3 Awful Avenue A bars: What are they now?

A few days ago we noticed that the sign went up for Ethos Meze, the new Greek restaurant opening this year at 167 Avenue A…




While the previous tenant here, Diablo Royale Este, has been closed for more than 18 months… the new sign is symbolic of sorts… an end of an era where three bars on Avenue A drew the ire of neighbors for the beer ponging, party busing, sidewalk peeing ways of its patrons...

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[September 2011]

From May 2010 to August 2012, Diablo Royale Este, which claimed it catered "to a mature audience," was popular with the party bus crowd … and, most famously, once hosted (unwittingly or not) a Boats 'N Hoes party for NYU students.

Diablo Royale Este eventually closed after some ongoing issues with the State Liquor Department.

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Then, at 200 Avenue A, there was Superdive.

Oh, the legendary Superdive, which started its reign of woorrorism with table-service kegs in June 2009… and remained open intermittently until October 2010… (Superdive threatened to return too many times… it was like trying to kill Jason Voorhees… )


[The glory days of 2009 via Meri Micara]

There was a midget dressed as a pirate working Champagne Tuesdays… Bargoers were encouraged to mix their own drinks… oh, lordy. We're just going to stop.

Today, the space is home to the ABC Animal Hospital.



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… and at 34 Avenue A, there was Aces & Eights, which arrived in March 2009 … residents quickly branded the place a beer-ponging frathole …


But, to the bar's credit, the general manager did try to make some changes, reaching out to EVG readers for input … and even making good use of the upstairs space for a cool art show…

The bar closed for good in October 2010.

The space is now home to Ruff Club, "a social club for dogs."

East 14th Street exodus continues

With new development looming on East 14th Street, businesses in the way of the still-unspecified project continue to leave... Bargain Bazaar closed for good on Jan. 3 ... its neighbor to the east, Petland, moved to First Avenue... and now the last tenant in this three-store strip, the ABC Animal Hospital, has announced that it will relocate to 200 Avenue A, per the Local.

The move isn't a surprise — EVG regular Gojira passed along word in September that Dr. Tufaro and staff were looking for a new home.

As we first reported in December, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. were leased for a 99-year period by the respective owner to East Village 14 LLC. (East Village 14 LLC is a Delaware Company that registered with the New York State Department of State in October 2012.) Public records put the cost of this parcel at $35 million.

So we're looking at everything from where Stuyvesant Grocery and Pete's-a-Pizza were before the fire on May 12, 2010 at Avenue A east to, and including, the Animal Hospital. The lone exception: 520 E. 14th St. Presumably new development will happen on either side of this building.

Meanwhile, the new tenant at 200 Avenue A ends an ugly chapter in recent East Village history. The space was home to Superdive, which started its reign of woorrorism on June 25, 2009. (Relive that night here) ... then came the lengthy battle for a liquor license with the applicants who wanted to open an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant." The State Liquor Authority finally granted them a license last April after the applicants agreed to a midnight closing time, as we reported here.

However, the group, going by Hospitality LLC, figured that they wouldn't be able to make a go of it with a midnight closing time, and they moved away from the project. In October, 200 Avenue A was back on the market.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

Those ongoing rumors about the future of East 14th Street between Avenue A and B

Petland is moving away from East 14th Street, fueling more new development rumors

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

Bargain Express has closed on East 14th Street

200 Avenue A back in play?

What's going on with the storefront space at 200 Avenue A, previously haunted by Superdive? A group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" had appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times.

They fought and fought and fought... and finally, in April, the State Liquor Authority OK'd a liquor license for the group.

Now this sign recently appeared on the front window...

We'll see what we can find out about the situation here...

Updated 9:09:
Word along here is that Hospitality LLC figured they wouldn't be able to make a go of it with a midnight closing time, per the SLA stipulations.

SLA approves liquor license for 200 Avenue A

[File photo of 200 Avenue A]

Finally, an end to the ongoing saga of 200 Avenue A, the corpse of Superdive... As you may recall, a group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" (smell machine!) concept had appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times.

