Whatever happened to the former Heathers space on 13th Street?

[EVG file photo]

Two retail spaces recently arrived on the market at 506 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...



Per the listing:

Brand new, mint-condition, white-boxed space with floor-to-ceiling windows (full glass front), exposed brick, recessed lighting, new hardwood flooring, partial kitchen (however no food establishments, please), renovated bathroom. Open floor plan with tons of potential. Similarly-finished but smaller second space also available next door (same address).

The rent is $107-$118 a square foot.

The larger of these spaces (the storefront on the west) was home for eight years (under two different owners) to Heathers, a bar-lounge hotspot of sorts that attracted plenty of press during its time here.

Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005, and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.) There was also plenty of CB3-related drama for Heathers with its liquor license in the fall of 2011.

New owners took over the bar during the summer of 2012 ... and the place abruptly closed in October 2013.

Post Heathers, the space has been on and off the market these past five years. I can't recall any business being in the space during that time.

No bars or restaurants wanted for the former Heathers space on East 13th Street

There's a for rent sign on the space that previously housed the bar Heathers. (Not sure how long the sign has been up here between Avenue A and Avenue B. This is the first that we noticed it.)

As you can see, the landlord doesn't want a bar or restaurant here...



Not surprising, considering that Heathers had a history of complaints and controversy.

Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005, and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.)

New owners took over the bar during the summer of 2012. The bar abruptly closed for good last October.

We didn't spot a listing online. Looks like you'll have to send an email to the landlord if you have an interest in the space.

That's it for Heathers ... for now

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Word on East 13th Street was that Heathers would close at the beginning of December. However, that closing came earlier than expected, as Grub Street first reported late yesterday afternoon. Per Grub Street, "the locks have been changed illegally."

Ray Lemoine and Michael Herman took over the bar just east of Avenue A during the summer of 2012.

Back to Grub Street:

Lemoine and Herman say they were gradually being pushed out of the bar, which came with a history of complaints and controversy. Initially, a cash settlement with the landlord established an end date of December 1, 2013 for the East 13th Street space.

Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005 ... and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.) You can read more about the bar's CB3 issues here.

We asked Lemoine a few questions via email last night about what's next.

What are your feelings about how things came to a rather abrupt end here?

Sad. Staff is sad, customers are sad. But I'm kind of happy I can stop drinking for a bit. Would have a proper send off.

Are you looking to relocate in the East Village?

We have a few great options right nearby and are looking to close a deal ASAP. We love the North East Village.

What's your assessment of the East Village nightlife scene these days?

I like many of the old bars. I love Lit for its club scene. But there aren't many cool new spots despite all the blogs telling you about these cool new spots. ACME is great, but it's in NOHO. Cocktail bars and $9 sandwich shops should be banned. Nightlife is pretty dead in the East Village in terms of, say, hearing a great DJ and dancing and not paying $12 for a drink. I miss The Hole. I mean, now that Heathers is closed, there isn't even a lesbian/heroin rock bar left in the East Village (frown face).

Heathers has new owners

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Yesterday, we noted the item about an Election Night Party at Heathers on East 13th Street. As a follow-up, the bar just east of Avenue A has been sold. We saw the listing for the space dating back to the spring... apparently the sale quietly went through late in the summer...

The partners are Greg Brier, Mark Dizon, Mike Herman and Ray LeMoine.

LeMoine said they kept the news of the sale pretty low-key. As for changes?

"We intend to keep Heathers the same," he said.

Owner Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005 ... and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.) You can read more about the bar's recent CB3 issues here.

Romney victory party tonight at Heathers

I was a little slow and thought it was real for a moment.

One of the newish co-owners kindly spelled it out for me.

Per Ray Lemoine: "This is a joke party. As in, we fucking hate Romney and this is satire."

But there is an Election Night party here.

Heathers lives

Last month, the CB3/SLA committee voted not to renew the East 13th Street bar's liquor license. So it was left up to the State Liquor Authority to have the final say. According to the Heathers Facebook page:

HEATHERS LIVES!
License is renewed, and in hand!!!

According to the SLA, the license now expires Oct. 31, 2013.

