Lucky Star is a 1950s-style ice cream shop opening 3 downtown locations this summer

Look for three locations of Lucky Star, a 1950s-style ice cream shop, opening this summer downtown, including on St. Mark's Place.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos yesterday on the northeast corner of Clinton and Delancey, where the first outpost is set to debut soon...

The shop features a to-go window offering up a variety of soft serve, milkshakes, sundaes and Italian ice...

There is also a Lucky Star in the works for 34 St. Mark's Place, the former Kyber Pass space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, and the Two Bridges neighborhood.

Trigger, the longtime owner of the live music venue/bar the Continental (1991-2018) on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place, is behind this new venture. 

Will the 6-shots-of-anything-for-$12 sign at the former Continental go down with the building?

We've already noted the arrival of the sidewalk bridge around the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place ... as workers enter the next phase of demolition ...



The Continental was the last business here to close, wrapping it up on New Year's Eve.

The bar's six-shots-of-anything-for-$12 sign remains intact on the marquee under the sidewalk bridge...



We mentioned this on Twitter over the weekend. There was some interest in the sign...

Serious question: can someone grab this for me https://t.co/nBdYSVTYkE

— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) May 4, 2019

And other things on the corner...

I’m eyein’ the Korilla flag.

— Jacob Ford (@unitof) May 4, 2019

After retiring the live music in the fall of 2006, the Continental became home of the five-shots-of-anything-for-$10 promotion before that changed to five-shots-of-anything-for-$12 in the spring of 2017. (Then later six shots...)


[Via Google Street View]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Continental's 5-shot deal bumped from $10 to $12

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

The Continental has likely closed for good on 3rd Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

After multiple closing dates in 2018, the Continental apparently wrapped it up after New Year's Eve.

This after announcing a Dec. 15 last night, which people thought was the actual last night...



However, in the days that followed, new our-very-last-night flyers arrived on the bar's front door at 23 Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place...



Yesterday, workers removed the neon Continental sign... there's also a goodbye letter from Trigger, who's owned the bar since 1991...


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

In the P.S., Trigger notes: "Stay tuned. We're going to take some much needed time off and then then look to open up something in this very same neighborhood."

The Continental, which transitioned from a live-music venue to a regular-old bar in 2006, had received several extensions in the past year, first in July then October, then Dec. 15.

This is the final business to close on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place. A boutique office building with ground-floor retail is in the works. Parts of the assemblage is already being removed.

And before the Continental, there was the Continental Divide, a bar and live-music venue...



I got this photo via Alex at Flaming Pablum. Head over there to read more about the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Updated] Going down: So long 6-shots-of-anything-for-$12 signage

The Continental ends its 27-year run tonight at 23 Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place. (Final night details here.)

Ahead of that, workers removed the iconic 6-shots-of-anything-for-$12 signage this morning. (And if you want to see an 11-second video clip, this is on Twitter.)

The special evolved from $10 for five-shots-of-anything ... then $12 for five-shots-of-anything... to $12 for six-shots-of-anything. (Documented here.)

As you likely know, a five-story office building with ground-floor retail will eventually rise on this northeast corner.

Updated

Apparently Dec. 15 was simply the farewell party but NOT the last night... flyers are now up on the front doors noting a Dec. 31 last night... with inventory clearance until then...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Updated] Details on the last night at the Continental this Saturday

[Photo from last week]

As previously reported, the Continental is wrapping up its 27-year run at 23 Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place on Saturday night.

More details on that last night have emerged via these flyers, showing the New York Dolls outside Gem Spa in 1973, in circulation...



It will be a late night, with festivities set to start at 11 p.m. Guests/DJs including Lenny Kaye, Jessie Malin and Randy Jones (the cowboy from the Village People).

The Continental, which transitioned from a live-music venue to a regular-old bar in 2006, had received several extensions in the past year, first in July then October. Trigger, the bar's owner, had most recently hoped to stay open until May 2019.

This will be the last business to close on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place. A boutique office building with ground-floor retail is in the works. Real Estate Equities Corporation picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Updated 12/17

Apparently Dec. 15 is not actually the Last Night as the Last Night flyers note or what was previously announced... flyers are now up on the front doors noting a Dec. 31 Last Night... with inventory clearance until then...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Continental now set for Dec. 15

The Continental, the last of the businesses on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place, is now set to close on Dec. 15.

The 27-year-old bar had received several extensions in the past year at 23 Third Ave., first in July then October. Trigger, the bar's owner, had most recently hoped to stay open until May 2019.

