The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill closed for nonpayment of taxes

The state's fluorescent SEIZED sticker arrived today at sister bars The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A …



There isn't any other information about the situation at the moment…



So, for now, the two spaces remain closed. (These seizures aren't always permanent, as we saw at Sahara East, among other businesses.)

Marshal chronicles

The storefronts at 44 E. First St. are now empty.

For starters, the plant store/boutique Green Fingers moved to Rivington Street several weeks ago...



Then late last week, the Marshal paid a visit to the former Wash House space next door…



However, the hyped laundro-bar had already closed last fall after just six-plus months in business.

Meanwhile, at 45 First Ave. near East Third Street …



The Marshal took possession of the Shin Modern Nail shop…



Next door, Puebla Mexican Food at 47 First Ave. recently lost its lease…. owner Irma Marin hopes to reopen in the Essex Street Market.

The Marshal seizes Mercadito on Avenue B

It looks like this might be the end of the Mercadito taco empire in NYC.

A reader sends along this photo tonight, showing that the landlord has taken legal possession of Mercadito at 179 Avenue B between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

This doesn't necessarily mean the end… but it's not a great sign either. So far there isn't any mention of a closure on the restaurant's website or social media properties.

Mercadito Grove in the West Village closed last fall. And Mercadito Cantina at 172 Avenue B closed in January 2011.

Another pizza-random-food-item place has apparently closed at 35 1st Ave.

Looks as if that's it for Stars, the latest operation to try making a go of 35 First Ave. following Empire Pizza II, IL Gusto Italiano and Farid's Middle Eastern Grill Food & Pizza, among others.

EVG regular Spike notes that the Marshal recently paid a visit to the establishment between East Second Street and East Third Street...



Aside from pizza, Stars offered gyros, kebab platters, Philly cheesesteaks, grilled chicken, hamburgers, turkey burgers, etc.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another pizza concept, awning for 35 First Ave.

Little Pakistan Deli has apparently closed on 2nd Avenue

There hasn't been any sign of life here at 200 Second Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street. We heard a city marshal seized the deli earlier in the week. We noticed it closed starting this past Wednesday.

Meanwhile, next door along this stretch of businesses with Little and country names in them, Little Poland remains alive and well...

The Marshal seizes Wechsler's Currywurst and Bratwurst on 1st Avenue

Yesterday, the Marshall seized Wechsler's Currywurst and Bratwurst at 120 First Ave. near East Seventh Street.

A listing for the space arrived on the market back in the April. The rent was listed as $9,004.07 per month … and with a "motivated seller," per the ad.

Wechsler's opened in April 2009.

The Marshal seizes Cafe Cambodge on Avenue C

A tipster tells us that Cafe Cambodge, the French-Cambodian restaurant at 111 Avenue C near East Seventh Street, is closed for the time being.

There is a notice on the front door noting that the Marshal has seized the property ... and it is in the possession of the landlord.



Cafe Cambodge opened here back in February ... after the owner revamped the space from its 6-year run as Arcane.

The Marshal seizes Lumé, another restaurant that couldn't make East 8th Street and Avenue C work

The Marshal paid a visit yesterday to Lumé, the "Epicurean drinkery" on Avenue C at East Eighth Street. EVG regular Dave on 7th happened by when workers were changing the locks on the doors.



The restaurant had just been advertising for bartenders and waitstaff.

Lumé seemingly came out of nowhere this past spring, taking over for the short-lived Life - Kitchen and Bar, which had taken over Verso, perhaps best known for a topless diner encounter.

Anyway, it has been tough going on this corner when you factor in the previous restaurants — Caffe Pepe Rosso and later Caffe Cotto — in the past five or so years.

And once upon a time it was a bakery … which apparently Iggy Pop frequented for cake and strong coffee…



Another bakery would be nice.

The Marshal takes possession of The Sunburnt Cow after its closes for good

The Sunburnt Cow called it a day on April 27 after 11 years at 137 Avenue C.

