Local business emerges from sidewalk bridge obstruction after 19 months on Avenue A

Workers yesterday removed the sidewalk bridge and scaffolding from the Avenue A side of Steiner East Village here between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Aside from providing a mostly full reveal of the 82-unit condoplex ... it marks the first time in 19 months that Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. hasn't had its entrance and sunlight obscured by the construction gear...



As the owners of the sandwich shop and retail outlet posted on Instagram: "Good riddance. We will not miss you one bit."

In total, 19 of their 29 months in business have been under the doom and gloom of a sidewalk bridge... not to mention all the construction noise that went with it, often seven days a week.


[Photo from Oct. 7]

It hasn't been all bad for Harry & Ida's — they were able to open a luncheonette in the Financial District last month.

Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Company now open on Avenue A

[Image via Facebook]

The siblings who own Ducks Eatery on East 12th Street are behind Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Company, which opened today at 189 Avenue A.

The New York Times has a mini preview today of the shop between East 11th Street and East 12th Street:

It’s named for their great-grandparents Harry and Ida Zinn, Hungarian immigrants who had a store in Harlem. The market specializes in preserved foods: pickling, hot- and cold-smoking, fermenting and canning to make goods as varied as old-fashioned pastrami and smoked eels for sandwiches.

EVG reader Shawn Chittle stopped by earlier. "Feels like a Vermont supply shop. Smells like the country. They have breads and meats and all sorts of stuff," he said via email. "Some will like it. Not sure they have what people around here want — time will tell."

Previously, the space was going to be home to I Cipressi, but the Italian restaurant wasn't able to open. Vampire Freaks was the last tenant here, closing in December 2011.

Updated 3:21 p.m.

You know the Times wasn't kidding when they mentioned eels... EVG reader Riian Kant-McCormick notes that the store has a tank of live eels... (does this count as a fishmonger???)



Previously on EV Grieve:
Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. coming to Avenue A

Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. coming to Avenue A

And speaking of mystery storefronts on Avenue A... signage is up for the incoming retail tenant at 189 Avenue A between East 11th Street and East 12th Street — Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. ...



We don't know anything about the venture (Retail? Restaurant? Both!) just yet...

Previously, the space was going to be home to I Cipressi, but the Italian restaurant wasn't able to open. Vampire Freaks was the last tenant here, closing in December 2011.