Hot Pot Central closes on 2nd Avenue

[Photo via @jcastro_nyc]

After nearly a year in business, Hot Pot Central has closed on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street. They closed after service on Sunday night. No word on why they shut down.

This was the third attempt by the owners here since March 2015 ... following DumplingGuo and, previously, Dumpling Go.

Shima had a good run on the corner here until January 2014. After Shima, the asking rent for the prime corner location had been $25,400 per month.

DumplingGuo is now open on 2nd Avenue

The restaurant offering dumplings and hot pot is now open on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

DumplingGuo began life as Dumpling Go here, and closed for parts of the spring and summer for a revamp.

We posted a copy of their menu here.

DumplingGo returning as Dumpling Guo on 2nd Avenue

Over the weekend several readers pointed out that DumplingGo emerged from behind the brown-papered windows with a new look, concept and name here on Second Avenue and 12th Street.

Dumpling Guo will offer dumplings and hot pot... as the signs in the windows explain...



One sign says that they "source fresh, local, sustainable and organic ingredients" ...







DumplingGo closed in April for renovations, though there wasn't any explanation signage for customers. DumplingGo, which opened in March 2015, never appeared all the busy ... while Mimi Cheng's Dumplings was packing them in across Second Avenue.

So perhaps the new offerings and approach will bring in more diners. The DumplingGo team also received the OK from CB3 in April for a beer-wine license.

On Saturday afternoon, an EVG reader said that a few people appeared to be inside dining (perhaps as a friends-family test run) ... though the sign on the door says opening soon...

DumplingGo expected to reopen later next month

DumplingGo is entering its third week of closure on Second Avenue at East 12th Street ... and there still isn't any "temporarily closed for renovations" sign on the door for customers ... the phone goes unanswered and their website is down.

However, as we previously noted, there is a freshly approved permit for a "minor renovation of the existing restaurant" on file with the city. And we looked in the window where there wasn't any paper ... and saw a fairly disheveled-looking interior...



Can't really tell what's happening... aside from the workers are getting KFC to go...



Anyway! According to a message on Yelp, the quick-serve restaurant is expected to reopen on May 28...



The DumplingGo team was getting the OK this month from CB3 for a beer-wine license. (Suppose they could just turn it into a bar with a "small bites" menu.)

DumplingGo opened 13 months ago. After Shima closed here in early 2014, the asking rent for the storefront was just over $25k.

DumplingGo is closed right now

An EVG reader notes that brown paper is up on the windows at DumplingGo, the quick-serve restaurant on Second Avenue at East 12th Street. There aren't any signs up noting "closed for renovations"... the phone goes unanswered ... and the DumplingGo website has a "Error establishing a database connection" message.

However, there is a freshly approved permit for a "minor renovation of the existing restaurant" on file with the city. In addition, DumplingGo is on CB3's SLA docket (PDF here) on Monday night for a beer-wine license. (This application will not be heard before the committee.)

Anyway, this is likely just a closed for renovations for real (even though there isn't a note for customers).

DumplingGo opened here 13 months ago.

DumplingGo is a go on 2nd Avenue

On Thursday, a reader told us that workers were putting up the signage at DumplingGo, the new, um, dumpling place opening on Second Avenue at East 12th Street…

...and the place was open for the weekend...



DumplingGo is part of the NYVA Restaurant Group — "an owner, operator, and proud franchisee for multiple brands."

Per the the DumplingGo website:

The DumplingGo franchise is conceived from a mix of Asian and Western business and culinary experiences. The Restaurant concept reflects the eclectic flavors and multicultural pallets of an interconnected global society.

With 20 years of business experience in the New York tri-state area, the founding partners have isolated a niche market in the fast-casual dining space. Our market research suggests that Dumplings are a growing market in metropolitan cities around the world and present a unique opportunity for a franchisor.

Perhaps their market research would have noted that there are already two choices for dumplings on this block. Mimi Cheng's Dumplings opened up right across the Avenue last July. And there's Plump Dumpling down on Second Avenue and East 11th Street.

Anyway, you can find the DumplingGo menu here. There's now another location on West Third Street with two more on the way in Manhattan.

The previous tenant here, Shima, abruptly closed in January 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How about some more dumplings?

How about some more dumplings?

Workers have been gutting the former Shima space on Second Avenue and East 12th Street.



Now EVG reader Michael brings us word about the new tenant: DumplingGo.

We don't know too much about the restaurant, other than this blurb on their website:

DumplingGo is a fast casual dynamic restaurant experience which prepares and serves premier made dumplings to our guests. DumplingGo's focus is to create a memorable experience for our "DumplingGo'ers" by providing a variety of dumplings to choose from that were prepared with only the finest ingredients. Our focus on simplicity results in top quality with each dumpling enjoyed by our guests.

DumplingGo is part of the NYVA Restaurant Group — "an owner, operator, and proud franchisee for multiple brands."

There now won't be any shortage of dumplings on this block. The well-regarded Mimi Cheng's Dumplings opened up across the Avenue in July. And there's Plump Dumpling down on Second Avenue and East 11th Street. (Right? Slightly confused about what's going on there now with like three different restaurants in one.)

DumplingGo was also on last week's CB3 SLA docket for a new beer-wine license. (Not sure how that one went. They likely got the approval given that it was a sale of assets.)

Shima abruptly closed in January. The asking rent for the prime corner location had been $25,400 per month.