Café Maud is the name of the new establishment in the former Dallas BBQ space

Photo by Jose Garcia 

In breaking signage news, workers were spotted putting up the letters outline this afternoon for Café Maud on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. 

Readers and residents have been curious about the name of hospitality vet Curt Huegel's new concept at 132 Second Ave. amid the renovations over the last year-plus. (His portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola, Printers Alley, and, closer to home, Jackdaw on Second Avenue at 13th Street.) 

Café Maud's placeholder Instagram account refers to the place as a "neighborhood cafe & bar." 

Huegel appeared before Community Board 3 in June 2022 and received approval for the concept. (He didn't respond to our previous request for comment about what's in store for this space.) 

Dallas BBQ closed in December 2022 after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. Staff said the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease.

No word about an opening for the café-bar.

A look inside the former Dallas BBQ on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The gut renovations continue at the retail space on the NE corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue. (The photo below shows the St. Mark's side.)

As we've noted, hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, and, closer to home, Jackdaw on Second Avenue at 13th Street, is behind this unnamed incoming establishment. 

Here's a look inside, where extensive renovations over the last year-plus have occurred since its days as Dallas BBQ ...

Huegel appeared before Community Board 3 in June 2022 and received approval for the concept. (He didn't respond to our previous request for comment about what's in store for this space.)

Dallas BBQ closed in December 2022 after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. Staff said the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease.

Look at the former Dallas BBQ now

Photo by Steven

We have a storefront reveal on the NE corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue. 

On Tuesday, workers removed the plywood around the incoming new bar-restaurant for the space.

As we've noted, hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, and, closer to home, Jackdaw on Second Avenue at 13th Street, is behind the establishment.

Huegel appeared before Community Board 3 in June 2022 and received approval for the unnamed concept. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close (midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends). 

Huegel didn't respond to our previous request for comment about what's in store for this space. Workers at the scene knew nothing about the name or opening date. 

The space has been under renovation for the past year. 

About the new look, per EVG Brian: "Seems like they are going for the 'Tuscan' vibe like Wegmans." (Fifth photo in this post.)

Dallas BBQ closed in December 2022 after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. Staff said the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease.

About the In-N-Out Burger ads for 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

An EVG reader shared the above photo from today on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place for In-N-Out Burger NYC 2023. 

The plywood surrounds 132 Second Ave., where Dallas BBQ closed last December after decades in business here. Legal notices via the State Liquor Authority here mention that hospitality vet Curt Huegel is opening a new bar-restaurant in the space. 

Anyway, as far as anyone knows, In-N-Out Burger doesn't have any plans for an NYC outpost ... with the furthest eastern outpost arriving in Tennessee sometime in 2026.

Fake In-N-Out Burger ads have made the rounds in NYC through the years (like here and here), much to the chagrin of the chain's many fans. So this is likely a gag... (and so far away from April 1). Updated: The company told Eater the ads are FAKE!

In-N-Out Burger opened up in 1948 as California's first "drive-thru" hamburger stand.

Hospitality vet Curt Huegel appears to be taking the former Dallas BBQ space on 2nd Avenue

Workers put up the plywood on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place in late March as gut renovations continue at the former Dallas BBQ.

There is now a posted notice about a pending on-premises liquor license here...

The LLC listed is affiliated with hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola, Printers Alley and, closer to home, Jackdaw on Second Avenue at 13th Street.

Huegel appeared before Community Board 3 in June 2022 and received approval for the unnamed establishment. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close (midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends). Huegel didn't respond to our previous request for comment about what's in store for this space.

Dallas BBQ closed this past December after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. Staff said the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease.

Board report: Former Dallas BBQ prepped for renovations

Workers today were wrapping up surrounding the former Dallas BBQ in plywood on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

The interior gutting commenced earlier this month.

Last June, hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, received Community Board approval for the unnamed establishment. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close. Huegel did not respond to previous emails about whether he was still taking the prime space.

Dallas BBQ closed this past December after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. According to staff, the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease and opted to rent the space to another business.    

Renovations underway at the former Dallas BBQ

Photos by Steven 

The gutting of the old Dallas BBQ has begun on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place...

Workers said that they didn't know anything about the new tenant.

Last June, hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, received Community Board approval for the unnamed establishment. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close. Huegel did not respond to previous emails about whether he was still taking the prime space.

Dallas BBQ closed this past December after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. According to staff, the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease and opted to rent the space to another business. 