This is the second time in recents months in which the CB3/SLA committee voted not to renew a bar's license "with complaint history." ... only to have the State Liquor Authority give the OK for the renewal. (See TenEleven)

The campaign to save Heathers

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We talked about Heathers several times last week after the CB3/SLA committee voted not to renew the East 13th Street bar's liquor license. (You can read our posts here ... and here.) As we noted, the liquor license expires on Oct. 31.

Eater reports that the State Liquor Authority votes on the matter on Oct. 1 (They work on Saturdays?).

And more per Eater:

Rather than silently await their fate, Heathers is doing its best to turn public opinion in their favor by sending out a press release to plead their case. Owner Heather Millstone blames it all on the smoking law, saying that her customers have to go outside to smoke and despite their best efforts, sometimes these smokers make noise that drives her neighbors crazy.

You can read the rest of the post here.

Making the case to 'save' Heathers

We haven't heard much about Heathers — for or against — since the CB3/SLA committee voted not to renew the East 13th Street bar's liquor license on Monday. Members of the 13th Block Association and other residents brought "No renewal for Heathers" signs to the meeting. Residents speaking out against the bar talked about the Heather's crowd smoking pot, urinating in doorways and what not. (The Times highlighted the ongoing noise issues in a lengthy article in January 2007.)

Owner Heather Millstone reminded everyone how surveillance tapes that she provided helped lead to the arrest of former NYPD officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin L. Mata.

According to the State Liquor Authority, the license for Heathers expires on Oct. 31.

As you know, the State Liquor Authority has the final say in these matters. This doesn't mean that Heathers will close. As we mentioned earlier, the CB3/SLA committee voted to deny TenEleven's license renewal in July, though the SLA later approved it.

Meanwhile, Keith Wagstaff, a writer for The L Magazine, checked in yesterday with a post titled "Save Heathers! Beloved E Village Bar Under Attack From NIMBYs." He writes:

This simply shall not stand. Heathers has been in the neighborhood since 2005; it is a bastion for a diverse mix of gay and straight creatives who are looking for a drink in an increasingly frat-like East Village bar scene.

2005? Well, OK. Also...

The main problems, as a person who has been going to Heathers consistently for years, is a) the bar is on a side street instead of a main avenue b) it's just too damn popular. The East Village bar scene is basically becoming divided into fancy, $13 cocktail places and beer pong douche-a-ramas. ... There are very few bars in the East Village with an artistic bent and affordable drinks, and if Heathers goes, there will be one less reason to leave Brooklyn.

You can read the entire post here.

CB3/SLA votes against renewal for Heathers

[Heathers owner Heather Millstone and her attorney face the CB3/SLA committee. Photo by Shawn Chittle]

Heathers on East 13th Street is on the agenda for tonight's CB3/SLA committee meeting for a "renewal with complaint history" ... And after a lengthy debate, the committee has voted to deny the bar's request for the renewal, Shawn Chittle reports from the meeting.

The Times checked in with a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.

Nearby neighbors said that Heathers is the worst offender among the bars on the northern stretch of Avenue A (and the side streets). The matter may be taken up with the full Community Board on Sept. 27.

In any event, the State Liquor Authority has the final say in these matters. This doesn't mean that Heathers will close. For instance, the CB3/SLA committee voted to deny TenEleven's license renewal in July, though the SLA later approved it.

Grub Street has more here.

CB3 licensing meeting follow-up

The CB3's liquor licensing meeting from Monday night just ended about five minutes ago. Well, it was a seven-hour meeting. And Eater correspondent Gabe Ulla bravely sat through all of it.

Here's his report. A highlight:

Heather's Bar, which was under renewals with complaint histories, was by the far the most contested application of the night. The community came out in full force (signs reading "NO TO HEATHER'S BAR") to explain why they believe the owner is negligent and the space is a detriment to the neighborhood. Critics point to an overwhelming amount of noise and smoke, as well as Heather's inability to tackle any of these problems effectively. The owner of the space insisted that she has done everything to satisfy neighbors and comply with community board stipulations, but that it "doesn't seem to be enough." The fact that the establishment is on a side street only makes matters worse. The board agreed to hold off on a vote until the residents and the bar owner set up a meeting to attempt to work out their problems.

The Lo-Down was there as well at the meeting...

Previously.