9th and C looks to be home to the second coming of former LES cantina La Flaca

An EVG tipster shares these photos of the former Esperanto space, which apparently has a new tenant.

A sign on the door here on the NW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street for the USPS includes the names La Flaca and Robert Gonzales ... 

Gonzales, a native of New Mexico, operated La Flaca — billed as "New York's premier New Mexican bar and restaurant" — during a 10-year run (2010-2020) down on Grand at Suffolk. Looks as if they're just starting to settle in here and have yet to appear before CB3 for a new liquor license.

Esperanto quietly closed sometime in 2021 after 22 years in service.

Esperanto has apparently closed on Avenue C

Several readers have noted that Esperanto has not been open lately on the northwest corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. (H/T Salim!) 

There aren't any notices about a temporary or permanent closure on the restaurant's website or social media channels. However, the interior is now mostly empty...

Open Table also lists them as permanently closed. And the phone has been disconnected.

Esperanto, which served what they called "Latin fusion," had been open dating back to March (after a winter hiatus) ... with its usual sidewalk seating — offering views of La Plaza Cultural and 9th Street Community Garden & Park — as well as two curbside dining structures.

Esperanto first opened in 1999.

Report: Esperanto opening a 2nd East Village location

Last week we reported that the former BARA space on East First Street was undergoing renovations ... and reopening as a Latin-American restaurant. A tipster who lives on the block between First Avenue and Second Avenue believed the the owner of BARA was behind the new venture.

Turns out that this will be a second outpost for Esperanto ... the mainstay on Avenue C and Ninth Street is expanding with the opening of Esperanto Fonda, according to the Post.

Per the paper: "The Brazilian-inspired eatery is the latest from Dimitri Vlahakis, owner of Alice’s Arbor, La Gamelle and Summit Bar."

The menu will include empanadas with beef, shrimp and veggies ... as well as tacos, burritos and an Esperanto Bowl with rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and meat.

No word on an opening date.

BARA, a French/Japanese bar-restaurant, closed after service on June 11.

First look at Pancake Paradise on Avenue C

Crews have transformed Esperanto on Avenue C and East Ninth Street into the Pancake Paradise for a film shoot (the tipster who sent along these shots didn't catch the name of the project) …



As the sign shows, Esperanto will be back in service Wednesday evening…

Updated: A readers says the shoot is for "How to Be Single" starring Dakota Johnson.

Esperanto has opened a juice bar

Well, we missed this one. In late June, Esperanto on Avenue C and East Ninth Street (quietly) opened a small juice shop called Jugo adjacent to the restaurant … you enter on the East Ninth Street side…





They'll be expanding the to-go options here in the coming weeks.

Thanks to @galadarling for the tip!