Black Emperor slated for 2nd Avenue

A group of applicants whose résumé includes bars and restaurants in the Bowery Hotel and Arlo NoMad Hotel are looking to open Black Emperor at 197 Second Ave.

The applicants, including David Massoni and John Bush, will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for a new liquor license for the former Schoolbred's space between 12th Street and 13th Street.

According to the detailed application at the CB3 website, Black Emperor would include nine table for 35 patrons as well as a 10-seat bar and a four-table sidewalk cafe. (Shoolbred's was also licensed to operate on the sidewalk.)

The food is described as "Asian fusion tapas," and here's a look a the menu via the application...



Black Emperor would open at 5 p.m., with a closing time of 2 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. (And 1 a.m. Sunday.)

Massoni and Bush have opened several establishments via their Three Kings Restaurant Group, starting with Thistle Hill Tavern in Park Slope as well as the above-mentioned hotel spots. (East Village residents may know Bush from his days bartending at 2A and Niagara.)

Shoolbred's closed in June 2017 after nearly 10 years in business.

Tonight's SLA committee meeting takes place starting at 6:30 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

[Updated] Double Chicken Please vying for former Shoolbred's space on 2nd Avenue

[Photo from July 2017]

This item has now been withdrawn from tonight's agenda.

Restauranteur Huey Cheng is the applicant of record behind a venture called Double Chicken Please for the former Shoolbred's space at 197 Second Ave.

Cheng, who currently operates Raku on Sixth Street and Kura on St. Mark's Place, is on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license for the storefront between 12th Street and 13th Street.

According to the questionnaire (PDF here) on file ahead of tonight's meeting, Double Chicken Please will feature a menu specializing in "pan Asian" fare. The restaurant would accommodate 65 diners via 10 tables, plus a bar with 15 stools ... with proposed daily hours of noon to 2 a.m.

Last month, Cheng was the applicant of record for two spaces. CB3 approved his takeover of 304 E. Sixth St. but not 117 Avenue A. (Among other reasons for the denial on the former Black Rose space on A: "there is insufficient public benefit in the approval of a full on-premises liquor license for a business with a mixology concept with food in an area well-served with licensed businesses furnishing food and cocktails and in a location which is now unlicensed."

As for 197 Second Ave., Shoolbred's, the upscale, Scottish-style pub, closed last June after nine-plus years in service.

The CB3-SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton. Other applicants this month include for 2 St. Mark's Place and 136 Second Ave. You can find the full list of applicants at the CB3 website.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Shoolbred's is signing off on Father's Day

The former Shoolbred's space is for rent on 2nd Avenue

[Photos from early July]

Shoolbred's, the upscale, Scottish-style pub, closed at 197 Second Ave. back in June after nine-plus years in business.

Robert Morgan, one of the bar's owners, blamed the closure on "egregious rents."

The storefront between 12th Street and 13th Street is now on the market.



Per the listing (PDF here):

Coldwell Banker Reliable Commercial Division is pleased to present approximately 1,600 SF of ground floor retail space plus basement space for lease i... Nearby tenants include a mix of medical tenants such as Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital and New York University Langone, national tenants such as IHOP and KFC and numerous neighborhood fixtures such as Momofuku, Milk Bar and Village East Cinema. Suitable uses include, but are not limited to food and bar, professional office and retail.

Asking rent: $18,500 (the lease term is 60 months).

This address was home until 2007 to Jade Mountain, home of the great Chow Mein sign.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Shoolbred's is signing off on Father's Day

Shoolbred's is signing off on Father's Day

After nearly 10 years in business, Shoolbred's is closing at 197 Second Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street.

The bar, with wood-paneled walls, stained-glass windows and a fireplace, meant to evoke a classic Scottish pub, will shut its doors following service on Sunday.

Co-owner Robert Morgan selected this Sunday as a last date for a reason.

"It is appropriate that we should be closing on Father's Day weekend," he said via an email. "Shoolbred's was designed as 'Your Father's Bar, while your father is away on business.'"

Morgan, who also operates Kingston Hall on Second Avenue and Baci e Vendetta on Avenue A with business partner Nic Ratner, said they are "returning the Shoolbred's space to the landlord, who is asking egregious rents."

"We would like to thank all of our loyal customers and incredible staff for making this an amazing decade," he said.

In February 2016, Morgan and Ratner closed Ninth Ward, their New Orleans-themed bar at 180 Second Ave.

Turns out that the Ninth Ward — which also has an outpost in London — will be returning to No. 180 later next year after some building renovations. We'll have more on that in an upcoming post.

This address was home until 2007 to Jade Mountain, home of the great Chow Mein sign.