Community Board 3 released its meetings rundown for May … and a conspicuous item appears on the SLA committee docket:
Paul Mil Cafe Inc, 11-17 2nd Ave (op/alt/gut renovation) (Mars Bar)
The listing appears twice, under "alterations" and "items not heard at Committee."
Back in 2011 when Mars Bar was displaced by the impending Jupiter 21 monstrosity on Second Avenue and East First Street… the rumor was that owner Hank Penza had someone in mind to reopen a bar in the retail space. In fact, the person has the actual bar and jukebox from the Mars Bar for the next place.
In early January 2013, Billy Gray at the Commercial Observer reported that the J21 retail lease includes "a second retail space that could assume the notorious Mars Bar's trade name and liquor license."
Per that report:
The development company BFC Partners reached an agreement with the Mars Bar crew that would allow the next commercial tenant to occupy a 4,456 basement and ground floor space under the proud, stubborn and – who knew? – business-minded Mars Bar auspices.
The TD Bank appears to be taking most of the retail space… so where would a bar fit?
Well, there is also retail space on the East First Street side … and the aforementioned basement…
So… is it such a good thing to do a Mars Bar redux? Would it be like making a TV series out of "Casablanca" with David Soul in the Bogart role?
Or something.
Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch
So where's that fucking bank branch that's taking the former Mars Bar space?
Rumors: Mars Bar owner Hank Penza ready to open a new space in the next few months
That's it: The Mars Bar is closed for good