Extra Place may not be such a quiet place too much longer

Over the years, Momofuku Ko has been the only restaurant to have any success in Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue. 

Momofuku Ko closed last November, though the company kept the space as a ghost kitchen (and one of two ghost kitchens back here). The other tenant is the Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata in the corner space at First Street. 

So, ICYMI: Last week, the Times reported that Paul Carmichael, Momofuku's Australia-based chef, will open a new restaurant in the former Ko space focusing on Caribbean cuisine

Ko, which started on First Avenue in 2008, relocated to Extra Place in November 2014 (it increased its EP footprint in 2017).

Over the years, Extra Place, the former alley behind CBGB, has seen a handful of restaurants and businesses come and go, such as Red Hook Lobster Pound, Heidi and the cleverly named Extra Place. (Some music history: Danny Fields photographed the Ramones for their third album, Rocket to Russia, along here in 1977.) 

In January 2007, reps for Avalon Bowery Place unveiled plans to make Extra Place a unique destination, "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."

Lately, it has been a pretty quiet place, with just a few local residents using the walkway to exercise their dogs in the evenings.

Momofuku Ko is closing in Extra Place

According to its website, Nov 4 is Momofuku Ko's last day of service in Extra Place. 

The restaurant with two Michelin stars made the announcement yesterday and was covered by Eater and Grub Street. 

Ko got its start on First Avenue in 2008... and relocated to Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off of First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue, in November 2014 (they increased their EP footprint in 2017.) 

Ko aside, Extra Place hasn't been too kind to restaurants. However, a spokesperson told Eater that the company will keep the Extra Place outpost: "We are pausing Ko as it currently operates and we hope to have something in the new year in this space." 

Meanwhile, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, which moved from the East Village to the Seaport in 2020, closed last month. 

Per Eater: 

The closure is part of Momofuku's restructuring since Marguerite Zabar Mariscal became CEO of the company in 2019; it includes shifts in its restaurant concepts and upcoming locations, along with an expansion of its pantry products in stores like Whole Foods and Target.

A new surface for Extra Place

[Photos from Saturday]

Been about 2.5 years since we mentioned anything about Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue... workers recently replaced the concrete sidewalk...



And the space remains quiet. The main tenant back here, David Chang's Momofuku Ko, hasn't reopened yet from the COVID-19 PAUSE. The Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata has the corner space and there's also a prep kitchen for Daniel Boulud at the end of the walkway.

Through the years, only Momofuku Ko has had any success in this former alley that ran behind CBGB. (Danny Fields photographed the Ramones for their third album, Rocket to Russia, here in 1977.)

As noted here through the years, a handful of restaurants and businesses have come and gone, such as Red Hook Lobster Pound.

In January 2007, reps for Avalon Bowery Place unveiled plans to make Extra Place "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."


[Tony's Place?]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

• Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place is all pretty much Momofuku Ko now

In January 2007, WWD ran a story titled "Extra Place: Paris on the Lower East Side." At that time, reps for Avalon Bowery Place unveiled plans to make Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue, "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."


As noted here in these subsequent years, a handful of restaurants and businesses have come and gone. The most recent casualty was Red Hook Lobster Pound, which went dark last April.


[Photo from April 2017]

Only David Chang's Momofuku Ko has had any success in this former alley that ran behind CBGB. Momofuku Ko, which relocated to 8 Extra Place from First Avenue in November 2014, expanded into some adjacent storefronts late last summer.



Now it appears that Momofuku Ko has nearly three-quarters of the Place. The Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata has the corner space at No. 2. No. 18 is a prep kitchen for Daniel Boulud. The space that housed the Lobster Pound is now storage.



There's still a sign up in Extra Place optimistically noting "open to the public & public seating." Maybe Momofuku Ko will one day offer to serve its $195 tasting menu outdoors.

Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place

A few more details on Momofuku Ko (aka, TBD) coming to Extra Place

David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place

Momofuku Ko remains closed as expansion-related work continues in Extra Place

As first noted back in May, David Chang's Momofuku Ko was expanding in the extra quiet Extra Place off of First Street here between the Bowery and Second Avenue.

The restaurant remains closed with the renovations in progress...



The plans submitted to CB3 show a bigger waiting area, six or seven more tables and an expanded bar/chef counter. There will also be a new entrance.

The sign on the door notes a closure until Sept. 6. According to the Ko website, "our re-opening date may change. We encourage you to revisit our website for the latest updates." In May, Chang told Eater that he did not anticipate the restaurant having to close during renovation.

Momofuku Ko relocated to 8 Extra Place from First Avenue in November 2014. To date, this is the only business to succeed in Extra Place since its debut 10 years ago.

Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place

A few more details on Momofuku Ko (aka, TBD) coming to Extra Place

David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place

Momofuko Ko brings the lucky peach branding to Extra Place

EVG reader Russ happened to notice the discreet sign up at 4-8 Extra Place, where Momofuku Ko is opening a new, larger space…



We haven't been following this one too closely… Eater has some interior details here and here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look inside the incoming Momofuko Ko on Extra Place

With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

A look inside the incoming Momofuko Ko on Extra Place

We took a walk on a very quiet Extra Place on Friday afternoon, where we spotted a crew working on the new Momofuko Ko space...



As you can see, there looks to be quite a bit of work left on the 25-seat restaurant...





The construction at 4-8 Extra Place hasn't made at least one neighbor too happy...



Meanwhile, across East First Street at the former Veselka Bowery, work continues on the incoming steakhouse-oyster bar Bowery Meat Company ...



... a name that conjures up two nearby former businesses — Bowery Wine Company and Bowery Beef...



Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place