Meanwhile, several EVG readers noted the arrival of a "marshal's legal possession" flyer on the former bar's front door later last week…



Meanwhile, there's still an active listing for the space at Misrahi Realty. (Asking rent: $5,400 a month.) However, the whole (now-empty) building is getting a gut rehab and an extra floor courtesy of architect Ramy Issac.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Renovations in store for 137 Avenue C, home to the Sunburnt Cow

The Sunburnt Cow closes for good at the end of this month

The Marshal seizes South Brooklyn Pizza; space is now for rent

The landlord has taken possession of the South Brooklyn Pizza space at 122 First Ave. Closing/moving signs arrived here on Tuesday. The Marshal's notice is dated yesterday.

The space has been cleared out ...



... and is now for rent.



Despite signs indicating a move to another East Village storefront, an employee told EVG reader MP that they didn't have a new space.

In August 2012, the company behind South Brooklyn Pizza filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

[Updated] The Marshal seizes Luca Bar on St. Mark's Place

Several readers pointed out this notice, dated Monday, on the bar-restaurant at 119 St. Mark's Place. There isn't any mention of a closure at this time at the Luca Bar Facebook page. Calls to the bar are directed to an automated voice-message system.

This isn't the first time that the Luca Bar has had a run-in with the Marshal/landlord/State of New York. There was an eviction notice served last June.

In June 2011, the Marshal seized the bar as well. According to The Local , the owners owed state tax officials $31,385.49, not including interest and penalties; that the bar has six open warrants for unpaid taxes dating to November 2009.

They always seem to be able to bounce back.

The folks behind Luca Bar recently opened the Roost on Avenue B.

Updated 4/11
Luca Bar is back open for business.

The Marshal seizes This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef space, which is now for rent

That's it for This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef. The Marshal came calling yesterday, taking possession of the four-plus-year-old restaurant known for mixing beef and Cheese Whiz at 149 First Ave.

There's also a for rent sign in the front window.





The saga here began on March 12 when the city closed the sandwich shop, run by the team behind Artichoke Basille, "for operating without a permit."

A handwritten note appeared a few days later explaining that the restaurant "forgot to renew" its permit. The note mentioned that they would reopen.

To date on this two-block span of First Avenue, we're now down two quick-serve sandwich places. JoeDough closed at 135 First Ave. in February. The proprietors plan to use the space for their catering operation. At the same time, though, Schnitz has opened at East 11th Street.

Previously.

Sushi favorite Shima seized by the Marshal

As we noted earlier last month, sister restaurants Sapporo East and Shima suddenly closed without any warning (to diners anyway).

Per the notice on the door at Shima … the Marshal has seized the restaurant on Second Avenue and East 12th Street …



A "for rent" sign can't be too far behind here. Meanwhile, we didn't spot any notices at Sapporo East over on First Avenue and East 10th Street.

Marshal seizes former LaVie space on East First Street

La Vie on East First Street shut for good last month following an ongoing battle with neighbors over a variety of quality-of-life issues... Neighbors had long complained that La Vie was operating as a club under the guise of a restaurant.

As we first reported on June 11, the 1st Department of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court upheld the revocation of La Vie's liquor license. Although that decision was handed down on June 6, the club remained open until at least June 15.

For several days after that, workers cleaned out the space... and last week, the marshal seized the storefront ...turning the space over to the landlord...



Just a formality, but one that made several neighbors happy.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] La Vie closed for now on East First Street

New York Supreme Court upholds revocation of La Vie's liquor license

La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice

Reader report: Marshal seizes Subway (sandwich shop) on East 14th Street

A reader notes that the Marshal has seized the Subway on East 14th Street (IHOP Way!) near Second Avenue...



Three East Village Subways have closed in the East Village now dating back to October... the one on Second Avenue near East Ninth Street... and the one on First Avenue near East 14th Street (though that one did later return under new management).

Too much competition from $1 pizza ... and 7-Eleven?

Marshal seizes Cozy Lounge on East First Street

EVG reader William Klayer spotted marshals trying to enter the Cozy Lounge on East First Street near Avenue A yesterday ...



Not sure what all they were doing here. But the they did leave behind this Legal Possession notice...

Marshal seizes Cafe Amore on East 14th Street

Per the paperwork on the front door, the Marshal has seized Cafe Amore, which seems to be advertising for a new cashier every other week ... the paperwork is dated from Friday... and we have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of this Union Square pizzeria ....