A retail reset at 20 St. Mark's Place

The retail reset is complete at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

The MG Artistic Hair Salon opened in the upper space at the beginning of April. The brand has several NYC outlets as well as one in Boston and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

As previously reported, Manhattan Pawffice, a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg, opened in the lower level last fall. 

We spent a lot of time in both retail spaces in years past. Sounds closed upstairs in October 2015 after 36 years in business. This was the last record shop on St. Mark's Place. 

And downstairs, the Grassroots Tavern closed following New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years in service. 

In January 2016, Klosed Properties bought the landmarked 20 St. Mark's Place from Jim Stratton, who was also the majority owner of the Grassroots. At that time, a source said that the bar had a lease for the next five years, with an option after that for renewal. According to public records, Klosed Properties paid about $5.6 million for the building.

Stratton told Bedford + Bowery that the rent had just become too high. "We were not forced out by any means, it would just have required a radical change for the business and the way we operate. We basically decided we had to throw in the towel." (Several GR regulars wondered why Stratton, as the seller of the building, didn't negotiate a favorable lease for his bar.)

In the past six years, at least two potential tenants were going to take space here, including this pub concept that signed a lease, but nothing materialized until last fall.

No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of the subterranean space that the Grassroots had included a theater saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler, per Daytonian in Manhattan.

Top photo by Steven

Openings: Pawffice on St. Mark's Place

Photo by Steven

Manhattan Pawffice, a doggy daycare, debuted last week at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

This is a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

The Grassroots Tavern, the last tenant in this lower level where we spent many late afternoons and evenings, closed after 42 years in service following New Year's Eve 2017.

A quick look at Manhattan Pawffice, opening next week at 20 St. Mark's Place

Photos by Derek Berg 

Back on Oct. 3, we reported that a doggy daycare was the new tenant for the long-empty retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

More specifically, this will be Manhattan Pawffice, a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg. 

Per their NYC website: "Welcome to our dog daycare and boarding facility located in the heart of the East Village. With spacious play areas and a vast backyard, your furry friend will have plenty of room to run, play and rest." For anyone curious, there is outdoor space behind the building. 

The building does have outdoor space in the back. (The previous tenant, the Grassroots Tavern, never used it.) 

The Manhattan Pawffice website lists a grand opening on Monday.

The Grassroots Tavern, the last tenant in this lower level of the landmarked building, closed after 42 years in service following New Year's Eve 2017.

Here's the next business for the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

There's finally a new tenant for the long-empty retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

A worker on the scene told EVG contributor Derek Berg that this lower-level storefront — the longtime home of the Grassroots Tavern — is becoming a doggy daycare center.

And that's all we have at the moment.

At least five brokers have tried to lease the space since the Grassroots Tavern closed here after New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015).

At least two potential tenants have kicked No. 20's tires (including this pub concept that signed a lease), but nothing has materialized since January 2018.

As noted, No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

Saturday's opening shot

As seen on the door to the former Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark's Place... another RIP St. Mark's (or St. Marx) seeing as the one on 5 St. Mark's Place is going, going...

Yet another broker for 20 St. Mark's Place

Your attention please, now pitching for 20 St. Mark's Place: Tri State Commercial Realty. 

The landmarked building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue is now on its fifth (by our count) broker for the retail spaces here since the space became available after the Grassroots Tavern closed here on New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015) ...

Per the listing: 

• Formerly Grassroots Tavern 
• Ground Floor unit has backyard potential 
• 2,000 SF basement included with Parlor Level
• White-Boxed 
• 1st floor parlor has great fitness space potential 
• Can combine spaces

Speaking of White-Boxed, here's a listing photo showing the space that housed the GR...  

At least two potential tenants have kicked No. 20's tires (including this pub concept that signed a lease) but nothing ever materialized these past 5.5 years.

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The Grassroots Tavern closed on New Year's Eve 2017, and the space is still empty

Here's a look this morning at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

As we mentioned in the fall, the retail spaces now have their fourth broker looking to lease the storefronts.

The Grassroots Tavern was the last business here, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower level. The upstairs tenant, the record store Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

And perhaps in 2023, we'll see a new tenant here.

As a P.S., we were sorry to hear that longtime co-owner Doug "Dougie" Bunton (who always wore the same leather vest!) died back in the spring at age 67. We did not receive any other details about his passing. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• An end of an era at the Grassroots Tavern

• RIP John Leeper

• RIP Bob Spedalere

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• After 42 years on St. Mark's Place, the Grassroots Tavern closes on New Year's Eve

Another new broker for the long-vacant 20 St. Mark's Place

There's a new for-lease sign outside 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

This is at least the fourth broker to try to lease the long-empty retail spaces.

The dearly beloved Grassroots Tavern was the last business here, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower level. The upstairs tenant, the record store Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

According to the new ARA listing, two storefronts are available — separately or as a combo. 

Here's a look at the former Grassroots via the listing images ... (wonder if the place still smells like burnt popcorn?) ...

As you can see, those incredible old murals that workers uncovered during renovations have been removed/covered.

No mention of the asking rent for the storefronts. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times, dating to November 2018, for a liquor license for a new restaurant for the address. They've moved on to other places.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place 

A new broker for 20 St. Mark's Place

Our favorite building to write about here!

Workers recently removed the plywood after eight months from outside 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... and, late last week, yet another for lease sign (for a different broker) arrived on the long-empty retail spaces...  hopefully, you can see the sign! 

The dear, old Grassroots Tavern closed in the lower space after service on New Year's Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run on the block. The upstairs retail tenant, Sounds, shut down in October 2015, and the spaces have been vacant ever since. 

As noted many times before, No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times dating to November 2018 for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds storefront. There was speculation that they were also taking the GR space.

And in recent years, we've seen some extensive gut renovations occurring inside the former Grassroots, where some pretty cool murals were uncovered from a previous business life. 

Meanwhile, the new retail listing for No. 20 is at this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place 

Retail space on the market at 20 St. Mark's Place

A new retail-restaurant for lease banner hangs on 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

We've been wondering what might be happening with this landmarked building. Hard to believe that the Grassroots Tavern has been gone this long already, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower space. The upstairs retail tenant, Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

As noted many times before, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times dating to November 2018 for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds storefront. There was speculation that they were also taking the GR space.

And in recent years, we've seen some extensive gut renovations occurring inside the former Grassroots, where some pretty cool murals were uncovered from a previous business life. 

Meanwhile, the new retail listing for No. 20 isn't online just yet. 

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place