Saturday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Frankfurters + ticket at Katz's ...

Delicore: The line to see Diplo at Katz's After Dark Sunday night

We received some curious queries about the long lines outside the venerable Katz's Delicatessen on Sunday night... as lines of partygoers stretched in both directions here on Houston and Ludlow. (Thank you to Lisa Holiday for the top pic!)

This was billed as "Katz's After Dark" — "Invite only, for the industry by the industry" — and presented by Red Bull, as part of their Summer Sessions series, and the clothing brand Mr. Saturday. 

Attendees received complimentary Red Bull cocktails from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. ... and the usual Katz's fare.

There were four DJs on the bill, Joey Saturday, Mona Matsuoka, Gonnie Garko and headliner Diplo ...

This appears to be a one-time event, though there is a Katz's After Dark Instagram account in case there's ever a next time.

Katz's previously hosted Vogue's Pre Met Party this past spring. 

A first: Katz's unveils some sidewalk seating

Katz's, which has remained open this spring with takeout and delivery, debuted its first-ever (in 132 years!) outdoor seating this week... there are six socially distant tables set up on the Ludlow Street side of the deli here at Houston...



And as I understand it, you buy the food inside and bring it out... there isn't any table service.

Report: Man arrested for attempting to kidnap 5-year-old boy outside Katz's

The Post is reporting that a man was arrested after allegedly grabbing a 5-year-old boy on the sidewalk outside Katz's early yesterday morning.

There aren't many details at the moment. Per the Post:

Eric Visa, 46, approached the child as he was walking outside the famous Lower East Side eatery with his family shortly after midnight, according to law enforcement sources.

The creep, who was wearing a top hat, grabbed the boy and walked away before the mother noticed and chased him down, the sources said.

Visa was tracked down by police and arrested at about 3 a.m. He was charged with attempted kidnapping.

The Citizen app listed the address as 164 Ludlow St., which is near Stanton Street...

The Times reveals the Streit's-replacing condos; Ben Shaoul wordsmiths gentrification

[Streit's factory photo via BoweryBoogie]

We've been talking about "Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream" this past week.

The documentary by East Village-based filmmaker Michael Levine started its week-long run Wednesday at the Film Forum. (There's also a Streit's-related exhibit happening at Art on A Gallery, 24 Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street.)

The last family-owned matzo bakery in America closed its four-building factory on Rivington Street last year after 90 years in that location. As you likely know, the developers who bought the property have condos planned for the site.

Today, The New York Times published the first rendering of the new residential complex (the article was online on Thursday, which is why you may have seen this already elsewhere) ...


[Volley Studios via the Times]

Per the Times, 150 Rivington will be a 7-story glass condo "that will house 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Sales begin in May, with one-bedrooms starting at around $975,000."

Developers said that they plan to decorate the lobby with memorabilia from the original building.

BoweryBoogie also has part of an interview with Streit's co-owner Aron Yagoda, who tells of Mayor de Blasio snubbing his offer of a tour of the factory.

Streit's now operates out of more modern facilities in Rockland County.

-----

The piece in the Times focused on small businesses on the Lower East Side that are disappearing... and how Katz's was able to continue moving into the future by selling their air rights for $17 million... so that developer Ben Shaoul could then tear down the rest of the block
for an 11-(or 12!) story condoplex with an Equinox Fitness in the retail space on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard.

Ray's Pizza, Bereket and Lobster Joint, among others — closed or moved in the process.

"I’m sorry they went out of business, but it’s part of evolution," Shaoul told the Times. "You call it gentrification, I call it 'cleaning it up.'"

Send a salami to your boy next door in the condo

The branding is up on the plywood, as Curbed noted, on East Houston between Orchard and Ludlow ... where Ben Shaoul is dropping in an 11-story condoplex with an Equinox Fitness in the retail space.

In total here at 196 Orchard St., there will be 94 units — studios to three-bedroomers ... with pricing starting at just under $1 million and measuring from 555 square feet.

And as BoweryBoogie pointed out yesterday, the sales messaging relies upon next-door neighbor (and air rights seller) Katz's...



Here's another marketing photo via the 196 Orchard teaser site...


[Hey yoo guys — this isn't the Surf Inn!]

And BoweryBoogie brought this up: "How long before these future tenants start bitching about the smells emanating from the kitchen of Katz’s?" The air was resplendent (or whatever) with the delicious smell of pastrami last evening while taking these photos on Orchard. (Note to self: Pastrami-Proof© Windows?) One former resident of The Ludlow wrote some years back how much she won't miss the "smell of pickles from Katz [sic] Deli that I am forced to inhale when walking home every day."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

The one level row of storefronts on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard are now business-free with the exception of Katz's.

Empanada Mama is the last to bow out...


