Old-timer Blarney Stone becoming a gastropub with 35 plasma TVs in the Financial District

Every so often we wander away from the neighborhood...

We've written before about our fondness for The Blarney Stone on Fulton Street near Nassau in the Financial District ... a fine place for some beers and affordable quality food from the steam table by the front door. And they open at 8 a.m. A good crowd. Office workers. Construction workers. Horse players. A few people working on a scheme.

[Photo by IrishNYC via Flickr]

The place closed for good in March 2010.

Now, a reader sends along the following item from UrbanDaddy with news of what this space is becoming...

Welcome to The Fulton, a 4,300-square-foot gastropub where the menu looks like it’s from a steakhouse and the flat-screens are invisible (except when they’re not), opening Saturday in FiDi.

This place feels like a long-lost executive’s lounge from the 1920s. There are diamond-tufted leather banquettes everywhere. Herringbone wood walls. Hanger steak frites. Old framed photos of Fulton Street (circa horse-and-buggy era). And a slew of cracking antique mirrors... that happen to conceal 35 state-of-the-art invisible plasmas.

So when a game isn’t on, and the TVs are off, every set will be hidden behind two-way glass. Perfect for when you want to quietly sip on a Ginger Inn (that’s vodka with guava, lime, raspberry and ginger) while splitting short ribs and cheddar grits with that comely market analyst.

Like the sound of the "old framed photos of Fulton Street." A little history for the lifeless.

Window shopping on Fulton Street

Appreciating two newsstands before they are Cemusaed

These days, whenever I see a newsstand that hasn't yet been Cemusaed, I'll take a photo... such as these two down in the Financial District...




For further reading:
Two old-school newsstands that are still holding on (EVG)

Union Sq. Newsstand (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

First casualty in the FiDi bikini bar wars

Back in February, we inexplicably wrote a post about the revamped Hook & Ladder II in the Financial District...



...featuring the "Hook and Ladder II bikini bartenders," one of whom in the ad looked a lot like Mariah Carey in a firefighter's uniform ...



Anyway! I'm not sure when this happened, but the Hook and Ladder II is now closed. And their phone has been "temporarily disconnected." Let's just say that the place hasn't been open the last three weeks.

They were maybe foolish to take on the nearby Nassau Bar, where the bartenders look like extras from a Russ Meyer's movie....


[Not actual Nassau Street bartenders!]

Anyway, for some reason, I will now share this story.

So.

Shortly after HALII's grand reopening, I walked in. To see just how cheesy it would be. Never been in the place before. I walked up the stairs, and spotted an empty bar with some dude in front of the taps. A terrible mistake had been made. I quickly turned around to leave.

Wait! he said.

I must have looked like some sadass middle management type in need of an after-work jolly. Maybe I am! He called out a woman's name.

Mary? Stephanie? Linda? Something fairly common, and not like a bikini bar stage name. Cinnamon. Diamond. Isis. Illusion.

Let's call her Mary. Mary peeks around the corner of the back room. The fellow makes a motion for her to come behind the bar. In a very bashful manner, she gingerly walked her way to the bar, zipping up a baggy hoodie to cover her bikini. The scene struck me like a sister whose older brother was making her do something she really didn't want to do, like tend bar in a bikini.

This was her first day on the job. No kidding? She was nice. She smiled. She had braces. She was probably 24. And she had never tended bar before. The fellow explained that they were out of ice, so any mixed drinks would have to be served warm. I ordered a bottle of beer. I watched as he explained the finer points of bartending, such as how to make a gin and tonic.

A few entertaining minutes later, we all got to talking. The fellow and Mary were old friends. We discussed the news of the day. Sports. Movies. Her favorite all-time movie was "The Dark Knight."

So it went. About 15 minutes later, I left. I wished them all the best. They said to be sure to come back and bring all my friends. I promised that I would, though I don't really have any friends who would ever come here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
In the Financial District, Mariah Carey helps usher in the start of the bikini bar war

New million dollar lofts in FiDi go from sliding rules to sliding doors

Just in case you thought there wasn't enough high-end condos in the Financial District. Debuted now on Fulton Street, a few doors west of our old friend the Blarney Stone...

Anyway, meet the Compass Lofts... oh, and excuse me, it's The Compass Lofts at 42 Ann Street. Even thought I'm standing on Fulton Street. Ann runs parallel to Fulton. And probably doesn't have as much of a stigma as Fulton Street, the home of, well, nothing.



