New York Central Art Supply, which closed in September 2016 after 111 years in business, is the home for the fifth season — titled "Black Coffee" — of the Brunch Theatre Company.
Haley Jakobson created the collective in 2015 "as an initiative to bring young people back to the theatre, and to give millennial actors, writers, and directors an opportunity to create new work."
Their three-week run, featuring seven new plays, starts on Saturday here at 62 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.
Here's more about the season via the Brunch Theatre website:
We'd love to invite you to our opening celebration, Sunday May 6th. Specials will include bottomless mimosas, raffle items, live music, and a talk back with the artists.
The world is ending, and Brunch Theatre has taken refuge in an abandoned art store in Manhattan's East Village. Brave the apocalypse with us for our wildest Brunch experience yet. We've partnered with NYC food trucks to provide rations (vegan and gluten free options available) and we'll keep the champagne flowing because the waters run out.
We cater to your stomach and your short attention span. Don't ditch your weekend brunch plans, make them an experience.
You can find more details about the plays as well as ticket info here. The collective's last slate of plays were staged at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on Third Street.
Meanwhile, there hasn't been any activity at the former New York Central Art Supply. The Steinberg family, who operated the art supply store for three generations, cited "poor business conditions" and the pending sale of the building as the primary reasons behind the closure.
According to public records, the building sold for $9.3 million to an LLC in 2016 with an address of 62 Third Ave. However, a work permit from last year for a sidewalk bridge lists Jakobson Properties as the owner. Their intentions for the property haven't been made public yet.