Demolition permits filed for 99-101 E. 2nd St.; first look at the condoplex to come

As previously reported, developer Sergey Rybak has submitted plans for a 7-story, 22-unit residential building on the property of the current 24 First Ave. and 99-101 E. Second St.



The demolition permits were filed with the city back on June 1 to bring down 24 First Ave.

And last Thursday, the permits arrived to demolish No. 99-101 — just a formality at this point.

Meanwhile, here's the first look at the rendering for the space via the Rybak website...



According to the site, the residences will be condos (building name for now — 101E2).

No. 99-101 has been vacant for the past six years (there was that whole Pride & Joy BBQ debacle). It housed a variety of short-lived restaurants in recent years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's.

The work permits for the new building show that there'll be 600 square feet for commercial purposes.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

[Photo of 24 1st Ave. from April]

Developer Sergey Rybak filed plans with the city yesterday for a 7-floor, 22-unit residential building at 99-101 E. Second St., part of the L-shaped assemblage that once housed Lucky Cheng's. In total, the building will encompass 19,000 square feet, as The Real Deal first reported.


[Photo of 99-101 2nd St. from April]

As we first reported in March, Rybak, of the South Brooklyn-based Rybak Development, was the winning bidder during an auction in February. According to EPIC Commercial Realty, who represented the buyer and the seller, the winning bid was $12.25 million.

So far, there aren't any demolition permits on file.



Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret, also lived on the upper floors at 24 First Ave. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

No. 99-101 Second St. housed a variety of short-lived restaurants in recent years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

A reminder of the development to come at 24 1st Ave. and 99-191 E. 2nd St.

These "sold" development site banners went up yesterday at 24 First Ave. ... and on its sister property at 99-101 E. Second St. ...



As reported late last month, Sergey Rybak of the South Brooklyn-based Rybak Development was the winning bidder during an auction in February. According to EPIC Commercial Realty, who represented the buyer and the seller, the winning bid was $12.25 million.

So far there's nothing new on file with the DOB for the addresses. The property can be developed with or without the inclusionary housing air rights, providing between an additional 19,000 and 22,000 square feet. No word yet about what Rybeck plans to do with the L-shaped assemblage.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

$10 million minimum opening bid today at auction of former building that housed Lucky Cheng's

[Photo from Dec. 31]

As I reported on Jan. 2, the potential development sites at 24 First Ave. (the onetime home of Lucky Cheng's) and 99-101 E. Second St. are headed to the auction block.

The bidding action begins today at 1 p.m. at the Hotel on Rivington. The minimum opening bid is $10 million. (Find more details at the auction site here.)

Landlord Carmar Development, LLC, had put the two-building parcel up for sale in February 2017. (We wrote about that here.) The L-shaped properties were seeking $26 million then.

Uri Marrache, a principal at Carmar Development, was reportedly at risk of defaulting on his $11 million loan against the vacant buildings.

As Crain's reported, while the bidding will start at $10 million, a winning offer must at least exceed the $11 million owed to the lender.

Per Crain's:

“The owner was behind with the lender on payments,” said Richard Maltz, chief executive of Maltz Auctions. “Going through an auction process like this allows a property owner that needs a quick exit to execute on a sale.”

As for what a new landlord might be able to do here, we'll go back to the auction site:

Currently Improved with a 7,748 Sq Ft Mixed-Use Building & 4,648 Sq Ft Retail Building
Substantial Unused Air Rights
• 28,540 Sq Ft Buildable Site (3,418 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, with Inclusionary Housing
• 26,483 Sq Ft Buildable Site (5,297 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, without Inclusionary Housing & with Full Lot Merge
• 24,610 Sq Ft Buildable Site (5,298 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, without Inclusionary Housing

Annual Real Estate Taxes: $141,977
Currently Vacant

Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret, also lived in the building. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

Suthon had owned the properties since 1986, paying $800,000, city documents show. According to public records, the address changed hands to Carmar Development in February 2015 for a little more than $9.6 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Report: New owners of building that housed Lucky Cheng's looking to attract restaurant group

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

After failing to attract a buyer in recent years, the potential development sites at 24 First Ave. (the onetime home of Lucky Cheng's) and 99-101 E. Second St. will be put up for auction later this month...



