Joey Bats Café has closed on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Over the weekend, the Joey Bats Café signage was removed from 50 Avenue B, marking the official end of the business here between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Joey Batista (aka Bats) opened his eponymous business here in October 2021. He initially sold his signature pastéis de nata from a sidewalk table until he debuted the cafe-bar late last summer.

While the Avenue B outpost is no longer open, Batista (below) will continue to sell his Portuguese custard tarts from several locations, including the Essex Market, Grand Central Terminal and Chelsea Market. (He's also expanding to Boston.) He'll also still use his shipping center on Houston Street near Clinton for nationwide orders. 

Batista was a former partner in the basement business at 50 Avenue B, GAMA Lounge. We hear that GAMA will take over the street-level space, though they have yet to respond to a request for more information.

Joey Bats Café making its Essex Market debut

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The latest Joey Bats Café makes its soft-opening debut today... at the Essex Market.

Yesterday, I spotted founder Joey Batista and his mother, Isabel Fernandes, at the market's newest stall...

The Café only serves original-flavor pastéis de natas (aka, Portuguese custard tarts) and Portuguese coffee, with other flavors planned for the future. 

Joey is aiming for daily hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — except Sunday when the Market closes at 6 p.m. 

After visiting with Joey and Isabel, I went downstairs to see the Market Line, which sadly was pretty empty compared to the bustling Essex Market.

News broke earlier this month that the food hall inside Essex Crossing is closing on April 1. The vendors I spoke with asked me to tell people they will be here for another month and a half...

Openings: Joey Bats on Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Joey Bats Café recently debuted at 50 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. (The space had previously offered sidewalk service here while renovations were underway inside.) 

Portugal native Joey Batista (aka Bats) is offering his signature pastéis de nata along with Portuguese coffee here during the day (there's an 11 a.m. open) with bar service in the late afternoons/evenings.

The space includes a foosball table... expect it to be a place to watch soccer (football!)... the rolldown gate features a mural of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two-level space also sports a lounge featuring comedy and live music in the basement.

Batista started selling the Portuguese custard tarts several years before opening his first outpost at 129 Allen St. near Rivington. 

[Updated] Expired health permit temporarily sidelines Joey Bats Café

Photos by Stacie Joy

Updated 4/4: Joey Bats reopened today after paying the fines.

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Joey Bats Café is temporarily closed at 129 Allen St. 

A posted notice from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene noted that the business was operating without a permit.

Owner  Joey Batista (aka Bats) responded with a message for patrons:

"I forgot to renew the health permit and it expired (Doh)! This means that despite my 'A' rating, I have to stay closed until Monday when the fine can be paid..."

We've seen similar DOH notices at Downtown Bakery on First Avenue (dated Feb. 21) and Mochinut on Second Avenue (dated March 21). Both of those businesses remain closed ... apparently, the city isn't able to expedite these permits any more quickly than five-plus weeks. 

Joey Bats opening a shipping outpost on Houston Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Signage is up for a Joey Bats outpost on East Houston Street between Clinton and Attorney.

Owner Joey Batista (aka Bats) told us that this will be the HQ for his online business. (The company sells natas across the United States via Goldbelly.)

He said he'll also host some pop-up events here as well as promote his two neighborhood locations — 129 Allen St. and, soon, 50 Avenue B.

As for the Joey Bats Café slated for B between Third Street and Fourth Street, he's waiting for all the necessary paperwork to process before opening.

Batista, the son of Portuguese immigrants, started selling pastéis de nata at street fairs around New York in 2016 before opening a location on the LES.

Joey Bats Café offering a sneak preview outside new Avenue B home

Photo last week by Stacie Joy

Joey Bats Café is opening soon at 50 Avenue B... and starting last week, they've been peddling their pastéis de nata from a sidewalk table here between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Joey Batista (aka Bats) started selling the Portuguese custard tarts several years back before opening his first outpost at 129 Allen St. near Rivington.

Here's more via a Hungry City feature at the Times from April 2019:

Mr. Batista, 39, the son of Portuguese immigrants, started selling pastéis de nata at street fairs around New York in 2016. The recipe was developed by his mother, Isabel Fernandes, a formidable home cook who made desserts for her brother's restaurant in their hometown, Ludlow, Mass., before heading the kitchen at her son's cafe.

The Avenue B location — a sizeable two-level space — will feature elements of the cafe as well as a lounge featuring comedy and live music. Joey Bats received approval for a liquor license here during last month's CB3 meeting.

No. 50 has sat empty for several years. The pizzeria Johnny Favorite's shuttered on the Fourth Street side in August 2017 after debuting in April 2015. Lovecraft, inspired by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, closed in early 2018 after three-and-a-half years in business.