Monday's parting shot

Little Man Parking on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue will need to update its sign now that "Stomp" and Dallas BBQ are gone...

Long live Webster Hall!

Wednesday's parting shots

Photos by Steven (top) and EVG 

Today in venting the CO2 tanks that were downstairs at the now-closed Dallas BBQ on St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue... with a bonus pic of the almost-empty back dining room...

That's all for East Village mainstay Dallas BBQ

Photos by Steven

East Village stalwart Dallas BBQ has shut down several days before anticipated here on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. 

Staff previously told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that the BBQ joint would close after service this New Year's Eve. Perhaps they ran out of onion loaves... signage is now up noting the closure, with a note to would-be Dallas BBQ diners to try the outpost on 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue in Chelsea...

... and the interior is in disarray as workers prepare to move out the remains of the restaurant that has anchored this corner since the mid-1980s...

According to staff, the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease and opted to rent the space to another business.

The EV Dallas BBQ staff has been offered jobs at other locations, which include a dozen in the metropolitan area.

News of a closure had been expected since an applicant for a new bar-restaurant appeared before Community Board 3 in June. Hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, received approval for the unnamed establishment. 

There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close. Huegel didn't respond to our previous request for comment to see if he was still taking the prime corner space.

Before Dallas BBQ, part 3 (the end, maybe)

If you've been following along this week, then you may know there were some queries about what was on the NE corner of St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue before the closing-soon Dallas BBQ. (See here and here.) 

A reader shared this 1940s-era photo from the Municipal Archives... when it was still the decades-spanning Estroff Pharmacy...

Before Dallas BBQ, part 2 (and yes — there will be a part 3)

Top photo by Stacie Joy 

The interest in the pre-Dallas BBQ status of the NE corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue shows no sign of abating! 

Yesterday, we posted the photo via Godlis showing the early 1980s corner and its occupant, Estroff Pharmacy. 

Steve Butcher shares this shot of the corner, including Estroff's next-door neighbor — East Village Stationery circa 1982.

Oh, and never mind that random dumpster fire!

 

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A post shared by Steve Butcher (@stevebutcher.photo)

Dallas BBQ is closing after service on Dec. 31.

Before Dallas BBQ

Top photo by Stacie Joy

News of Dallas BBQ closing after service on Dec. 31 prompted several reader queries: What was on this NE corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue before the BBQ arrived in the mid-1980s? 

Longtime St. Mark's Place resident and photographer Godlis responded to the request...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Godlis (@godlis)

Dec. 31 is the last day for East Village mainstay Dallas BBQ

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Dallas BBQ, which has anchored the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place since the early 1980s, is closing after service on Dec. 31, staff confirmed to EVG contributor Stacie Joy.

News of a closure had been expected since an applicant for a new bar-restaurant appeared before Community Board 3 in June. Hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, received approval for the unnamed establishment. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close. We reached out to Huegel to see if he was still taking the prime corner space.

According to staff, the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease and opted to rent the space to another business.

The EV Dallas BBQ staff has been offered jobs at other locations, including one near JFK in Jamaica, Queens, and a new one set to open in New Jersey. 

The family-owned Dallas BBQ has a dozen locations in the metropolitan area. The original Dallas BBQ opened on the Upper West Side in 1978, and the EV location debuted in the 1980s (1984?). They have a solid following who enjoy the enormous platters of reasonably priced food (onion loaf!) and supertanker-sized frozen drinks. 

There were rumors in 2018 that this outpost would relocate, but management decided to stay put after protests from regulars.

The Dallas BBQ on University Place and Eighth Street shuttered in 2007... the original UWS outpost closed in December 2014 — both the result of rent hikes.  

New bar-restaurant planned for 132 2nd Ave., the current home of Dallas BBQ

A new bar-restaurant is in the works for 132 Second Ave., the current home of longtime tenant Dallas BBQ at St. Mark's Place.

Hospitality vet Curt Huegel is one of the principals behind this unnamed project. Huegel and company will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Wednesday night for a new liquor license for this address...   

According to the questionnaire on file for public viewing, the restaurant has proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. The menu posted with the questionnaire features a variety of burgers, sandwiches, bowls and salads ... including a weekend brunch service.

Huegel's portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley ... closer to home, he's part of the ownership team at Jackdaw on Second Avenue and 13th Street. 

If all this goes through, then this likely means the end of Dallas BBQ — at least at this location. We reached out about a possible closure or relocation. 

