East 8th Street and Avenue C, home to 5 restaurants in recent years, is now on the market

Back on Friday, EVG reader Peter from 8th St. noted some activity at the former restaurant at 127 Avenue C at East Eighth Street… where workers were clearing out the space…



There was also a new notice (dated Nov. 12) from the Marshal noting that the landlord (in this case, Croman/9300 Realty) had taken legal possession of the space…



The for rent signs arrived a little later… (the listing hasn't appeared online just yet)…



The space has been vacant now for a year. Lumé, the "Epicurean drinkery," was the last concept to try this corner… which took over for the short-lived Life - Kitchen and Bar … which had taken over for Verso, perhaps best known for a topless diner encounter.

Other restaurants here in recent years include Caffe Pepe Rosso and Caffe Cotto.

And, as previously noted, the storefront once housed a bakery … which apparently Iggy Pop frequented for cake and strong coffee in the early 1990s…



Previously on EV Grieve:
[NSFW] About the topless diner at Verso Sunday night

Verso finds new Life on Avenue C

The folks behind Verso, the Italian trattoria on East Eighth Street and Avenue C, have revamped their space… it is now Life - Kitchen and Bar (it has nothing to do with the former Life Cafe that closed two-plus years ago on Avenue B). And they open tonight.

The new space looks to be more casual than Verso… and here's a look at the menu...

[NSFW] About the topless diner at Verso Sunday night

As first mentioned here, two diners entered Verso, the Italian bistro on Avenue C and East Eighth Street, on Sunday night ... the female diner sat down and removed her top. She sat bare chested while the man with her took photos. Owner Labinot Baraliu promptly asked the two to leave.

Here's more about what happened.

East Village-based professional photographer Allen Henson contacted us. He was in Verso with Cheyenne Lutek, a model.

"It was an impromptu photoshoot. We did two that night," he said. "The first establishment loved it and interacted, the other, well — we weren't there long."

Here are the results of the first restaurant, which declined to have its name used with the photos. "They had fun with it. So did the patrons."



And here are images from Verso...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Female diner decides to go topless last night at Verso

[Updated] Female diner decides to go topless last night at Verso

A story from the heatwave.

At Verso last night, two diners entered the Italian bistro on Avenue C and East Eighth Street ... the female diner sat down and immediately removed her top. She sat bare chested while owner Labinot Baraliu asked her to put her shirt back on. She argued that it was "perfectly legal" for her to sit topless in the restaurant... all the while her male companion was taking photos of her.

The staff did end up escorting the couple out of the restaurant.

"In 15 years [in the restaurant business] I've seen all kinds of things, but not this," said Baraliu. "It was funny, but at the same time I was like 'WTF — is this really happening?'"

Updated 7-10
Find an explanation here.

Grand re-opening tonight at Verso on Avenue C

Verso, the Italian bistro on Avenue C at East Eighth Street, was hit hard during Sandy. Given the damages, Verso wasn't able to start serving again until Feb. 14. Now, the owners pass along word that tonight marks their grand re-opening.

[File photo via Dave on 7th]

A new-look Verso reopens on Avenue C for the first time since Sandy

[Several days after Sandy]

Verso, the Italian bistro on Avenue C at East Eighth Street, hasn't been open since Sandy's floodwaters filled up the restaurant's basement. Looked grim for awhile here, a time that included a back-rent notice taped to the front door in late December.

Workers have been busy of late...


[Wednesday via Bobby Williams]

And last night, Dave on 7th noted that the refurbished restaurant was back open...



Per Dave on 7th: There's a "new, more rustic look. I actually like it. The interior is stripped down. Exposed beams and joists. Barn cladding in front."

The owners tell us that they're in soft-opening mode this weekend, with a "full force" reopening at the end of the month.

Verso closes to re-design dining room

Dave on 7th passes this tidbit along... spotted at Verso, the Italian bistro that opened on Eighth Street and Avenue C this past May 16 ... They closed yesterday for the renovations...

Have you eaten here? Just curious what people think of the place...