The auction is Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. Here are a few details about that from the auction site:

Terms & Conditions of Sale: Property will be sold free and clear of all monetary liens. In order to register to bid, all prospective bidders must present a cashier’s check in the amount of $1,000,000 made payable to “____________________”. Within 48 hours following the auction, Successful Bidder must post a deposit in the total amount of 14% of the high bid.

Landlord Carmar Development, LLC, had put the two-building parcel up for sale in February 2017. (We wrote about that here.) The L-shaped properties were seeking $26 million then.

As for what a new landlord might be able to do here, we'll go back to the auction site:

Currently Improved with a 7,748 Sq Ft Mixed-Use Building & 4,648 Sq Ft Retail Building
Substantial Unused Air Rights
• 28,540 Sq Ft Buildable Site (3,418 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, with Inclusionary Housing
• 26,483 Sq Ft Buildable Site (5,297 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, without Inclusionary Housing & with Full Lot Merge
• 24,610 Sq Ft Buildable Site (5,298 Sq Ft Cellar) – Per Architect Plans, without Inclusionary Housing

Annual Real Estate Taxes: $141,977
Currently Vacant

Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret, also lived in the building. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

Suthon had owned the properties since 1986, paying $800,000, city documents show. According to public records, the address changed hands to Carmar Development in February 2015 for a little more than $9.6 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Report: New owners of building that housed Lucky Cheng's looking to attract restaurant group

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

New broker for former home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property

There's a new broker for the potential development sites at 24 First Ave. (the onetime home of Lucky Cheng's) and 99-101 E. Second St. The adjacent properties now feature the Eastern Consolidated broker signage...



Landlord Carmar Development, LLC, had put the two-buidling parcel up for sale back in February. (We wrote about that here.)

Here's the new listing (PDF is here) via Eastern Consolidated:

The Property consists of two existing mixed-use buildings with frontage on both First Avenue and E. 2nd Street in the extremely desirable East Village. Both buildings will be delivered vacant.

The offering presents multiple options going forward including becoming components of a larger assemblage for a new construction development project, with up to ±30,000 buildable SF, redeveloping the Property by renovating and enlarging the existing structures or repositioning for a national retailer or user purchaser seeking to control a location for ±10,000 SF of multi-level retail and a mix of other uses.

Pricing upon request. The L-shaped properties were seeking $26 million back in February. (The properties were also available for net lease. That deal is no longer apparently an option.)

The sales materials include a variety of diagrams showing the development potential here...



... and the aerial view...



Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret, also lived in the building. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

Suthon had owned the properties since 1986, paying $800,000, city documents show. According to public records, the address changed hands to Carmar Development in February 2015 for a little more than $9.6 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

[Photo from March 2016]

In March 2016, there were reports that the building that once housed Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue and an adjacent property on Second Street were in the process of being divided by new landlord Carmar Development, LLC.

Now, though, Uri Marrache, a principal at Carmar Development, is putting the two-buidling parcel up for sale for development.

Here's a news release on the property that arrived in our inbox yesterday:

The adjoining, L-Shaped properties enjoy combined frontage of 60' spread across East 2nd Street & 1st Avenue; buildings are comprised of roughly a 14,000 SF structure and boast around 12,000 SF of unused air rights; located in a versatilely zoned area. The properties can be acquired for $26 Million.

Both buildings are also available for Net Lease.

24 1st Avenue & 99-101 East 2nd Street are strategically located along the vibrant 1st Avenue corridor in the East Village. The properties are located within four blocks from Peter Brant's illustrious exhibition space at the celebrated artist — Walter De Maria's historic home; which has nurtured and pioneered a new era of artistic progress within the region. The Notable Art Collector & Industrialist recently purchased the legendary property for $27 Million.

A flurry of progressive & chic development projects have transformed the nature of the immediate area, further characterizing the region as New York City's most desirable destination to live, shop, and play. The New Museum and world-renowned eateries like Katz's Deli, Daniel Boulud's DBGB, Russ and Daughters; the emergence of several prominent art galleries; have all fostered the majestic aroma of the neighborhood.