[Photo via @fnytv]

They aren't going to far away as the sign notes — 95 Allen St., as first reported by BoweryBoogie.

So everyone else, including Ray's Pizza, Bereket and Lobster Joint, among others — have closed or moved to make way for Ben Shaoul's new development... Oh, there it is!



Shaoul's latest is a 10-story building with 83 residential units spread out over 95,000-square feet... plus 13,500 square feet of ground-floor retail.

Katz's, who sold their air rights to help make this happen, isn't going anywhere.

H/T EVG reader Chris F.

Reports: Katz's sells air rights, but will remain in its home of 126 years

In case you missed this story from Friday … Katz's has sold its air rights. However, the 126-year-old deli isn't going anywhere. Just getting some new neighbors, mostly likely.

BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down first reported on this Friday morning.

There is a lot of speculation on the future of the block of East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard…



First, part of the Katz's statement via BoweryBoogie from co-owner Jake Dell:

The most important thing is that the future of Katz’s is secure — at the end of the day, no developer can ever come in and knock us down to put in a high rise. At no point will anyone value the corner of Houston and Ludlow for anything other than Katz’s Delicatessen. A year after our 125th anniversary, this will help ensure that we can see our 150th, and hopefully many more to come.

As for the rest of the block… BoweryBoogie reported back in March that Ben Shaoul was close to buying that L-shaped parcel of single-level businesses. Several of the restaurants have already cleared out, including (sob) Bereket.

The 2008 Lower East Side rezoning allows for buildings up to 12 floors (120 feet) here.

You can get a choice seat to this likely incoming development from one of those new condos right behind Katz's.

What it will cost to live behind Katz's

[EVG photo from Sunday]

As we pointed out on Monday, the long-delayed condo project is ready for sales action at 179 Ludlow St. (In 2008, the Voice dubbed the long-stalled building "The Rat Castle" thanks to its rodent infestation at the time.)

The Real Deal got the scoop on what to expect:

The building will contain six floor-through condos above the ground-level retail space. Each of the units on the second through fifth floors is nearly 1,100 square feet with balconies at the front and rear and loft-style elevator access. The second-floor unit also has access to a private garden. Prices start at $1.65 million.

Hopefully the aroma of Katz's pickles won't bother these folks.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Notorious 'Rat Castle' being pitched as 'Swank' on Ludlow Street

'Rat Castle' condos now on the market

Noted

Reports Newsweek:

Twenty-five years after Meg Ryan faked cinema’s most famous orgasm in Katz’s Deli, customers still follow her lead in the 126-year-old Lower East Side establishment.

Sexually charged gasps and moans fill the deli “at least a couple times a month,” says co-owner Fred Austin, who’s in the process of transferring management to his nephew Jake Dell. He’s reluctant to admit they’re staged.

The movie was released on July 21, 1989.

The overnight work on the East Houston Street sinkhole

Crews worked around the clock to repair the sinkhole that formed after a ruptured pipe flooded East Houston Street with mucky water yesterday morning.

EVG reader Connor Sheets took these photos between 1:30-2 a.m. …





East Houston Street was closed between Allen and Essex after the 20-inch water main dating to 1959 broke.

"When that type of water starts rushing out of a pipe, it's gonna take everything with it," Jim Roberts, the city Department of Environmental Protection's deputy commissioner of water and sewer operations, told the Daily News.

This stretch of East Houston has seemingly been under construction since 1959 … however the DEP claims that the break is an anomaly, according to NBC News.

The DEP said they shut off the water to five adjacent businesses and eight residential buildings. Katz's, who sustained heavy losses after its basement flooded, was able to remain open for business during all this — the deli is connected to an adjacent main. Unfortunately, its neighbor, the Lobster Joint, didn't fare so well.

"We're out of business," general manager Alex Linomontes told The Wall Street Journal. "We still have bills to pay, and there are hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage."

In the basement, workers in industrial rubber boots waded through stagnant brown water, salvaging what they could. Mr. Linomontes said he lost refrigerators, boilers, and other equipment to flooding — along with tens of thousands of dollars worth of seafood.

East Houston was expected to be open to motorists later this morning.

This photo (via BoweryBoogie) by @ja0095 is the best shot that we've seen of the damage…

Updated: Part of East Houston is currently flooded, along with Katz's basement

Yikes! Part of East Houston near Ludlow is currently flooding (flooded?). Save the pastrami!

Not sure what is going on at the moment here ... crews have been working on the water mains as part of the never-ending East Houston reconstruction project now in its 457th year...

Updated 11:21: yep. Water main break per a reader at the scene.

Thanks to @maraaltman for the photo!

Houston floods. Luckily, looks like the water is going around the brisket. pic.twitter.com/N49wUlKvHQ

— Mara Altman (@maraaltman) May 22, 2014

Updated 12:02 p.m.

