Brooklyn Dumpling Shop setting up shop on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Photos by Steven]

Signage for Brooklyn Dumpling Shop arrived back on Friday at 131 First Ave. (aka 82 St. Mark's Place) ...



This will be the first storefront for Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, a food truck business affiliated with Brooklyn Chop House.

They plan to sell 32 varieties of dumplings 24/7. Here's a look at their exterior plans, via Facebook...



For now, you can visit the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop website for details and updates. (They were planning on a June opening.)

Workers divided this former single-occupant storefront into three spaces. Eiyo Bowl, a vegan quick-serve restaurant specializing in acai and rice bowls, was the first tenant to sign a lease here, as previously reported.

The previous tenant, Foot Gear Plus, closed in July 2018 after nearly 40 years in business.

Resurfacing the sullied sidewalk on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Back on Friday, we noted that workers put in a new sidewalk around the recently renovated storefront on the southwest corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place... and they left the freshly poured sidewalk unattended overnight. Which resulted in the top photo.

Anyway, here's a look at the sidewalk now ... workers were able to buff it out (or to smooth it over via, say, QUIKRETE® Concrete Resurfacer?)... thanks to Steven for these photos...





Previously on EV Grieve:
A new East Village walk of fame? (31 comments)

A new East Village walk of fame?

Workers yesterday were putting in a new sidewalk around the recently renovated storefront on the southwest corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place... and they left it unattended overnight.

And so this morning...





And obviously...



Anyway, workers have divided this former single-occupant storefront into three spaces. Eiyo Bowl, a vegan quick-serve restaurant specializing in acai and rice bowls, will be the first tenant here at 131 First Ave. (now going by 82 St. Mark's Place), as previously reported.

The previous tenant, Foot Gear Plus, closed in July 2018 after nearly 40 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

• What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

• A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces

Here's the all-new storefront at 131 1st Ave.

Workers yesterday removed the plywood from the all-new 131 First Ave., the gut-renovated storefront at St Mark's Place... (thanks to MP for the photos!)



Workers have been dividing the storefront — now using the 82 St. Mark's Place address — into three retail spaces. As noted back in the summer, Eiyo Bowl, a vegan quick-serve restaurant specializing in acai and rice bowls, will be the first tenant. No word yet on who the other two tenants might be for this prime corner space.

Foot Gear Plus closed in July 2018 after nearly 40 years in business.


[EVG file photo]

Previously on EV Grieve:
After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces

Eiyo Bowl confirmed for part of the former Foot Gear Plus space on 1st Avenue at St. Mark's Place

Eiyo Bowl confirmed for part of the former Foot Gear Plus space on 1st Avenue at St. Mark's Place

[EVG photo from June]

Eiyo Bowl, a vegan quick-serve restaurant specializing in acai and rice bowls, will be the first tenant at 131 First Ave. (now going by 82 St. Mark's Place).

Here's more via news release (h/t Upper West Sider!):

The restaurant capitalizes on the quick-serving of foods from multi-cooking pressure crockpots and a streamlined supply of frozen vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients, that allows a low overhead in food acquisition, preparation, and serving. A specialty of Eiyō Bowl includes “Matcha Acai”, an originally conceived item that blends acai, matcha powder, coconut milk and banana.

Workers have been gutting the single-level structure ... and dividing the storefront into three retail spaces. No word yet on who the other two tenants might be for this corner space.

The previous tenant, Foot Gear Plus, closed last year at this time after nearly 40 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces

A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces

The gutting of 131 First Ave. at St. Mark's Place continues.

There's not much left of the single-level structure, which was home for years to Foot Gear Plus.




[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]

The property had been on the sales market, with a pitch mentioning 4,150 square feet of air rights.

According to a filing that hit public records in November, the property changed hands for $3.85 million. The new owner is an LLC that shares an address with HUBB NYC Properties LLC, a real-estate operating company.

However, workers are now dividing the storefront into three spaces — without any vertical extension. Per the listing at Meridian Retail Leasing:

• Single story commercial building delivered vacant in the East Village.
• Corner property with excellent visibility in highly trafficked location.
• Prime value-add opportunity to establish a retail or food and beverage presence.

The storefront rendering via Meridian Retail Leasing shows the graffiti intact on No. 131's surrounding walls ...



The largest of the three spaces (510 square feet) has a monthly rental ask of $11,000. The smallest (410 square feet) space seeks $9,000.


[Click on image to go big]

As for Foot Gear Plus, Tony Scifo, who opened the shop here in 1980, told this to EVG contributor Stacie Joy last July: "After several years of peaks and valleys in business there were just too many valleys. Companies now sell direct to consumers and once they started offering free shipping it was all over. This is happening everywhere, not just locally. The landlord wanted us to stay. She offered us a fair price and she's been great. We just couldn't make it."

Tuesday's parting shot

A not-too-old (15 years?) ghost signage reveal at the former Foot Gear Plus on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place... the shop closed in July 2018 after 40-plus years on this corner.

The empty storefront is currently being divided up into several retail spaces.

Plywood treatment for the former Foot Gear Plus on 1st Avenue as storefront renovation looms

Last Wednesday, workers surrounded 131 First Ave. with plywood...


