130 St. Mark's Place is for rent

[Photo by Steven]

The for rent sign arrived late last week at 130 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... Via Della Pace Pizza quietly closed here back in June after less than one year in business.

Before this, Falanghina Pizza Bar gave the address a shot, but it didn't catch on either.

The previous business here was able to make it for 34 years until a substantial rent hike (as well as decline in business) helped force out Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen in December 2012.

No word on the asking rent for the space.

Reader report: Former Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen becoming an Italian restaurant

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which had been at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991 (34 years in business total), closed for good on Dec. 29, as we first reported.

Aside from rising rents, business had been down... and, of course, Sandy didn't help matters.

Yesterday, a worker at the store told Bill the libertarian anarchist that the space will become an Italian restaurant.

Know more details about the new tenant? Then please let us know via the EVG tipline.

The former Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen is now for rent on St. Mark's Place

The "for rent" sign went up here at 130 St. Mark's Place on Saturday. A full dumpster sits out front. The vegan bakery, which had been at this location since 1991 (34 years in business total), closed for good on Dec. 29.

Aside from rising rents, business had been down... and, of course, Sandy didn't help matters.

Owner Peter Silvestri held an auction at the store on Dec. 30...

[Courtesy of Bill the libertarian anarchist]

Meanwhile, The Villager reports this week that seven activists, organized by Fran Luck, traveled to Westchester County on Dec. 28 to hold a protest in front of Whole Earth landlord Ronald Friedman's office.

Per the article:

“We went up to Tarrytown because landlords who pull the strings on our community from afar, and without any consequence, should know that we will come to their communities to respond,” Luck said.

Whole Earth Bakery’s rent rose from $1,100 a month in 1991 to $5,300, an increase about three times faster than the rate of inflation.

Auction Sunday at the closing Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place

As we've been reporting, the Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 St. Mark's Place is closing for good after 34 years in business... tomorrow is the last day. Be sure to stop by and say goodbye to owner Peter Silvestri. Neighbors are planning a farewell party at 6 p.m.

And on Sunday, the auctioneer arrives to sell off the remaining equipment...

Per the Craigslist ad, the auction starts at the shop at 2 p.m.

And another little piece of the community dies...

Previously.

The latest on Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen's closure

On Tuesday, we brought the sad news that Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 St. Mark's Place was closing this month after nearly 34 years in business...

Donna, a friend of owner Peter Silvestri, just updated the Bakery's Facebook page:

Yesterday the Auctioneer changed the date to Sunday the 30th from the 27th so we have a few more days in the store. Keep the prayers coming and maybe the landlord will have a change of heart. : ). Several people are making good suggestions let’s see what happens.

Saturday the 29th will be the last day Whole Earth Bakery & Kitchen will be open for business. We will close around 6pm Saturday and that will be a good time for a party…come on by! Peter would love to see all his friends and fans any day up to closing really! Sunday the Auctioneer professionals come in to set up and the Auction is at 2pm that afternoon

Volunteers will be very much needed Weds, Thurs and Fri afternoons from 11am to whenever we get it done, hopefully early. Please consider coming by to help Peter get ready for the auction. We need to organize the store and the basement. That would be wonderful and so appreciated!

[Updated] Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen is closing on Dec. 31

UGH. As we were putting together a reminder about the crowdsourcing campaign to help EVG favorite Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 St. Mark's Place (there are just two days left for the Lucky Ant campaign.... and they are well short of their $10,000 goal) ... we heard the awful but not surprising news that the bakery is closing after Dec. 31.

Owner Peter Silvestri, who ran the bakery with his mother starting in 1978, told East Village resident (and EVG reader) Bill the libertarian anarchist that they would have to close for good at the end of the year. The bakery has been at this location since 1991.

It hasn't been easy here in recent years for Whole Earth Bakery, as they faced eviction several times. You can read the back story in this article from The Villager from 2007, when the community rallied around Whole Earth.

The shop faced eviction again last fall... They were reportedly occupying the space under a sublet agreement. While Whole Earth Bakery was up to date on rent payments, the holder of the lease was allegedly delinquent.

In any event, another shop that has been an important part of the community for more than 20 years will soon be gone... look for a soulless high-end dessert shop or bar here soon enough.

Updated 12:45

A friend of Whole Earth just posted this message on the Bakery's Facebook page:

So much love and good wishes have been coming to Peter and Whole Earth Bakery & Kitchen and he feels so blessed to have had this community support. We are sorry to report that the online campaign never really took off and there is now a change of direction. Unfortunately the store is not going to make it. Whole Earth Bakery is closing at the end of December 2012 after 34 years.

We didn't think the changes were going to be so sudden but we must work with what is. "Play the ball where it lies" as Peter likes to say. The energies now are in doing everything that has to be done to ready for auction next week.

The Lucky Ant campaign was intended to raise enough capital to go forward. Monies are now needed to move, store whatever doesn't sell and reinvent Peter so he can continue doing what he loves in a different way.

Peter is actively doing what needs to be done to get through this time. There will be a mourning period but there are good aspects as well as negative aspects to everything and we are trusting the process.

There is even more of a need for funds now so stop in the store and order your treats for the Holidays... just not to save Whole Earth but to support Peter. Food production will continue up until Sunday December 23rd, pickup of orders until the 24th. The thought is to do special orders of pies and cakes from a commercial kitchen down the road. Would you like something for Christmas or wish to contribute something donated to Occupy Sandy?

