East Village Mini Market debuts on Avenue A

Photo by William Klayer 

East Village Mini Market is now open at 153 Avenue A near 10th Street. 

We noted this pending arrival on Sept. 2 — when the new signage went up on the storefront. Then, workers removed the signage, casting doubt on the opening. 

Anyway! 

There's now temp signage up there obscured by the opening balloonage. 

And this is not a smoke shop (there is a small assortment of CBD products) ... but it's mostly snacks, beverages, etc. However, there is no deli counter here for sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., like the business it took over — Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill.

TFDG abruptly closed late last month after 11-plus years.

The case of the missing East Village Mini Market signage

Photo by Steven

On Sept. 2, we noted that Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill abruptly closed at 153 Avenue A near 10th Street... and just like that, new business signage for the East Village Mini Market was on the storefront. 

The new business gave off some smoke shop vibes... in any event, that signage is gone for now. (Also noted by a commenter on the last post the other day.) 

The windows remain papered over, so we can't tell what's going on inside. 

So. Theories! 

Perhaps: 

1) The sign was damaged and needs to be replaced 

2) The owners had second thoughts and decided not to open 

3) The landlord had second thoughts about renting to a smoke shop 

4) All the above

Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill is now the East Village Mini Market

Photos by Steven 

Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill abruptly closed this past week at 153 Avenue A near 10th Street... and just like that, the new business signage is up for the East Village Mini Market. 

A tipster said the new owners took over and fired the previous staff. The incoming market, we're told, will focus more on smoking-related products... gone are the sandwiches and deli case from TFDG's days ...

There was a similar abrupt switcheroo here in early 2012 when the Avenue A Mini Market abruptly closed to make way for Tompkins Finest Deli.