After 25 Years on Avenue A, Juicy Lucy will move following vandal attack

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After 25 years at 85 Avenue A, René Henricks is ready to pack up and move Juicy Lucy. 

According to Henricks, on Tuesday morning around 11, a man carrying a shovel and another tool walked up to the juice and coffee shop, smashed its front window, and menaced the counterperson before continuing north on Avenue A toward Tompkins Square Park. 

Henricks shared an image from the surveillance video...

... as well as a low-resolution video of the attack...

 

Henricks (pictured below) told me in an interview yesterday that "that's it, the last straw," and she's relocating her business from here between Fifth Street and Sixth Street in the days ahead.

Tuesday's incident aside, she has noticed an uptick in unhinged behavior and a general menacing undercurrent in the area since the pandemic. 

She has pleaded with the landlord to install a gate to protect the area where people camp out in front of Takahachi and DROM next to her storefront but to no avail. Henricks mentioned a fatal overdose in the nook a few months ago. She also said that she has to clean up needles and personal belongings daily.

The unnamed employee of two years working during the attack said that the man "seemed angry with the world and frustrated by the world" and noted that neither she nor Henricks had seen him before. He didn't say anything to her during the incident. 

"I'm angry too! It's my responsibility to keep my staff safe, the landlord's responsibility to keep the building safe, and the Mayor and the city's responsibility to keep us all safe," Henricks said. "We have a good business, a quiet business, a family business."

I contacted the 9th Precinct, which confirmed the report and said that the detective's squad was investigating the matter. The perpetrator is, at present, unknown. The charge listed on the police report is felony criminal mischief. 

Henricks, a longtime East Village resident, said she loves the neighborhood and plans to relocate nearby. The Juicy Lucy kiosk on First Avenue and First Street will remain open with extended hours.

The Juicy Lucy kiosk returns to service on 1st Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After a hiatus, the Juicy Lucy kiosk is back open on First Street at First Avenue. 

Owner Rene Henricks (below) celebrated the reopening this past Saturday...

... with a small sidewalk party during the afternoon...

The kiosk is a scaled-down version of Juicy Lucy's main location — 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street — offering their most popular bottled cold-pressed combos, Acai smoothies and café con leche.

Until Henricks can hire enough staff, the kiosk will be open on weekends (though doubtful during inclement weather). The Avenue A outpost is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The Juicy Lucy at First and First opened in 1996 (the Avenue A location in 2000).  

Re-openings: Juicy Lucy returns to 1st Street

Juicy Lucy reopened yesterday for the warmer-weather months at its tropical-looking shack on First Street and First Avenue.

For now, their hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday... where you can find a variety of to-go items, including juices and coffee – similar to their outpost on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

The Juicy Lucy at First and First opened in 1996 (the Avenue A location in 2000).

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A visit to Juicy Lucy on Avenue A (May 6)

A visit to Juicy Lucy on Avenue A

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Rene Henricks, owner for the past 23 years of Juicy Lucy’s Juice Bar, appears slightly frazzled but still happy to see me when I show up to take some pictures and ask questions about the business.

She’s concerned about her employees and when she can bring them back to work at her two outposts — 72 E. First St. at First Avenue and 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

For now, just the Avenue A location is open, where Henricks is every day making juices, smoothies, acai bowls and coffee drinks. There are also prepared and healthy snacks to go. I quickly try to get my questions and photos in, mindful of any patrons — spaced 6 feet apart outside — waiting to order.



What changes have you had to make since the new COVID-19 regulations went into place?

Besides not having a staff, you mean? For their protection and because they have families, it’s not safe for them. I had to close one location and now only have the Avenue A store open. God forbid, I can’t expose my staff to this virus.

Other changes? People are being a lot more patient, they are more polite. The masks, the plastics and the shields. And all that. The produce prices have also gone way up, I have seen that, and I am hoping they are going to level out soon.



What are the most popular items people are ordering now? How, if at all, has that changed from before this health crisis?

Watermelon juice, which is now in season. Celery juice. Wheatgrass shots, ginger shots, and green juices. I can’t make enough cold-pressed juices to fill demand. As soon as I fill the fridge it’s empty. People are buying in bulk. Some people come and buy a week’s worth of juice at a time. Because my store is so small, I don’t have room for things to sit, so everything is fresh.

Do you have any recommendations for what folks can eat or drink to help boost immunity and remain healthy?

Wheatgrass. The chlorophyll is healing — it’s really a miracle juice. Also, fresh-squeeze orange juice, plenty of Vitamin C. I sell that by the quart and you can get a dollar off if you bring the bottle back.

I know the neighborhood is grateful Juicy Lucy’s is open during this stressful time. How are you holding up?

Well, most days are good, but toward the end of the day I tend to snap. But I also bounce back a lot quicker. I am trying not to hold on to things. The business is very labor-intensive, and you need to provide good customer service. And when I am tired it’s harder. I love the neighborhood. I feel like I am established, that people want me to be here.

This is good, and I am lucky to have a job! If I were home, worried about how I was going to pay my bills, I’d be a lot more stressed out. At least now, I am working every day, making some money to put into the business and that gives me some security.





The storefront is open from approximately 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily, although hours are flexible. She recommends calling ahead at 212.777.LUCY.

Nexus of the Juiciverse: Juicy Lucy's kiosk at 1st and 1st returns to action

Juicy Lucy reopened yesterday for the warmer-weather months at its tropical-looking shack on First Street and First Avenue.

You can find a variety of juices, smoothies, coffee, breakfast breads and pastries, among other quick-serve items here – similar to their outpost on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

The Juicy Lucy at First and First opened in 1996 (the Avenue A location in 2000). You can read more about the business via this EVG feature from 2014.

Juicy Lucy's 1st Street outpost is on a winter break

The rainbow gate has been down at the Juicy Lucy outpost/shack on First and First (prompting one nervous query from an EVG reader about its status).

However, there's now a sign on the kiosk, noting a break for the winter...



The Avenue A Juicy Lucy location (at No. 85 between Fifth and Sixth) remains open in the meantime.

The Juicy Lucy at First and First opened in 1996 (the Avenue A spot in 2000). You can read more about the business via this EVG feature from 2014.

A good happy hour

$2 cold brew at the Juicy Lucy's stand on First and First... 4-6 p.m. Monday though Friday.

Double rainbow outside Juicy Lucy on 1st Street

A look at the two new rainbow murals at the Juicy Lucy stand on First Street at First Avenue... courtesy of Antony Zito.

The EVG reader who shared this photo also pointed out the discarded Rainbow Apples box here...