The family-owned Dallas BBQ has 11 locations in the metropolitan area. The original Dallas BBQ opened on the Upper West Side in 1978, and the EV location debuted in the 1980s (1984?). They have a solid following who enjoy the enormous platters of reasonably priced food (onion loaf!) and supertanker-sized drinks. 

There were rumors in 2018 that this outpost would relocate, but management decided to stay put after a few protests from regulars.

The Dallas BBQ on University Place and Eighth Street shuttered in 2007... the original UWS outpost closed in December 2014 — both the result of rent hikes.  

Dallas BBQ is here to stay

You may have noticed the recent arrival of those mysterious flyers in the front windows of the always-crowded Dallas BBQ on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place noting "Here we stay..."



Perhaps it's a variation of dining in...? EVG correspondent Steven spoke with a manager, who said that Dallas BBQ was considering moving to a new location. Apparently word leaked to some regulars. Ownership decided to stay put, and the signs are to let their customers know that they are not going anywhere.

The family-owned Dallas BBQ has 11 locations in the metropolitan area serving up enormous platters of reasonably priced food (onion loaf!) and supertanker-sized (Texas-sized?) drinks.

The original Dallas BBQ opened on the Upper West Side in 1978. The EV location debuted at some point in the 1980s. (If anyone can supply the exact date/year...)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mom jailed for leaving toddler outside Dallas BBQ speaks out 20 years later

Mom jailed for leaving toddler outside Dallas BBQ speaks out 20 years later

The Post has a feature today on Anette Sørensen, the Danish woman who made front-page news 20-plus years ago after being arrested for leaving her baby in a stroller while dining at Dallas BBQ

She said that she was treated unfairly by the city and the media, and never had the chance to tell her side of the story.

Sørensen, and the baby's father, a playwright named Exavier Wardlaw, reportedly stopped for dinner at Dallas BBQ on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place in May 1997. She left her daughter Liv, 14 months old at the time, outside sleeping in her stroller.

I had lived in New York [during school], so, of course, I knew that I didn’t see prams all over the city," said Sørensen. "But ... I had been living in Copenhagen, I had given birth to my daughter in Copenhagen, I was raised myself in Denmark ... That’s just how you do it in Denmark."

Someone called 911 about the child. Sørensen said at the time that she and Wardlaw were keeping an eye on the child.

Officers charged both parents with child endangerment and Wardlaw with disorderly conduct.

Sørensen spent 36 hours in prison, where she said she didn’t get much sympathy from the other inmates. Liv was put in foster care by the city’s Administration for Children’s Services. The case made the front page of the Post.

“I didn’t know where my child was,” said Sørensen. “I don’t think there’s any greater punishment than to have your child taken away from you.”

Mother and daughter were reunited four days later.

In 1998, Sørensen, who nows lives in Germany, sued the city for $20 million.

Per the Daily Mail:

She was awarded $66,400 by a civil jury, which found only that she should not have been strip-searched and that the city commonly failed to advise arrested foreigners of their right to notify their consulates.

In 2012, she used the experience as a basis for a novel published in Denmark. Now she has launched a crowdfunding campaign to get it translated into English. Liv, the 14 month old at the center of this story, created the graphic design for the book's cover. She's 21 now.

Noted

[Courtesy of Dallas BBQ]

Via the EVG inbox...

Come out to Dallas BBQ and celebrate National Piña Colada Day today!

Even though piña coladas originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean for a delicious, refreshing piña colada. Stop by any of Dallas BBQ 10 popular locations throughout New York City to enjoy DBBQ most popular piña coladas, the ‘Blue Hawaii’ with blue raspberry flavor or if your taste buds wants something a bit stronger, try the ‘Beach Bomb,’ a Blue Hawaii topped with frozen pineapple crush with a healthy shot of 151.

No need to go to the beach, stop by Dallas BBQ today and celebrate National Piña Colada Day TEXAS-SIZE!

Dallas BBQ is on the corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

Prince tribute at Dallas BBQ?

Or maybe just a coincidence here on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

Photo by EVG Dallas BBQ correspondent Steven

Thanksgiving dining deal season underway

[Photo yesterday by EVG Dining Correspondent Steven]

We're just five weeks out now to Thanksgiving … and Dallas BBQ on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place just might be the first local restaurant to fire up its Thanksgiving Dinner Specials… the Thanksgiving Dinner Banner arrived on the sidewalk yesterday…

Looks like a good deal for $15.99, though, strangely, nothing will be BBQ'd.