We're not sure when exactly this happened… we only noticed this past weekend that the small shop was gone on East Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.
We didn't spot any goodbye to patron signs on the door … and there isn't any message on the shop's website … and the phone number is disconnected.
Pilar La Rosa opened here at No. 32 in 1992.
In February 2013, the Voice talked with Pilar and Walter, her husband of 50-plus years, dubbing them the "Cutest East Village Couple."
Walter is always soft spoken, listens intently, and smiles with warmth. Pilar, on the other hand, fills up the narrow shop with her laughter and straightforward banter. The pair first met when Pilar was 16 and Walter was 21. Although her parents didn't approve of Walter, she waited five years for him. It was during that lull that Walter came to the United States to work. He returned to Lima, married Pilar, got her a visa and they've been together ever since.
According to the listing, all uses will be considered for the space. The rent is available upon request.
Updated 12:52 p.m.
A reader let us know that Walter recently passed away, and Pilar closed up the store to go live with family...