However, he told me that business has been slow.

"I think that most people think we’ve already closed," he said via a Facebook message. "It’s just my emotions and sentimental attachment that’s been keep me from leaving. All my neighbors have left. It’s time!"

Now, though, as Page Six reports, the date is Dec. 15, with the closing night hosted by Jessie Malin.

A boutique office building with ground-floor retail is looming for the corner. Real Estate Equities Corporation picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Nearly a year has passed since the initial reports about the future of the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place were revealed. According to The Real Deal last November, a seven-story, 66,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail was slated for this corner.

However, as New York Yimby first noted yesterday, leaseholder Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) has filed new permits for 3 St. Mark's Place (the address of the former Papaya King) for a 5-story, 29,030-square-foot building.

This is obviously much smaller than what was originally floated. There's some thought that there might be a second smaller building coming to this parcel. (That's 100-percent speculation via some EVG corner watchers.)

Here's an aerial view of the property...


[Via Google Maps and EV Square]

A quick note — the Cooper Union Student Residence Hall at 29 Third Ave. is in the square above — that's not part of the new development and is staying put.

Anyway, here's what is known from the permits, as NYY noted: "Retail will occupy a portion of the ground floor and cellar space. The offices will have a lobby on the first floor, with workspace occupying the rest of the structure. Tenants will have access to bicycle storage, a fitness center, golf simulator, an amenities foyer, and a rooftop terrace."

(Golf simulator???)

Morris Adjmi Architects is listed as the designer of record. There aren't any renderings floating around the public sphere just yet.

For a sampling of Adjmi's work, look no further than the 7-story building he/they designed for the explosion site at 121 Second Ave. ...


[Rendering via Morris Adjmi]

For a little perspective on the size of the structure coming to 3 St. Mark's Place, the above building is 22,800 square feet.

In the meantime, workers continue to chip away at the mostly vacant buildings on St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue. (Permits were filed this past March 15 to demolish 1 St. Mark's Place, 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave.)

These photos are from Thursday...







While the interior demo is underway in these spaces, the Continental remains open — the last of the main businesses here. The bar was set to close in July after a 27-year run at 23 Third Ave. However, Trigger, the Continental's owner, announced a three-month lease extension until some time in October.

Well, we are now in October. In a recent Facebook post, Trigger said that they might be open until May 2019.

I asked him about that. "It’s possible that we’ll go till May but far from definite," he said in a Facebook message the other day, adding that he wants to stay until the developers get their permits approved. "It’s all I’ve got."

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for some $150 million, per The Real Deal last November. The corner assemblage is owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

[Photo from June 3]

The Continental was set to close this past weekend after a 27-year run at 23 Third Ave.

However, on Saturday morning, Trigger, The Continental's owner, announced the following on Facebook:

"[M]y lease at Continental got extended 3 months!

We have till approximately early October so please come by ..."

So a few more months of the six-shots-of-anything-for-$12 deal.

Permits were filed on March 15 to demolish the low-rise buildings here at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Avenue.

A seven-story, 66,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail is reportedly slated for this corner. However, plans for this new building haven't been made public to date.

As previously reported, the McDonald's, Papaya King and Korilla BBQ have already closed.

The smaller shops on the St. Mark's side have mostly moved on ... Unique Collection is headed to Bleecker Street ...



These two places remain...



The E Smoke Shop on the corner is also gone (they merged with the other Smoke Shop down the block) ...



I came upon the tail-end of this scene early Saturday morning... apparently workers from the E Smoke Shop cleaned out the store by piling everything atop (and next to) the trash can on the corner... much to the dismay of the sanitation crew who had to clean up the extra mess...





Afterwards, one of the sanitation workers walked across St. Mark's Place and yelled toward the E Smoke Shop: "Have a nice day. ANIMALS."

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Updated] The Continental closes this weekend

Updated June 30: Trigger, the owner, posted on Facebook that his lease was extended for three more months... and they will remain open until October.

It's the last hurrah this weekend for The Continental on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

As first noted way back in January, the bar with the six-shots-of-anything-for-$12 deal was closing after service on June 30. (Their sign says July 1. Their website says Saturday, July 1.)

The Continental was a live music venue from its inception in 1991 through the fall of 2006, when they became home of the five-shots-of-anything-for-$10 promotion before that changed to five-shots-of-anything-for-$12 in the spring of 2017. (Then later six shots...)