These factors, coupled with the pre-existing dynamism of the investment & residential sales markets have paved the way for unwavering cultural and economic growth in the East Village and Lower East Side. All the while, neighboring development projects such as 215 Chrystie Street by Ian Schrager have registered sales at unprecedented condominium prices, thus cementing the region's aesthetic appeal and establishing the East Village & Lower East Side as amongst the world's most magnetizing neighborhoods.

The properties are ripe for a user who is seeking to benefit from the unparalleled retail presence on both 1st Avenue and East 2nd Street. The acquirer will also be able to creatively utilize the curb cut (on 99-101 East 2nd Street) and the vast ceilings, coupled with unique layout; while capitalizing on the underlying development potential of the properties. The acquirer is also certain to benefit from the inevitable reallocation of retail value from the neighboring corridors in SoHo & NoHo.

Here's an aerial view of the properties...



Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's, the cross-dressing cabaret, also lived in the building. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

She had been in a legal fight with the operators behind Pride and Joy BBQ, who were renting the space to open a 220-seat honky tonk. (You can read more about this lawsuit here and here.)

The East Second Street space had been home to an array of short-lived concepts in recents years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's...


[Photo from last March]

Suthon had owned the property since 1986, paying $800,000, city documents show. According to public records, the address changed hands to Carmar Development in February 2015 for a little more than $9.6 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Pride and Joy's unpaid electric bill

Report: New owners of building that housed Lucky Cheng's looking to attract restaurant group

[Photo from last evening]

Plans are reportedly underway to convert the former Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue and its adjacent space on East Second Street.

Real Estate Weekly has the story:

Carmar Development, LLC, is in the throes of converting the former club and restaurant into which occupied two contiguous mixed-use properties totaling 14,000 s/f at 24 First Avenue and 99-101 East Second Street.

Uri Marrache, a principal at Carmar Development said, "As it stands, it seems like we’ll be dividing the East 2nd street property and the 1st Avenue property so I think ultimately we’ll see two retail tenants."

Noting that talks were "very, very far along," Marrache said, "The 1st avenue side is going to be a restaurant."

Marrache declined to name the tenant, noting only that it "will be the newest location of what is already an established restaurant group." He also said that the L-shaped property has 12,000 square feet of air rights.

Hayne Suthon, who owned and and operated Lucky Cheng's also lived in the building. She died of cancer at age 57 in June 2014.

She had been in a legal fight with the operators behind Pride and Joy BBQ, who were renting the space to open a 220-seat honky tonk featuring three bars and about 20 TV screen. (You can read more about this lawsuit here and here.)

The East Second Street space has been home to an array of short-lived concepts in recents years, including Bento Burger ... Marfa... and Waikiki Wally's...


[Photo from last evening]

Workers had gutted the space in late 2012-early 2013 to make way for BBQ chef Myron Mixon's restaurant/saloon. He later had a falling out with his partners, who decided to push forward with a BBQ restaurant here without Mixon. And the space was strangely gutted again.

Suthon had owned the property since 1986, paying $800,000, city documents show. According to public records, the address changed hands to Carmar Development in February 2015 for a little more than $9.6 million.

There are complaints on file with the DOB for work being done at 24 First Ave. and 99 E. Second St. without a permit. There is also an open violation from the city for work without a permit, per public records. The DOB doesn't currently list any active work permits for the properties.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Pride and Joy's unpaid electric bill

Report: Deal falls through to bring Lucky Cheng's to Ludlow Street

Lucky Cheng's will not be calling the former Living Room space at 154 Ludlow St. their new home after all.

The cabaret, originally on this month's SLA licensing committee docket, was hoping to make the move back downtown permanent. (They had been operating out of the DL on Delancey Street.)

However, as Lisha Arino reported at DNAinfo yesterday, the plans fell through.

Lucky Cheng’s was in the process of acquiring the space when the landlord pulled out at the last minute, [general manager Richard Huguenot] said.

