ICYMI: Hunan Slurp Shop closes on 1st Avenue

Hunan Slurp Shop has closed at 112 First Ave., just south of Seventh Street. 

The restaurant opened here in May 2018, bringing Hunan-style rice noodles and other dishes inspired by chef-owner Chao Wang's hometown of Hengyang, China. Wang, who spent 25 years as an oil painter, brought an artist's background to the restaurant, which later earned recognition from the Michelin Guide.

In a farewell message on Instagram, the Hunan Slurp team thanked customers for their support over the years. 

"From the first bowl of Lu Fen to countless dinners, celebrations, and memories shared around our tables, Slurp has always been about more than food." 

No reason was cited for the closure. The restaurant closed on Sept. 27.

The team here also runs Sofun Noodle Bar in Summit, N.J.

Hunan Slurp Shop now in soft-open mode

Signage at Hunan Slurp Shop, 112 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, points to a month-long soft-opening phase that started yesterday. (Per Eater, reservations are required for this first week.)

The chef, Chao Wang, reportedly spent the past 25 years as an oil painter.

Here's a little preview via Eater:

Now, he’s opening a restaurant inspired by his hometown of Hengyang in the Hunan province of China.

Wang’s Hunan version of mifen (rice noodles) will not be as “aggressive” in its spicy-sour flavoring compared to Yunnan soup noodles, according to a statement, instead looking to the ingredients such as fish for umami or subtler flavors. Mifen variations on the menu include a bowl with bone marrow and a Tonkotsu-style broth and another stew with pig’s feet. Cold and hot small plates are also on the menu, like braised chicken feet tossed in spicy oil and stir-fried smoked pork and bean curd.

The restaurant's media outreach included Urban Daddy, who called the Slurp Shop "a modern space for modern Chinese made by a highly talented, highly homesick chef-slash-artist."

You can find the menu and photos of the food here.



The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Previously

And now, your Slurp Shop signage

The restaurant is taking shape over at 112 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... the sign is up ...



And since the last look at the spot, the Hunan Slurp Shop launched a website (touting that it's "New York's Best Rice Noodle Restaurant") with a few more details and interior shots.

Our mission is to bring the best Hunan flavor from Southwest China to New York City. We call our Chinese Hunan province rice noodle "Mifen", incorporating seasonal and local flavors into dishes.

And one of the interior renderings ...



No word on an opening date. Their posted hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday; until 11 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday.

The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hunan Slurp Shop coming to former Ricky's space on 1st Avenue

EV Grieve Etc.

A few items to note from recent days/weeks...


Photo Thursday by Steven

The Quick Repair and Electronics shop — specializing in cracked smartphone screens — is now open (as of March 16) at 151 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street... in the former TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken space.

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The former Community 54 space on Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street is for rent. The listing at Steve Croman's 9300 Realty isn't online just yet.

Not sure exactly when the boutique closed. (It looked shuttered a few times late last summer, then the place was back open.) Community 54 opened in July 2014.

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The incoming Hunan Slurp Shop on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street is hiring...



The restaurant's menu is now online here.

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Bring it Back has opened its first shop (this happened in late February) ... on Avenue C near 10th Street...



You can read more about the brand here.

The address was briefly Michelle Alteration & Boutique, which just opened late last summer.

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[Photo last Thursday by Steven]

Still House, which sells jewelry and home goods, is now open in their new storefront at 307 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... they relocated from 117 Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

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An EVG reader said that Resobox, a gallery, workshop (with a variety of classes) that celebrates Japanese culture, also has a cafe in the space here on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. They serve a variety of coffee and teas.

This spot was previously the Edge, the bar that closed in September 2016 after 29 years in business.

Hunan Slurp Shop coming to former Ricky's space on 1st Avenue

The coming-soon signage is up at 112 First Ave., where Hunan Slurp Shop will presumably be serving rice noodles here between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...



Not sure who's behind the venture just yet. (Has a familiar ring to Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop in the Gotham West Market.)

The retail listing for No. 112 mentioned a garden. So perhaps the Slurp Shop will have seating out there.

The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Before Ricky's, the space was home until 2007 to Miracle Grill. The restaurant's garden space was where the residential building is now at 92 E. Seventh St. (No. 92, which was the salon connected to Ricky's, appears to still be for rent as a separate storefront.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Former Miracle Grill space on the market

One restaurant, two buildings

Miracle (Grills): A Ricky's and not an eatery opening on First Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed