A retail reset at 20 St. Mark's Place

The retail reset is complete at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

The MG Artistic Hair Salon opened in the upper space at the beginning of April. The brand has several NYC outlets as well as one in Boston and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

As previously reported, Manhattan Pawffice, a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg, opened in the lower level last fall. 

We spent a lot of time in both retail spaces in years past. Sounds closed upstairs in October 2015 after 36 years in business. This was the last record shop on St. Mark's Place. 

And downstairs, the Grassroots Tavern closed following New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years in service. 

In January 2016, Klosed Properties bought the landmarked 20 St. Mark's Place from Jim Stratton, who was also the majority owner of the Grassroots. At that time, a source said that the bar had a lease for the next five years, with an option after that for renewal. According to public records, Klosed Properties paid about $5.6 million for the building.

Stratton told Bedford + Bowery that the rent had just become too high. "We were not forced out by any means, it would just have required a radical change for the business and the way we operate. We basically decided we had to throw in the towel." (Several GR regulars wondered why Stratton, as the seller of the building, didn't negotiate a favorable lease for his bar.)

In the past six years, at least two potential tenants were going to take space here, including this pub concept that signed a lease, but nothing materialized until last fall.

No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of the subterranean space that the Grassroots had included a theater saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler, per Daytonian in Manhattan.

Top photo by Steven

Here's the next business for the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

There's finally a new tenant for the long-empty retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

A worker on the scene told EVG contributor Derek Berg that this lower-level storefront — the longtime home of the Grassroots Tavern — is becoming a doggy daycare center.

And that's all we have at the moment.

At least five brokers have tried to lease the space since the Grassroots Tavern closed here after New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015).

At least two potential tenants have kicked No. 20's tires (including this pub concept that signed a lease), but nothing has materialized since January 2018.

As noted, No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

Please do not urinate on the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place remains on the rental market — now in its sixth year! (So many brokers.) And apparently, people have been using the space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue as a toilet.

As the Post reported the other day, ownership here had a megaphone installed alongside a monitored-24/7 surveillance camera "to ward off a growing number of vagrants and drunks attempting to relieve themselves on the vacant building."

Apparently, this setup has been in place for a year. We never really noticed (or heard) it. Then again, we've never urinated on the building — however tempting! 

Anyway, per the Post: 

Whenever a loiterer even steps foot on the stoop of the three-story landmarked building, a booming voice explodes out of the sound system, admonishing the violator to "stop!" or "move on!" 

The "jarring, obnoxious" clarion call can be heard up and down the block at all hours, according to residents. 

The Brooklyn-based security company Live Lion is behind the system.

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. Per the Wikipedia: "LeRoy was an in-law of Peter Stuyvesant, and a South Street merchant, who lived in the house with his wife Elizabeth Fish, of the eminent Fish family."

No 20. received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

The Grassroots Tavern closed here on New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015)

Speaking of the Grassroots, the other day, EVG contributor Steven went to pee on the building noticed the front door open, and looked at the white-box status of the former great bar...
 

Updated! 

Since this video came up in the comments... An instant request! From 1986, here is Billy Joel's "A Matter of Trust" filmed on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

 

Saturday's opening shot

As seen on the door to the former Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark's Place... another RIP St. Mark's (or St. Marx) seeing as the one on 5 St. Mark's Place is going, going...

Yet another broker for 20 St. Mark's Place

Your attention please, now pitching for 20 St. Mark's Place: Tri State Commercial Realty. 

The landmarked building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue is now on its fifth (by our count) broker for the retail spaces here since the space became available after the Grassroots Tavern closed here on New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015) ...

Per the listing: 

• Formerly Grassroots Tavern 
• Ground Floor unit has backyard potential 
• 2,000 SF basement included with Parlor Level
• White-Boxed 
• 1st floor parlor has great fitness space potential 
• Can combine spaces

Speaking of White-Boxed, here's a listing photo showing the space that housed the GR...  

At least two potential tenants have kicked No. 20's tires (including this pub concept that signed a lease) but nothing ever materialized these past 5.5 years.

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The Grassroots Tavern closed on New Year's Eve 2017, and the space is still empty

Here's a look this morning at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

As we mentioned in the fall, the retail spaces now have their fourth broker looking to lease the storefronts.

The Grassroots Tavern was the last business here, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower level. The upstairs tenant, the record store Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

And perhaps in 2023, we'll see a new tenant here.

As a P.S., we were sorry to hear that longtime co-owner Doug "Dougie" Bunton (who always wore the same leather vest!) died back in the spring at age 67. We did not receive any other details about his passing. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• An end of an era at the Grassroots Tavern

• RIP John Leeper

• RIP Bob Spedalere

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• After 42 years on St. Mark's Place, the Grassroots Tavern closes on New Year's Eve

Another new broker for the long-vacant 20 St. Mark's Place

There's a new for-lease sign outside 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

This is at least the fourth broker to try to lease the long-empty retail spaces.

The dearly beloved Grassroots Tavern was the last business here, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower level. The upstairs tenant, the record store Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

According to the new ARA listing, two storefronts are available — separately or as a combo. 

Here's a look at the former Grassroots via the listing images ... (wonder if the place still smells like burnt popcorn?) ...

As you can see, those incredible old murals that workers uncovered during renovations have been removed/covered.

No mention of the asking rent for the storefronts. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times, dating to November 2018, for a liquor license for a new restaurant for the address. They've moved on to other places.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place 

A new broker for 20 St. Mark's Place

Our favorite building to write about here!

Workers recently removed the plywood after eight months from outside 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... and, late last week, yet another for lease sign (for a different broker) arrived on the long-empty retail spaces...  hopefully, you can see the sign! 

The dear, old Grassroots Tavern closed in the lower space after service on New Year's Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run on the block. The upstairs retail tenant, Sounds, shut down in October 2015, and the spaces have been vacant ever since. 

As noted many times before, No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times dating to November 2018 for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds storefront. There was speculation that they were also taking the GR space.

And in recent years, we've seen some extensive gut renovations occurring inside the former Grassroots, where some pretty cool murals were uncovered from a previous business life. 

Meanwhile, the new retail listing for No. 20 is at this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place 

RIP Kitty at the former Grassroots Tavern

[Photo by Steven]

Kitty, a regular of the former Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark’s Place, recently died. Someone created a memorial in his honor outside the space ... which still sits empty after the Grassroots closed after service on New Year’s Eve 2017...


[NYE 2017 photo by Peter Brownscombe]

As noted many times before, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832 here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

Who's next? We don't know. For nearly 18 months Bob Precious had tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized.

Applicants for Ichibantei have been on the CB3-SLA agenda dating to November 2018 for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds storefront upstairs. There was speculation that they were also taking the GR space. Ichibantei was once again on the January CB3-SLA agenda, but scratched.

In any event, this is a retail space to watch in the New Year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

How about another look inside the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

[EVG photo]

Work continues inside the graffiti-filled lower storefront at the landmarked 20 St. Mark's Place, previously home to the Grassroots Tavern.



EVG contributor Derek Berg checked in on the state of those murals that workers recently uncovered inside the space — still there...



We wrote about these murals on May 21. We don't know much about them or what pre-Grassroots business they were associated with.

Here's a reminder:





As noted many times before, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832 here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

Who's next? We don't know. For nearly 18 months Bob Precious had tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized. The space was recently taken off the rental market.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

[EVG photo from last week]

Workers continue to gut the subterranean space at 20 St. Mark's Place where the Grassroots Tavern was for 42 years (1975-2017).

And late last week, EVG contributor Derek Berg got a look inside at the murals that were discovered on the wall when workers ripped out the bar ...









We don't know how old these are. As we recall, the Grassroots space was previously a Greek restaurant. (If any pre-1975 historians or former GR employees want to chime in about these murals.)

The address, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

-----

Updated 10 a.m.

Thanks to Gar for this link to Daytonian in Manhattan with a post on the history of the building:

By 1931 the house was home to the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant. An incident there on July 1 reflected the gangster-driven atmosphere of the East Village in the Depression Era.

Abe Rothbard was playing cards in the cafe that night. Police later noted he had a criminal record. Patrons noticed an unknown man open the door and motion for Rothbard to go outside. When he reached the door, the man beckoned him to step further out on the sidewalk.

The Times reported "He followed him to the stoop and then four shots were fired by a third man from the sidewalk. Rothbard fell, seriously wounded." The mysterious attackers escaped.

At the beginning of the Depression, Urbain Ledoux had opened The Tub, a homeless shelter, in the old Schuetzen Hall down the block at No. 12 St. Mark's Place. Ledoux, known to the men he helped as “Mr. Zero,” accommodated 135 homeless men on cots and steamer chairs. He advertised “auctions” of the men’s services in order to find them temporary work. On New Year’s Day 1929, over two thousand homeless men ate dinner there. The line outside was unbroken from early morning through the afternoon.

The year following the hit on Abe Rothbard, Ledoux took over the Hungarian Cafe. On January 3, 1932 The Times reported "Urbain Ledoux, who prefers to be called 'Mr. Zero,' announced yesterday that he would open a week from today a temperance saloon to be known a the 'Growler' at 20 St. Mark's Place. He intends to sell in it near-beer for 3 cents a glass; baked beans, soup, pudding, bread, pies and cake at 1 cent an order." Down-and-out men could "take their ease and play dominoes, checkers or cards, or read the newspapers."

-----

Also late last week, EVG reader and GR regular Eskapee took possession of part of the former Grassroots sign (a worker was putting it out for the taking).



Meanwhile, as we noted last week, the space has been on the retail market. This apparently brought an end to the nearly 18 months Bob Precious had spent trying to open a bar-pub here.

In an email on Friday, Precious provided a recap about what happened to his venture, tentatively called Subterranean:

Essentially, the landlord was not able to deliver the space to us. We waited almost a year and a half from the time we signed our lease for them to complete their work and, as of April 1 of this year, they were not able to commit to a date when their work would be done.

It could easily have been a two-year total wait — an impossible situation for a small company to be in. We had fixed costs — salaries for two employees hired specifically to spearhead that project, and had paid professional fees — designer, legal, structural engineer and HVAC, and could not rationalize staying in any longer. A sad situation for us because we believed in the bar and the location.

There are several unsubstantiated rumors making the rounds about the building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, including that a new tenant has been signed for the old Grassroots space — for an unspecified Asian-style eatery.

What is known, however, is that the place needs a lot of work. Steven took these photos yesterday... showing the old GR bar sink going off to parts unknown...



... and a look inside ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

The former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place is on the market

In recent weeks various tipsters have told us that the former Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark's Place was now available for rent.

As proof, there's an updated retail listing for the space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



The asking rent is available upon request, per the listing.

This also must mean that the new bar slated for the old Grassroots spot isn't moving forward. For the past 18-plus months, Bob Precious had been planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean.

Precious launched the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license for 20 St. Mark's Place in December 2017.

He told us said last August that the former Grassroots space was in bad shape — including structural damage. The approvals for the renovations in the landmarked building had been slow going. In November, Previous was hoping for a spring opening.

He did not respond to an email about this latest development. Updated: Precious confirmed that he is no longer taking the space. We'll have more about that in another post.

Meanwhile, gut renovations continue inside the space that was, for 42 years, home of the Grassroots until New Year's Eve 2017.

Jim Stratton, the longtime principal owner of the Grassroots, sold the business in 2017. In January 2016, Stratton sold the building to Klosed Properties for a reported $5.6 million.

The address, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Today, the front of the former Grassroots is covered in graffiti.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

A quick look inside the former Grassroots Tavern

[20 St. Mark's Place as seen last week]

The door was open yesterday at the former Grassroots Tavern, 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

EVG Open Door Correspondent Steven looked inside the under-renovation space...



For starters, a good chunk of the long bar is currently MIA ...



Otherwise, the place doesn't look too different, with that fall-through-the-floor-at-any-moment vibe intact! (We kid because we loved the Grassroots.)

No one was around to ask about the status of the work inside this landmarked building.

A quickie recap on what's going on here: Approved permits are on file for repair work in the lower retail space, the longtime home of the Grassroots until New Year's Eve 2017.

As we've been reporting, Bob Precious is planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean. (Precious operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license in December 2017.)

Precious said last August that the former Grassroots space was in bad shape — including structural damage. The approvals for the renovations in the landmarked building had been slow going. (In November, Previous was hoping for a spring opening.)

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

Renovations underway in the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

After nearly 14 months of inactivity at 20 St. Mark's Place, workers are now on the scene here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... a concrete crew has been spotted in recent days (all photos from yesterday via Steven...)





The interior doesn't look too different from when it was the Grassroots Tavern (KIDDING)...



A quickie recap on what's going on here: Approved permits are now on file for repair work in the lower retail space, the longtime home of the Grassroots Tavern until New Year's Eve 2017.

As we've been reporting, Bob Precious is planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean. (Precious operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license in December 2017.)

Precious said last August that the former Grassroots space was in bad shape — including structural damage. The approvals for the renovations in the landmarked building had been slow going, for whatever reasons. (In November, Previous was hoping for a spring opening.)

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Since the Grassroots closed, people keep tagging the former bar's entrance.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

The former Grassroots Tavern ready for a renovation

The current state of 20 St. Mark's Place

[Photos Sunday by Steven]

The building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was tagged multiple times Saturday night/Sunday morning...



A quickie recap on what's going on here: Approved permits are now on file for repair work in the retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place, the longtime home of the Grassroots Tavern until New Year's Eve 2017.

As we've been reporting, Bob Precious is planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean. (Precious operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license in December 2017.)

Precious said last August that the former Grassroots space was in bad shape — including structural damage. The approvals for the renovations in the landmarked building had been slow going, for whatever reasons. (In November, Previous was hoping for a spring opening.)

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Since the Grassroots closed, people keep tagging the former bar's entrance.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

The former Grassroots Tavern ready for a renovation

The former Grassroots Tavern ready for a renovation

[Photo from Saturday]

While on the topic of landmarked buildings on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... approved permits are now on file for repair work in the retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place, the longtime home of the Grassroots Tavern until New Year's Eve 2017.

The city OK'd the permits just after the New Year. Per the DOB's ALL-CAP style: REPLACE 8 EXISTING DAMAGE WOOD JOISTS WITH STEEL I BEAM W10X33. REPAIR FLOOR AND CEILING AT BASEMENT AND 1ST FLOOR. STRUCTURAL WORK AS PER PLAN.

As we've been reporting, Bob Precious is planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean. (Precious operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license in December 2017.)

Precious said last August that the former Grassroots space was in bad shape — including structural damage. The approvals for the renovations in the landmarked building had been slow going, for whatever reasons. (In November, Previous was hoping for a spring opening.)

Applicants for Ichibantei were on the November CB3-SLA agenda for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds space upstairs. However, they withdrew the application before the meeting.

Jim Stratton, the longtime principal owner of the Grassroots, the tenant here for 42 years, decided to sell the business in 2017. In January 2016, Stratton sold the building to Klosed Properties for a reported $5.6 million.

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Since the Grassroots closed, someone has tagged the bar entrance multiple times.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

Ichibantei vying for 20 St. Mark's Place, and an update on the former Grassroots Tavern space

Ichibantei vying for 20 St. Mark's Place, and an update on the former Grassroots Tavern space

Applicants for Ichibantei are on tonight's CB3-SLA agenda for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds space at 20 St Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The questionnaire (find the PDF at this link) for the Japanese restaurant shows 28 tables seating 56 guests as well as a bar for eight. The proposed hours are 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with a 2 a.m. closure on Friday and Saturday.


[Click on image for more detail]

An application for the space from the same principal(s) has been on the CB3-SLA agenda several times dating to 2017, though it has been withdrawn in each instance for unspecified reasons. The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website does not mention if this would be a second outpost for Ichibantei, the eight-year-old Japanese comfort-food spot on 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, or a spin-off location.

Sounds closed in October 2015 after 36 years in business selling records, tapes and CDs.