The group then decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. Read the background here. Then they went back to the CB3/SLA committee in March. Rejected again.

And, they kept fighting. Today, the group went before the State Liquor Authority. According to an interested observer there, "When it became clear that things might not go Hospitality LLC's way, they more or less surprised everyone and at the last minute agreed to a midnight closing on weekends. Didn't see that one coming."

Ditto.

Anyway, they really want to open here regardless of what the neighbors might think.

Here is what we know about them based on their CB3 documents from the March CB3/SLA meeting:

The three principals are looking at business hours of 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday; until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The kitchen will be open to within one hour of closing. The application also shows that they'd be 19 tables seating 52 people, plus one bar with 12 additional seats. The gallery-restaurant would employ between 20-25 people. Lastly, there are proposed "promoted events, scheduled performances."

Superdive will never die, probably

As we pointed out yesterday, 200 Avenue A was on the State Liquor Authority's full board meeting agenda. Well, we should have caught this one...

A group calling themselves Hospitality LLC with a concept for an "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept has appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times. The group then decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license.

However, as you can see, the SLA hearing had 200 Avenue A on the agenda under Rapture Bookstore LLC — the trade name for Superdive.

According to someone in attendance, the Hospitality LLC reps were not at the hearing. It was Allan of Superdive and his lawyer present to argue the legality of their denied license renewal last year.

As we understand it, district manager Susan Stetzer was prepared for Team Superdive's appearance. SLA Chair Dennis Rosen tabled their hearing so he could meet with all the interested parties later this month. There's some question about the legality of denying a renewal for Superdive.

At this point, it's unclear whether Superdive wants to reopen as, well, Superdive, or whether the management wants to be part of whatever new venture opens here.

We sent an email to Allan at Superdive seeking comment.

Previously.

Former Superdive space on today's SLA agenda

An Avenue A tipster tells us that the folks hoping to open a bar-gallery space at 200 Avenue A (the former Superdive, of course) is on today's agenda for the State Liquor Authority's full board meeting...

The people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times — decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license.

The group, calling themselves Hospitality LLC, appeared before the CB3/SLA committee in November 2010 with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine. They came back in April, and were told to do more community outreach. The didn't have any better luck in May given the strong opposition from neighbors.

In case you are wondering... the board meeting starts at 10 a.m. at:

Harlem Center Tower Office Building
317 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Entrance to the Main Lobby is located on Lenox Avenue near 126th Street.

[EVG Flashback] At Superdive

Originally posted on June 26, 2009...



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.

Workers gutting the former Superdive space

Dave on 7th notes that workers are gutting the retail space at 200 Avenue A (aka, the former Superdive) this afternoon. The pop-up art gallery left the space on July 10. After being rejected three times by the CB3/SLA committee, a group going by Hospitality LLC went to the State Liquor Authority on July 12 for a full liquor license. The group aspires to open a bar/restaurant/art gallery here. A decision on the license is expected in the next week. Or so.

Oh, and the DOB does have permits on file for this work.

Sunday afternoon demolition inside the former Superdive space

EV Grieve reader dwg notes the work going on now at 200 Avenue A. There aren't any permits on file for work here via the DOB.

Meanwhile, we understand that the people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have twice appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee — are now going directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. Their hearing with the SLA is on July 12 at 11 a.m. We'll have more on this later.

On this date in EV Grieve history in 2009: At Superdive

We originally posted this on June 26, 2009. One of the first of, say, 14,871 posts about Superdive.



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.

Noted

I asked the Superdive owners what became of the Superdive sign that workers removed on Tuesday.

The response:

"It will be moved to a new location soon to be revealed...
long live SUPERDIVE."

Gone but not forgotten

[dwg]

Superdive sign removal today. Previously.

Breaking: Superdive sign coming down this morning

From the EV Grieve inbox...



From SuperdiveBar:

... in t-minus 30 minutes... the glorious lights on Ave A that have been illuminating off the infamous SUPERDIVE sign will be taken down!
thought you might like to witness the end of an era!

Long Live SUPERDIVE

First the liquor license, now this.