[Top photos by Steven]

We received several queries about what was happening to this single-level storefront at St. Mark's Place that was home to Foot Gear Plus for 40-plus years until July 2018.

According to the work permit on file with the city, in the DOB's ALL-CAP STYLE: "THIS JOB IS IN HUB SELF-SERVICE AND CANNOT BE VIEWED UNTIL ACCEPTED." (Boo!)


[Reader-submitted photo from last Wednesday]

The property had been on the sales market, with a pitch mentioning 4,150 square feet of air rights.

According to a filing that hit public records in November, the property changed hands for $3.85 million. The new owner is an LLC that shares an address with HUBB NYC Properties LLC, a real-estate operating company.

Late last November, the retail-for-rent signage went up on the corner space.

The listing with Meridian Capital shows that the storefront can be divided up into three smaller spaces ... with a "brand new build out."





Presumably the plywood represents the start of this new build out for retail use... and not a demolition for use as a residential spot.

Meanwhile, as EVG reader Elissa notes, the plywood has been tagged and wheatpasted...



Previously on EV Grieve:
After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

Retail space for lease now at 131 1st Ave., which has a new owner

[Photo by Steven]

The for-lease signage arrived yesterday at 131 First Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space at St. Mark's Place.

The property had been on the sales market since the 38-year-old shop closed last July. Here's how the Meridian Investment Sales team was pitching the prime lot:

Owned by the same family for 54 years, this single story building, located on the southwest corner of St. Marks Place and First Avenue, presents a distinct opportunity for an investor or end-user to establish a retail or food and beverage presence.

The property is currently constructed as a single story, 1,350 square foot building with a large usable basement. Investors have a unique value-add opportunity to either reposition the retail or monetize 4,150 square feet of air rights in the future.

According to a filing that hit public records last week, the property changed hands for $3.85 million. The buyer is an LLC that shares an address with HUBB NYC Properties LLC, a real-estate operating company.

So given the rental signage here (the listing isn't online yet), the new landlord is looking to reposition the retail as opposed to tearing down the structure for a new residential building — for now, at least.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space?

Foot Gear Plus closed this past July 31 after nearly 40 years on the southwest corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

The space — 131 First Ave. — has been on the market since then. Per Meridian Investment Sales:

Owned by the same family for 54 years, this single story building, located on the southwest corner of St. Marks Place and First Avenue, presents a distinct opportunity for an investor or end-user to establish a retail or food and beverage presence.

The property is currently constructed as a single story, 1,350 square foot building with a large usable basement. Investors have a unique value-add opportunity to either reposition the retail or monetize 4,150 square feet of air rights in the future.

The listing at LoopNet notes that the property is now in contract. (There wasn't any mention of the price.)

So we'll see what the new owner has in mind with those air rights... and that artificial turf atop 134 First Ave.!



As for Foot Gear Plus, Tony Scifo, who opened the shop here in 1980, told this to EVG contributor Stacie Joy in July: "After several years of peaks and valleys in business there were just too many valleys. Companies now sell direct to consumers and once they started offering free shipping it was all over. This is happening everywhere, not just locally. The landlord wanted us to stay. She offered us a fair price and she's been great. We just couldn't make it."

Images via LoopNet

Previously on EV Grieve:
After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Foot Gear Plus has closed on 1st Avenue

Foot Gear Plus is now closed on the southwest corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

As we first reported back on July 11, Tony Scifo, who opened the shop here in 1980, recently made the difficult decision to close his family-fun business on July 31.

Scifo told this to EVG contributor Stacie Joy:

"After several years of peaks and valleys in business there were just too many valleys. Companies now sell direct to consumers and once they started offering free shipping it was all over. This is happening everywhere, not just locally.

The landlord wanted us to stay. She offered us a fair price and she's been great. We just couldn't make it."

No word just yet on who the next tenant might be in this high-profile corner space.

After nearly 40 years, Foot Gear Plus is closing on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Photos by Stacie Joy]

Tony Scifo, who opened Foot Gear Plus at 131 First Ave. and St. Mark's Place in 1980, recently made the difficult decision to close his family-fun business at the end of the month.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the store yesterday and spoke with Scifo. Here are excerpts from the conversation...

"The 31st of July is the last day at Foot Gear Plus. I made the decision to close about three months ago. After several years of peaks and valleys in business there were just too many valleys. Companies now sell direct to consumers and once they started offering free shipping it was all over. This is happening everywhere, not just locally.

We offered great merchandise and great service — no gimmicks. But we just can't compete with online.

The landlord wanted us to stay. She offered us a fair price and she's been great. We just couldn't make it.

We're cleaning out merchandise now — everything is 20 percent off with limited stock/sizes. Prices might drop a little bit more before we close for good, but we might not have too much more inventory. Come in now if you need shoes but there's no hard sell. You can save a few dollars.

We have no plans to have an online store and no plans to reopen. After 40 years I want to spend time with my family and see what's next. You know in 40 years I don't think we ever opened even a few minutes late."

Village Kids Footwear, which Tony's sister Linda Scifo-Young operated a few storefronts away, closed late last summer.