Whole Earth Bakery needs your help on St. Mark's Place

If you're a fan of Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place (like me), then you may want to know about this... there's currently a crowdsourcing campaign underway to help the Bakery raise money... like many businesses, they took a hit following Superstorm Sandy... You can read more about the campaign and the incentives at Lucky Ant.

Here's a video with owner Peter Silvestri, who ran the bakery with his mother starting in 1978. He has been on St. Mark's Place since 1991.

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen facing eviction again on St. Mark's Place

Scoopy brings the troubling news in his column at The Villager this week: Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark’s Place is facing eviction.

Owner-baker Peter Silvestri told Scoopy that business was down this past summer. And so, he fell behind in rent. The landlord sent him an eviction letter two weeks ago.

Part of the cause?:

It doesn’t help matters that the block is now lined with bars, 14 between Avenue A and First Ave., said Silvestri. “It changed the block. People come here for the bars now,” he said.

EVG favorite Whole Earth Bakery has faced eviction several times before. You can read the back story in this article from The Villager from 2007. Whole Earth has been at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991. How much longer, unfortunately, seems in doubt.

Whole Earth Bakery facing eviction on St. Mark's Place

From the EV Grieve inbox via Clayton Patterson...

The Whole Earth Bakery has been providing delicious, healthy, vegan and vegetarian food for 33 years, 20 of them at its current location at 130 St. Mark’s Place. This valued community resource is in danger of eviction, and needs your support.

Like all small businesses, Whole Earth Bakery has struggled to stay afloat during the recent recession. Occupying the space under a sublet agreement, the Whole Earth Bakery is up to date on rent payments, but the holder of the lease is delinquent, placing the business in imminent danger of eviction.

While there are other vegetarian and vegan bakeries in New York City, few can demonstrate the long-term commitment to quality cruelty-free, sustainable and delicious food that is the hallmark of the Whole Earth Bakery.

We need concerned community members to stop by the store and sign our petition, and volunteers to help organize events or coordinate email communications among our supporters. Please help us continue serving the East Village community, as we meet our commitment to provide healthy, nutritious food for all.

Check our Facebook Wall for updates.

Ugh. Whole Earth Bakery has faced eviction several times before. You can read the back story in this article from The Villager from 2007. Whole Earth has been a neighborhood institution since 1991... we need to hold on to what is left of this neighborhood.

Fire scare at Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen

Firefighters were on the scene this afternoon just before 3 at Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place... EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams happened to be on St. Mark's at the time... There were reports of a basement fire at the bakery, though — thankfully — that didn't turn out to be the case...

Giving thanks....

Just an appreciation of a few of the places that make the neighborhood what it is... There are plenty more places, of course...but to get us started...

St. Brigid's




Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen.




Lucy's.




Ray's.





and the free concerts in the Park...




The Odessa.




The Blarney Cove.

Renovations complete, Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen back open for business

Good news: Peter Silvestri's Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which has been closed for renovations since Aug. 14, reopened over the weekend.



As Slum Goddess reported back in September:

I went in there today and he was in there and they really did a lot of work on the place! All freshly painted, polished and gleaming..he was stocking the shelves and they had new menu signs hung up-bigger and brighter ones..It wasn't all fro-yo'd upped and gross though..still looks like good old whole earth-just spiffed up!

Indeed, the changes are for the better. It's easier to navigate the space now. Peter said there's still a little work to do, such as fill out the menu on the chalkboards, but you get the idea.

New mural for Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen

Uh, after I got home, I realized that you really can't make out the mural all that well...




The artist was taking a break when I happened by... In any event, a good sign... perhaps the store will open soon...

Previously.

Good news: Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen to reopen next week

Slum Goddess passes along good news about Peter Silvestri's Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which has been closed for renovations since Aug. 14:

I talked to Peter today..They should be open around the 23rd of this month..some bullcrap with his "company" name or something..he had no real health code violation problems..but I went in there today and he was in there and they really did a lot of work on the place! All freshly painted, polished and gleaming..he was stocking the shelves and they had new menu signs hung up-bigger and brighter ones..It wasn't all fro-yo'd upped and gross though..still looks like good old whole earth-just spiffed up! I told Peter we were all worried and he was flattered and eager to reopen for business next week!

Previously.

Photo via.

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen: Still closed

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which has operated at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991, closed on Aug. 14 for renovations. At the time, the signs indicated the store would reopen on Aug. 18. As of last night, the gate was still closed -- no signs of life. (The photo above was taken prior to Aug. 18.) Given owner Peter Silvestri's ongoing problems with the landlord... we have a really bad feeling...

Previously.

Update: Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen remains closed for renovations

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which has operated at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991, closed Aug. 14 for renovations. The shop was expected to reopen Aug. 18, as the signs noted. However, a walk by yesterday afternoon revealed that the renovations continue... the gate is partially open. It looks as if someone is inside working...



Anyone have information? Anyone talk to Peter?

Previously.

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen still closed for renovations

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen, which has operated at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991, closed last Friday for renovations. The shop was expected to reopen yesterday. However, a walk by yesterday afternoon revealed that the renovations continue...



Please reopen soon...

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen got its start in 1978 on Spring Street.