Another look at Le Fournil, the French bakery now open in the former Moishe's space on 2nd Avenue

Here's a quick follow-up to yesterday's post about Le Fournil, the French bakery that opened yesterday in the former Moishe's space at 115 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

EVG contributor Steven took these photos, showing the gut-renovated interior... gone is the wood paneling and stuck-in-time homey vibe that Moishe's offered ...




[Photo by Derek Berg]

We're still waiting to find out more about the operators here (and if they will put up their own exterior signage) ...

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Updated 1/6

Per Gothamist, the owner is Jean-Francois Hebert, a third-generation baker from Normandy, France, who's been living in New York for eight years and working at places like Felix in SoHo and Cafe du Soleil on the Upper West Side.

Gothamist has more on the tiles that they unearthed here too.

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A quick take based on reader comments here and on social media — overall people seem to be happy that there's a new bakery that actually sells bread (and not more cookies and other sweets) ... there were a few grumbles about prices. Early taste tests were all positive.





... and an upclose shot of the menu via Eden...



Moishe's bake Shop closed back on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Moishe Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s. There's still nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.

No one seemed to know exactly what was going to happen with the space (including Mr. Perl, whose narrative changed in various media interviews), though EVG commenter GadgetFreak nailed it with news of a French bakery in a comment on March 25.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

French bakery opens at the former Moishe's Bake Shop

[Photo by Pinch]

Le Fournil, a French bakery, opened around noon today in the former Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave. near Seventh Street... Eden shared these photos...



Here's a look at the menu...



We'll update more later...

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Previous post from this morning...


[EVG photo from Saturday]

We haven't heard anything lately about the new bakery venture taking over the Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue near Seventh Street.

In June, workers were spotted delivering new kitchen equipment. Otherwise, pretty quiet.

On Friday, EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted another delivery at the storefront... some butter and items from Paris Gourmet, a specialty food importer, among other items...





Back in May, (current or former) owner Moishe Perl told Derek that several bakers are taking over the shop, where they will serve a variety of baked goods as well as coffee. (He said that they may call the new venture Formerly Moishe's.)

Moishe's closed on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s. There's still nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.

The links below have more background on what has transpired here in the past few months.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

New equipment for the former Moishe's Bake Shop

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted workers yesterday moving in new equipment at the former Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave.

Last month, owner Moishe Perl told Derek that several bakers are taking over the shop, where they will serve a variety of baked goods as well as coffee. (He said that they may call the new venture Formerly Moishe's.)

Workers at the shop yesterday between Sixth Street and Seventh Street said that it might be another two months for the new venture to open.

Moishe's closed on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. The links below have more background on what has transpired here in the past few months.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

[Photo from Sunday]

The other day, EVG contributor Derek Berg ran into Moishe Perl, owner of the now-closed Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave. near Seventh Street. (The two have known each other for 30-plus years.)

Perl told Derek that several bakers are taking over the shop, where they will serve a variety of baked goods as well as coffee. He said that they may call the new venture Formerly Moishe's.

Perl also said that he'd stay on in some capacity, though his hours at the shop would be limited.


[Photo from Saturday]

Some background: On March 5, Perl announced that he was retiring after 40-plus years. By the next day, the shop was closed.

There were rumors after the closure that the building was sold. But that wasn't the case. In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s, per The Real Deal. (There's nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.)

In any event, the closed-for-renovations narrative lines up with previous stories at Gothamist and Eater.

Meanwhile, there's a small "for rent" sign in the third-floor window...



It's not known what, exactly, is for rent. Is this being pitched for office space? A residence? (As far as I know, Moishe's had an office and facilities upstairs.) The agent at Keller Williams whose name is on the sign didn't respond to a request for more information.

According to the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Designation Report, the Greek Revival building (with Queen Anne style alterations) dates to 1842-43 as a one-family row house. The storefront was likely added in 1908. Moishe's has been here since 1972 or 1974 or 1978, depending on the source. (Check out Off the Grid for more history of the building.)

