Panda Express debuted TODAY on 14th Street and 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven

After nearly 20 months since the start of storefront renovations at the address, the Panda Express officially debuted today on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street...

Employees were handing hand Panda Express keychains as well...

This marks the latest outpost for the quick-serve Chinese restaurant chain that launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC). 

An AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.

Posted hours here at this location: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At long last the grand opening date is revealed for Panda Express on 14th Street and 1st Avenue

The grand opening signage is here on the SW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue ... where the Panda Express debuts (at long last?) Monday, July 17...

This pre-grand opening has been a lengthy process. We were the first outlet to report that Panda Express was coming to this corner in January 2022. In April, a PE rep said that the projected opening date was around June 5. 

As noted late last summer, there were issues with permits — as in waiting for the city, Con Ed, etc., to approve them. (One tipster told us that management here was very late in completing the necessary paperwork for the various licenses, etc.)

Panda Express launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today, including a handful around NYC.   

As previously noted... posts about PE's arrival have brought out comments of support for the delicious and affordable Mee Noodle Shop & Grill down the block at 223 First Ave. (between 13th Street and 14th Street). It was Allen Ginsberg's favorite restaurant (when it was at the former location at 219 First Ave.). You can find their menu via all the online delivery platforms. (212) 260-7838.

The East Village Panda Express is hiring

The opening of the Panda Express outpost at 237 First Ave. at First Avenue inches forward.

Recently, a help-wanted sign arrived on the storefront. Depending on the role, hourly wages run anywhere from $17.50 (service team) to $38.19 (general manager)... 

This pre-grand opening has been a lengthy process. We were the first outlet to report that Panda Express was coming to this corner in January 2022. In April, a PE rep said that the projected opening date was around June 5. 

As noted late last summer, there were issues with permits — as in waiting for the city, Con Ed, etc., to approve them. (One tipster told us that management here was very late in completing the necessary paperwork for the various licenses, etc.)

Panda Express launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today, including a handful around NYC.   

This is the new projected opening date for Panda Express

Here's a follow-up to our post from Monday about an opening date for Panda Express on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street. 

A spokesperson for Panda Express tells us the following: 

The projected opening date is 6/5/2023. This is not a guarantee that the location will open on that date and is only an estimate of the time frame.

We're now 16 months into the first report of the PE opening on this corner. 

As noted late last summer, there were issues with permits — as in waiting for the city, Con Ed, etc., to approve them. A PE rep told The Village Sun that this outpost wouldn't open until the first quarter of 2023. (One tipster said to us that management here was very late in completing the necessary paperwork for the various licenses, etc.)

Panda Express launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today, including a handful around NYC.   

At the incoming Panda Express, the lights are on but there's no Orange Chicken

Updated 4/5: June is the new target date for the opening.

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The Panda Express Watch continues on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street. 

The latest development: THE LIGHTS ARE ON...

This comes two weeks after a ladder inside the quick-serve chain's space moved from one spot to another.

We're 16 months into the first report of the PE opening on this corner. 

As previously noted late last summer, there were issues with permits — as in waiting for the city, Con Ed, etc., to approve them. A PE rep told The Village Sun that this outpost wouldn't open until the first quarter of 2023. (One tipster told us that management here was very late in turning in the necessary paperwork for the various licenses, etc.)

Anyway, we're now at the start of the second quarter of 2023. We reached out to PE for an update on the opening status.

In any event, the PE still looks ready for Orange Chicken action ... though this location hasn't appeared on the PE website.  

Panda Express launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today, including a handful around NYC.  

H/T Steven

2023 preview: Panda Express

Nearly a year has passed since we first reported on Panda Express coming to the corner space on the SW side of 14th Street and First Avenue. 

The signage arrived in May. (All these photos are from late last week.)

PE workers told us in July that they'd be open very soon. 

By late August/early September, there were issues with permits — as in waiting for the city, Con Ed, etc., to approve them. A PE rep then told The Village Sun then that this outpost wouldn't open until the first quarter of 2023. (One tipster told us that management here was very late in turning in the necessary paperwork for the various licenses, etc.)

In any event, the PE still looks ready for action, ... though this location still hasn't appeared on the PE website ... and we still receive a lot of queries about the status of the space...

As for this storefront, an AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.

Panda Express launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today ... with a handful around NYC.  

Why Panda Express isn't open yet on 14th and 1st

Photos by Stacie Joy

The incoming Panda Express (first mentioned in January) has seemingly been in a holding pattern here on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street in recent weeks. 

It looks ready to go (mostly!), with workers milling about inside (though not in the photo below) ...

One of those workers told EVG correspondent Stacie Joy yesterday that the quick-serve restaurant was waiting for a license from the city to open. (The worker didn't specify what kind of permit.)

The Chinese restaurant chain launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC). 

No, Panda Express hasn't opened yet

We heard from a reader who said that the Panda Express Chinese Kitchen had debuted on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street. (Revisit the EVG Panda Express Archives here!)

On closer inspection (H/T Steven!), this outpost of the quick-serve chain based in California wasn't open just yet ... with a worker stating they would be ready for guests next week.

A look inside the establishment, the former AT&T store and the Vitamin Shoppe, shows just a few tables for indoor Panda Expressing. However, there are three tables (no chairs!) (randomly?) set up on the 14th Street side of the storefront.

So perhaps this outpost will have outdoor dining... stay tuned!

Fast-food chain getting ready to Express itself on 1st Avenue and 14th Street

Several EVG readers have pointed out that the Panda Express Chinese Kitchen is looking closer to opening on the SW corner of First Avenue and 14th Street.

Workers have removed the paper on the front windows, offering a view inside...

No word on an opening date (and this outpost has yet to make the PE website).

News of the PE arrival first surfaced in January. 

This marks the latest outpost for the quick-serve Chinese restaurant chain that launched in California in the early 1980s ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC).  

An AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.

And previous posts about PE's arrival have brought out comments of support for the delicious and affordable Mee Noodle Shop & Grill down the block at 223 First Ave. (between 13th Street and 14th Street). It was Allen Ginsberg's favorite restaurant (when it was at the former location at 219 First Ave.). You can find their menu via all the online delivery platforms. (212) 260-7838.

Panda Express makes it signage official on the SW corner of 14th Street and 1st Avenue

Orange Chicken, incoming!

The Panda Express Chinese Kitchen signage arrived yesterday on the SW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue, as EVG regular Pinch shows us...

News of the PE arrival first surfaced in January (31 comments!).

This marks the latest outpost for the quick-serve Chinese restaurant chain that launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC). 

An AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.

Panda Express pulling into this storefront on 14th Street and 1st Avenue

Renovations are underway in the corner space on the SW side of 14th Street and First Avenue.

Pinch (with the help of EV Arrow) points to the work permits... where we see that a Panda Express is coming to this storefront...

This marks the latest outpost for the quick-serve Chinese restaurant chain that launched in California in 1983 ... with more than 2,000 locations today (with a handful around NYC). 

An AT&T store was here for a few months... taking over for the Vitamin Shoppe.

And as a P.S. for the SW corner... a Citi Bike docking station was installed here at the start of the year as part of the EV expansion...      

Thanks to Pinch for the Citi Bike pic!