The basement at Katz's has reportedly flooded.



Updated 1:01 p.m.

Here's a shot of the damage on East Houston... a sinkhole has formed on the the eastbound lanes between Orchard and Ludlow...


[Photo via @luxtravelstyle]

Updated 1:27 p.m.

Katz's remains open!

Katz's is still open, despite the water main break. Just don't try to drive on Houston for a while... pic.twitter.com/BNc6c8TtfZ

— Katz's Delicatessen (@KatzsDeli) May 22, 2014

Updated 3:58 p.m.

According to published reports, 13 nearby buildings are now without water after the circa-1959 pipe broke under East Houston. In addition, Brooklyn Vegan notes that tonight's Stone Jack Jones and Ex-Cult shows at the Mercury Lounge have been cancelled tonight.

And there you have it...


[Photo via @hanakanna]

One way for your apartment to smell a little bit like Katz's

Courtesy of the Chocolate Egg Cream Candle.

Per the Katz's website:

Transform any room into a delicious blast from the past. These delightful candles are sure to sweeten up your day.

It will cost you $25, though.

We'll echo The Forward here: "When’s the pastrami sandwich candle going to debut?"

Why there were 20 women having fake orgasms at Katz's

For comedy, of course ... via Improv Everywhere:

For our latest mission we recreated the famous fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally with 20 women in Katz’s Deli. This was staged without the knowledge of the restaurant, though thankfully they all seemed to love it.

This project is part of our new series, Movies in Real Life. Every Tuesday, we’re releasing a new video that brings an iconic movie moment to life in the real world.

As you may recall, the so-called "prank collective" had some 100 people camp out in front of the 99-cent store on First Avenue next to the Rite Aid last Black Friday. Hijinks ensued, sort of.

H/T Gothamist

Put 5 pounds and 125 years of Katz's on your coffee table

As you might know, there's a new coffee-table book out now titled "Katz's: Autobiography of a Delicatessen," released to coincide with the deli's 125th anniversary.

There was a big book launch (it is a big book — weighing 5 pounds with 384 pages) last night at Katz's (we were invited but declined)... Here's a little more about the book via the official news release:

This special edition features over 600 striking color photographs by Baldomero Fernandez, which provide indelible images of the storied pastrami stations, distinctive signage, well-loved dining room, and kitchen, as well as the people on both sides of the counter — cutters, servers, kitchen workers, and customers — while part-owner Jake Dell’s text reveals the deli’s rich and compelling 125-year history, including the characteristics of the traditional Jewish foods that are at the core of Katz’s culinary legend, such as the difference between pastrami and corned beef, the deli’s own unique pickling process, and more.

Lunch at Katz's today

EVG reader Riad asks, "I'm not usually around these parts during the day on a weekday, but is this common for Katz's on a Friday?"

Good question! I'm never around these times either. And don't know if there's usually a line now...

Summer Friday Tourist Season?

These people just ate a shitload of pastrami from Katz's

Wow. World champion competitive eater Joey Chestnut ate 25 7-ounce pastrami sandwiches to win the first ever Katz's Delicatessen World Pastrami Eating Championship trophy this afternoon on Orchard Street.



Photos by Stephen Popkin.

BoweryBoogie has video here if you can stomach it! The Lo-Down has photos here.

Katz's at 125

A look at the deli this morning... celebrating 125 years in business this weekend... nice that crews from the Houston Street corridor reconstruction left the crane parked right outside for all today's festivities!



There will be live entertainment all day...



...including sets from EVG reader Stephen Popkin, who will be playing a selection of death metal music throughout the decades... (from the 1930s, 40s, etc.)...





Also today, the Katz's Delicatessen World Pastrami Eating Championship takes places as part of DayLife on Orchard Street. Find that info here.

On East Village Radio Friday, AndrewAndrew delivered their show live from Katz's. Find that archived program here.

Behold the Katz's Delicatessen World Pastrami Eating Championship trophy

From the Katz's Facebook page:

This trophy will be awarded to the winner of the first ever Katz's Delicatessen World Pastrami Eating Championship. Come watch the event this Sunday at 2 pm on Orchard St. between East Houston St. and Delancey St.

All part of Katz's 125th anniversary this weekend.

Katz's at 125

[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

All sorts of things going on starting today to celebrate Katz's 125th anniversary. See their website for some details here.

Meanwhile, in honor of this occasion, The Jewish Daily Forward assembled an interactive timeline of deli's history starting in 1888. Find that here.

As for us, we stopped by the other evening to take photos of the sawdust on the floor...



... and the men's room door...



Jeremiah Moss recently spoke with Katz's owner. "I just couldn't imagine it becoming a condo, or having someone else running it. I could not handle that." And all is well for now.