C is a new coffee shop on Third Street

Several readers have noted that that a new coffee shop has opened (as of April 18) at 256 E. Third St. near Avenue C. A reader said it's pretty straightforward — coffee, tea ... some croissants. The coffee is from Strongtree Organic Coffee Roasters in Hudson, N.Y. I stopped by myself to check it out yesterday morning, though it wasn't open yet for the day...

C takes over the space from Chez Betty Cafe.

Today in Hells Angels bench coverage

The Post has a follow-up on our Hells Angels bench story from yesterday (and they did credit EV Grieve in the story — thank you!).

Here's the article, in part:

Not even tourists are intimidated by the Hells Angels anymore.
The once-menacing motorcycle club has been unable to keep people from sitting on its beloved bench outside its East Village headquarters.
A sign stating "Private Property" failed to keep guests at neighboring hotels from taking a seat, so a few weeks ago, the club finally installed a yellow metal bar and lock across the bench that only members can open with a key, noted the Web blog EV Grieve.
The only hogs the club cares about more than their Harleys are the folks who lounge on their bench, said Mario Cornejo, manager of Sanctuary Guest Suites, one of two hotels neighboring the Angels' East Third Street den.
"They really care about their bench," he said.
The hotel urges guests not to use it, even posting its own signs in the lobby, he said.
Members of the club — apparently now as gentrified as the rest of the East Village — declined to comment.

No word yet if the Angels are planning their next rally at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.

The Hells Angels unveil new line of defense for their bench

Back in June 2009 we pointed out the sign on the bench outside the Hells Angels headquarters on Third Street ...



This was an effort to thwart clueless hotel guests from the Sanctuary Guest Suites next door for plopping down here ... However, this reporter still saw European thrillseekers taking a seat here...

So now! It's a little more difficult...

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Hells Angels kindly request that hotel guests please refrain from sitting on their bench

Newly renovated apartment building has everything — except a Certificate of Occupancy

I only recently noticed that at the newly renovated 215 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C...






According to Streeteasy, the building went on sale in 2006 for $6 million... and sold for $3.5 million in February 2009.

Amazing East Village Investment. Two four story plus basement prewar buildings on a single 96' lot. Situated on a quiet block, the front building is a four story 43' x 23' mixed-use building with additional air rights and the rear building is a four story 23' x 20' multi-residential walk-up building. Both buildings face south, share a common courtyard and are surrounded by gardens. The two buildings have one commercial unit and eight residential apartments total. The property can be Delivered Vacant and presents an opportunity to get exactly what you want and where you want it! Great for a condo conversion, rental investment property or, if you so desire, your own East Village palace.

The four units were all rented by January, running between $4,000 to $4,500 a month. Here's one description:

E. Greenwich Village
** EXCLUSIVE RENTAL - 100% MINT BRAND NEW BUILDING! ** This unique gut renovated building features brand new large 3BR/2BA apartments with high-end, condo-quality finishes! Dishwasher (D/W), microwave, stainless steel appliances, double-wide fridge with ice maker, video security, central heat and A/C (CAC), custom track lighting, 2 full marble baths, solid oak strip flooring, windows and closets in all THREE (3) QUEEN SIZED BEDROOMS. All this plus a huge LANDSCAPED ROOFDECK with remote intercom and you’ve got yourself the ultimate East Village pad your friends will envy. Call now for an immediate showing...

According to the DOB, there is ALTERED/CHANGED BUILDING OCCUPIED WITHOUT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ...

There's a hearing on the matter next month... meanwhile, folks look like they're still allowed to live here...

Sticker art by the Bald Man

Spotted on Third Street near Avenue A. Heh.

Etiquette sign season continues

Spotted on Third Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue...



Apparently a few folks from the Renewal on Bowery shelter across the street are congregating here...

The Dance Tracks sign will be replaced

The Monk Thrift shop is now open for business on Third Street in the former home of Dance Tracks, whose sign still graces the storefront... We were curious if Monk would keep the Dance Tracks sign...



The owner told a tipster that yes, absolutely, Monk would be removing the sign. "Just as soon as I get the money. Right now I'm broke."

Monk is opening at former Dance Tracks space

First came word that a thrift shop was opening on Third Street near First Avenue at the former Dance Tracks space...



Then there was the confusion to where, exactly, the Monk Thrift shop was relocating...

Anyway, the thrift shop on Third Street looks ready for business. It was closed yesterday. But a business card on the counter confirmed the store name...



Wonder if Monk will keep the Dance Tracks sign?

New thrift store on Third Street to open next week

Last week I mentioned that the former Dance Tracks on Third Street near First Avenue is becoming a thrift/vintage store... Last night, I noticed that workers were filling the stores with clothes...






All I know is the shop is expected to open next week... the following week at the latest...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Long dormant Dance Tracks soon to be home to a vintage clothing store

Long dormant Dance Tracks soon to be home to a vintage clothing store

Looks as if the former Dance Tracks, which closed in November 2007, finally has a new tenant here on Third Street near First Avenue.



