Monday's parting shot

A look at the new mural by BKFoxx (via East Village Walls) on Fourth Street at First Avenue, the new home of the just-opened Wara, the Japanese izakaya and dinner theater.

Wara looks to open in early February on 1st Avenue

As noted earlier last month, Wara, a Japanese izakaya restaurant and dinner theater, is coming soon to 67 First Ave. at Fourth Street.

The storefront now boasts some subtle Wara signage...



Wayne Yip, who owns Jebon Sushi at 15 St. Mark's Place and Clay Pot at 58 St. Mark's Place, is behind this venture.

Wara will include a Batsu theater, in which a comedy troupe takes part in slapstick challenges "to avoid electric shocks, paintballs, a giant egg-smashing chicken, and many more hilarious and jaw-dropping punishments!"

Jebon currently hosts the shows. According to the Batsu website, tickets purchased for dates after Feb. 8 will be at Wara.



The Korean cafe Space Mabi closed here without any notice to patrons in November after a year in business.

Wara bringing Japanese cuisine and Batsu theater to 1st Avenue

[Photo from November]

Wara, a Japanese izakaya restaurant and dinner theater, is slated to open at 67 First Ave. at Fourth Street in the spring.

Wayne Yip, who owns Jebon Sushi at 15 St. Mark's Place and Clay Pot at 58 St. Mark's Place, is also behind this new venture.

CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license for Wara this month. According to the questionnaire (PDF here) at the CB3 website, Wara will be open from noon to midnight daily. The space has 18 tables seating 64 guests.

Real Estate Weekly had a few more details yesterday:

The experiential dining experience features sushi, Japanese pub-style eats and a Batsu theater, a show where actors are comically punished after losing a competition or bet.

Wara, whose name translates roughly to “laughing out loud,” took a 15-year lease at the corner spot ...

The asking rent was $15,500 a month, according to Sinvin Real Estate’s Steve Rappaport, who represented Wara. The landlord, Landlord Icon Realty, was represented in-house by Zach Levine.

Jebron also hosts Batsu theater in its basement lounge.

The Korean cafe Space Mabi closed here without any notice to patrons last month after a year in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Guayoyo has been closed now for 1 year

Gastropub — 'Your new playground' — slated for former Guayoyo space on 1st Avenue

Space Mabi closes 1 year in on 1st Avenue