From Kingston with love

We've been keeping an eye on the former Holy Basil space on Second Avenue near East Ninth Street... Last fall, the DOH hit the Thai eatery with 110 violation points, and they never reopened.

In December, an entity named "Honey Rider LLC" went before the CB3/SLA committee... and the owners of Shoolbred's and the Ninth Ward on Second Avenue were behind the new venture (named for Ursula Andress as Honey Rider in "Dr. No"?).

Anyway, Grub Street had more details yesterday on the new venture... it will be called Kingston Hall. One of the owners said that "the theme is Jamaica in 1962: The country has just become independent and the vibe is still 'British colonial, but with a sixties feel ... not Bob Marley, more Ian Fleming.'"

(Which explains the James Bond reference... and our stupid headline. Wait till we try to work in Pussy Galore.)

And they expect to open Friday night... the photo above shows how the exterior (above The 13th Step sign) was looking this past weekend.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Holy Basil closed, space for rent

Holy Basil remains closed for 'technical difficulties'

Shoolbred's-Ninth Ward owner bringing Caribbean cuisine to former Holy Basil space

An entity titled "Honey Rider LLC" is on Monday night's CB3/SLA docket. Honey Rider (Ursula Andress played Honey Rider in "Dr. No"!) is looking to take over the former home of Holy Basil, the Thai place on Second Avenue that closed in October after "technical difficulties."

According to documents (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, Robert Morgan, one of the owners of Shoolbred's and the Ninth Ward on Second Avenue, is behind the new venture. He and his partner plan to serve "Caribbean cuisine," with operating hours of 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 1 p.m.-4 a.m. on Friday; Noon-4 a.m. on Saturday; and noon-1 a.m. on Sunday, according to the documents.

No word yet on any Bond theme.

[Image via]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Holy Basil closed, space for rent

Holy Basil remains closed for 'technical difficulties'

Holy Basil closed, space for rent

Two weeks ago, we reported that the DOH closed Holy Basil, the second-floor Thai eatery on Second Avenue near Ninth Street... According to their outgoing message, they were closed for "technical difficulties."

Now the restaurant has closed for good — there are for rent signs in the window...

Interesting that the realty sign says "retail" and not "restaurant."

In any event, the DOH handed Holy Basil an ugly 110 violations points, including for evidence of live mice and roaches in the "facility's food and/or non-food areas."

Holy Basil remains closed for 'technical difficulties'

A reader notes that Holy Basil, the second-floor Thai eatery on Second Avenue near Ninth Street, remains closed for "technical difficulties," according to their outgoing message. They have been closed for a week. The place is sealed up ...

...with no sign of explanation for diners...

Well, the DOH socked them with 110 violation points, and temporarily closed them last week... the DOH report is as ugly as it gets... "evidence" of live mice, roaches, etc.