Taqueria St. Mark's set to open Thursday

The former Taqueria Lower East Side is ready to start life anew as Taqueria St. Mark's at 79 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue.

Taqueria Lower East Side had to find a new home after developer Ben Shaoul bought up the corner of Orchard and East Houston for a new luxury development. BoweryBoogie reported that the 4-year-old Taqueria closed at 198 Orchard St. after business on Sunday.

Here's more on them via Fork in the Road: "Taqueria, an offshoot of a Jersey City restaurant, amassed a stable of neighborhood regulars during its run here, thanks to its cheap fare, solid margaritas, and excellent tacos. For our money, it makes some of the best carnitas in town."

Fork in the Road said that you can expect "the same line-up of tacos, tortas, and platters plus margaritas and Mexican beer" on St. Mark's Place.

With this opening, will the neighborhood finally have enough taco/taqueria options?

After the Typhoon Lounge closed at 79 St. Mark's Place in May 2012, the space has been home to the quick succession of Saints Tavern and Kamikaze & Co.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Taqueria Lower East Side relocating to St. Mark's Place

The Thirsty Buddha has closed; Taqueria St. Mark's on deck

Paper is up in the windows now at The Thirsty Buddha, the third bar (Saints Tavern! Kamikaze & Co.!) to give 79 St. Mark's Place a whirl.

Coming next: Taqueria St. Mark's, the former Taqueria Lower East Side, one of the restaurant victims who was looking for new home after Ben Shaoul bought that East Houston and Orchard corner space.

As we've mentioned, there seem to be plenty of places in the neighborhood now for tacos... with one more after Empellón al Pastor (bar meets tortilleria) opened yesterday on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Taqueria Lower East Side relocating to St. Mark's Place

Taqueria Lower East Side relocating to St. Mark's Place

Taqueria Lower East Side is one of the restaurant victims looking for new space after Ben Shaoul bought that East Houston and Orchard corner space.

Documents (PDF!) on file ahead of this month's CB3/SLA committee meeting show that the Taqueria folks bought the assets to 79 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue.

As BoweryBoogie reported, the committee unanimously approved the application on Monday evening. The restaurant will be known as Taqueria St. Mark's moving forward.

So.

This means that:

• The color-challenged Saints Tavern, which became the unfortunately titled Kamikaze & Co. in June, will be closing.

• The East Village has yet another taco/taqueria option, joining newer arrivals such as Tacos Moreles on East Ninth Street... Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor on East 13th Street ... Taqueria Diana on Second Avenue ... El Diablito Taqueria on East Third Street... Otto's Tacos on Second Avenue... and a relocated Oaxaca Taqueria on East Seventh Street.

• Taqueria St. Mark's is opening right next door to the well-established, well-liked neighborhood favorite La Palapa. Seems like a strange choice give all the available real estate around here.