Why they'll be dancing now at 55 Avenue C

Olivio's, a homey and unusual little shop (part gaming, part yarn!), closed at 55 Avenue C in July 2009 after 36 years in business. While there was a slight rent increase here near East Fourth Street, the proprietors of this father-son operation said that they simply couldn't make a go of it anymore...




Given that Avenue C of late has attracted fancy drink emporiums such as Summit and Bedlam, we figured a more-upscale business would likely take over the space.

Well, turns out something that we never quite expected is opening here this week...



The East Village Dance Project, in partnership with GOH Productions, is opening the Avenue C Studio ...





The space will offer ballet classes for kids and adults... Check out their website for more information. There are free classes being offered this week... and an open house on Sunday afternoon...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Olivo's on Avenue C.

A quick look inside the former Olivio's

Olivio's, the homey part gaming/part yarn shop at 55 Avenue C closed after 36 years this past July. While there was a modest rent increase, the father-son operation just couldn't make a go of it here anymore between Third Street and Fourth Street.

I got a quick look inside the other evening...Someone was doing some repairs on the floor, though it didn't seem as if another tenant was coming to this space anytime soon.

Last day for Olivo's

Thanks to Melanie, who informs me that today is the last day for Olivo's at 55 Avenue C near Fourth Street.



The homey and unusual little shop (part gaming, part yarn!) has been here for 36 years, and is a father-son operation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Olivo's on Avenue C.

Avenue C for change?

As I mentioned on April 20, yarn/fabric/gaming shop Olivo's on Avenue C near Fourth Street was closing. Elias Olivo, whose father opened the shop 36 years ago, told me recently that they're simply closing because business has been bad. While the new lease had a modest increase, he said they just couldn't make the business profitable any longer. Olivo said they would remain open for several more weeks.

Meanwhile, I wonder what will happen on this southern stretch of Avenue C. The eastern block between Seventh Street and Sixth Street has a newish high-end wine shop, a soon-to-open brickoven pizza joint called Mr. C's and two vacant storefronts advertising "luxurious" apartments and retail space.

What else is happening on Avenue C?

Fine Fair got a new paint job.



There are several empty storefronts on the west side of Avenue C between Sixth Street and Second Street...





And as I've speculated before, how long before the south side of C at Third Street looks like the north side?



And 272 E. Third St. is now for rent. It has been refurbished to house a doctor's office. (Rent: $4,950 a month.)



One last thing... Yoli (pictured at the left above), a delicious hole-in-the-wall Dominican restaurant with three tables, was closed last night when I walked by... Hope that's not a bad sign...

For further reading on EV Grieve:
What's happening at the Umbrella House?

Olivo's on Avenue C

Been meaning to do a post on Olivo's Fashions, a homey and unusual little shop at 55 Avenue C near Fourth Street. It has been here for 36 years, and is a father-son operation. Part of the store is devoted to yarn and fabrics and other things sewing related.

In 2007, though, the store started to be more known as a serious place for video games. In fact, just last Tuesday, Crispy Gamer did a feature on the place titled, "World's Greatest Independent Game Stores: Olivo's Games Depot."

As the second deck of the headline reads, "Welcome to pretty much the only place on earth where you can buy skeins of yarn, adult diapers and a still-shrinkwrapped copy of Rez ($99.99)."

True.

Here's an excerpt from the article, which nicely captures the vibe of Olivo's:

The store is one of those rare, old-time New York places that are almost impossible to find these days. Two-thirds of the store is devoted to yarn, knitting, mannequins, candles, homemade lollipops, porcelain hands designed to hold your rings, and blouses. It's like a thousand five-and-dime stores crammed into 600 square feet. The remaining third -- the front corner of the store -- is devoted to videogames.

And now I buried my lead...I was dismayed to walk by Saturday to see the following...




The elder Mr. Olivo, I believe, was hanging garmets outside on Saturday morning. He said they were closing and had to have everything out of the store. There seemed to be a sense of urgency to this. I went back yesterday to take some photos of the interior and, I hoped, to talk with one of the Olivos. Unfortunately, the gates were down. I'm afraid I'm too late.