Last November, Real Estate Equities Corporation made public its plans to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave. to make way for a 7-story office building.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Continental's 5-shot deal bumped from $10 to $12

The Continental says it will close late next summer

Keeping up with the Kardashianisms

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[EVG file photo]

Permits were filed today to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Avenue presumably to make way for the seven-story, 66,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail slated for this corner.

As reported back in November, plans are in the works to redevelop this three-building assemblage ... from the former McDonald's to the corner.



REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the addresses for a little more than $150 million, per The Real Deal.

McDonald's and Papaya King have already closed. The Continental said in January that their last day is July 1. There haven't been any closing dates announced yet for Korilla BBQ, E Smoke Shop and the smaller shops that line St. Mark's Place.

So far there aren't any new building permits filed for the property, owned by the Gabay family.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Keeping up with the Kardashianisms

Several readers have pointed out that the Continental expounded on their (tongue-in-cheek) ban on the word literally. Their stated goal now, per the updated flyer above, is to stop “Kardashianism.”

Bar owner Trigger Smith told Grub Street yesterday that the sign is not meant to be serious, though he does hate the word literally.

Per Grub Street:

"I had a woman from Miami the other night tell me it's happening down there," he says. "And it’s not just millennials. Now you hear newscasters using 'literally' every three minutes on the Sunday news shows. What’s annoying is people aren't even aware they're saying it. How could you be so unaware of your words that it's coming out every couple minutes?"

There are also posted notices stating that the bar's last day here on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place is July 1...



Also updated: it is now six shots of anything for $12. Previously five shots for $12. And five for $10 before that.

Anyway, as previously reported, Real Estate Equities Corporation plans to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave. to make way for a 7-story office building.



H/T Eden to way back when!

[Updated] You literally can't say this word now at the Continental

Slum Goddess spotted this sign up on the front door at the Continental, 25 Third Ave. near St. Mark's Place.

Not sure if they are serious about this offense ... [updated: see the comments. Trigger, the bar's owner, says the sign is meant to be tongue-in-cheek] in any event, per the sign:

Sorry but if you say the word "literally" inside Continental you have 5 minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave.

If you actually start a sentence with "I literally" you must leave immediately!!!

This is the most overused, annoying word in the English language and we will not tolerate it.

Back in November, Trigger, the owner of the bar, which opened in 1991, announced that he would close the Continental this summer. (He left open the possibility of a relocation.) The updated closing date is now June 30.

As previously reported, Real Estate Equities Corporation plans to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave. to make way for a 7-story office building.

Updated 1/24

A new version of the sign explains that this literally ban is to help end "Kardashianism" ...

The Continental says it will close late next summer

[Photo from Friday]

As first reported yesterday, Papaya King has closed its location at 3 St. Mark's Place.

Last week, Real Estate Equities Corporation made public (via The Real Deal) its plans to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Ave. to make way for a 7-story office building.

There wasn't any mention of a timeline for the existing businesses to depart ahead of the demolition of this northeast corner. Given Papaya King's quick departure, it seemed as if the development would take hold sooner rather than later.

Yesterday, however, The Continental, one of the remaining businesses, addressed the situation on its website. Here's part of the message via owner Trigger Smith:

It is with heavy heart that I have to inform everyone that Continental has less than a year left. Some time after the end of August 2018, this corner will be knocked down and developed. It's truly heartbreaking that we and so many Old Skool places are falling by the wayside but unless you own your building that's how it goes.

For going on 27 years this Bar has been my life. First as a Rock Club and then as a Dive Bar and I've loved every minute of it (mostly speaking). Don't hate my landlords. They're older now, got a great deal and I can't blame them and I want to thank them; Eddie, Ruth and Jack (RIP) for treating me like Family and always giving me an affordable rent and I also want to thank Jeff Bezos for not selling Beer. Special Thanks to my Staff — especially Noel and Bingo, the Bands, the Regulars and the rest of you lunatics for coming to my bar all these years! I'm grateful and honored that we're part of NYC Rock History and I'm also very proud of this incarnation, what I call a Classy, Dive Bar. When I was bartending my way through college — this was my Dream and it happened! I will always be so deeply grateful for this experience...Trigger

[EVG photo from May]

The Continental was a live music venue from its inception in 1991 through the fall of 2006, becoming home then of the five-shots-of-anything-for-$10 promotion before that changed to five-shots-of-anything-for-$12 in the spring.

Trigger signed off with the P.S.: "[I]f we're very, very busy for the remainder, it's possible that we'll have the funds to relocate!!!"

