White Plains bar-restaurant owner looking to open former Friend House space on Third Avenue

Last month, Friend House closed on Third Avenue at 13th Street... the for rent signs quickly went up... and someone is already looking to take over this prime space. There's an applicant for the address on this month's CB3/SLA meeting on June 18.

According to CB3 documents (PDF), one of the principals owns and operates two bar-restaurants in White Plains — the Brazen Fox and neighbor Ron Blacks. This yet-unnamed restaurant is proposing hours of 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week. The applicants — Niall Henry and Declan Rainsford — are also proposing an unenclosed sidewalk cafe on Third Avenue and 13th Street for seating up to 32 people from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to Westchester Magazine, Ron Blacks (currently closed for renovations) has 15 TVs and 40 taps. Brazen Fox, per the website, features a martini happy hour as well as nightly specials such as "Ladies Night" on Wednesdays and "Suds for Scrubs," a new promotion in which anyone showing a medical ID can get "$5 draughts."

Friend House closes on Third Avenue

Multiple readers this past weekend pointed out that Friend House has closed on Third Avenue at East 13th Street... there is the Marshal's notice ... as well as for rent signs...

Let's see... it was Hea until September 2009, when Friend House across the street took over the space (same owners)... Friend House ran afoul of the DOH several times ... we also recall attending a CB3/SLA meeting where residents complained about late-night noise from the second-floor bar...

DOH closes Friend House (again?) on Third Avenue

In late August, the DOH temporarily closed Friend House, the Asian bistro on Third Avenue at 13th Street. They reopened, or so I thought.

In any event, per the DOH website, Friend House has 83 violation points dated Thursday. Among the worst of the violations:

• Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
• Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

DOH temporarily closes Friend House on Third Avenue

Yesterday, the DOH temporarily closed Friend House, the Asian bistro on Third Avenue at 13th Street. Officials haven't posted the latest results online yet. In April, Friend House received 32 points, including for "Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas."