Kikoo bringing all-you-can-eat sushi to the former Papa John's outpost on 1st Avenue

It appears that Kikoo Sushi is moving on up First Avenue... the all-you-can-eat specialist is currently at 141 First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Steven spotted Kikoo signage in the front window a few blocks to the north at the former Papa John's outpost between 12th Street and 13th Street...



This Papa John's shuttered last fall after nearly eight years in business here.

Kikoo opened at No. 141 in 2015. This move is likely several months out — the interior is still set up as a pizzeria.

210 1st Ave. is for sale; and a visit to Gena's Grill

A listing arrived earlier this month for 210 First Ave., a 6-story residential building between 12th Street and 13th Street.

There's not much posted with the listing at Douglas Elliman: "Great Building With 20 Rental Units, Two Stores ... 7 Free Market Apts And 13 Rent Stabilized."

The asking price: $17 million.

Coincidentally (or not), on Oct. 3, the Marshal seized one of the two retail businesses here — Papa John's.

And it doesn't appear that this outpost of the pizza chain will reopen... the space has been gutted...


[Photo by Steven]

Old-timer Gena's Grill is the other business at the address.



Hopefully a sale here won't impact Gena's.

Last week, Robert Sietsema highlighted Gena's in his "Cheap Eats" feature at Eater. Here's part of his lunchtime post:

Behind the counter are steam-table tubs containing the café’s daily dishes. There’s no printed menu, so check the chalkboard outside before you walk in. The other day the offerings included stewed pig’s feet, paprika roast chickens, and a codfish casserole. Available every day, though, is the roast pork leg or shoulder called pernil.

I chowed down on the braised pork ribs, the meaty bones cooked with onion, green pepper, and garlic. It came with a mountain of yellow rice and black beans, but I could have picked white rice and red beans. The full plate set me back $8.70 — indeed, all the luncheon size plates cost less than $10 ...

Gena's is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Check out their menu at this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Gena's Grill is back open, and that is a good thing

The Marshal seizes Papa John's on 1st Avenue

The Marshal seizes Papa John's on 1st Avenue

The Marshal came calling to the Papa John's outpost on First Avenue last Wednesday...



The storefront between 12th Street and 13th Street is now in legal possession of the landlord.

There have been recent reports that Papa John's could close up to 250 stores if sales do not improve.

Per CNBC:

In July, same-store sales at the beleaguered pizza chain plunged 10.5 percent after it came to light that Papa John's founder had used a racially charged slur on a conference call. That trend continued in August.

This Papa John's opened in November 2010.

Our Papa John's archives can be found here.

DOH temporarily closes Papa John's

Several EVG readers pointed out that the DOH closed the Papa John's outpost on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street after a failed inspection on Tuesday.

During a follow-up on Thursday, public records show that inspectors found at least one critical area to keep the shop closed. (That being "Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.")

Papa John's enters the $1 slice fray

Let me know when it gets down to 25 cents.

Papa John's will deliver to churches, apparently

Oh, just spotted some Papa John's flyers everywhere on Seventh Street, including on the door to the St. George's Ukranian Catholic Church Rectory ... and the church's front steps. But will Papa John's deliver so early on a Sunday morning?

Papa John's is back in the East Village!

Back in December, a tipster pointed out the location of the new Papa John's on First Avenue — Eastside Village!



And now .... a new mailer has arrived...

Papa John's decides to rename the East Village

The reader who passed this along also notes that Papa John's delivers their pizzas via cars...

Noted

Papa John's on First Avenue will be open on Christmas Day.

Noted

Papa John's unleashes its new delivery car for the East Village

More on the new First Avenue Papa John's, sort of

[Top photo by First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass]

As I exclusively reported last night.... Papa John's is now open on First Avenue...



I went looking for more info on the opening... like something official from the Papa Johnsters... I did come across this article from last month on PizzaMarketplace.com:

Papa John's to open in crowded East Village space

Popular New York blog EV Grieve [Editor's note: Woo!] has reported that a Papa John's storefront has appeared on First Avenue in an area of New York City's East Village that's especially pizza-dense. Back in March, the blog reported several pizza restaurants — such asLuzzo's, Motorino, Piola, Tonda, and more — having recently opened.

With all the local pizza concentration, Papa John’s may be looking to appeal to tourists looking for something recognizable in the famous New York enclave. Papa John’s spokesperson Tish Muldoon said the company sees the location as "a great growth opportunity for the brand in Manhattan." However, anecdotal commentary on the new storefront did not appear favorable toward the No. 3 pizza chain.

Meanwhile, no word if this is how pizzas will be delivered hereabouts:



Previous coverage here.

Breaking! Papa John's now open on First Avenue

And there were a handful of high school students inside... There will be much more on this developing story with our live team coverage the next 96 hours.

Previous coverage here.

Papa John's is such a tease

Still no official word yet on Opening Day here on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Papa John's shows off its big, green awning; plus, reader reaction!

Papa John's shows off its big, green awning; plus, reader reaction!

Just following up on my Worldwide Exclusive™ from last week... the incoming Papa John's on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street has unveiled its awning.... Meanwhile, readers had some pointed comments about the incoming PJ. Among them!

Anonymous said...
Not sure what's worse that it's opening or that people will actually order from them.

Anonymous said...
It's the natural progression, kids, beer, pizza.....

So let me see... do I want Motorino ?, Artichoke ?, Papa Johns ????

Anonymous said...
ugh. Aren't there laws against this sort of thing?

Bowery Boogie said...
don't forget the sole domino's down on allen street. still boggles me who orders from there. haven't seen the noid on delivery in some time.

Jen said...
I happen to like the taste of Papa John's- the price is better than getting Motorino or Artichoke. Just because something is a chain doesn't automatically mean it's bad.

EV Heave said...
This will keep me busy.

Anonymous said...
You mean it will keep you EV Heave-y.

And please, don't blame people under 30 for this. I can't think of one person I know who would order this crap.

But alas, under 30, living in the east village and not a hipster . . . by all accounts of commenters on this blog, I must be a . . . yuppie?

Amanda said...
Papa John's and Domino's have their uses, but I don't think of them as pizza. Sometimes you're in the mood for pizza, sometimes you're in the mood for some crappy fake cheese. Just because people live in NYC, where there is better food available, doesn't mean they don't still like to eat lesser food on occasion.

Anonymous said...
@Jen: "I happen to like the taste of Papa John's"

Papa John's ships in dough and sauce from factories that mass produce thousands of pounds of generic, low quality, garbage.

The reason it's cheaper is because of these economies of scale. I don't mind those economies being applied to my computers or technologies, but not my f'ing pizza.

Jen, grow up, get some taste, and put up that extra $1 or $2 for some real food made by a person in a kitchen, not a machine in a factory.

Rmom said...
Um, when I feel urge for pizza on 1st ave I go to Vinny Vincentz. I've never had Dominos or Papa John's, so I don't know if they are any cheaper than Vinny's, but I guess I can eat them when I move somewhere else. So for now, I'm totally happy with my neighborhood pizza (and I don't have to wait in line like Artichoke's!)

Anonymous said...
@Anonymous: "Jen, grow up, get some taste, and put up that extra $1 or $2 for some real food made by a person in a kitchen, not a machine in a factory". Wow, some rude f*cking people here, and Anon is so courageous by speaking his mind (of course not with his own voice).

Yeah, yeah, yeah - you're all too cool for us. Thanks for reaffirming the douchyness of the downtown hipsters. Like we all want to spend $20 on a lunch.

Jen,you know about Motorino and can make your own choices. Just eat what you want and dump this place, and let blogs like this one die.

And now, a daytime shot of the incoming Papa John's

Courtesy of EV Grieve First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass.

On First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Previously.

Papa John's invades First Avenue

Well, the cabbie-favorite Medina on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street shuttered back in April...



...and now, a Papa John's is opening in the space at 120 First Ave.



[author unsure of what to write now]