Finally, as you'll notice, people keeping tagging the storefront. There's a sign now on the front door that reads: "Warning. Store was equipped with security system. Pictures of graffiti perpetrators have been turned over to police."

The sign hasn't been too effective, from the looks of the growing number of tags.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

[EVG reader photo from Monday]

On March 5, Moishe Perl, owner of Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave., announced to storefront photographers James and Karla Murray that the building near Seventh Street had been sold and he was closing the business and retiring after 40-plus years.

Some background: In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s, per The Real Deal. There's nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.



Perl and bakery employees had previously denied that the shop was closing.

On March 6, the bakery had been emptied out. By 11:30 a.m., paper went up in the windows, and a closed-for-renovation sign appeared...


[Photo March 6 by Steven]

As the day progressed, the narrative of the closing story continued to evolve. The owner of a local restaurant shared this with me: "We use Moishe’s rye and pumpernickel ... and as far as he has told us, he is still going to continue on in that space after remodeling. It sounds like it’s going to be more of a cafe but still offer their products. He’s still actively delivering wholesale to us. He made a delivery last night."

Later, amNY reported the following: "Owner Moishe Perl confirmed ... that the store was closed, but didn't give further details about his decision or its future."

By the evening, Patch reported that Perl was searching for new management "to re-open the spot as a cafe and bakery as soon as the end of April after Passover or early May, depending how the renovations play out."

Paper remains in the windows at Moishe's, though the closed-for-renovation sign is gone. A worker at the scene on Monday told an EVG reader that they were closed for renovations, but would return.

Yesterday, Gothamist delved into the mystery in a post titled "What's Going On With Moishe's Bake Shop?"

Per Gothamist:

Reached over the phone Wednesday morning, Moishe Perl confirmed to Gothamist that the shop wasn't permanently closed. They're still baking (albeit in Brooklyn) while renovating the Second Avenue location. He wouldn't say how long the renovations were going on for, but he did say that phone orders could be fulfilled for now. "Whatever you want, you just call me one day before," he says.

Perl promised that he'd have an update soon. But will you believe him?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

Flowers for Moishe's Bake Shop

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Someone left these flowers outside the now-closed and under-renovation Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue near Seventh Street. The bakery closed on Tuesday after 40-plus years in business.

The proprietor, Moishe Perl, who also owns the building at 115 Second Ave., said that he was retiring. Perl was later said to be searching for new management to re-open the spot as a cafe and bakery in the spring.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue (42 comments)

[Updated] Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

[Photo from 2016 by Derek Berg]

After months of speculation that it might be closing, Moishe's Bake Shop reportedly shut down yesterday after 40-plus years in business here at 115 Second Ave. near Seventh Street.

Storefront photographers James and Karla Murray first posted the news last night on Instagram:

Sadly, we just heard from the owner, Moishe Perl, that today was its last day as the entire building has been sold. We loved this kosher bakery as everything was baked on the premises fresh every day. They were known for their challah bread, rye bread, hamantaschen, rugelach, babka and sugar kichel.

In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy the building from Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s, per The Real Deal. (The thinking among some Moishe's fans was that the lease provided Perl with a financial cushion until he retired, with a buyer already waiting in the wings.)

The Murrays said that Perl is retiring.

According to public filings, the memorandum of lease is for a little more than $3 million. The terms of the lease were to start "on or about" March 1, 2019.



There isn't any public record of a sale.

Perl and bakery employees had denied that the shop was closing.

Depending on the source, the shop either opened in 1972 (The Villager), 1974 (The New York Times) or 1978 (the store's website, which is now offline, and the phone has already been disconnected).

No word yet on what Schwimmer has planned for the property.

Updated 7:30 a.m.

Here's an early morning look at the shop... someone has cleaned out the space ... the display trays have been removed from the front window ...



