Openings: Rakka on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven 

Rakka debuted last week before the holiday at 156 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

As we mentioned earlier in the month, this is a return for the quick-serve Middle-Eastern restaurant that had outposts on St. Mark's Place and Avenue B. 

Rakka continues to serve some staples, including falafel ($6.50) and chicken shawarma ($8.75) sandwiches. 

There are two tables here... otherwise, it's a primarily to-go operation. 

Daily hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The return of Rakka!

Top photo by Steven; photo below by William Klayer

A familiar restaurant looks to be returning to the East Village.

On Saturday, workers hoisted signage for Rakka at 156 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street...

Rakka (depending on the era, DBA Cafe Rakka or Rakka Cafe) had a long run offering affordable Middle-Eastern cuisine at 81 St. Mark's Place at First Avenue until the summer of 2021. Rakka's Avenue B outpost closed in late 2013.

(Of note: This sign states "since 1985" ...  the most recent signage on St. Mark's stated established in 1978, while the previous version had 1982! Anyway!)

The retail space at 156 First Ave. was previously Hello Banana Vintage, which quietly closed over the summer.

Old-timer Rakka Cafe doesn't appear to be coming back on St. Mark's Place

Photos by Steven

Rakka Cafe went dark last summer at 81 St. Mark's Place at First Avenue... without any "temporarily closed" signage for patrons.

Some faithful were hopeful that the quick-serve Middle Eastern restaurant would reopen one of these days. (Its website remains active.)

As you can see, though, someone has petty much cleared out the interior...

... and the other day, legal papers arrived on the door showing that the restaurant owners owe $188,000 (and change) in back rent...

They had a great run, in any event. The now-obscured current sign says established in 1978. (The previous awning stated 1982!) The space underwent a renovation and name switcheroo from Cafe Rakka to Rakka Cafe in 2013. 

Rakka Cafe has not been open lately

Some regulars are concerned about Rakka Cafe, which has not been open for the past five weeks here at 81 St. Mark's Place at First Avenue. 

There isn't any signage noting a temporary closure on the front door. The quick-serve Middle Eastern restaurant's website is still active ... while the phone goes unanswered.

According to a listing at Loopnet, this space has been on the rental market since August 2020 (with an update last Wednesday).

If this is the end, then they've had a helluva run. The current signage says established in 1978. (The previous signage stated 1982!) The space underwent a renovation and name switcheroo from Cafe Rakka to Rakka Cafe in 2013.

Cafe Rakka's Avenue B outpost closed in late 2013.

Yesterday, we noted that Rakka Cafe's neighbors at 83 St. Mark's Place and 135 First Ave. — Stromboli and Dan & John's Wings — were closed due to a gas issue in the building. We're told that there's a separate line for this address.  

H/T Steven!