Liquiteria has apparently closed on 4th Avenue

The Liquiteria on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street is no longer in business...



EVG regular Laura pointed this out to us late last week, noting the store had been closed in recent days. It appears all three Liquiteria locations in the city shuttered. Their website is no longer active and the phone numbers are disconnected. (Perhaps this means that they'll be a liquidation for Liquiteria?)

The original Liquiteria opened on Second Avenue and East 11th Street in 1996, long before the juice/smoothie craze took hold. Founder Doug Green sold the business several years ago to a group of investors who then opened several more outposts.

The Second Avenue location closed in October 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• East Village-based Liquiteria taking over Gray's Papaya space

• Liquiteria coming soon to former Blimpie space on 4th Avenue

• A new look for the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street

Owner of Tompkins Square Bagels wants to bring the old Liquiteria vibe back to the original space

[File photo via Liquiteria]

Liquiteria closed this past Friday after 22 years on Second Avenue at 11th Street.

However, the space may not remain vacant for too long. Christopher Pugliese, the owner of Tompkins Square Bagels, is exploring taking over the storefront, partnering with Taras Strachnyi, who runs beQu Juice on Ninth Street, for a quick-serve juice spot and health-focused cafe.

"We have already seen the inside and have a decent rent in place," Pugliese said. "The aim is to bring the old Liquiteria vibe back to the original space. I think we both agree that the juice business has gotten a bit too corporate and sterile."

In Pugliese's opinion, Liquiteria was kind of the Tompkins Square Bagels of the juice business until founder Doug Green sold the business several years ago.

"We want to bring that feel back into the business. Give it the same feel and vibe of Tompkins Square Bagels," he said. "We’d offer organic juice made to order. None of this pre-bottled nonsense. This means we would have an actual staff who would interact with the guests. I know that’s not in vogue these days but that’s how we are going to do it. We will probably have healthy breakfast options too."

Strachnyi, a longtime East Village resident, worked at the original Liquiteria, and left after Green moved on. He opened his juice business on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue in January 2014. (Strachnyi would also continue running beQu.)

Pugiliese opened Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A in December 2010. The Second Avenue outpost arrived in November 2016.

As for this new, unnamed venture, "We are going to try. We hope to pull it off."

Last day for Liquiteria on 2nd Avenue

As I first mentioned on Monday, the Liquiteria on Second Avenue and 11th Street is closing after service today.

There's no official word why this location of the chainlet is shutting down after 22 years of serving smoothies and various juices. Liquiteria fans craving a Bulldozer smoothie can still visit the locations that will remain open, including 13th Street and Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue at Eighth Street.

Meanwhile, a for rent sign is up on the storefront...

Liquiteria closing 2nd Avenue outpost after 22 years in business

EVG reader Kiki shares this photo and tip — the Liquiteria on Second Avenue and 11th Street is closing after service on Friday.

No reason was cited for the closure — just a thanks to Liquiteria's customers and neighbors.

Doug Green started Liquiteria here in 1996, long before the juice/smoothie craze took hold. Green sold the business several years ago to a group of investors who then opened three more outposts. Those nearby locations at 13th Street and Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue at Eighth Street will remain in business.

Liquiteria opens today on 4th Avenue

At East 13th Street. The original Liquiteria opened on Second Avenue and East 11th Street in 1996.

Meanwhile, next door, Desi Shack debuts later next week.

It will be the second Manhattan location for the quick-serve Pakistani restaurant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village-based Liquiteria taking over beloved Gray's Papaya space

Liquiteria coming soon to former Blimpie space on 4th Avenue

A new look for the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street

Liquiteria coming soon to former Blimpie space on 4th Avenue

The quickly expanding Liquiteria mini-chain announced several new locations around the city in January … including one at Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street.

The plywood is down now at the former Blimpie space on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street … revealing the Liquiteria signage.

No word just yet on an opening date. Liquiteria's flagship store is on Second Avenue at East 11th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village-based Liquiteria taking over beloved Gray's Papaya space

A new look for the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street

East Village-based Liquiteria taking over the Gray's Papaya space

By now you likely heard that Gray's Papaya, the beloved longtime hot-dog dispensary on Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue, abruptly closed on Wednesday, as Eater first reported.

The story quickly unfolded in the ensuing 24 hours… turns out the landlord was jacking the rent up to $50,000 a month from $30,000, per Fork in the Road.

Yesterday afternoon, East Village-based Liquiteria emerged as the new tenant for the familiar corner of Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue. Eater, who has been All. Over. This. Story. ... quoted from the chirpy Liquiteria news release: "Liquiteria's new West Village location, at the iconic corner of 8th Street and 6th Avenue, is the former location of legendary Gray's Papaya. Liquiteria is excited to create a health and wellness oasis on this vibrant corner in the dynamic West Village neighborhood."

The quickly expanding Liquiteria also announced that it would open a new location on Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street this spring. We originally heard from a Fourth Avenue tipster that the former Brothers Deli and Dryden Gallery spaces would become a Juice Generation and Pie Face.

Well, Pie Face opened in October … so perhaps Liquiteria is opening in the Dryden space… or, perhaps, in the now-vacant Blimpie location on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street.

Liquiteria's flagship store is on Second Avenue at East 11th Street.

[Image via Eater]

Did Starbucks borrow East Village juice bar ideas?

According to Page Six today — yes! Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz reportedly hired away the manager of Liquiteria on Second Avenue and 11th Street to train staff in Seattle for the chain's new juice-bar concept. Liquiteria owner Doug Green had this to say about Schultz "He befriended us, asked about our concept, then took her. It is a huge slap in the face."

Schultz had been spotted checking out Juice Press on First Street and Liquiteria back in March.