Whatever happened to... Sammy's Halal?

Going on nine months now since the Sammy's Halal signage arrived at 109 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

And not much has seemingly happened with the space. (Chicken remains "Chiken" on the sign.)

The interior has a no-frills, 1970s basement rec room look...



Google lists the location as "permanently closed" even though the place was never actually open (and there's a five-star review!) ...



The address was previously the Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop closed in July 2016 after 21 years in business.

Sammy's Halal signage arrives at the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen

The transformation of the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen at 109 First Ave. between Seventh Street and Sixth Street is almost complete.

The awning for the new tenant, Sammy's Halal, went up on Friday. Based on the work permits, I thought it was going to be an outpost of Shawarma House. This appears to be part of the Sammy's family.

As for the late Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop closed last July after 21 years in business. Read more about that closure here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Polish G. I. Delicatessen signage comes down on 1st Avenue

Polish G. I. Delicatessen signage comes down on 1st Avenue

[Reader-submitted photo]

Workers yesterday removed the Polish G. I. Delicatessen awning at 109 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The space is undergoing renovations for what is believed to be an outpost of Shawarma House, which specializes in halal Turkish dishes from a quick-serve space on West 39th Street and a cart on Staten Island.

Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop, closed this past July after 21 years in business. Read more about that closure here.

Rumor: Former Polish G. I. Delicatessen to become an outpost of Shawarma House

Interior renovations continue at 109 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen...



A tipster says that the space will be another outpost of Shawarma House, which specializes in halal Turkish dishes from a quick-serve space on West 39th Street and a cart on Staten Island.

The work permit on file with the DOB does mention Shawarma House as the owner of the space. (They are not the landlord.)



I reached out to Shawarma House for comment.

Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop, closed in July after 21 years in business. Read more about that closure here.

Polish G. I. Delicatessen has officially closed

[Reader-submitted photo]

Back on Friday, an EVG reader spotted workers removing shelves and equipment from the Polish G. I. Delicatessen on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. With that, it appears the shop is now closed for good.

Eater reported that that the Eastern European specialty foods shop was closing on June 30. However, counterman David Cohen kept the space open for several weeks after that, selling coffee and doughnuts from the mostly empty storefront.

There are two versions of what will happen next with the business.

1) Cohen told Eater that they would be taking a two-month vacation and returning with hopes of opening in a new location. "Nothing is sure, but we'll see what happens," he said. EVG reader DrGecko said the shop would reopen on Ninth Street in September.

2) Multiple readers told us that chef-owner Grace Iwuc was retiring, and closing the shop. The retail listing for the space notes that "the owner is retiring and selling her 10-year lease of $2,600/month." Several readers wondered how a business could find a more reasonable rent in a different locale in the neighborhood.

The Polish G. I. Delicatessen opened in 1996.

H/T Luke A

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Polish G. I. Delicatessen is closing at the end of the month

Report: Polish G. I. Delicatessen is closing at the end of the month

[Photo from March]

Rumors started circulating back in January — prompted by the arrival of a retail listing for the space — that the 21-year-old Polish G. I. Delicatessen on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street would be closing. (A for rent sign also appeared in the front window in late March, though we were told that this was not for this space.)

Eater got confirmation yesterday that the Eastern European specialty foods shop will be shutting down at the end of the month.

Polish G.I.'s counterman David Cohen told Eater that they would be taking a two-month vacation and returning with hopes of opening in a new location. "Nothing is sure, but we'll see what happens," he told Eater.

However, multiple readers told us that chef-owner Grace Iwuc was going to retire. In addition, the listing for the space notes that "the owner is retiring and selling her 10-year lease of $2,600/month."

In any event, here's New York magazine with a description of the store:

Polish G. I. Delicatessen is among a disappearing breed of Eastern European specialty-food stores that were once common in the East Village. The initials stand for its sunny owner, Grace Iwuc, who has steadfastly provisioned loyal locals since 1996. The front window is packed with locally baked Polish-style breads, and the narrow but deep space is stocked floor to ceiling with a variety of instant soups, bags of roasted buckwheat, jars of sauerkraut and marinated sweet peppers, and jams imported from Poland.

And The Village Voice...

It's rare to find a shop like G.I. still active in the city these days, especially in an area as highly developed as the East Village. But even if you’re not a fan of mushroom soup or Old World–style ham, it's worth a visit for a real taste of the neighborhood.

Summer's here: Grace's cold borscht has arrived at Polish G. I. Delicatessen

Thanks to Slum Goddess for passing along the sign at the Polish G. I. Delicatessen, where you can sign up for next week's batch of Grace's cold borscht.

The shop is at 109 First Ave. between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street...