45 E. 1st St. vacant again

Skinny Buddha, a vegan food business with outposts in Scarsdale and Mt. Cisco, has wrapped up its three-month pop-up cafe at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

So now the space is tenant-free at the moment. The storefront had been the coffee bar Cocoa Grinder for a few months. The business never took off, in part because their opening coincided with the (now concluded) months-long water-main work on the block... not to mention the ongoing condoplex construction on the corner of Second Avenue blocked off half of the street for a few years.

The address previously housed the bar-restaurant Joe and Misses Doe.

Skinny Buddha pops up with vegan fare on 1st Street

Skinny Buddha, a vegan food business with outposts in Scarsdale and Mt. Cisco, has opened a pop-up cafe at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Through October, you can find menu items such as açaí bowls, smoothies, burgers and veggie bowls here.

The space had been the coffee bar Cocoa Grinder for a few months. The business never took off, in part because their opening coincided with the (now concluded) months-long water-main work on the block... not to mention the ongoing condoplex construction on the corner of Second Avenue blocked off half of the street for a few years.

Cocoa Grinder is closed for now on 1st Street

We've had a few queries about Cocoa Grinder, the cafe that had its soft opening at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue back in November.

Several readers have noted that the space has been dark of late...



We reached out to the Cocoa Grinder team, who confirmed that they are closed for now. Per an email: "Figuring out if we should open it or not."

Cocoa Grinder, which offers all-day breakfast, burgers, protein shakes and freshly squeezed juices, has multiple locations in Brooklyn.

This part of East First Street has been a tough block lately. There was the water-main replacement that took months...


[Photo from February]


[Photo from February]

...and the west end of the block remains choked with construction on the 32 E. First St. condoplex.

There's also ample coffee-cafe competition that's easily accessible at the east end of the block with the Juicy Lucy stand, the Lazy Llama and Juice Press as well as the Mudspot Café in First Park.

The address here — 45 E. First St. — previously housed the bar-restaurant Joe and Misses Doe.

Cocoa Grinder softly opens on 1st Street

Cocoa Grinder, a cafe chainlet with multiple locations in Brooklyn, is now in soft-open mode here at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.


[Photo by Vinny & O]

A reader says that they offering pastries and coffee for now. Eventually they'll feature a menu of all-day breakfast, burgers, protein shakes, and freshly squeezed juices. Prices range from $4 for a to-go egg-and-cheese wrap to $12 for the "Poachy Poach," an ensemble of poached eggs and gravlax salmon on an English muffin with a side of tater tots and greens.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cocoa Grinder bringing coffee and all-day breakfast to 1st Street

Cocoa Grinder bringing coffee and all-day breakfast to 1st Street

Cocoa Grinder, a cafe chainlet with multiple locations in Brooklyn, is opening an outpost here on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



Some background via the Cocoa Grinder website:

Started by Abdul Elenani in his college years during 2013, Cocoa Grinder is more than a coffee shop. It’s an idea that for the hardworking individual of today, convenience is everything: why shouldn’t you have your specialty cup o’joe and healthy meal in the same place? Perfect for the person on the go, or the busy individual seeking to get some work done, Cocoa Grinder offers the perfect environment to enhance your daily grind or take a well-deserving break from it.

Unlike most coffee shops, we roast our own coffee to ensure quality and flavor so that a better brew ends up in your cup. We support local farmers overseas by sourcing the beans directly from their regions. In a small farm in Chiapas, Mexico, we grow some of the best decaf you’ll ever taste. From bean to cup, we make every effort to ensure our coffee exceeds standards.

They feature a menu of all-day breakfast, burgers, protein shakes, and freshly squeezed juices. Prices range from $4 for a to-go egg-and-cheese wrap to $12 for the "Poachy Poach," an ensemble of poached eggs and gravlax salmon on an English muffin with a side of tater tots and greens.

No word on an opening date. Here's a current look inside the space...



This address previously housed the bar-restaurant Joe and Misses Doe at No. 45.