SLA suspends the liquor licenses at the Hairy Lemon, Cloister Cafe and the Wayland

[Cloister photos by Steven]

On Tuesday evening, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state had suspended liquor licenses for 38 bars in New York City and on Long Island "after finding egregious violations of pandemic-related Executive Orders."

Of those 38, four of the establishments are in the East Village. (We already covered Maiden Lane here.)

Here are the other three:

• Cloister Cafe, 238 E. Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Per the SLA:

On August 7th, the New York City Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the state's multi-agency task force at this establishment approximately 12:30 a.m. — well past the 11 p.m. NYC curfew. Investigators found the restaurant operating as a nightclub and hookah lounge with a live DJ, documenting numerous patrons ignoring social distancing with lines of customers congregating in front of the premises without facial coverings, at least twenty patrons consuming alcohol indoors under a fixed roof, and no receipts for food purchases. The inspection identified thirty-three significant fire and life safety violations, with the NYC Sheriff's Office issuing seven criminal court summonses.

The exclusive pandemic parties reportedly hosted here by Provocateur, a former Meatpacking District club, were a poorly kept secret in recent weeks at Cloister Cafe — now going as Café Tucano.

One recent attendee told Gothamist, in a story published on Aug. 4, that he saw "hundreds of people, nobody is social distancing, nobody is wearing masks. It’s like the normal club scene. There’s a lot of spenders there. If they do social distancing, they can’t make money. They need to have a packed room full of people to make money."

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• The Hairy Lemon, 28-30 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

Per the SLA:

On August 8th, investigators with the state's multi-agency task force observed patrons standing and drinking without facial coverings outside the premises and confirmed that the location was operating a bar-type service, selling drinks to multiple patrons without substantial food.

The Hairy Lemon had drawn neighbor complaints in recent weeks with crowds congregating to watch sports from the bar's front windows... photos here from Aug. 1 (via Stacie Joy)...





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[Photo from Sunday after the closure]

• The Wayland, 700 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C.

Per the SLA:

On August 7th, investigators with the state's multi-agency task force observed at least 13 patrons without facial coverings standing outside the bar, congregating and mingling. Investigators also noted patrons served drinks at an outdoor table without food.

Plans for an East Village outpost of the Wild Son moving forward; steakhouse no go for St. Mark's Place

[Photo of 132 1st Ave. yesterday by Steven]

As we reported back on March 19, Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall are planning to open an outpost of their Chelsea cafe the Wild Son at 132 First Ave. at St. Mark's Place.

CB3's SLA committee gave their approval for a new liquor license on March 19.

The current tenant in this corner space, the Rolling Stones-themed Waiting on a Friend, which opened back in the fall (taking over the space from Colibri and VBar before that), is expected to close after Thursday.

The EV Wild Son will be open all day for breakfast and lunch, with dinner-drinks in the evening.

Meanwhile, Ceraso and Mendenhall, whose East Village credits include the Wayland on Avenue C and Good Night Sonny on First Avenue at St Mark's Place, had planned for a steakhouse at the former Mr. White space at 123 St. Mark's Place.

However, as Eater reported yesterday, CB3's SLA committee nixed a full-liquor request for that spot between Avenue A and First Avenue.

So, per Eater:

They felt the steakhouse concept would only work with a full liquor license and are now pivoting to something that could work with just wine and beer, Ceraso says. That idea is still in development and moving forward with the location is not a definite yet according to Ceraso. He also says plans for a steakhouse are on hold since it would require finding a new space.

So for now No. 123 will remain empty...


[The former Mr. White on St. Mark's Place]

Previously on Ev Grieve:
Team behind the Wayland and the Wild Son eye St. Mark's Place for 2 restaurants

Team behind the Wayland and the Wild Son eye St. Mark's Place for 2 restaurants

[The former Mr. White on St. Mark's Place]

Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall have plans to open two restaurants on St. Mark's Place.

This duo behind the Wayland (Avenue C), Good Night Sonny (First Avenue and St. Mark's Place), the Lost Lady (Avenue C) and the Wild Son (West Little 12th Street) are on tonight's CB3-SLA agenda for two spaces between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ceraso provided a quick recap of what they have lined up...

