Dan & John's has closed its original East Village location after 9 years

Thanks to @410E9th for the initial tip and top photo

2nd photo by Steven

Dan & John's Wings has closed its first location, 135 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. Sunday was the last day in service here. 

Management said they couldn't come to terms with the landlord on rent for a new lease. 

Dan & John's opened on First Avenue in October 2015... and expanded the space to include a dining room in May 2018. 

Friends Dan Borowski and John Henninger started their business in 2013 at Smorgasburg using recipes they learned working in bars and pizzerias in their native Buffalo.

Dan & John's outposts remain open in Murray Hill, Chelsea and the Dekalb Market Hall in downtown Brooklyn.

Dan and John's new dining room expected to open this week

[Photo last Thursday by Steven]

Dan and John's is nearly ready to debut their new dining room next door to their current take-out location at 135 First Ave. here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street,

Co-owner John Henninger recently told me that they were hoping to be open by Friday. They were just waiting for the new license from the SLA.

The expanded space will have at least 10 tables as well as a bar seating six people. (The current Dan and John's just has a few stools, and operates mostly as a take out and delivery operation.)

Dan and John's opened on First Avenue in October 2015. They are also regulars on the Smorgasburg circuit and last year started selling their wings at Citi Field for Mets game.

The space next door had been empty since March 2017 when Rustico, the cafe that specialized in crêpes and Italian coffee, closed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue

Dan and John's Wings looking to expand on 1st Avenue

Dan & John's Wings looking to expand on 1st Avenue

[Photo from Dec. 23]

The owners of Dan & John's Wings, which opened two-plus years ago in the small storefront at 135 First Ave., are looking to expand into the larger (and currently vacant) space next door.

The owners of the Buffalo-style wings operation are on the CB3-SLA docket tonight for a new liquor license. The proposed hours, according to the paperwork (PDF here) posted on the CB3 website, are noon to midnight daily. The expanded space would allow for 10 tables seating 35 patrons and 1 6-seat bar. (The current Dan & John's just has a few stools as well as a beer-wine license.)



The space has been empty since last March when Rustico, the cafe that specialized in crêpes and Italian coffee here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, closed.

Dan & John's opened their first restaurant here in October 2015. They are also regulars on the Smorgasburg circuit and last year started selling their wings at Citi Field for Mets game.

CB3's SLA committee will hear this and other applications tonight at 6:30 at the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue

Dan and John's Wings now open on 1st Avenue

[Photo last evening by EVG contributor Steven]

Dan and John's Wings opened their doors last night for business at 135 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street.

The two have been selling their wings at Smorgasburg, the outdoor food festival on weekends in Williamsburg and now in Coney Island.

Per their website:

When two friends from Buffalo found themselves in Brooklyn without authentic Buffalo wings, they decided to make their own. Using recipes they learned working in Buffalo bars and pizzerias, Dan and John bring Buffalo's legendary flavor to Brooklyn, New York.

You can find their menu.

The storefront previously housed sandwich specialist JoeDough, which closed in February 2014 after two-plus years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue

The Dan and John's sign takes flight on 1st Avenue

[Photo by EVG reader Steven]

The sign went up yesterday at 135 First Ave., future home of Dan and John's Wings here between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street.

The two have been selling their wares wings at Smorgasburg, the outdoor food festival on weekends in Williamsburg and now in Coney Island.

Per their website:

When two friends from Buffalo found themselves in Brooklyn without authentic Buffalo wings, they decided to make their own. Using recipes they learned working in Buffalo bars and pizzerias, Dan and John bring Buffalo's legendary flavor to Brooklyn, New York.

No word yet on an official opening date. Meanwhile, here's their menu.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue

Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue

The signs are up for the incoming tenant at 135 First Ave. — Dan and John's Wings…



Apparently the wings have been popular at Smorgasburg, the outdoor food festival on weekends in Williamsburg.

As for the proprietors, here's what their website has to say:

When two friends from Buffalo found themselves in Brooklyn without authentic Buffalo wings, they decided to make their own. Using recipes they learned working in Buffalo bars and pizzerias, Dan and John bring Buffalo's legendary flavor to Brooklyn, New York.

This will be their first storefront, in the space that previously housed JoeDough. This marks the second Smorgasburg vendor to set up shop on First Avenue. Schnitz opened in March 2014 at 177 First Ave. and East 11th Street.

H/T EVG reader Steven!