The great New Double Dragon signage shines brightly again, now on the Lower East Side

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

New Double Dragon was forced to close earlier this month with the pending demolition of its longtime home at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street.

However, that great NDD signage lives on.

NDD owner Shawn Lin is friends with Kenney Shi, the proprietor of Soley Tea at 111 Eldridge St. between Broome and Grand. (Both men are Fujianese.)

The two had been discussing preserving the sign for months — once Shawn learned this winter that he might need to shut down his quick-serve Chinese restaurant this year.

Once Shawn finally closed, Kenney hired a sign company to carefully remove and transport it to his shop on the Lower East Side this past July 11...

Kenney saved all the (nonworking) lightbulbs and bought new wiring for the sign with the hopes of having it illuminate his small shop. 

Kenney has also saved and restored other Chinese and Chinatown-area signage, which he displays in his boba tea shop and art gallery...

Soley Tea is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. if you want to pay a visit.

Postscript

After my first visit this past week, Kenney got the signage to light up... even adding a dimmer switch ...

Ghost signage at the former New Double Dragon

Workers today removed that great New Double Dragon signage from the now-closed restaurant at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. 

And there's some ghost signage beneath... difficult to see, but it looks like the letters Bet _ _ _ _ & Grill.

Via the NYC Municipal Archives, we found this street view from the early 1940s... you can see the neighboring business, a wine store and an A&P (33 and 35 First Ave.). No. 37 looks to be a restaurant...

And you can see a snippet of the El train  ... plus the cars are facing south on what is now a northbound thoroughfare.

The photo from the 1980s is too blurry to help, unfortunately. 

As noted, the three-building parcel here — 33 to 37 First Ave. — is slated for demolition for some unspecified new development.

Above photo by Stacie Joy

Last chance for food from New Double Dragon

Photo Tuesday by Stacie Joy 

New Double Dragon was able to get another few days in business at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. 

Tuesday was to be the last day... but owner Shawn Lin will be open through today (Friday, July 7)... and serving a limited selection of menu items. You can call (212) 598-0730 or simply stop by. 

As previously reported, 33-37 First Ave. will be demolished to make way for some unspecified new development. 

Photo: East Village-based musician Cheri Leone, who ran the rehearsal space, dubbed HaveAHeart Studio, below New Double Dragon, with Shawn Lin.

[Updated] TODAY is the last day in business on 1st Avenue for East Village staple New Double Dragon

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 7/5: The restaurant was able to stay open for a little longer... through Friday, July 7. There is a limited selection of menu items available. You can call (212) 598-0730.

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Today (July 4) is the last day in business for New Double Dragon, the inexpensive and reliable quick-serve Chinese restaurant at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. 

We first reported on this pending closure in February, when there were rumors that the building's landlord was planning to either renovate or demolish the building and the two properties to the south. 

According to the Department of Buildings, the landlord is going the demolition route, as permits are on file for the three buildings — 33-37 First Ave.

We'll have more about the demolition and what might be next at another time.

Meanwhile, owner Shawn Lin said he has restaurant items available to sell and give away.

Among the items for sale: large woks, fridges, fryers, a freezer. And the freebies include large rice warmers, prep tables and kitchen supplies. You can take a look today and pick up items tomorrow or Thursday. 

Shawn says he has been looking for another space but has not found one. (He'd like the opportunity to lease a space someday in the new development here but realizes he likely couldn't afford the new rent.)

In the interim, he hopes he and everyone else at New Double Dragon can get short-term jobs. If an employment opportunity doesn't work out for him in the weeks ahead, he may visit his extended family in China.

While bagging up some orders, Shawn reiterated a message on the flyers: He was grateful for all the patronage through the years and looked forward to seeing everyone again some day at New Double Dragon — here or elsewhere.

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

• On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

• First Avenue Laundry Center is closed for now

Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy 

It was a bittersweet message and offer from musician Cheri Leone in the EVG inbox that had us replying with an immediate “yes!” Did we want to tour one of the last of the underground East Village music studio spaces before it was closed for “renovations?” 

I met up with Cheri and bandmate Matty Karas (together they are the Trouble Dolls) and we venture downstairs, under New Double Dragon at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street, into the subterranean area that houses their rehearsal space. 

As I get busy snapping photos in the basement, we talk about the space, who else shares the studio (various two- and four-legged friends) and the possible plans for the building.

How did you get the rehearsal space? Where will you go next? 

We found out about the space from a friend of a former bandmate who lived nearby on Third Street. We’ve been rehearsing there, with the Trouble Dolls and various other bands and/or projects, for about 23 years. 

I have no idea where we’ll end up, but we’re actively looking for a new home. I’ve been canvassing the East Village, talking to landlords, brokers — really, talking to any strangers on nearby streets who look like they live in the area — and asking if they know of any available basement spaces for rent. Affordable urban caves are hard to come by! 

Does the space have a name? 

At some point I named the space HaveAHeart Studio, both as a tribute to our (small, furry) part-time cohabitants in the basement, and because I happened to be dealing with some larger, more callous rats at the time, and thought it might act as a word-charm against assholes. 

Who else used the space? 

Pre-COVID there were a few more musicians in there; now it’s Matty, Chris (Trouble Dolls drummer) and I, Rob (East Ghost West Ghost), and Jason (Afroskull, Dark Streets).

Any information about the building? Any chance you can come back once they renovate the space? Or do you think it will be sold and that question will be moot? 

We’re not sure what will happen to the building... Word is that major renovations are planned. [Background here.] BTW shout out to Shawn [Lin] and his family at New Double Dragon! People of the East Village: order big and order often from New Double Dragon, while you still can.

We have been invited back to the future, fabulously renovated 37 First Ave.; hope that offer is good. Decades of EV-infused music have been made at this location. The landlords shouldn’t kill that ancient mojo.

On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Multiple tipsters have told us that the New Double Dragon, 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street, will be closing in the weeks ahead. 

And it's a rather complicated situation. An employee confirmed that "we're closing, and we don't know exactly when and we're not sure for how long but we hope to come back." 

According to the employee, ConEd is going to cut off the gas and power to the building — for unspecified reasons — at some point. The landlord has promised a one-week notice for the business before it happened. (The building also appears vacant on the upper floors.)

Meanwhile, two storefronts to the south, the First Avenue Laundry Center remains closed for renovations at 33 First Ave. at Second Street. Nearly three months in, we still haven't seen any sign of work here...

As previously mentioned, there has been speculation that this corner is ripe for development... a parcel that includes the long-vacant single-level storefront next door (last occupied in 2015)...

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave., home of the New Double Dragon.

The New Double Dragon employee said they have this phone number — 212-598-0730 — for people to call for updates once the closure occurs.