123 St. Mark's Place, the former Mr. White

"We are planning an American grill with our partner Chad Shaner as the executive chef. Chad is an alum of Gotham Bar and Grill and Union Square Cafe and most recently with his own restaurant, Freeks Mill in Brooklyn," Ceraso said. "The grill will focus more on naturally raised meats and steaks."


[Photo by Steven]

The unnamed-for-now restaurant has proposed hours of 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website. The space will accommodate 20 tables for up to 50 diners as well as an eight-seat bar.

Mr. White, the upscale, New Orleans-themed restaurant, closed in January after less than a year in business.

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[132 1st Ave.]

132 First Ave., former VBar, current Waiting on a Friend

On the southeast corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place, Ceraso is planning on a second location of his all-day restaurant, the Wild Son, which opened on the West Side near the High Line in June 2016.

Ceraso said the Wild Son "focuses on vegetable-driven small plates, salads, sandwiches and homemade pastas at night and breakfast/brunch foods all day seven days a week in the mornings and afternoons."

As such, the proposed hours are 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, per the questionnaire on the CB3 website.

Here's a look at the evening menu...


[Click for more detail]

The owner of the building, who was born and raised on St. Mark's Place, "was adamant that she didn’t want a nightlife concept there, so the Wild Son was a perfect fit," he said. (In addition, a partner in this project is also the GM across the street at Good Night Sonny who lives on the block "and is always available to oversee the goings on.")

The Rolling Stones-themed Waiting on a Friend opened back in the fall, taking over the space from Colibri and VBar before that. The Vbar's original 10-year lease is expiring.

Back to Ceraso and his plans: "We think that the two concepts really balance each other out and we’re excited to be able to bring both to the block."

The CB3-SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30. The location: the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Wayland team opening Drift Inn at former Evelyn Drinkery space on Avenue C

As we first reported last Monday, Evelyn Drinkery has closed after four years at 171 Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Now Robert Ceraso, who along with Jason Mendenhall, owns The Wayland on Avenue C and Ninth Street, has confirmed that they will be taking over the Evelyn space for their Drift Inn concept they've been planning the past year.

This marks their third attempt at opening another bar along Avenue C. Plans for both the former Duke's space and current Royale fell through.

This is how Ceraso explained the concept in October 2015:

"We envision The Drift as a laid-back bar that takes some slight inspiration from small seaside bars that we’ve been in over the years. The little places that have a mix of locals, surfers, backpackers and expats. My partner Jason and I have had a lot of experience in those bars over the years and the feel of those places has a special place in our hearts."

And today: "Concept is still the same. Laid-back neighborhood bar. No cocktail list, no TVs. Just a good jukebox, couple of tacos, reasonably priced drinks and maybe a shuffleboard table if we can fit one."

CB3 approved the liquor license for Drift Inn for 171 Avenue C last month.

"Honestly, the space is really great and screaming to be a slightly divey, dark and warm neighborhood bar," said Ceraso, who also owns Good Night Sonny on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place. "We don’t have a lot to do. We hope to be up and running before the New Year."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wayland owners catching a Drift on Avenue C

Royale looking forward to the next 10 years on Avenue C

As we've been reporting, the owners of The Wayland on Avenue C are planning on opening a new neighborhood bar called The Drift ... first at 129 Avenue C, then when those plans didn't work out, at 157 Avenue C, the current home of Royale. In fact, co-owners Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall were on this month's CB3/SLA agenda for a new liquor license for the space.

Apparently, this is no longer in the making at the Royale space. We heard from Royale's management yesterday, and they assured us that they aren't going anywhere ... Royale even renegotiated a new 10-year lease at No. 157 between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Here's a statement that Royale management shared with us:

As we go into our 10th year of business, we would like to thank all of our loyal customers for their dedicated patronage. We are unendingly grateful to all of our wonderful neighbors, who together have helped to weave the complex and rewarding fabric of this exceptional community.

After being welcomed so many years ago, we have always attempted to return the favor the only way we know how: with a smile, a burger, and a place you can hopefully call your home away from home.

Even when tragedy struck in the form of Hurricane Sandy leaving us as well as our neighbors struggling, it was your continued love and support that allowed us to grow and move forward.

