Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
TabeTomo remains closed after an early morning fire upstairs at 131 Avenue A on April 24.
According to ABC 7, five residents sustained minor injuries while fleeing the six-floor building on the NW corner of St. Mark's Place. Firefighters recovered a lithium-ion battery from a unit, per ABC 7.
At TabeTomo, a tskumen specialty shop, owner Tomo Kubo (below) told me yesterday that reconstruction of his restaurant is expected to start in the week ahead.
Once underway, Kubo hopes that renovations will be complete in two to three months — with an eye on reopening in August if all goes well.
The business was insured, he said.
"It costs a lot — very expensive," he said of the gut renovation ahead. "We want to renovate and reopen as soon as possible."
Kubo ushered me inside the space, where the air was still thick with the smell of a fire.
"There was no fire damage — all the damage was water," he said. "Between the ceiling and the second floor, there was much damage to the wood, which could warp. And we want to avoid mold. It's not a good environment for food. We cannot sell food in here now."
The interior has been stripped to its studs.
"I appreciate people who care about the store and encourage me, and I care about the employees who work here," he said. "Since it takes so long to renovate, I am worried, Will customers return? It's heartwarming that people in the East Village care. This gave me confidence and a reason to reopen."
The TabeTomo staff onsite yesterday (from the left): Esan, Victorino, Tomo Kubo and Abe Naoto.
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On May 8, some tenants of 131 Avenue A rallied outside the building in conjunction with the Cooper Square Committee.
The concerned tenants demanded that landlord Citi-Urban adequately address problems, such as cleaning smoke- and water-damaged units and allowing residents who feel unsafe to move out without penalty. Tenants, some of whom had to navigate rusted fire escapes, said that this was the second fire in the building in the past six months, the other occurring on Nov. 8.
