Friday's parting shot

Birthday celebration at Mee Noodle Shop on First Avenue via EVG regular Dan Efram (read about his new book here) ...

At Mee Noodle Shop and Grill

Mee Noodle Shop and Grill had a soft opening of sorts last night… where the restaurant at 223 First Ave. welcomed back customers with free food. Everyone we talked to about last night at Mee — loved it.

From EVG regular William Klayer:

"We walked past the long line of people clogging the sidewalk to get into Momofuko. Mee was filled but we had a table in five minutes. The whole time we were there no one came in who wasn't seated virtually right away. The staff and the vibe was super neighborhood friendly. Order any dish you want (no fresh fish because they didn't have it yet) all free with a smile and a thank you for coming in. Awesome."

From EVG Facebook friend Michael Hirsch:

"It was great. The staff was wonderful too. Really into opening again in the neighborhood. Quite a few old regulars showed up for their return."

Also last night… Miron Properties broker Conrad Bradford, who represented the landlord and the tenants, presented owner Li Zhu Wong with a painting of Allen Ginsberg, one of Mee's most devoted customers from the previous location on First Avenue.



Mee has its official grand opening tonight, according to a sign on the front window. Mee had to move away from its old First Avenue space when the building was sold seven years ago.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

Mee Noodle Shop is back

Mee Noodle Shop has its grand (re)opening tomorrow here on First Avenue just north of East 13th Street ... and they will have an open house tonight, as the flyer shows ... let us know if you go… Mee had to move away from its previous First Avenue location when the building was sold seven years ago…

Photo via William Klayer…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

Soft opening for Mee Noodle Shop this weekend?

That's the word we're hearing anyway from the folks at Mee Noodle Shop … returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence… the Mee crew has been busy here at 223 First Ave. between East 13th Street and East 14th Street testing the new equipment…

Mee Noodle Shop awning has arrived on First Avenue

We continue to await the return of Mee Noodle Shop to the East Village ... at 223 First Ave., which is just north of East 13th Street ... A new development to note! Last week, the Mee-branded awning went up...



We reached out to the folks there about an official opening date – they said that they'll let us know, adding "It's a happy return for Mee Noodle Shop on First Avenue!" Indeed.

Mee was previously on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 13th Street ... before moving out seven years ago when the building was sold.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

A good sign on First Avenue

The plywood is off the under-renovation storefront at 223 First Ave. … showing a teaser for Mee Noodle Shop, which is returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence.

Mee was previously on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 13th Street. No word on an opening date just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

Renovations start at future home of Mee Noodle Shop on First Avenue

As you may know, Mee Noodle Shop is returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence ... just a few storefronts away from its former home on First Avenue at East 13th Street.

Anyway, EVG regular dwg notes that renovations have finally started on the space, previously occupied until March by Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery.

In June, Mee's Joyce Chi told The Villager that the restaurant will be reopening in about five months. So if you want to do the math...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

A few more details on Mee Noodle Shop's return to the East Village

[From May]

Mee Noodle Shop is returning to First Avenue after a seven-year absence, as Eater first reported last month.

This week's issue of The Villager has a few more details, including:

• The broker "struck a favorable deal with the landlord that allowed the restaurant to set up the space without having to pay rent for the duration of construction."

• According to Mee's Joyce Chi, the restaurant will be reopening in about five months.

The new address is 223 First Ave., two storefronts to the north of the previous Mee location. That building apparently had a cracked infrastructure ... the building on the corner of East 13th Street is now home to a Starbucks and that new stack of apartments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rumors of another Starbucks opening in the East Village

Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue

As you may have heard yesterday, Mee Noodle Shop is returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence, as Eater first reported.

Mee was previously on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 13th Street — now home to a Starbucks and that new stack of apartments.

So Mee Noodle Shop, once a favorite spot for Allen Ginsburg (steamed flounder in ginger sauce), is taking a storefront a few doors up from its previous location of 15 years ... to the space recently vacated by Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery.

Up until last week, designer Demian Repucci had plans to open a pizzeria here at 223 First Ave. Bruno Pizza LLC was on this month's CB3/SLA committee docket. This would be the first time running a restaurant for Repucci, who along with designer Thomas Schlesser, won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Restaurant Design for his work with Blackbird Restaurant in Chicago.

However, the lease didn't work out, and Repucci said via email that he is working on securing another space.

A broker told Eater that the Mee should be open in a month or so, though that seems really optimistic ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rumors of another Starbucks opening in the East Village

Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant