Unapologetic Foods looking at the former Huertas spot on 1st Avenue

The team at Unapologetic Foods — owner Roni Mazumdar and Chef Chintan Pandya — has an application in for a liquor license at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ... the former Huertas space. 

According to public records and posted notices, reps for the hospitality group (they're behind Dhamaka in the Essex Market and Adda Indian Canteen in Long Island City) will appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee next Monday, July 15. (Questionnaire PDF here.)

The application for the unnamed Indian concept shows proposed daily hours of noon to 2 a.m., with plans for a small sidewalk cafe and several tables on a back patio within the property line. 

Unapologetic also operates the fried-chicken outpost, Rowdy Rooster, at 149 First Ave. at Ninth Street, and the Filipino restaurant Naks, 201 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

Huertas closed last August after 10 years in service. The building had a new landlord, and chef Jonah Miller said he could not agree to "suitable terms" for a new lease. 

Reps for Paulie Gee's Slice Shop looked at this space late last year, though those plans didn't move forward.

The July 15 SLA meeting starts at 6:30. Find the Zoom link at this link.

This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Paulie Gee's Slice Shop in the works for the former Huertas space on 1st Avenue

Paulie Gee's is coming to the East Village. 

Reps for the popular Greenpoint pizzeria are on CB3's SLA docket tonight for a liquor license at 107 First Ave., the former Huertas space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Paperwork (the PDF is here) shows that the space will hold 63 guests (16 tables) with an eight-seat bar. The proposed hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., with a 2 a.m. close Thursday through Saturday. 

This will be the first Manhattan location for the brand... which now has outposts in Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Paul Giannone opened the first location in Greenpoint in 2010, and the lines followed.

Huertas closed in August after 10 years in service. There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller said that he could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease.

Tonight's SLA meeting starts at 6:30. Find the Zoom link at this link.

This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Last week for Huertas

As a reminder... Huertas, the popular Basque restaurant at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is closing... Saturday is the last night in service. 

There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease, he previously announced. 

So in case you want to pay a visit... Huertas is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-10 p.m. ... with an 11 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday. 

Find reservation and menu info here.

Huertas opened in April 2014.

Top photo from January

Huertas is closing next month on 1st Avenue

And the closing hits just keep on coming.

Huertas, the popular Basque restaurant at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, will shut down next month. 

And it isn't over a lack of business. Chef-co-owner Jonah Miller explained the situation — a new landlord — in an email to patrons yesterday. 

It's with a great deal of sadness that I share that Huertas will be closing on August 12th. 

Our building was purchased a couple of months ago and our 10-year lease is coming to an end soon. I've been negotiating with the new landlord, but we haven't been able to come to a number that works for both sides. 

Our last service will be Friday, August 12th. Until then we will be open 5 days-a-week, Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday/Monday). While it's certainly been a difficult situation to navigate and it's an upsetting outcome, I hope that the next several weeks can be celebratory. 

For nearly a decade we've been passing pintxos and pouring vermouth on 1st Avenue. We've hosted weddings, countless birthday celebrations, and made many friends along the way. 

We're not sure what’s next, but we're proud of the restaurant we’ve built. We have every intention of finishing strong and hope to see many of you in the coming weeks! 

 Thanks for the support! 

Public records show that an LLC called First Avenue Property Owner with a Great Neck, N.Y., address bought the three-building parcel — 105-109 First Ave. — in a deal worth nearly $14 million.

News of the closing circulated quickly... several EVG readers wrote in about it, lamenting the loss of this space with a friendly, professional staff ... and savory small plates to share.

Huertas opened in April 2014. 

Image via the Huertas website.

Huertas officially opens this week on First Avenue

We've been watching the progress over at 107 First Ave. between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street, where Huertas, a restaurant featuring "the cuisine of Northern Spain," is set to debut.

Fork in the Road reports that chef-owner Jonah Miller will officially open the doors tomorrow evening (they've been in soft-open mode since last Tuesday).

Here's more about Miller, who started working in restaurants in the city at age 14, via FITR:

Miller's inspiration comes from a variety of experiences. "When I was coming up, it was a time when Spain was influencing cooking throughout the world," he says. "That and the fact that Spanish was spoken in kitchens made me want to study abroad in Spain in college. When I was there, I realized the experience of eating in Madrid is not really available in New York."

So he built it, giving an East Village space a revamp to make it feel old — "We want people to feel like they've been here before," he explains …

This address was previously home to L'asso EV, the pizzeria that closed in July 2013.

Here's is the restaurant's website with more info and menus and stuff.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Huertas, opening this spring on First Avenue

Huertas, opening this spring on First Avenue

[Photo by Bill the Libertarian Anarchist]

Just taking a quick look at 107 First Ave. between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street… where renovations continue for Huertas, a restaurant featuring "the cuisine of Northern Spain."

Here's more about chef-owner Jonah Miller's first restaurant via the Huertas website:

Born and raised in New York, Jonah Miller ... began spending his summers working in some of New York’s greatest kitchens when he was 14, beginning with two seasons at Chanterelle and then moving on to Gramercy Tavern and Savoy, among others. Most recently, Jonah was part of the opening team at Danny Meyer’s Maialino, where he spent three years.

After leaving Maialino, Jonah returned to Spain, where he had spent a semester during his Food Studies and Restaurant Management B.S. program at NYU. A month spent eating his way around northern Spain provided the finishing touches to the vision behind Huertas.

The restaurant is expected to open this spring. You can find a sample menu here.

This address was previously home to L'asso EV, the pizzeria that closed in July 2013.