Suffolk Arms signage stripped away; Suffolk Arms V2 on the way?

Suffolk Arms, the cocktail lounge on Houston at Suffolk, went dark in early April, as first reported here.

Neat Pour reported on April 9 that Suffolk Arms "would reopen at a later date with a new concept, but the same staff." Neat Pour also said that co-owners Ruben Rodriguez and Giuseppe González are "at odds with one another."

By April 16, there was a sign on the front door noting a temporary closure for "renovation and mechanical upgrades." A week later, González, a "Star Wars" fan, left a cryptic, Yoda-esque message on social media: "Closed, Suffolk Arms now is. See you again, we will."

The Suffolk Arms sign was removed from the corner space last week. The bar's website now features this message: "Suffolk Arms V2.0 Coming Soon."

No idea if this will be from Team González or Team Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, the "renovation and mechanical upgrades" sign remains on the door...



The upscale bar, lined with portraits of famous New Yorkers, opened in February 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Suffolk Arms now closed for renovations and 'mechanical upgrades'

The force is apparently no longer with Suffolk Arms

The force is apparently no longer with Suffolk Arms

It appears that Suffolk Arms, the cocktail lounge on Houston at Suffolk, will not be reopening after all.

After being closed during the first part of April without any explanation, a sign appeared on the front door noting a temporary closure for "renovations and mechanical upgrades."

Over the weekend, co-owner Giuseppe González, a "Star Wars" fan, left a cryptic, Yoda-esque message on social media...



"Closed, Suffolk Arms now is. See you again, we will." (That lone message also greets visitors to the bar's website.)

Suffolk Arms opened in February 2016.

H/T Vinny & O

Previously on EV Grieve:
Suffolk Arms now closed for renovations and 'mechanical upgrades'

Suffolk Arms now closed for renovations and 'mechanical upgrades'

[Photo by Vinny & O]

Last Monday we first noted that Suffolk Arms, the cocktail lounge on Houston at Suffolk, has been closed of late.

There's now signage on the front door noting the temporary closure for "renovation and mechanical upgrades." The bar's social media accounts have disappeared, though the website is still operational.

Neat Pour reported that Suffolk Arms "would reopen at a later date with a new concept, but the same staff." Neat Pour also had that co-owners Ruben Rodriguez and Giuseppe González are "at odds with one another."

The upscale bar, lined with portraits of famous New Yorkers, opened in February 2016.

[Updated] Suffolk Arms has not been open lately

Suffolk Arms, the cocktail lounge on Houston at Suffolk from celebrated bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez, has been dark this past week — weekend included.

There isn't any message about a temporary closure on the bar's website or social media properties ... or on the front door. Will update if we hear back from them.

The well-appointed bar opened in February 2016 to much acclaim. Per Grub Street: "New York’s Next Big Cocktail Destination Opens Tonight."

This prime corner spot sat empty for several years. The Local 269 never reopened after a flood wiped out the live music venue's equipment in the fall of 2012. Other recent bar tenants included Meow Mix and Vasmay Lounge.

Updated:

Thanks to ed in the comments for this info from Neat Pour:

No official reason for the locked and dark bar was provided by ownership. Emails, calls, and messages to Suffolk’s Arms official contacts went unanswered as did attempts to reach both owners.

Two employees told Neat Pour that they were informed that the establishment would reopen at a later date with a new concept, but the same staff. Other employees declined to comment.

Co-owners Ruben Rodriguez and Giusseppe González have long been rumored be at odds with one another. Sources told NP that there were previous attempts to remove González from the business this winter, but the staff’s loyalty to the charismatic bartender thwarted these efforts.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood wraps itself around the incoming Suffolk Arms

Report: Burglars help themselves to bottle service at Suffolk Arms

Three men reportedly broke into Suffolk Arms, the new cocktail bar at 269 E. Houston St. and Suffolk Street, and stole $3,000 in liquor.

Per DNAinfo: "Once inside, they snatched a $2,000 bottle of Louis XIII Cognac and other liquor before taking off, police said."

The break-in occurred on April 3.

The NYPD released this image of the suspects...



Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Suffolk Arms debuted back on Feb. 18.

Suffolks Arms opens tonight on East Houston

[EVG photo from Jan. 28]

We first heard about Suffolk Arms back in September 2014 via The New York Times ... in a "bars opening soon" feature...

After some delays, the cocktail bar via Giuseppe Gonzalez, whose bartending credits include Golden Cadillac, PKNY and Dutch Kills, officially opens tonight at 269 E. Houston St. and Suffolk Street.

Here's part of a preview via Gothamist:

Like its roundtable approach to the drinking, which celebrates González's inspirations, the food and decor follow suit with a who's who and what's what of New York City and Lower East Side lore. Sixty hand-drawn portraits of Keith Haring, Jam Master Jay and other notable New Yorkers like the New York Public Library lions line the wood-paneled walls and windows.

And from Time Out:

An annotated menu touts 11 original cocktails ($14) like the Tough Room, which fuses a Guinness with a whiskey sour stout, as well as a selection of 13 "Something Like Classics" quaffs ($13), which play on time-honored libations from the likes of PDT's Jeff Bell and Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Pepe Le Moko in Portland, Oregon. A third section of the menu gives spirited proof to vodka's bonafides with drinks crafted by New York bar pioneers, like a Flatiron Martini from Julie Reiner and a Grapefruit Cooler from Audrey Saunders.

The 63-seat space features a food menu, including a Russ & Daughters Smoked Fish Platter ($22) and a matzo ball soup ($8).

As previously noted, nearly three and a half years have passed since there was a tenant here. The Local 269 never reopened after a flood wiped out the live music venue's equipment in the fall of 2012. The Local 269 space was previously home to Meow Mix and Vasmay Lounge.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood wraps itself around the incoming Suffolk Arms

[Updated] Suffolk Arms finally reveals its exterior on East Houston

After more than a year, workers removed the plywood surrounding the long-vacant 269 E. Houston St. storefront at Suffolk ... where a new cocktail bar called Suffolk Arms has been in the works.

As The New York Times first reported in September 2014, Giuseppe Gonzalez, whose bartending credits include Golden Cadillac, PKNY and Dutch Kills, is behind the new venture. According to the Times, "Expect an English pub exterior but a New York feel inside."

In an update a few weeks back, BoweryBoogie heard that the opening is expected sometime next month. The bar has a website, though most of it appears to be TK at the moment.

Been years since there was a tenant here. The Local 269 never reopened after a flood KO'd much of the live music venue's equipment in the fall of 2012. The Local 269 space was previously home to Meow Mix and Vasmay Lounge. The Local opened in February 2009.

Updated 1/30

Here's a better plywood-free view...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood wraps itself around the incoming Suffolk Arms