Here's what a source tells us:

-- This will become a vintage clothing store that buys and sells, kind of like Buffalo Exchange.

-- That the woman who owns the store also has other locations, kind of like Buffalo Exchange.

The source thought this could be part of a vintage store chain.

In any event, a worker was renovating the space the other night... and there are clothing racks brought in...





Last we looked, the rent here was $9,500 a month... and at one point, as East Village Podcasts pointed out, a wine store was opening here.

[Top photo via EVP]

We now know what building is for sale for $15 million on East Third Street (hint: buy an alleged illegal hotel and live next to the Hells Angels!)

Back in late October, we speculated about what home was for sale for nearly $16 million on East Third Street. (Read all about that right here.)

Now, thanks to a tip from a reader, we apparently have our answer: 73-75 E. Third St., directly to the west of the Hells Angels HQ. According to the listing, the 49 units in the buildings are going for $15.7 million...



75-75 E. Third St. is currently home to the Sanctuary Guest Streets, the vegan bed-and-breakfast with rooms going for $180 per night.



There are some Third Street residents who have alleged that this is an illegal hotel...(The DOB has received nearly a dozen complaints about the hotel in the last two years...)

And this was also the hotel with the guests who enjoyed relaxing on the bench in front of the Hells Angels HQ.



Perhaps, in the short term, the language should be changed to "not for hotel guests or potential new landlords..."

For further reading on EV Grieve:
The Hells Angels kindly request that hotel guests please refrain from sitting on their bench

Continuing to speculate about what 10-room, $15-million home is for sale on East Third Street

Another East Third Street building on the block

You know, we were recently speculating about what 10-room, $15-million home was for sale on East Third Street.

When we were over at the Massey Knakal site, we did spot this.



Not our building, but 179 E. Third St. -- between Avenue A and Avenue B -- is going for $13.6 million.

Previously.

Posts that I never got around to posting: The latest (when I took the photo) art on the "crazy landlord" building

Third Street and Second Avenue. Future home of the Belgian Ale House?

Posts that I never got around to posting: Bicycles vs. fences

Took these in September on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. Am curious what came first, the bicycles or the signs...

Continuing to speculate about what 10-room, $15-million home is for sale on East Third Street

Yesterday, we started speculating about what 10-bedroom house on East Third Street might be for sale for nearly $16 million. Mostly because we're curious about what nearly $16 million gets you these days in the neighborhood. Plus, well, there's more to it than that. According to the frustratingly detail-free listing, the deal includes the adjoining building.



Many of us immediately thought of the Economakis dream mansion at 47 E. Third St. The square footage is nearly identical, for one thing. And there has long been speculation that, after successfully evicting the building's tenants, the owners would flip the property immediately to make big money. The Economakis family, for their part, have insisted they'll live there — maybe forever, as they told Scoopy.

Anyway, EV Grieve reader Marjorie pointed out that "the Trulia listing says it's in zip code 10009. That means this mystery place is east of first avenue; the Economakis place is between 1st and 2nd aves — zip code 10003."

However, Chris Flash at The Shadow has been closely following the story. He wrote, "We've been keeping tabs on the real estate marketeers on the LES for decades now (they still send us their 'set-up sheets') and know from experience that they often get little details like zip codes and other info wrong." He states, "We're pretty sure that the Ardor listing is for the Economakis mansion at 47 East Third that they successfully vacated as of August 31."

Meanwhile, EV Grieve reader WB figured these fine homes just east of Third Street were likely candidates...



Good guess, but the listing is with Ardor, and the apartments here are exclusively with CitiHabitats.

Which reminds me I had these photos from the summer...



I liked the sign: "Too many upgrades to mention."



In an e-mail, an EV Grieve reader said that he/she took another look at the Ardor listing, and noticed that you could "map" the address. So they did.



As the readers says, if the map is to be believed, the property lies between Avenue C and Avenue D on the north side of the street...which led them to this possibility...



And the building on the left only has one buzzer, according to the reader, who knows this for some reason...

[Ominously] To be continued....

What 10-bedroom house is for sale on East Third Street for $15 milllion?

Well, this just popped up in the real-estate listings...



Not much information at the moment...



I can only think if one 11,000-square foot mansion on East Third Street...but, nah... plus, it's not even a mansion yet...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the Economakis dream mansion on East Third Street

A good question

As we pointed out Saturday, Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue was closed off while a crane brought in stuff for the Economakis family tenement-to-mansion conversion.

And a reader brought up a good question about some neighbors down the street who may not appreciate the street being blocked off for eight hours:

any word from the hells angels?

Economakis mansion renovation shuts down Third Street today

No traffic today on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. At 47 E. Third St., the Economakis family is creating their 11,600-square-foot dream home from the former 15-unit tenement.





One neighbor watching the crane at work wondered how many more Saturdays would be affected by the construction.

Previously.