... and two more photos via Steven...





Updated 11:30 a.m.

Steven notes that paper now covers the front windows...



... and there's a closed-for-renovation sign...



One commenter on the Murray's Instagram post said that Mr. Perl's son was going to open a coffee shop-bakery here.

A staffer at the Lower East Side outpost of Moishe's confirmed to Eater that yesterday was the last day for the Second Avenue location.

Updated 2:30 p.m.

The owner of a local restaurant shared this: "We use Moishe’s rye and pumpernickel ... and as far as he has told us, he is still going to continue on in that space after remodeling. It sounds like it’s going to be more of a cafe but still offer their products. He’s still actively delivering wholesale to us. He made a delivery last night."

Updated 5:30 p.m.

Per amNY's coverage:

"Owner Moishe Perl confirmed to amNewYork that the store was closed, but didn't give further details about his decision or its future."

Updated 8:30 p.m.

The story continues to change. Sounds like retirement is on hold. Here's Patch:

Perl is searching for new management to re-open the spot as a cafe and bakery as soon as the end of April after Passover or early May, depending how the renovations play out.

"We have a lot of options, and I'm here 49 years, you know what I mean?" Perl told Patch. "I wanna give over the management to somebody, and then I can see what kind of role I'm going to play in it."

No, the Moishe's Bake Shop space is not on the rental market

[File photo by Derek Berg]

Jeremiah Moss yesterday addressed the [fake?] real-estate listing making the rounds for Moishe's Kosher Bake Shop on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

I called the bakery and spoke to Moishe Perl, who also owns the building. He laughed and said, "People always put up these things." He assured me that he did not put up the listing and that he is not closing. He might be doing some renovating over the summer, but that's it.

When I told him the listing said his place will rent for $27,000, he laughed even louder.

A moment on 2nd Avenue today

Outside Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue today via Derek Berg

At Moishe's Bake Shop

[Photo from October by Derek Berg]

The New York Times checks in with a feature on Moishe Perl and Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue ... as part of the paper's "Neighborhood Joint" series.

To an excerpt!

What hasn’t changed at all is the bakery itself, with its stopped-in-time storefront that is almost entirely free of adornment — unless you count the shelves of challah and rye, trays of cookies, ruggeleh and babka, some hand-lettered signs (“Cash Only”) and a worn-looking certificate commemorating a “Best of the Borough” award of uncertain vintage for “Best Smell Ever.”

It does smell pretty good in there, and it probably always has. Mr. Perl swears he opened in autumn 1974, though the website says 1978. He won’t divulge his own age but if you had to guess, you might say around 70, and he hasn’t changed his menu or his recipes one iota in 42 years — everything kosher, no dairy except for the cheese Danish and strudel. His bread slicer, which was there when he bought the place, a former bakery that had been closed for a while, is 80 years old, Mr. Perl said. It rattles like a gas-powered lawn mower.

Moishe's is at 115 Second Ave. between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

Previously

Moishe's Bake Shop has a new front window

[EVG photo from April]

In previous posts (here and here, for example) about the new sign at Moishe's Bake Shop, several commenters wondered when the longtime bakery on Second Avenue would replace the graffiti-etched front window.

Well, you might be happy to know then that Moishe's recently installed a new front window, as this photo via EVG contributor Derek Berg shows…



For whatever reasons, the shop near East Seventh Street has always seemingly been a graffiti magnet… Here's a photo from 2001 by James and Karla Murray…

Sounds better today than hot chocolate

Spotted in the window at Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue today.

Photo by Elizabeth Janovsky‎

Here then, the new Moishe's Bake Shop sign

[EVG file photo]

Back in April workers removed the damaged Moishe's Bake Shop sign (in the middle of the night) in order to repair the facade at 115 Second Ave. near East Seventh Street.

