New restaurant getting their 'schnitz together' at the former Something Sweet space

Renovations are happening at the former Something Sweet bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street… where Schnitz, which serves old-fashioned schnitzel sandwiches with unconventional toppings at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and Dumbo, is opening its first proper restaurant...

Schnitz will serve sandwiches, soups and salads from its East Village location. (You can find their menu here.)

There's also a sign announcing their arrival…


[Photo by Blue Glass]

From the look of things, though, there is plenty of work left today before you can have your schnitzel.



Something Sweet, the family-owned bakery, closed in July 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Smorgasburg favorites Schnitz planning restaurant at former Something Sweet on First Avenue

Something Sweet still looking for help to revive its beloved business

Something Sweet space for rent on First Avenue

Smorgasburg favorites Schnitz planning restaurant at former Something Sweet on First Avenue

[EVG file photo by Dave on 7th]

Schnitz, which serves old-fashioned schnitzel sandwiches with unconventional toppings at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and Dumbo, is applying for a beer-wine license for the former Something Sweet space on First Avenue at East 11th Street.

According to paperwork (PDF!) filed ahead of this month's CB3/SLA committee meeting, the quick-serve restaurant will hold 12 tables... with proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; until 12:30 a.m. Thursday-Saturday; and noon-10 p.m. on Sunday.

Schnitz will serve sandwiches, soups and salads from its East Village location.

You can find their menu here.

I've never heard of Schnitz (or been to Smorgasburg, for that matter)... but I know that people like their food.

Here's an item on their food via Alan Richman at GQ:

I daringly tried a schnitzel, one of the least likable foods on earth. Allow me to sum up the attraction: hot, dry, fried meat on a hot, dry, summer afternoon. It's worth noting that during the preparation of schnitzel, the meat is often hit repeatedly with a hammer.

The purveyor was Schnitz, and the sandwich I selected, called Mrs. Child, turned out to be the dish of the day, a breaded chicken cutlet that was juicy within and crunchy on the outside. Such perfect texture is virtually impossible to achieve with veal, the preferred meat of German and Austrian schnitzel eaters. Fortunately, there were none around to complain. The schnitzel came on a Tom Cat pretzel roll with celery-root remoulade, which makes anything taste better.

Something Sweet, the family-owned bakery, had been closed since July 2012. There had apparently been a variety of issues, from problems with the landlord to health-related concerns for a family member.

The committee meeting is Monday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. — Community Board 3 Office, 59 East 4th Street (between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery).

Something Sweet space for rent on First Avenue

[Photo by Blue Glass]

"Space available" signs went up Friday at the former home of Something Sweet on First Avenue at East 11th Street.

The family-owned bakery had been closed since last July. There had been a variety of issues, from problems with the landlord to health-related concerns for a family member.

The owners tired to revive the business back in the spring... and were hopeful that they would be able to reopen with new investors and updated business model.

However, at the very last minute, we understand that the landlord came forward with two other potential tenants, both willing to pay $11,000 a month for the space — out of reach for a new Something Sweet. There was an auction here in late spring...



Given the for rent signs, it's apparent that the space is still up for grabs.


[Photo by Blue Glass]

We also heard that the landlord is specifically seeking some type of chain for the space.

And it's a tough time here for longtime family-run bakeries here. The 9th St. Bakery closed for good on June 9.

Updated:
Some of the information about future rent/tenants that we received turned out to be inaccurate. We crossed out those sections.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Something Sweet still looking for help to revive its beloved business

A few nibbles for Something Sweet

Just checking in with the owners of Something Sweet, who are looking for help to revive the longtime bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street. After our last post, the owners said that they did receive some interest, including pro-bono help from an attorney.

Per Something Sweet: "Out of all the responses there are a few possibilities."

Sidenote: The owners even reached out to David Schwimmer's agent. They figured he would be living here soon... why not at least ask? Oh, and how did that go with the agent?

"[They] denied at first even representing him, then said that they can get in touch with him by fax. But they were not interested in what I had to say."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Something Sweet still looking for help to revive its beloved business

Something Sweet still looking for help to revive its beloved business

Last month, we posted information about the owners of Something Sweet looking for help to revive the longtime bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street. The owners contacted us this past weekend, saying that they were still looking for help with a revival. There was some interest after the last posting.