Tonight's CB3-SLA committee meeting starts at 6:30 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

------

While on the topic of 20 St. Mark's Place... in August, I exchanged emails with Bob Precious, who's planning on opening a bar in this semi-subterranean space with a working title of Subterranean. (Precious operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man, including the one on 36th Street. CB3 OK'd his new liquor license back in December.)

In August, he hoped to be up and running this fall. He noted at the time that the bar space was in bad shape — including structural damage — when he received the keys. The newish landlord needed to get the approvals for the renovations in this landmarked building. This process has proven to be slow going.

I asked Precious for an update last week. He said that the landlord claims to be starting their structural work "soon."

"If so, we'll finally be able to start our work ... and could have an early spring opening," he said in an email. "That would be about 15 months since we took over; ridiculous and frustrating, since we're not really doing that much."

For comparison, the 36th Street outpost of the Ginger Man, which is 2.5 times as big as the No. 20 space, was built from scratch in six months before it opened early 1996, he said.

The Grassroots Tavern closed after service on New Year's Eve after 42 years here.

Jim Stratton, the longtime principal owner, decided to sell the business last year. In January 2016, Stratton sold the building to Klosed Properties for a reported $5.6 million.

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place

The Grassroots Tavern closed its doors on New Year's Eve after 42 years at 20 St. Mark's Place.

Jim Stratton, the longtime principal owner of the semi-subterranean space here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, decided to sell the business last year. (In January 2016, Stratton sold the building to Klosed Properties for a reported $5.6 million.)

Bob Precious, who operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called the Ginger Man (including the one on 36th Street), now owns the bar space. (CB3 OK'd his new liquor license back in December.)

Meanwhile, not much, if anything, has happened here in the lower level of the landmarked building in recent months. There were even whispers from the old guard at the Grassroots that the plans for the new venture fell through.

I asked Precious for an update.

"The bar is moving forward, albeit at an agonizingly slow pace," he told me via email.

Precious said that the bar space was in bad shape — including structural damage — when he received the keys.

"As landlords are responsible for structural work, the usual work that falls to a new tenant/operator has been held up while we wait for them to deal with their end of things," Precious said. "It has meant more than the usual amount of filings with the Department of Buildings, and, since the space is in a landmarked building, you have another layer of filings with the Landmarks Preservation Commission."

20 St. Mark's Place, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

According to public records, the DOB approved the the plan exam for the work in the lower level, which includes replacing "three existing damaged wood joists with steel I-beams, repair floor and ceiling at basement," just yesterday.

"We thought we were taking over a fully functional, operating bar needing a good clean up and some minor repairs, but are now involved in something like a restoration," Precious said. "The irony is that we liked the look and feel — to a point — of the previous bar, and had wanted to keep most of that intact."

In any event, Precious is still hoping for a opening later this fall. The location will not be another outpost of the Ginger Man — "except in a continued devotion to good beer. And whiskey and, hopefully, wine."

"The name, at the moment, is Subterranean, after the Kerouac book, more or less," he said. "If get through this permitting hell, we plan on having a real kitchen — the Ginger Man doesn't — so the food will be more interesting. Jazz once a week, like [at the] Grassroots, is also part of the plan."

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

The sad state of the former Grassroots Tavern

[Photo from Monday]

I talked with a fewer former regulars of the Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark's Place who are disappointed in the state of affairs outside the landmarked building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The front of the bar, which closed on New Year's Eve after 42 years here, was recently tagged ... the handrail is broken ...



... and it looks as if someone took a jackhammer to the area outside the door...



... and the plant in the front window that was dead when the bar was open is now really dead...



In January 2016, Klosed Properties bought 20 St. Mark's Place from Jim Stratton, who was also the majority owner of the Grassroots.

Bob Precious, who operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called The Ginger Man (including the one on 36th Street), is the new owner of the former Grassroots space.

An EVG reader who lives near No. 20 reports that she hasn't seen anyone enter the bar space in several months.

To date, there haven't been any new work permits filed for the address.

However, someone yesterday did begin the process of removing the tag from the entryway...



Updated 6/1

After someone removed the tag... another one went up in its place last night...



Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place