Superdive's liquor license has expired

Actually, the license for Rapture Cafe & Books has expired... In any event, Shawn Chittle sent along this page from the State Liquor Authority, noting that the license for 200 Avenue A expired on Saturday....

Meanwhile, on this month's CB3/SLA docket:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• To be Determined (Not A Bookstore LLC), 200 Ave A (trans/op) (Superdive)

The art gallery with a full liquor license is back. Last month, the committee told them to do more (and better!) community outreach.

However, now that the license for the space has expired, this can no longer be considered a transfer... and "Not a Bookstore LLC" would have to apply for a new liquor license. And a new liquor license in these parts of Avenue A? Good luck.

Previously on EV Grieve:
CB3 didn't approve a liquor license for Superdive; "a nice neighborhood Internet café-bookstore" becomes a bar with keg service at tables

Superdive still threatening to return

Superdive was on last night's CB3/SLA agenda... Team Dive was a no show at the January CB3/SLA meeting, though they claim they never filed the paperwork to be on the docket...

So, prior to last night's meeting, I asked the Divers via e-mail if they'd attend the meeting. Short answer: No. (And, true to that, they were not there.)

Long answer:

"Susan Stetzer took it upon herself ... to put superdive on the agenda for the renewal. which does happen until the end of april and we are not required to notify until march but alas

let the facts be clear:

since 1/24/10 there have been no incidents, complaints about or violations issued at 200 avenue A.

superdive — superclean for over a year!

we would love to attend this hatchet trial but alas in no way would poppadive not be with mommadive on valentine's day.

and one day a real rain will come, an people's uprising, and swept away in the tidal wave of history will be the despotic demonic tyrannical "community" board.

WHO NEEDS DEMOCRACY WHEN YOU HAVE SUPERDIVE?

LONG LIVE SUPERDIVE

RETURNING SPRING 2011

Live above Superdive!

That's right! Now's your chance... there's a new listing this week for 200 Avenue A... Here's the description via StreetEasy (the link to the realtor was broken...):

Duplex with Roof Deck!*2 Baths!*A Must See!
Huge duplex with 2 baths.
Roof deck that is private to this unit.
New hardwood floors.
20 Foot Lofty Ceilings.

The one-bedroom unit is going for $2,400... Think how close you'll be to the action once Superdive reopens! And with two bathrooms, you may be able to charge Superdivers to use your restroom when their lines get to0 long...

[Updated] Superdive a CB3/SLA no-show tonight

Superdive was on tonight's CB3/SLA docket for the following:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• Superdive (Rapture Cafe & Books LLC), 200 Ave A (alt/op/legalize work done, move bar)

And Team Superdive was not there. So! A few residents spoke out anyway, figuring they'll need to come back next month when Superdive is likely back on the agenda for the 77th seventh time...

[Updated] Via e-mail, I asked Team Superdive why they didn't appear at the meeting:

"Kangaroo kafka kourts don't lend themselves dynamic discourse."

Also a no-show!

• Cien Fuegos (Cien Fuegos LLC), 95 Ave A ... the Cuban eatery/bar/what not was looking for a sidewalk cafe...

Imperial Tavern and Superdive pretty much having the same New Year's Eve party

The new Imperial Tavern on Ludlow Street...



Superdive...

Superdive on the January CB3/SLA docket

The Lo-Down notes that the CB3/SLA agenda is out now... (Set your calendar: Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.)

A few highlights ... including confirmation that Superdive is coming back from the dead...

Renewal with Complaint History
• La Vie (La Cave LLC), 64 East 1th St

Applications within Resolution Areas
• Coyi Cafe (Constance L Enterprise Inc), 42 Ave B (wb)

• Cien Fuegos (Cien Fuegos LLC), 95 Ave A

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• Superdive (Rapture Cafe & Books LLC), 200 Ave A (alt/op/legalize work done, move bar)

New Liquor License Applications
• Ashton Thai Place Inc, 244 E 13th St (wb)

Superdive featured in the MTA's Tow Trucks of 2011 calendar