Openings: Sunflower Cafe on 2nd Avenue

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Sunflower debuted last week at 88 Second Ave. at Fifth Street. 

This is a sibling to the cafe of the same name on Third Avenue in Gramercy Park with the Instagram slogan "Let’s Brunch baby!" 

They serve some breakfast staples, lunch, and various coffee and drinks (menu here). 

Daily hours for now: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same folks as the previous tenant here, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021.

Previously

A sign of the Sunflower (and brunch) on 2nd Avenue

Renovations continue inside 88 Second Ave. at Fifth Street. 

As we've been reporting, this will be a second outpost of Sunflower, the cafe serving breakfast-brunch on Third Avenue between 24th Street and 25th Street.

There's some Sunflower neon signage up in the back and this very visible "You had me at... Brunch!" sign...

We didn't spot any signs reading "It's Brunch O'Clock" or "Go Ahead, Mimosa My Day!" or "What Happens at Brunch Stays at Brunch."

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same folks as the previous tenant here, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022 when a "temporarily closed" sign arrived on the front door and stayed for 16 months. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021

Thanks to Eden and Steven for sharing photos from here!

On the CB3-SLA docket: A new home for Han Dynasty on 3rd Avenue; a Sunflower for 2nd Avenue

Here's a look at two of the applicants who will appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee this evening. (See below for info on watching online — or in person.) 

• Han Dynasty (Han Dynasty East Village Corp), 98 3rd Ave (op) 

Han Dynasty has enjoyed a successful run at 90 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street for the past 10 years.

The restaurant's ownership is on the agenda tonight (questionnaire here) for a new liquor license for a space several storefronts to the north at 98 Third Ave. — the formal Bar None...

The application on file at the CB3 website doesn't mention whether this is a move or, perhaps, a second location. Ownership did not respond to an email seeking clarification.

We assume the lease is up at 90 Third Ave., and they are moving nearby. (They did something similar at a Han Dynasty in Philadelphia.)

Bar None closed in the spring of 2022 after nearly 17 years in service.

• Sunflower East Village (RJM Hospitality LLC), 88 2nd Ave (op)

The NE corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street will be home to another location of Sunflower, a cafe serving breakfast-brunch on Third Avenue between 25th Street and 26th Street.

The EV location looks to have the same menu/vibe, though with dinner service. Find the questionnaire here. (Note: There will only be a service bar here — no bar seating.)

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same folks as the previous tenant here, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022 when a "temporarily closed" sign arrived on the front door. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021.

Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30. Find the Zoom link here. This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.  

Eros is still 'temporarily closed,' and now fully empty

The curious saga of Eros continues... the Greek restaurant has been closed since early last August on the NE corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street.

That's when a "temporarily closed" sign has been on the front door. The Greek restaurant's website still notes that this location is "closed for renovations. Reopening TBA."

The city removed the lengthy curbside dining structure from Fifth Street — after multiple warnings — in January.

Most everything from the interior has either been removed (as of last week) or shoved against the windows along the Fifth Street side of the space... 

Eros took over for the diner the Kitchen Sink in September 2021 (same owners) ... management previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

We've talked to several nearby residents who said they'd welcome the return of a more diner-y-type establishment like the Kitchen Sink.

City removes the curbside dining space at Eros on 2nd Avenue and 5th Street

This a follow-up to a post from Jan. 15... on Friday morning, the city removed the curbside dining structure from the Fifth Street side of Eros on the NE corner of Second Avenue. (Thank you, Eden, for the tip!) 

On Jan. 10, the Department of Transportation issued a "Termination" notice for the curbside space that ran the length of the Greek restaurant, which hasn't been open in more than five months.

Meanwhile, the indoor space remains dark. 

Eros took over for the diner the Kitchen Sink in September 2021 (same owners) ... management previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

The Eros website still notes that this location is "closed for renovations. Reopening TBA." We had not seen anyone inside the space since the restaurant closed in August. The "temporarily closed" sign is still on the front entrance.

City issues removal notice for the curbside dining structure at the currently-closed Eros

Photos by Steven

An item from earlier this week... Eros, the Greek restaurant on the NE corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue, is entering its fifth month of what is billed as a temporary closure. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has noticed... and issued a "Termination" notice for the restaurant's lengthy curbside dining structure...

The DOT notice is dated Tuesday (Jan. 10). Eros had 24 hours to remove it from the Fifth Street side before the city did ... (it remains in place as of this morning, Jan. 15) ... 

We previously spotted a letter here from the DOT dated Sept. 6 requesting that ownership correct some deficiencies in the curbside dining structure.

Eros took over for the diner the Kitchen Sink in September 2021 (same owners) ... management previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

The Eros website still notes that this location is "closed for renovations. Reopening TBA." We had not seen anyone inside the space since the restaurant went dark in August. 

Eros remains closed on 2nd Avenue

Eros has been dark since early August on the NE corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street.

A "temporarily closed" sign has been on the front door. The Greek restaurant's website notes that this location is "closed for renovations. Reopening TBA."

We have not spotted anyone inside the space during this time either.

Through the months, various notices have been spotted inside the front door, like this letter from the DOT dated Sept. 6 requesting that ownership correct some deficiencies in the curbside dining structure on Fifth Street ...

And in October, someone smashed the front door, which remains this way today...

Eros took over for the diner the Kitchen Sink in September 2021 (same owners) ... management previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

Several Kitchen Sink fans have emailed us about the current state of the space, with the feeling that it won't return. There was a general consensus that people preferred the Kitchen Sink's reliable diner staples instead of more upscale Greek dishes.

H/T Steven!

Kitchen Sink goes Greek, emerges as Eros

In recent months, paper has covered the windows at Kitchen Sink, the diner on Second Avenue at Fifth Street. 

The dining room appeared to be closed and under renovation, but they were serving in the curbside seats as well as offering takeout and deliveries. 

On Friday, new signage arrived (thanks to Steven for the photos!) ... and the place is now going as Eros, a Greek restaurant. (Same owners, we're told.) And the signage is identical to the Eros on Third Avenue in Murray Hill.

Not sure at the moment what the menu will be here — hopefully, some of the reliable diner fare will remain. The mostly renovated dining room is not yet open. The bar remains, though the TV sets have been removed.

The owners previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015.