Signage arrives for Avenida on Avenue B

[Photo yesterday via EVG reader David]

Several readers pointed out the arrival of the Avenida name at 25 Avenue B this past weekend.

According to the questionnaire (the PDF is here) that was filed ahead of the September CB3/SLA committee meeting, there was a 100 percent corporate change for the business, from the short-lived Matty's to a new venture/bar called Avenida Cantina.



However, despite the new concept and partners, this item was not heard in front of the committee. The paperwork shows that the new proprietor served as manager of East End Bar & Grill on First Avenue between 86th Street and 87th Street. (Not sure what East End is like these days. In July 2010, CB8 unanimously rejected the bar's application for a sidewalk cafe. According to DNAinfo, "Neighbors at the public hearing testified that the post-college age crowd drunkenly wrestles in front of the bar and sometimes urinates on their doorsteps.")

In recent years, this space between East Second Street and East Third Street was home for two months to Matty's ... and, earlier, Idle Hands, Station B and Billy Hurricane's. (And upon a time — Save the Robots.)

Avenida Cantina will just be one of the new occupants along this part of Avenue B.

The pet store next door is closing, and the space is for rent...



And the former deli next to Cornerstone closed earlier in the year... the space was gutted and glammed up...



...and is now on the market...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Whatever happened to simple bar names...concepts?

Billy Hurricane's looking to hire attractive, sexy, fun, loud and pushy female bartenders who are still in school — and rock

Something new in the works for 25 Avenue B

[EVG photo from April]

After just two months at 25 Avenue B, Matty's shut down back in February. There's now a new applicant for the bar space between East Second Street and East Third Street.

According to the questionnaire (the PDF is here) on file ahead of the September CB3/SLA committee meeting, there's is a 100 percent corporate change for the business... and a name change to Avenida Cantina.



However, despite a new concept and partners, this item will not be heard in front of the committee. There isn't any other information at the moment about what to expect from the new venture.

In the past few years, 25 Avenue B was home to Idle Hands and Station B and Billy Hurricane's.

A listing for the bi-level club shows an asking price of $299,000 with a monthly rent listed as $16,882.63.

The SLA meeting is at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

25 Avenue B is on the market

The for sale sign went up last week at 25 Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street.

Tower Brokerage has the listing, which shows an asking price of $299,000 for the bi-level space. The monthly rent is listed as $16,882.63.

The previous bar here, Matty's, closed after just two months. In the past few years, the space was home to Idle Hands and Station B and Billy Hurricane's.

Matty's now serving eviction papers on Avenue B

That is apparently officially it for Matty's at 25 Avenue B.

Last week, we noticed a rent-due notice on the gate for the sum of $38,326.77 (just for January) here between East Second Street and East Third Street.

And now, there is a mass of eviction papers... noting that the landlord is in possession of the space, etc.



Matty's, run by some folks who had a bar called Matty's on the Drive in Wilton Manors, Fla., took over the Idle Hands space... opening on Dec. 12. They didn't get around to painting the new sign until Jan. 17. And by Feb. 17, the landlord served them rent-due notices. We haven't seen them open since the end of January.

We're trying to remember a bar that came and went so quickly in the neighborhood... opening and closing in under two months. Can you think of a place that closed in less time than this?

Previously on EV Grieve:
A bar called Matty's in the works for Idle Hands on Avenue B

Matty's makes it official on Avenue B

After 2 months, Matty's is closed for now on Avenue B

[Photo from last month]

Matty's took over the Idle Hands space at 25 Avenue B… opening here between East Second Street and East Third Street on Dec. 12.

Now, for the time being, the bar is closed.

There's a rent due notice now on the gate for the sum of $38,326.77 … "for rent from from January 2015 to February 2015."


[Photo via @Salim]

Matty's NYC is the sister bar to the Matty's on the Drive, a now-closed gay bar in Wilton Manors, Fla.

The Matty's NYC website is now out of commission as well. There isn't any mention of a closure on the Matty's Facebook page.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A bar called Matty's in the works for Idle Hands on Avenue B

Matty's makes it official on Avenue B

Matty's makes it official on Avenue B

The transformation of Idle Hands to Matty's looks nearly complete at 25 Avenue B… someone painted the Matty's name on the space between East Second Street and East Third Street over the weekend. The bar officially opened on Dec. 12.



The owners ran a gay bar in Wilton Manors, Fla., called Matty's on the Drive that closed in late 2012 following a year-long legal case.

Here's a description of the place via Facebook:

Matty's NYC is the sister bar to the famed Matty's on the Drive in Wilton Manors, FL. Matty's on the Drive opened four years ago and has won awards including Best New Bar, Best Gay Bar, Best Signature Martini, and Best Neighborhood Bar to name a few. Matty's NYC will follow in it's sisters footsteps bringing the hottest music and videos, a friendly staff, and a clean, modern, upscale bar & lounge that everyone can enjoy 7 days a week!

Matty's recently unveiled a college night…



Some neighbors still want to know how this one slipped by CB3. Matty's was on last month's CB3/SLA agenda, though it wasn't heard before the committee. It was billed as a Corporate Change with 100 percent turnover in the corporate partners … and with operators from out of state without any track record of running a bar in NYC.

Thanks to @Salim for the top photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
A bar called Matty's in the works for Idle Hands on Avenue B

A bar called Matty's in the works for Idle Hands on Avenue B

Idle Hands looks to be changing ownership.

The bar at 25 Avenue B near East Second Street is on this month's CB3/SLA committee docket.

According to the paperwork (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, Idle Hands is scheduled for a corporate change… as you can see, seven partners (essentially everyone) are leaving the corporation, and three new ones are joining…



The new venture will be Matty's, whose owners ran a gay bar in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., called Matty's on the Drive.

Here's how the New Times Broward-Palm Beach described Matty's on the Drive:

Gather on the far end of the room and take on formidable opponents at Wii Sports, or just kick back and wait for the man of your choice to approach you with his best pickup line. Wild Wednesdays score you 75-cent drafts and well drinks at Matty's on the Drive. And don't forget to try the signature grape martinis.

Matty's closed in late 2012 following a year-long legal case.

There's no word yet on what kind of bar Matty's will be on Avenue B.

In October, Allan Mannarelli, an owner of The Cock, decided to withdraw his application for moving his bar from Second Avenue to the Idle Hands space when it became clear that the CB3/SLA committee was going to issue a denial.

The CB3/SLA committee meeting is Monday night at 6:30 in the CB3 offices, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

However, according to the docket, this item will NOT be heard during the meeting. Strange, given that the space will be under new ownership, yet the corporate name remains the same.