Planet Taco entering 2nd Avenue's orbit

Temp delivery signage is up for the new quick-serve taco concept coming to 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... say hello to Planet Taco... (thanks to Steven for the photos!)

We don't know anything about this operation at the moment. Hopefully, the tacos will be out of this world. (Sorry!)

As we noted last month, another taco shop was prepping to take over this space last leased by Otto's Tacos. 

Unfortunately, Otto's never reopend after the PAUSE in March 2020 ... and the space hit the market back in the fall. 

Meanwhile, Otto's has become a virtual brand ... now being sold via Mighty Quinn's Barbeque — just on the Upper East Side for now.

Thanks to Mighty Quinn's, Otto's Tacos is making a (virtual) return

All four outposts of Otto's Tacos permanently closed late last year, including the one on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

However, the quick-serve tacqueria has made a comeback thanks to Mighty Quinn's Barbeque.

In an article this week on ghost kitchens and delivery-only restaurants, CNBC reports that Otto's has become a virtual brand, an increasingly popular concept thanks to COVID-19.

After their closure, Otto's founder Otto Cedeno reportedly contacted Mighty Quinn's.

Per CNBC:

The two companies opened their flagship locations in the East Village neighborhood two blocks away from each other less than a decade ago, and their founders were friendly, swapping industry updates and tips, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic hammered New York City. 

But rather buying Otto's Tacos outright, Mighty Quinn's struck a deal instead to license the brand and bring it back to life as a virtual brand. The barbeque chain also sells chicken wings under the virtual brand Sugar Wing. 

"We decided, rather than bringing on additional kitchen capacity, to utilize what we already had at Mighty Quinn's to execute their menus," said Mighty Quinn's co-founder Micha Magid.

For now, the digital, delivery only location for Otto's is on the Upper East Side (as of last month). Otto's will be expanding to other neighborhoods in 2021. Service will likely one day include the East Village, given that both Otto's and Mighty Quinn's started in the neighborhood ... and because Otto's has a built-in audience here.

The former Otto's storefront on Second Avenue is said to become another taco shop.

Tacos for a former taco shop?

Over at 141 Second Ave., paper nows covers the front windows of the storefront... and the listing is no longer online. 

A worker told EVG correspondent Steven that the space will be a taco shop... perhaps similiar to the previous tenant — Otto's Tacos here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. That quick-serve tacqueria closed at the start of the PAUSE in March 2020, and never reopened.

As we've noted, a lot of things have come and gone here through the years, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville. (Burritoville!)

The former Otto's Tacos space is for rent on 2nd Avenue

The for rent sign arrived last week at 141 Second Ave., officially bringing an end to Otto's Tacos here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

The tasty quick-serve tacqueria closed at the start of the PAUSE in March, and never reopened. (The other OT locations are also out of business.)

Otto Cedeno opened his first restaurant here in November 2013. 

There wasn't any closure announcement on the OT social media properties or website, which is now offline.

Meanwhile, the asking rent for No. 141 is available "upon request." A lot of things have come and gone here through the years, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville (sob).

Otto's Tacos (soft) opens today

Otto's Tacos has its soft opening today at 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street.

Per the Otto's website:

Otto's Tacos is an LA inspired grab and go taqueria focusing on freshly prepared tacos. We make all of our tortillas, salsas and marinades from scratch every day.

(Otto Cedeno told us more about his first restaurant back on Aug. 21.)

You can find Otto's menu here.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Otto's Tacos, opening this fall on Second Avenue

[Photos via Facebook/Otto's Tacos]

Otto's Tacos, opening this fall on Second Avenue

Work continues at 141 Second Ave. near East Ninth Street where Otto's Tacos will be opening soon... this week, the workers removed the signage of the previous occupant — the short-lived Good Guys.

We asked proprietor Otto Cedeno for more details on his restaurant.

On the concept:

"This project has been a year-plus in the making and I'm humbled beyond belief to have a restaurant amongst all the greats in the East Village. I'm originally from Orange County, Calif., and the genesis of this concept was to put the food I grew up with in a city that's now turned into home for me," he said. "I've been an on/off East Village resident for the last 10 years, and couldn't think of a better area to open my first restaurant."

On the menu:

"We have a very simple and focused menu that allows us to spend time and flavor on each item ... we're keeping everything from the brand to the buildout to the menu simple. We want our customers to feel comfortable and right at home ... [and have] a fantastic dining experience in a grab-and-go atmosphere."

On his background:

"This is my first restaurant, actually. Prior to this I was the director of production and operations at Livestream.com. My background is film production and tech. This was a lifelong dream of mine to do and thought, 'I'm alive now, who knows if I will be later, let's just go for it.'
We are beyond excited to open."

Cedeno is planning for a mid-September opening. CB3 approved a beer license for Otto's last month.