Most of all, though, we just feel really damn lucky to be part of your lives.

All of us at Royale are looking forward to serving our beloved community for the next 10 years and we hope that you will join us.

Happy 2016,
Royale

We asked Ceraso for comment on this development.

"The Wayland supports the Royale team's decision to continue at their location on Avenue C. They have always been good neighbors and we are glad that they will continue to be for years to come," he said via email.

And as we noted yesterday, Ceraso is hosting a neighborhood meeting tonight at the Wayland, 700 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C. This meeting is still a go, though the agenda is slightly different with the Royale space off the agenda.

"We still extend our invitation to our neighbors to come and have a sit down with us at the Wayland to discuss anything and everything anyone has on their minds and to try to start a healthy dialogue between neighbors and bar owners that we hope can benefit all of us," Ceraso said. "We’ll serve some food and some drinks and hopefully make some new friends."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Wayland owners catching a Drift on Avenue C

Wayland owners now eyeing Royale space for The Drift on Avenue C

Wayland owners hosting a neighborhood Q-and-A tomorrow night about new venture at 157 Avenue C

Wayland owners hosting a neighborhood Q-and-A tomorrow night about new venture at 157 Avenue C

[Image via Instagram]

Last week, we reported that Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall, who own The Wayland at 700 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C (as well as Good Night Sonny on St. Mark's Place and First Avenue), have plans to open a new bar called The Drift in the current Royale space at 157 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Next Monday, Ceraso and Mendenhall will appear before CB3's SLA committee to apply for a new liquor license for No. 157. (The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.)

Ahead of that, Ceraso promised to hold a Q-and-A with neighbors who may have any questions about the new venture... or anything else related to his bars. Below, Ceraso provides details about the meeting... as well as responds to some of the comments in the previous post accusing him of running a loud bar, etc.

My bars follow all the rules. Close our doors on time. Always monitor our noise levels. Serve food all hours. Have responsible security staff and managers/owners on site every day. Always do what we say we are going to do at CB3 SLA meetings.

We have no tvs, we never participate in bar crawls or Santacon, don’t offer boozy brunches and The Wayland keeps live music alive in a neighborhood that has lost most of it’s music venues, 4 nights a week as a labor of love. We have strong relationships with our neighbors at 700 E. Ninth St. and we have gardens on both sides of our bar with no direct neighbors across either street.

So I ask myself, who could I be offending with my bluegrass and dixieland live music and mostly rock 'n' roll soundtrack for the rest of the evenings?

I was going to do a Q-and-A for 157 Avenue C anyway, why not start a monthly meeting where our neighbors can not only talk to me but also maybe down the road we can get some other business owners involved as well?

This Tuesday Jan. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m., I’m hosting a meeting at The Wayland for anyone who has questions or concerns about anything we are doing, including The Wayland, Good Night Sonny and 157 Avenue C. Refreshments will be served.

Hopefully we can have some good discussions about living together and maybe some of your more adamant commenters will show up and meet us face to face.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wayland owners now eyeing Royale space for The Drift on Avenue C

Wayland owners now eyeing Royale space for The Drift on Avenue C

The owners of The Wayland still intend on opening a neighborhood bar called The Drift on Avenue C, though now in a different location.

As we first reported in October, Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall, who own The Wayland on Avenue C and East Ninth Street, had designs on part of Babel's hookah footprint across the street at 129-131 Avenue C. That's no longer in the works, and a backup plan has emerged with Royale, the sports bar with well-reviewed burgers at 157 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Ceraso and Mendenhall, who also own Good Night Sonny on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place, will now go back in front of CB3's SLA committee next month for a new liquor license for the Royale space. (The two had previously received the OK from CB3 for a license for 129 Avenue C. A handful of Avenue C residents spoke out against this application, which you can read about at Gothamist.)

We asked Ceraso for an update on The Drift.

For starters, he said the concept, a neighborhood bar with a small Latin-influenced menu featuring fish tacos and a few other items, is remaining mostly the same.

So what happened?