Yesterdays, workers put the new sign in place under the watchful eye of owner Moishe Perl, as these photos by Derek Berg show…







Perl told WPIX that the sign sustained damage following the deadly gas explosion on March 26. "We got a violation last week that it’s shaking. We have to take it off and fix it," Perl told the station on April 20.



Previously on EV Grieve:
After midnight, workers remove the Moishe's Bake Shop sign (19 comments)

What lies beneath the Moishe's sign

Moishe's has a new (temporary-looking) sign

Moishe's has a new (temporary-looking) sign

EVG reader Steven passes along this photo from outside Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave. ... workers removed the sign in mid-April for some facade work...

Owner Moishe Perlmutter told WPIX that the sign sustained damage following the deadly gas explosion on March 26. "We got a violation last week that it’s shaking. We have to take it off and fix it," Perl told the station on April 20.

Anyway, looks like whatever sign is there will be well illuminated with those new lights...



Previously on EV Grieve:
What lies beneath the Moishe's sign

Moishe's Bake Shop in the evening

Second Avenue near East Seventh Street… with their temporary signs in the front window…

What lies beneath the Moishe's sign

Workers continue to repair the facade at Moishe's Bake Shop, 115 Second Ave.

A crew removed the sign late Friday night/early Saturday here near East Seventh Street.

Owner Moishe Perlmutter told WPIX that the sign sustained damage following the deadly gas explosion on March 26. (The sign seemed rather battered before then.)



"We got a violation last week that it’s shaking. We have to take it off and fix it," Perl told the station.

Meanwhile, Matt Rosen shared this photo... workers uncovered some stained glass underneath the facade...



We're unsure how old this glass is. Here's a shot of Moishe's from 1980 via EVG contributor Michael Sean Edwards...



According to the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Designation Report (PDF!), the Greek Revival building (with Queen Anne style alterations) dates to 1842-43 as a one-family row house. The storefront was likely added in 1908. Moishe's has been here since 1972. (Check out Off the Grid for more history of the building.)

And as we understand it, the sign will be repaired and returned to the storefront.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After midnight, workers remove the Moishe's Bake Shop sign (18 comments)

After midnight, workers remove the Moishe's Bake Shop sign

[Photo by Paul Kostabi via Instagram]

Multiple EVG readers let us now that in the late night/early morning hours, workers took down the familiar Moishe's Bake Shop letters at 115 Second Ave. (EVG reader Ryan spotted the work happening at 1:30 a.m.)

So sad to see the Moishe's letters come down tonight. @evgrieve #EastVillage pic.twitter.com/cgVV7XeNJR

— Nicholas Evans (@nicholasevans) April 18, 2015

While this retail space has been for lease since last summer, there hasn't been any mention of a closure from the owners of Moishe's. (The only sign in the window states that they are closed on Saturdays and open on Sundays.)

There is a complaint on file with the Department of Buildings dated April 11 (in the DOB's ALL-CAP style):

FROM THE RT. SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE NEW BUILDING HAS "SHIFTED" & THE WALLS HAVE MANY HOLES. THE BENDED CANOPY IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE WALL & IS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE WALL, AT LEAST BY 4 INCHES.

The DOB issued an Environmental Control Board (ECB) violation for "failure to maintain front facade." So perhaps this is the first step in renovating the storefront to meet the DOB's standards.

The bakery, which opened in 1978 (or maybe 1972), returned last Sunday after being off for the Passover holiday. Moishe's is one of the many merchants whose business tailed off in the days after the Second Avenue explosion.

In a widely circulated Associated Press photo from March 27, owner Moishe Perlmutter was seen offering the FDNY some of his baked goods...

This man is handing out cookies to firefighters clearing rubble from yesterday's explosion in the East Village (@AP) pic.twitter.com/MpZ0Xuc6TQ

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 27, 2015

Updated 9:13 a.m.



Updated 4/20

Several readers spoke with Moishe at the shop yesterday... he reported that the sign will return after the facade repair... and that they are not going anywhere.