Pasta for the former Koko Wings on 1st Avenue

A restaurant specializing in pasta is in the works for 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

We're told that the owners of Gelatoville on First Avenue at 10th Street are behind Pasta de Pasta, a Turkish pasta concept for this space. 

The space was most recently Koko Wings, a quick-serve restaurant specializing in Korean fried chicken, which recently closed after a December 2019 debut. 

This marks the latest vacant upper EV First Avenue storefront to land a new tenant... coming soon:

• Sweet Cake, 215 First Ave. 

• The Onion Tree Pizza Co. at 214 First Ave. 

• The Lazy Llama Coffee Bar, 194 First Ave. 

• Lilly's Shakes & Crepes, 186 First Ave. 

 H/T Greg Goldberg

Koko Wings has apparently closed on 1st Avenue

Koko Wings looks to be done at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

The quick-serve restaurant specializing in Korean fried chicken has been closed in recent weeks. Google lists them as "temporarily closed." No one responded to our requests for comment. 

Meanwhile, the retail space is on the rental market via Meridian Capital Group. The asking rent is $13,500. 

Perhaps in an early sign of distress this past summer, Koko Wings began advertising a price drop and that tipping was not necessary (photo from July by Steven)...

Koko Wings debuted in December 2019... this was already a wing-friendly corridor along First Avenue with Dan and John's and Atomic Wings... then Buffalo Wild Wings opened early last fall ... plus, there's Wingstop around the corner on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Space 194 has closed on 1st Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

Space 194 is now officially closed. There wasn't any public notice — via a sign or an Instagram post — from ownership about the closing.

On Dec. 27, we mentioned the for rent sign that arrived on the door here at 194 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. The hybrid tea-coffee shop-gallery opened in December 2018.

Meanwhile, as we also noted on Dec. 27, Koko Wings, which specializes in Korean fried chicken, is now open right next door. This is Koko's second NYC outpost.

The address was previously the Neptune, the Polish-American diner shut down in December 2016 after 15 years in business. According to one source, the rent doubled.

After Neptune's departure, the landlord divided up the restaurant into two retail storefronts. Chelsea Thai gave it a try for five months in the space that Koko now occupies. Upon closing last January, Chelsea Thai founder-chef Saruj Nimkarn said that there wasn't enough business here for him to make the rent. He had been in the Chelsea Market for 21 years.

Koko Wings debuts on 1st Avenue

Koko Wings, which specializes in Korean fried chicken, is now open at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

This is Koko's second NYC outpost. The other is on West 106th Street, which got a nice writeup via Westside Rag upon opening in 2014:

The wings are marinated in either soy garlic or hot and spicy sauce, both of which were tasty. You can also order drumsticks or chicken strips in the same marinades. The Kimchi cole slaw had a nice kick, as expected. Other Korean dishes like mandu (dumplings) and pa-jeon (scallion pancakes with seafood) are also on the menu...

This storefront was home for a brief five months to Chelsea Thai, which closed in January — this after 21 years in the Chelsea Market. Chelsea Thai founder-chef Saruj Nimkarn said that there wasn't enough business here to make the rent.

The address was previously the Neptune. The Polish-American diner closed in December 2016 after 15 years in business. According to one source, the rent doubled.

After Neptune's departure, the landlord divided up the restaurant into two retail storefronts. Space 194, a hybrid tea-coffee shop-gallery, is in the other half, but not for long.

As this photo via EVG regular Lola Sáenz shows, there's a for-rent sign now on the front door...



The shop opened last December.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chelsea Thai coming to former Neptune space on 1st Avenue; Filipino fare for Avenue A

Chelsea Thai debuts on 1st Avenue

Chelsea Thai closes after 5 months on 1st Avenue

Koko Wings waiting to take flight on 1st Avenue

Renovations continue at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

As we pointed out back on Sept. 30, Koko Wings, specializing in Korean fried chicken, is opening its second NYC outpost here. (The other is on West 106th Street.)

That 106th Street locale got a nice writeup via Westside Rag upon opening in 2014:

The wings are marinated in either soy garlic or hot and spicy sauce, both of which were tasty. You can also order drumsticks or chicken strips in the same marinades. The Kimchi cole slaw had a nice kick, as expected. Other Korean dishes like mandu (dumplings) and pa-jeon (scallion pancakes with seafood) are also on the menu...

An opening day for the EV location hasn't been announced.

Despite good food and intentions, the previous tenant here, Chelsea Thai, closed after five months in business this past January.

Koko Wings spreading to 1st Avenue

[Photo from January by Steven]

Koko Wings will be setting up shop at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

This will be the second NYC location for the restaurant (the other is on West 106th Street) that specializes in Korean fried chicken.

Here's how our friends at the Westside Rag described the UWS menu when it opened in 2014:

The wings are marinated in either soy garlic or hot and spicy sauce, both of which were tasty. You can also order drumsticks or chicken strips in the same marinades. The Kimchi cole slaw had a nice kick, as expected. Other Korean dishes like mandu (dumplings) and pa-jeon (scallion pancakes with seafood) are also on the menu...

According to Meridian Retail Leasing, this space will also feature an 800-square-foot backyard.

This storefront was home for a brief five months to Chelsea Thai, which closed in January — this after 21 years in the Chelsea Market. Chelsea Thai founder-chef Saruj Nimkarn said that there wasn't enough business here to make the rent.

The address was previously the Neptune. The Polish-American diner closed in December 2016 after 15 years in business. According to one source, the rent doubled.

After Neptune's departure, the landlord divided up the restaurant into two retail storefronts. Space 194, a hybrid tea-coffee shop-gallery, is in the other half.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chelsea Thai coming to former Neptune space on 1st Avenue; Filipino fare for Avenue A

Chelsea Thai debuts on 1st Avenue

Chelsea Thai closes after 5 months on 1st Avenue