"The 129 space started to get complicated. The Babel operators decided that they didn’t want to give up the space anymore after we got our approval and the bar and building had some issues," Ceraso said. "We felt like it was all going in a way we weren’t happy with and something was telling us to give up the space."

After that initial disappointment, Ceraso learned that Royale, whose owners also run Cafecito at 185 Avenue C, was for sale.

"And that space just seemed perfect for The Drift," he said. "We can do the same thing we wanted to do inside but also have that amazing yard to utilize. The only change in the concept will be to further the planned daytime offerings — breakfast all afternoon, with aquas frescas, juices and cafe con leche, and take advantage of the backyard seating."

Ceraso and The Drift will appear before CB3 on Jan. 11. (You can read the PDF of their questionnaire at the CB3 website here.)

Ahead of that meeting, Ceraso said he'll be planning a neighborhood Q&A session in case there are any concerns about the outdoor space. (And no word just yet when Royale might close.)

The SLA meeting is Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wayland owners catching a Drift on Avenue C

Wayland owners catching a Drift on Avenue C

[129-131 Avenue C]

Babel is currently downsizing their hookah empire at 129-131 Avenue C between East Eighth Street and East Ninth Street. They are vacating the space at No. 129, which was home a few years back to the neighborhood bar Duke's.

As for No. 129, Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall, who own The Wayland on Avenue C and East Ninth Street, have plans to open a new venture in the space called The Drift.

We asked Ceraso for more details.

"We are planning a neighborhood bar," he said via email. "No cocktail list. No high concept. Just a relaxed little neighborhood place for all of our neighbors who have been so great to us over the last four years at The Wayland."

They will go before CB3's SLA committee on Oct. 19 with their plans. (Find a PDF of their CB3 questionnaire here.)

"When that space was brought to our attention, the first thing we thought was of Duke’s and how Avenue C doesn't have a friendly little neighborhood place any more since Duke’s and Teneleven closed down," he said. "As much as the neighborhood supports The Wayland, we understand that sometimes people just want a relaxed drink without the live music, the crowds and the cocktails lists."

The Drift will also serve a variety of tacos and salads.

"We envisioned The Drift as a laid-back bar that takes some slight inspiration from small seaside bars that we’ve been in over the years," said Ceraso, who recently opened Good Night Sonny on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place. "The little places that have a mix of locals, surfers, backpackers and expats. My partner Jason and I have had a lot of experience in those bars over the years and the feel of those places has a special place in our hearts."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Babel expanding on Avenue C

Duke's is gone

Shaping up the former Simone

The exterior of the former Simone Martini Bar on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place looks pretty much as it did after closing for good after 15 years at the end of November.

As previously reported, the owners of The Wayland on Avenue C and East Ninth Street are taking over the space… and on Saturday they provided a snapshot of the work going on inside…



No opening date just yet for Good Night Sonny, which will feature a tavern/seafood style menu…

Updated 6:10 p.m.

Wayland partner Robert Ceraso shared more about the name of the new venture — Good Night Sonny.

"It’s named after my maternal grandfather. Our family owned a bar on the corner of Mulberry and Hester for 40 years or so. He sold it in the 1960s. Even though he hadn’t been a bartender in 50 years, my grandfather still always kept our late hours. The name is my grandmother saying good night to him when she would go up to bed. We wanted to honor our elders as well as all the woman in our lives who put up with our crazy lifestyle and schedule."

Team behind The Wayland eyeing Simone Martini Bar space

[Image via Google]

It looks as if a change of ownership is coming to the northeast corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place — current home of Simone Martini Bar.

According to paperwork (PDF) on file at the CB3 website ahead of this month's SLA licensing meeting, Jason Mendenhall and Robert Ceraso, the proprietors of the Wayland, are the applicants for the space.

The application shows that the pair are planning for a "tavern/seafood-style menu" available during all open hours, which are listed as 2 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They also plan on a sidewalk cafe, which Simone had.

The Wayland, which specializes in cocktails and craft beers, opened on East Ninth Street and Avenue C in January 2012. (They expanded the space with new food options early last year.)

The change here will also officially bring an end to Yaffa Cafe, Simone's sister restaurant that closed nearby at 97 St. Mark's Place earlier in the fall. After the closure, some items from Yaffa were added to Simone's menu.