“Basically, I don’t think the landlord wanted us over there,” he said.

Lucky Cheng's is now searching for a space big enough to host its new format, which will include circus acts, burlesque, contortionists, and aerialists along with its signature drag show.

Huguenot said the restaurant wants to remain in the Lower East Side, where it first opened in 1993. The ideal space would be about 4,000 square feet and able to accommodate about 150 people, he said.

Lucky Cheng's closed its Midtown location last summer after the death of owner Hayne Suthon. She moved Lucky Cheng's from First Avenue in 2012.

November CB3/SLA highlights: The return of Lucky Cheng's

CB3 released its November calendar of meetings yesterday ... including the two nights of fun for the SLA licensing committee. Lots of items on the agenda this month, including a new home for Lucky Cheng's on Ludlow Street.

Here's a look at some of the applicants over the two nights. We'll pass along more info once it becomes available.

Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 pm
Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. (between Second Avenue and The Bowery)

Renewal with Complaint

• Percy's Tavern, 210 Ave A (op)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Vintage B Inc, 56-58 Ave B (aka 235-237 E 4th St) (wb)

This is the former Vella Market (and Kate's Joint) space at East Fourth Street.

• To be Determined, 137 Ave C (op)

This is the new bar/restaurant going into the Sunburnt Cow quarters. The building is currently getting a head-to-toe renovation.

• To be Determined, 206 Ave A (op)

• To be Determined, 137 Ave A (op)

We went through this last month. It was a mistake then.

• Table 12 (188 Ave A Take Out Food Corp), 188 Ave A (upgrade to op)

Alterations

• Cornerstone Cafe (AO Cafe & Restaurant LLC), 17 Ave B (aka 241 E 2nd St) (alt/op/convert service counter to patron bar with 5 seats)

New Liquor License Applications

• Parmys Kabob and Grill Inc, 124-127 1st Ave (upgrade to op)

We noted this change a few weeks back.

• 41 1st Avenue Rest Corp, 41 1st Ave (op)

This is the address of d.b.a. Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died on March 23 from injuries he suffered in a fall. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident.

• To be Determined, 188 2nd Ave (wb)

Looks like there's a taker for the former Shima space at East 12th Street. We noticed that the for rent signs were down the other day.

Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm
University Settlement at Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Lucky Cheng's (Red Room Hospitality LLC), 154 Ludlow St (op)

Lucky Cheng's, which closed its Midtown location last summer after the death of owner Hayne Suthon, looks to be making the move back downtown permanent. (They had been operating out of the DL on Delancey Street.)

The Living Room was the most recent tenant at 154 Ludlow St.

New Liquor License Applications

• Lucille (Little Rebel Inc), 134 1st Ave (op)

Hmm, this is the address of Simone Martini Bar.

Items not heard at Committee (meaning neighbors don't have any say in these items)

• The Bean (147 First Ave Bean LLC), 147 1st Ave (wb)

• G & Nishi Inc, 54-56 Third Avenue (wb)

• 4T USA Inc, 127 4th Ave (wb)

• Zund New York Inc, 84 E 10th St (wb)

b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

A development at the dormant Pride and Joy space that doesn't involve a lawsuit

[Photo Saturday of an entrance on East 2nd Street]

There's a doozy of a lawsuit going on over at 24 First Ave., the former Lucky Cheng's space where the remaining Pride and Joy BBQ partners are hoping to open a restaurant.

Things are stalled at the moment as Pride and Joy is suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million for allegedly lying to them about the condition of the space and trying to evict them for not paying the rent … this after the restaurant was apparently ready to open for business last May before celebrity BBQ chef Myron Mixon filed a lawsuit accusing his partners of "trademark infringement, breach of contract, and misappropriation of name and likeness."

Meanwhile, in a development that doesn't involve a lawsuit, someone needs to pay the Con Ed bill (again) …



The outstanding charges are for $1,820.71 … given the recent Con Ed rate hikes, this might just be for one week of service.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

More alterations for the Pride and Joy space

Report: Pride and Joy BBQ partners suing landlord Hayne Suthon for $22 million

Pride and Joy's unpaid electric bill

Pride & Joy BBQ update; and one idea for Dolly Parton drag queens and bathtub moonshine

Celebrity pitmaster Myron Mixon was close to opening Pride & Joy BBQ at the former Lucky Cheng's space this summer, but, as we noted yesterday, he's reportedly not involved with the restaurant anymore. He also filed a lawsuit against his former partners.

