I Cipressi will not be happening on Avenue A

Back in early October 2012, we heard that Lorella Innocenti, who operated I Coppi on East Ninth Street, was opening a new restaurant on Avenue A in the storefront that previously housed Vampire Freaks.

She was going to run it with her sister Maristella, who owns Matilda on East 11th Street near Avenue C.

However, a few weeks after the news of the Avenue A project, Hurricane Sandy hit … and Matilda was was one of the businesses that struggled to get back up and running … all the while, the plans for the new Italian restaurant stalled. The sisters took to the streets last summer to find investors to make the new place a reality.

Apparently they didn't have much luck. The storefront at 189 Avenue A near East 12th Street is now for rent … a sign that follows the eviction notice last month.



It will be interesting to see what might take the space. The two buildings here will be dwarfed by developer Douglas Steiner's 7-story retail-residential complex coming soon to the former Mary Help of Christians complex.



But for now…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: I Coppi team opening new restaurant on Avenue A

Owners of I Cipressi take to the streets to find investors

New residential complex at former Mary Help of Christians lot may include rooftop swimming pool

Meet your new neighbor on Avenue A

So long, Freaks

A worker painted over the former Vampire Freaks sign today on Avenue A near East 12th Street... where people involved with I Coppi will be opening a new venture, as first noted last Monday...

Headline and photo via EVG contributor Shawn Chittle ...

Reader report: I Coppi team opening new restaurant on Avenue A

I Coppi closed on East Ninth Street last month... However, EVG contributor Shawn Chittle has learned that the I Coppi team will be opening a new venture on Avenue A near East 12th Street ... in the space that previously belonged to the Vampire Freaks store...

There is now paper over the storefront on Avenue A ... and the for lease sign is gone. Workers have started transforming the space...

Per Shawn about the new space:

"Beer/wine only. Tuscan food. Restaurant won't be called I Coppi as of this writing. No opening date set." And we're not sure if all the former principals will be part of the new venture...

Former Vampire Freaks space on the market

Shawn Chittle brings word that the former home of Vampire Freaks, which closed on Avenue A near 12th Street at the start of the year, is now for rent. No signs up (yet) ... but the landlord, Mr. Desider Weinberg, is asking $8,000 a month, including basement — good for 1,400 square feet.

And you may even get to keep this as it is ...

And you can you can still order the Vampire Freaks apparel online here.

Vampire Freaks has closed

A few weeks ago we pointed out that Vampire Freaks on Avenue A was closing... As you can see, that closure is now official...

However, you can still find their goth-punk-and-what-not apparel online here.

Vampire Freaks closing on Avenue A

As you can see from the signs sent along via a reader, the retail outlet for goths, punks and everyone else into skull-and-crossbones apparel is closing... Haven't heard just yet if they'll continue as an online-only entity like before opening here between 11th Street and 12th Street in the fall of 2008...

[Hat tip to Greg Masters for the photos]