Anyway, as the sign says, the lofts, which hit the market last week, start at $2.4 million... and they provide a nice view of the Beekman ...



Here's some of the listing:

The Compass Lofts is a landmarked boutique residential loft building in the heart of FiDi offering seven extraordinary homes that perfectly fuse 19th century distinction with 21st century luxury. Every aspect of the architectural restoration epitomizes the developer’s reverence for the building’s role in history as a symbol of precision and design integrity.

The Compass Lofts offers a choice of six gracious full-floor lofts and one newly added rooftop penthouse duplex. All offer grand living spaces that boast oversized windows, fireplaces and high vaulted-barrel ceilings that set the stage for dramatic entertaining. The loft layout bedroom area and spa-like baths provide for a quiet retreat. The open custom kitchen includes RAK Ceramics marbleized polished porcelain counters with premium Liebherr and Viking energy-efficient kitchen appliances. The penthouse duplex is flanked by spacious north- and south-facing terraces plus a private rooftop deck.

And a little history on the building:

It was built in 1892 and landmarked 113 years later. Now the former factory at 127 Fulton Street is on the brink of becoming one of the finest, best-restored residential buildings in the Financial District. The 10-story Keuffel & Esser building was named for the family-run company that built it. Famous among engineers who relied on its products, “K&E” was the brand of the early 20th century for all sorts of drafting materials and instruments — T squares, compasses, measuring tapes, leveling rods, surveying equipment, and even furniture. It was the first American company to manufacture slide rules, and its success helped make Lower Manhattan a commercial capital in the days when industry rivaled finance downtown

Here's more on the history of the company. And if you want to know more about the Compass Lofts, there's an open house on Sunday...

Chipotle's FiDi psych out

Well, the sign hanging in the window said the new Chipotle on Fulton Street in District was opening today.... and the people walked up for lunch and....



Heh!



Will need to walk over a few blocks to Maiden and Pearl for your saturated fat and sodium!

Signs of recovery on Wall Street

Someone is opening a 13,000-square foot dog hotel/spa in the Financial District

Gold Street turning yellow

40 Gold Street in the Financial District used to be home to Ryan's Sports Bar, a decent enough place to grab a drink without too many yahoos....However, the bar was demolished in early 2008 to make way for...




a 14-story, 56-unit apartment building... And finally, there's a little something to see...



As if you had a choice... this not-so-mellow yellow is hard to miss in its current state...




And it's brought to you by the aptly named Lamed Enterprises...



Meanwhile, the folks behind Ryan's have had a really difficult time. They lost this bar... and the other Ryan's the next block over on Cliff Street caught fire last month...

P.S.
One condo owner who lived near Ryan's didn't appreciate the place! From a post I did a few years back titled "Condo owner who likes the finer things didn't appreciate bar with dirty floors or kids" ...

11/11/2007 Posted by jakesloanesq
We are all working on building a better downtown. I bought a 1.5 million dollar condo around the block from this place. I stopped in one weekday during lunch (i was off.) The place had 3 patrons at the bar, all of which looked worse then the other. The decor is lacking, the floors dirty, and the food was just ok. This place may be decent for someone who does not like finer things or if you are under-age.

Federal Reserve tagged

So, at the Federal Reserve — home of the largest gold repository in the world, allegedly! — someone took to the side of this Financial District institution with spray paint a few days ago... Officials quickly covered up the offending comments with poster board and duct tape... what did the person write on the building?




Attempts to unfasten the poster board were unsuccessful due to the large amount of Federal Reserve officers making the rounds.

Security has been tight there, of course, since the elder brother of Hans Gruber knocked off the joint in "Die Hard: With a Vengeance".



In any event! Yesterday afternoon, a Fed Graffiti Removal Team arrived to assess the scene and clean...



And what did the vandal write?



From our untrained eye, it appears to say: Audit Me.

In the Financial District, Mariah Carey helps usher in the start of the bikini bar war

For years now, the duff-and-tumble Nassau Bar on Nassau Street has ruled the FiDi Bikini Bar scene...



Now, though, a new player has emerged on the scene: Hook and Ladder II, sibling of the Kip's Bay Hook and Ladder, on John Street near Water Street (and right around the corner from the luxury rentals at 200 Water)...



According to the signs, this rather humdrum spot is celebrating a (rebranding) "grand re-opening"...



...featuring the "Hook and Ladder II bikini bartenders," one of whom looks a lot like Mariah Carey in a firefighter's uniform ...