Hayne Suthon, who owns (and lives) in the building on First Avenue and operates Lucky Cheng's, now on West 52nd Street, says that she believes the remaining partners intend to continue with the restaurant, but hasn't heard details on their new plan of action.

"The space looks amazing — so much work and energy went into creating it," she told us via Facebook. "It's like a ghost town downstairs with nothing going on in that huge formally rather lively space. I still live upstairs and miss the activity."

Although the plans are still up in the air for Pride & Joy, she floated one idea.

"Maybe I'll move back the drag queens all dressed up like Dolly Parton, have them on the grill, making peach cobbler or bathtub moonshine."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

Myron Mixon lawsuit puts opening of Pride and Joy BBQ in question at former Lucky Cheng's space

As we first reported last November, celebrity BBQ chef Myron Mixon was going to open a restaurant/saloon in the former Lucky Cheng's space on First Avenue. (Read that post here.)

After months of renovations, Mixon and company held a preview at the space on May 21... which prompted a four-star Yelp review. Everything seemed to be ready to go. On May 29, the Pride and Joy NYC Facebook page announced that they'd be "opening soon."

And that was that.

In recent weeks, someone removed the Facebook page. The Pride and Joy BBQ website is now "under construction." And the space has sat mostly dormant in recent months... the East Second Street side has all the hallmarks of a stalled business — a broken window and door... and a Wacky Wok menu...



Turns out that there was a good reason for the inactivity: Mixon has reportedly parted ways with the restaurant that bears his name. (A location opened in North Miami Beach last November.)

The Daily Meal has the scoop:

According to the lawsuit (Myron Mixon and Jack’s Old South LLC against Pride & Joy LLC and Pablo Cardenas), which was filed on August 8th, Mixon is accusing his partners, Mike Saladino, Chris Mayer, Paul Thielecke, Jose Santa, and Pablo Cardenas, of trademark infringement, breach of contract, and misappropriation of name and likeness; it also alleges that they also owe Mixon a large sum of money in licensing fees for his name.

The Daily Meal notes that Pride and Joy's fate here has now been thrown into question.

While the Miami location is going strong, the New York outpost has yet to open. If it does end up opening, however, Mixon’s name and recipes will be nowhere near it.

And what will become of the giant rotisserie?



Previously on EV Grieve:
Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Fire reported at incoming Pride and Joy BBQ on East Second Street

Former Lucky Cheng's honky tonked; let's graze the menu!

Workers continue to transform the former Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue into Pride and Joy BBQ...



Meanwhile, MenuPages posted their menu, which includes "snacks & big bites" and "Grazin'" sections...


[Click image to enlarge]

There is a Guy Fieri vibe here with items like Myron's "Cupcake" chicken ... Bowl 'O Burnt Ends ... Pulled Pork Egg Rolls...deep fried 'smores brownie... you can wash it all down with a Big Texan or Mountain Cooler. Welcome to East Flavor Town!

Is this the last remnant of Lucky Cheng's?

At least on the exterior. (The Lucky Cheng's lantern was removed last month.) Was walking by the former Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue last night and noticed that this butt holder still adorned the front... A potential collector's item in remembrance of the smoking ban?

Anyway, workers are currently renovating the space on First Avenue and East Second Street to make way for Pride and Joy BBQ.

Lucky Cheng's moved to a new home on West 52nd Street in the fall.

There goes the Lucky Cheng's sign

On Saturday, workers took down the Lucky Cheng's sign here on First Avenue...


[Photo by EVG reader Evan OHara]

Lucky Cheng's moved to a new home on West 52nd Street in the fall. We asked owner Hayne Suthon what she plans on doing with the sign. "I'll fix it and move it uptown."

Workers are currently renovating the space on First Avenue and East Second Street to make way for Pride and Joy BBQ.