As Crain's previously reported, the bar has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice.

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Plans are in the works to redevelop the three-building assemblage on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

According to The Real Deal:

[Real Estate Equities Corporation REEC], led by Brandon Miller and Mark Siegel, is planning to demolish the existing low-rise buildings at 3 St. Mark’s Place, 23 and 25-27 Third Avenue to make way for one new property. Plans call for a seven-story, 66,000-square-foot office building, including 6,000 square feet of corner retail.

That will mean the end of the businesses along here, including the Continental, Korilla BBQ, E Smoke Shop and Papaya King. (The former McDonald's structure is also part of the new development.)



REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties for a little more than $150 million, per The Real Deal.

In June 2015, The Real Deal reported that real-estate investor Arthur Shapolsky was in contract to buy the corner buildings for roughly $50 million.

However, Joseph Gabay, whose family owns the properties, told me this past June that they had not been sold despite the continued rumors.

That situation has apparently changed. Gabay did not respond to an email to confirm this deal.

As of last evening, there weren't any new permits on file with the Department of Buildings indicating any new work on the properties. There isn't any word just yet on a timeline for the businesses to close.

The development will likely fuel more talk of the Midtown Southification of this part of the neighborhood with 51 Astor Place/IBM Watson Building/Death Star right across the Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

The Continental's 5-shot deal bumped from $10 to $12

[Via Google Street View]

For years now the Continental on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place has advertised that $10 for five-shots-of-anything promotion. (Apparently it has been a money loser.)

Not sure when this happened — the deal just got more expensive by $2...





The Continental website still lists the special as $10.

The website (rather Trigger the owner) also addresses any questions people may have about about the shot quality:

- Not only are the shots not "watered down" but this practice of diluting good brand name liquor with cheaper, generic stuff has never happened in my bar!!! Not once! Let alone as an ongoing practice.
- I understand that people can't believe the 5 Shot deal so they assume that it's got to be a scam but I can personally guarantee you that it's for real. Want to verify this for yourself???
- I've given my bartenders permission to let customers choose a random bottle from our back up stock that's in plain view and you, yourself can open the bottle and feel the seal break when you open it!!! (except on weekend nights when we're slammed but you can request this early or late on a weekend night)
- You can also order 1 or more shots from the bottle you just opened and compare it to the liquor that you've originally ordered from the already opened bottle! I absolutely guarantee that there will be no difference whatsoever.
- I don't make money on the shots. It's my gimmick to draw people in as we don't have food, karaoke, live music or any of the other things most places have one or more of. So please... come in and see for yourself!

Meanwhile, The Real Deal reported in June 2015 that real-estate investor Arthur Shapolsky was buying three properties at the corner of Third Avenue and St. Marks Place: 23 Third Ave., 27 Third Ave. and 3 St. Mark's Place. Basically everything from McDonald's to the corner. I haven't heard anymore about that since then. There's nothing in public records noting a deal ... or on file with the DOB noting new construction.

Noted

Perhaps it's time to start thinking about the annual gathering of drunken revelers in costumes.

No, not Halloween...

Multiple EVG readers have passed along photos of the "We love SantaCon!" poster on the front door of the Continental, Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place...



Per the sign, first noted here, the Continental will open at 11 a.m. on the day of SantaCon.

So far, there hasn't been any official announcement about a date or location for the annual gathering of [______________].

But the organizers have already started priming the pump, or whatever…

Report: Jukebox-revenue dispute forces the Continental to file for bankruptcy

[Image via]

The Continental filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, its second filing since 2009, Crain's reports.

At issue, a jukebox-revenue dispute that "eventually snowballed into a lawsuit that went on for about seven years." The lawsuit ended in arbitration with $49,762.96 awarded to PLK Vending, according to Crain's.

Owner Trigger Smith said that he will "do everything in [his] power to keep this bar going."

After 15 years as a live-music venue, the Continental at 25 Third Ave. near St. Mark's Place ditched the stage for a "classy dive bar" makeover in 2006. As Crain's notes, the jukebox at the center of the legal dispute replaced the bands.

Flashback to an article in The Villager in February 2006 about the venue discontinuing live music.

“It’s sad that places like this are closing, but times are changing,” said Justin Weiner, a 24-year-old real estate financial analyst, who read a newspaper while he waited for his friend’s band, Against the Wall, to play. Now a lot of people hear new music on MySpace.com, not in clubs, he said.

H/T Eater