(Oh, wait! That IS a picture of Mariah Carey... nice of her to lend her image to the gang at Hook and Ladder II!)

Perhaps this new feature at the Hook and Ladder II will make up for the loss of Gramaldi's as an amentity for those Wall Street boys looking at 200 Water Street...

Former Strand Annex now a Lot Less closeout store

The Strand Annex at 95 Fulton Street in the Financial District closed in October 2008... due, in part, to a 300 percent rent hike on its 15,000-square-foor home...



...and now, I just noticed that a Lot Less closeout store has taken over the space...



One more strike against the reinvention of Fulton Street and FiDi...

Grimaldi's in the Financial District really, really REALLY facing eviction now

As Eater first reported, that superdeluxe Grimaldi's coming to John Street in the Financial Center was on the verge of eviction back in October. A notice appeared on the dormant Grimadli's site from the landlord's lawyers demanding $25,631 in back rent and other legal fees. The owners had until Nov. 5 to pay.

Well, now! Another notice has appeared on the door...




The total is now up to $62,767.91.




And the "tenant" has until Dec. 30 to take notice...or surrender the space...what next, triple secret eviction?

Back story: In July, it was announced that residents of the former NYU dorm next door at 200 Water St. would be able to bypass any lines at Grimaldi's and get free pizza delivery.

Get your Wall Street Burger!: The Open Door is now, um, open on John Street

Peter O'Connell and John Ronaghan, the proprietors behind Molly's Pub on Third Avenue and the Paris Bar and Grill on South Street, have opened their new gastro pub at 110 John Street in the Financial District.




Shall I try for the Wall Street Burger or the John's Street Burger? Does the Wall Street burger come with a bonus?



Oh, and a few doors to the west on John Street, the sign at the Chicken BonChon (former Zen Palate space) has come alive.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Owners of Molly's Pub giving FiDi a gastro pub

FiDi gets in on fried chicken craze: Bon Chon coming soon

Owners of Molly's Pub giving FiDi a gastro pub

Peter O'Connell and John Ronaghan, the proprietors behind Molly's Pub on Third Avenue and the Paris Bar and Grill on South Street, are opening a new gastro pub at 110 John Street in the Financial District. A liquor license is pending.




This is the former home of One Ten Bar & Grill, which closed in February.

Very bad things: Blarney Stone still closed on Fulton Street

No sign of any activity. If my math is correct, they've been closed now for 18 days.

Previously.

A model condo: An angel will try to earn her wings while living at the District

So, per usual, I was reading talkingmakeup.com, you know, the daily makeup and beauty blog, and I came across this item of interest.

For the first time ever, Victoria’s Secret has opened its legendary runway to the public by holding open casting events in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago where the country’s most beautiful women competed for a chance to be the next Victoria’s Secret’s Runway Angel.

A Victoria’s Secret panel of experts have narrowed down the field to 10 finalists, who were flown to New York City to take part in “Angel Boot Camp,” a series of challenges where the contestants will show their photogenic qualities, prove their abilities as a spokesmodel, show off their red carpet star quality and radiate charisma while walking a runway in lingerie.

Yeah, yeah, blah, blah...(Oh, wait: radiate charisma?)

While in New York, the finalists will stay at The District, a luxury condo building in the heart of Manhattan’s financial district boasting spectacular views of downtown Manhattan. Throughout their stay, the aspiring models will also enjoy such amenities as a roof deck with four pools, a lounge/library with fireplace, a billiards room, screening room and such elegant furniture by RentQuest.

That's one way to lure some horndogs to live in the District at 111 Fulton St., where some units are available.

Oh, and the weekly webisodes from Angel Boot Camp started airing last night, pervs. And I can't wait for the webisode where the models have to radiate charisma while walking past the MTA's Fulton Street pit and working a shift in the Nassau Bar...

The Blarney Stone is still closed

Perhaps they'll reopen in time to capitalize on the Yankees World Series victory parade Friday morning.

Previously.

Will a bite at the Roxy ever be the same?

The Roxy Food Shop, an EV Grieve favorite on John Street in the Financial District, is one of the few great old luncheonettes left...



Been there since 1944. As Jeremiah noted back in January, "It's got everything a luncheonette should have: chrome swivel stools, a quilted stainless steel backsplash, and good egg creams."



Was upset to see it closed for remodeling the other day. The new sign is already in place... Meanwhile, we'll remain hopeful that some of its charming greasy ambiance is left intact...



[Photo of swivel stools via Jeremiah]