Lucky Cheng's opened in 1993. Jeremiah Moss had an informative post on the building's history here.

More details on Pride & Joy BBQ at the former Lucky Cheng's

Last Thursday, we noted that the first NYC outpost for renowed BBQ chef Myron Mixon was set to open at the former Lucky Cheng's space on First Avenue. (Read that post here.)

The group goes before the CB3/SLA licensing committee next Monday. And Pride & Joy officials have filed the necessary paperwork with CB3 (PDF), which provides a few more details on the venture (all just proposed):

• Hours: 11 a.m — 4 a.m. seven days a week
• 45 tables seating some 220 people
• 3 total bars in the space (one in the basement, one on First Avenue entrance and one in the East Second Street entrance where Bento Burger was)
• Approximately 30 employees
• Approximately 20 TV monitors

[Pride & Joy photo via Eater Miami]

Myron Mixon's Pride & Joy BBQ now in the works for the former Lucky Cheng's space

Leading up to this month's CB3/SLA meeting on Nov. 19, public documents showed that the owners of the new Acme (and Indochine, among others) were proposing to take over the former Lucky Cheng's space on First Avenue. (You can read more on the concept here.)

However, for whatever reasons, those plans never materialized and the group did not appear at the meeting.

Meanwhile, yesterday, CB3 released the SLA committee docket for December, which includes this item:

Pride and Joy (Pride and Joy BBQ LLC), 24 1st Ave (op)

Turns out that this will be the first NYC outpost for renowed BBQ chef Myron Mixon, who, among other things, serves as a judge on TLC's Destination America's "BBQ Pitmasters." (Per his bio, he is known as "the winningest man in barbecue," and authored a best-seller titled "Smokin' with Myron Mixon.")

A Pride & Joy opened earlier this month in North Miami. Per Eater Miami:

Mixon will be using his custom-made smokers and his own line of sauces and spices to serve up some the darn best ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and wings you've ever had.

I asked Lucky Cheng's owner Hayne Suthon (who also resides in the building here on First Avenue) about her new tenant.

"I am beyond excited to have this group comprised of a stellar team covering all bases of food, design construction and operations," she said in an email. "I have found them to be nothing short of super down to earth, sharp, creative and talented."

In addition to the restaurant, the Pride & Joy team apparently has some ideas for other uses of the space.

"As a resident of 1st Avenue and 2nd St since 1986, observing the good and bad trends over the past 26 years, they have been very receptive to my ideas as to what is needed in the neighborhood," Suthon said. "Aside from all of that, I CANNOT wait for them to open; I'm obsessed with good barbecue. I've already had a dream about dining there."

[Pride & Joy photo via Eater Miami]

Get Lucky this weekend

[A look inside Lucky Cheng's one recent day]

Jeremiah first pointed out this sale on Wednesday over at Vanishing New York: Lucky Cheng's is having a big moving sale this weekend. (Actually, the cabaret already moved to Midtown...)

Posting it here too in case you are interested in a hodgepodge of restaurant stuff...

Get in on the action tomorrow and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 101 E. 2nd St. Find the Craigslist ad link here.

As for history of the Lucky Cheng's space, Jeremiah looked at the building's past here. As for the future of Lucky Cheng's space, the owners of Indochine and the new Acme have designs for an Asian-style restaurant-club space. Read about all that here.

Acme-Indochine owners aiming to take over Lucky Cheng's space

We now know who the unnamed applicant is for the Lucky Cheng's space on First Avenue. According to documents on file with CB3, the owners of the new apparent hipspot Acme on Great Jones — Jean-Marc Houmard (co-owner of Indochine) and Jon Neidich (who used to manage the bar at the Standard Hotel's Boom Boom Room) — are aiming to open a still-unnamed restaurant-lounge.

Per CB3 paperwork, the establishment will serve Asian cuisine, with planned hours of noon to 4 a.m. Hui Chi Le, an owner of Indochine and Republic, is the other partner named in the new project.

The applicants will appear before the CB3/SLA licensing committee next Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Lucky Cheng's recently relocated to Times Square.