The Wayland's expansion on Avenue C will sell sandwiches

Back in July we noted that The Wayland on the corner of Avenue C and East Ninth Street was expanding into the empty space next door that previously housed Bite Me Best.

New York magazine this week (via Grub Street) has the scoop on the space, a 15-seat shop called Animals that will serve sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Per New York:

About a dozen selections are priced between $8 and $10, including a pulled-bacon torta with refried baked beans and chile mayo, hot shrimp with harissa butter and celery slaw, and a vegetarian “kitchen sink” with jalapeño pesto.

No word yet if they will sell offbeat sandwiches such as, say, turkey with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat. Animals opens next Monday.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Wayland plans to expand on Avenue C

Free hot meal at the Wayland on Avenue C

At East Ninth Street... starting now...

The Wayland is closed for renovations this week

Back in July, we reported that the Wayland, the cocktail bar and music venue on Avenue C and East Ninth Street, planned to expand into the empty space next door that Bite Me Best vacated.

The Wayland is now closed until next Monday to build a new kitchen, a longer bar and more room for bands, according to their Facebook page.

Rob Ceraso, one of the owners, told us in July that "the main catalyst for the expansion was to gain a full kitchen ... Our food has become more popular than we had originally anticipated. We've grown out of the tiny kitchen we designed behind the bar."

The Wayland plans to expand on Avenue C

The Wayland opened on Avenue C at East Ninth Street back in January... and now the cocktail bar and music venue plans to expand to the empty space next door that Bite Me Best recently vacated.

Rob Ceraso, one of the owners, confirmed the move.

"The main catalyst for the expansion was to gain a full kitchen. When it was offered to us it was hard to say no," he said in a message via Facebook. "Our food has become more popular than we had originally anticipated. We've grown out of the tiny kitchen we designed behind the bar."

Ceraso said that most of the former pizzeria will be used as a kitchen and prep area. In addition to offering more menu items, they will increase the size of the bar by five-six seats... with another four seats at a table.

He noted that the kitchen will continue to be open during almost all of the bar's business hours. They've been serving food until 2 a.m. on weeknights and 3 a.m. on weekends.

And the general reception so far for The Wayland, which took over the Banjo Jim's space?

"Things have been going well," Ceraso said. "The neighborhood has been really great to us."

The Wayland appears before the CB3/SLA committee next Monday for approval.

The Wayland (soft) opens Friday

As you may have read at New York magazine or on Eater this week... the Wayland (soft) opens Friday in the former Banjo Jim's space on Avenue C at Ninth Street...

Eater posted the bar's cocktail and food menus here.

These previews featured some of the more specialty items, like the applewood-smoked ice in one of the drinks. Didn't see anything about beer. Funny question, but will they have beer?

"Menus aren't finalized but we are always planning on keeping a few beers in the $4 and $5 range," Rob Ceraso, one of the owners, told us via email. "Right now it's Modelo Especial cans for $4 and Bud Light and High Life for $5. Most craft beers are at $6 and we're working on being able to do a couple at $5 as well."

And they will eventually roll out some type of happy hour in the future.

As for the decor, apparently some of it has come via dumpster diving.

"We ended up rescuing almost all of the wood that we used in the bar from the [the Henry Street Settlement Day Care #3 building] that's getting demo'd around the corner from us," he said. "Most of it is original from 1875."

There will also be live music in the space. More on that later.

Previously.

In other East Village signage news...

Signs have recently appeared on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street at the incoming L’asso EV ...

From the people behind Mott Street pizzeria L’asso.

And on Avenue C at Ninth Street, the sign is up for The Wayland, the bar taking over the Banjo Jim's space....

The Wayland aiming for a fall opening on Avenue C

Just an update on the new bar coming to Ninth Street and Avenue C, where Banjo Jim's threw a closing-night party last evening.

The working name had been The James Daniel, after two of the grandfathers of proprietor Rob Ceraso and his business partner. The new name is The Wayland. (And they have a website up and running now.)

Ceraso said that they still plan to work with Banjo Lisa to continue to host some live bluegrass and American roots music at the Wayland.

He is aiming for a fall opening.