"Yes, we got lots of emails. However, none really worked out," they said. "Some were just curious, some wanted to partner or so without funds."

You can read more about the bakery and its history at at DNAinfo. From that article:

"To me it was old Europe," said Anna, a customer of 40 years ... "I always said when that [Something Sweet] closes, it's over for the East Village."

Deadline approaching to help revive Something Sweet

As we first reported on Monday, the owners of Something Sweet are looking for help to revive the longtime bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street. The deadline for the so-called casting call is tomorrow, per the above ad.

DNAinfo's Serena Solomon was with the family yesterday when they revisited the shop, closed since last July.

[W]ithin minutes of rolling up it doors, former customers walking past came in to embrace Kathy.

"To me it was old Europe," said Anna, customer of 40 years, who declined to provide her last name. "I always said when that [Something Sweet] closes, it's over for the East Village."

Previously.

Something Sweet looking for help to revive its East Village bakery

[EVG file photo by Dave on 7th]

Something Sweet, the family-owned bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street, has been closed since July. There have been a variety of issues, including some health-related matters...

Now, though, the family is ready to get going again... and, as this ad shows, they are looking for some help...

Something Sweet is back open

We hadn't seen Something Sweet, the homespun bakery on the corner of First Avenue and East 11th Street, open at all so far in 2012. A few weeks ago, we called the shop, and received a "temporarily disconnected" message.

They've been known to close here or there through the years (death in the family, broken oven, vacation) without leaving a note taped to the gate. So we don't worry (too much)...

Last week, a reliable source said that the owners were having a few issues with the landlord... not to mention Verizon... the doors were semi-open last week, and we saw some people working inside...

In any event, the bakery reopened yesterday... another shop to appreciate...

New mural in the works for the Russo's-Something Sweet wall

In late July, workers refurbished the building on the southwest corner of First Avenue and 11th Street... painting over the Russo's ribbon mural in the process...

But! A new mural is in the works, as you can see... no one was around ... so we don't know who the artist is yet...

Of course, we're hoping (and assuming) that this will be for Russo's (or Something Sweet) and not an ad for, say, vodka.

Something Sweet had nothing to do with the loss of the Russo's mural

As we noted the other day, workers painted over the Russo's mural on East 11th Street. Blue Glass talked with the folks at Something Sweet. Because the mural was technically on their wall, there's a perception that Something Sweet ordered the paint job. Apparently several people have said unkind things about this to the Something Sweet staff.

Anyway, Something Sweet had nothing to do with the makeover. The building's landlord did. As for a new mural, the staff at Russo's was fairly noncommittal on the issue.

Workers paint over the Russo's mural on 11th Street

Last Monday, we pointed out the arrival of a sidewalk shed outside Something Sweet on the corner of First Avenue and East 11th Street...

And, let's awkwardly quote ourselves.... "As long as no one gets any funny ideas about painting over the Russo's mural on the 11th Street side..."

[2nd Russo's image via]

That's right! And this past weekend... checking in on the painting progress.

...and yesterday...

Ugh.

The store was founded in 1904. I don't know how long the mural has been here... Could workers have spared it? Not such a crazy concept. The pigs were actually saved on Second Avenue. Regardless, just one more familiar site in the neighborhood that has disappeared...

A sidewalk shed for Something Sweet

Blue Glass notes the arrival of a sidewalk shed outside Something Sweet, the homespun bakery on the corner of First Avenue and East 11th Street...

Per the DOB: Workers will replace the "joists, window lintels and stucco."

As long as no one gets any funny ideas about painting over the Russo's mural on the 11th Street side...

[2nd Russo's image via]

Something sweet from Something Sweet for free today

EV Grieve First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass notes that Something Sweet at 11th Street will be giving out a free small dessert today between 1 and 3... good chance to sample a neighborhood staple...

UPDATE: Oh, per the comments, I didn't know this was so widespread, this dessert giveaway. Here are more details.

Village Fabrics says goodbye; Something Sweet closes for the holiday

As we've been reporting... Village Fabrics on First Avenue at 11th Street is closing...

I thought today was their last day...but that's not the case...



...workers inside were cleaning out the place... some friends stopped in to collect shelves and other items...



Meanwhile, across First Avenue ...I site that gave me the fear....



But Something Sweet is just closed for the holiday weekend...