Hakata Zen is now closed for renovations on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

The gate is down at Hakata Zen at 31 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. The sign says there's a renovation, with the hope of reopening as soon as possible.

The Hakata Zen website is offline, leading to some thoughts that we're in for a concept switcheroo here. That might not come as a surprise, given the recent turnover here.

As previously noted, the restaurant at No. 31 was a Hakata Hot Pot/Zen 6/Sushi Lounge combo since March 2016. A year later, it became Noodle Cafe Zen presents Sushi Lounge & Hakata Hot Pot. (This is ALL on the midterm FYI. This post recaps the switcheroo-ing.)

Eventually the space just became Hakata Zen.

Meanwhile, the Zen 6 over on Sixth Street became the vegetarian szechuan spot Spicy Moon.

Updated: A commenter says a broken pipe is to blame for the closure...

Sushi Lounge emerges from a crowded combo of brands at 31 St. Mark's Place

[Image from June 15 via Facebook]

Since March 2016, the restaurant at 31 St. Mark's Place was a Hakata Hot Pot/Zen 6/Sushi Lounge combo.

Now, though, it appears the owners have opted to go with the familiar Sushi Lounge name for the space, as the new sign debuted here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue last Friday...



Also, here is the new menu cover...


[Image via Facebook]

So it appears to officially be Noodle Cafe Zen presents Sushi Lounge & Hakata Hot Pot.

To recap!

Higher rents chased Sushi Lounge from St. Mark's Place and Avenue A at the end of October 2013. (The corner space is now home to Empellón al Pastor, a bar with tacos.)

The owners of Sushi Lounge were also the new proprietors of Natori at 58 St. Mark's Place. (The original Natori, a longtime favorite, closed in November 2012.)

Then what was operating as the second Natori became Sushi Lounge in January 2014. Then they added the Hot Pot component. Then they all moved out of No. 58 to No. 31 in March 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
As the sushi turns: Sushi Lounge now operating out of the former Natori space on St. Mark's

Hakata Hot Pot (RIP Sushi Lounge) has moved on St. Mark's Place

Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge, housed in the retail spaces at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue, are no more.

The restaurants shut down at the end of February. According to the owner, they lost their lease. (The building's new landlord is Raphael Toledano.)

However, Hakata Hot Pot will live on. Here's the message via Facebook:

Attention all of our guests!

Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge will move from 58 Saint Marks Place to 31 Saint Marks Place from March 1st.

Hakata Hot Pot had started 1983 as NATORI Restaurant.

Unfortunately we lost our lease in this place, and now we are going to join our sister restaurant Zen 6 since 1985 on the heart of Saint Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd avenue.

Zen 6 is Ramen restaurant, and we will add new Japanese Hot Pot on the menu.

Our new restaurant name is Hakata Hot Pot & Zen 6.

Please visit feel free to our new location and enjoy our authentic Hakata style izakaya food.

Thank you for your patronage.
owner
Hideyuki Okayama

Let's see if we have this straight. Higher rents chased Sushi Lounge from St. Mark's Place and Avenue A at the end of October 2013. (The corner space is now home to Empellón al Pastor, a bar with tacos.)

The owners of Sushi Lounge were also the new proprietors of Natori at 58 St. Mark's Place. (The original Natori, a longtime favorite, closed in November 2012.)

Then what was operating as the second Natori became Sushi Lounge in January 2014. Then they added the Hot Pot component.

Anyway, what we do know is that Hakata Hot Pot and Zen 6 will be under one roof at 31 St. Mark's Place...



H/T EVG reader Morgan!

Previously on EV Grieve:
As the sushi turns: Sushi Lounge now operating out of the former Natori space on St. Mark's