Con Ed had to make emergency repairs at 78 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, forcing the 18-year-old family owned Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant and new neighbor Prim Thai to close.

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-10 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160

Previously on EV Grieve:

Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

Con Ed work temporarily shutters Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai

Running a restaurant during the pandemic is obviously challenging enough... Cafe Himalaya has had its share of challenges in recent months, including having someone break into the 18-year-old Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant on First Street here between Avenue A and First Avenue and steal the cash drawer.

On Tuesday, owner Karma Dolma discovered that Con Ed will be doing emergency work on the building — forcing Cafe Himalaya and neighbor Prim Thai to close in the interim. 

Con Ed said that they will need at least a week, which in Con Ed time, means a lot longer. Probably. (And yes — this sucks for the residents too.)

We'll update when the two places will be able to reopen.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

As we reported last week, someone broke into Cafe Himalaya at 78 First St. and stole the restaurant's cash register. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the other day and talked with owner Karma Dolma (top photo and on the right below) ... and met her family, who all work here at the 18-year-old Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant between Avenue A and First Avenue...

She and her husband Tashi (second from the left above) showed her the cash register that was stolen — it was found discarded a few blocks away, cash missing but all parts still working. The police returned the cash register to them and even found the key to it nearby ...

She wanted the residents of the East Village to know how much support they've received and how grateful they are during the pandemic, where at one point early on business was down by 90 percent.

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-10 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160.

Someone stole the cash resister from Cafe Himalaya

 On Sunday morning, the owners of Cafe Himalaya, the Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant at 78 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, arrived at the space to find that someone had broken the front lock ... and walked away with the cash register.

The owners posted about it on Instagram... and thanked patrons for offering support:

While this burglary adds to the already difficult year for a small business like ours, we’re just glad that nothing else was taken or damaged.

Thank you so much for your generous offer to donate through Venmo/gofundme — your generosity is truly appreciated. 

However, the most sustainable and impactful way to support us would be to dine here, order delivery, or takeout. And tell your friends/family too! It’s truly the best way to show your love. (But if you happen to have an extra cash register lying around then we’ll gladly take it.)

The family-owned restaurant is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-10 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160.

EVG photo from May. And H/T Steph!

Cafe Himalaya is back open

Cafe Himalaya, the Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant at 78 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, recently reopened for takeout and delivery.

They are open from noon to 9 p.m. (or so) Tuesday through Sunday.

The restaurant, which opened in 2001, also recently started an Instagram account if you want to see their daily specials and/or menu items...

View this post on Instagram

#17 Tsel Gyathuk Ngopa • vegetarian sautéed noodles

A post shared by Cafe Himalaya (@cafehimalaya_nyc) on May 23, 2020 at 11:42am PDT