2 recently opened restaurants close for renovations on 2nd Avenue

Sunday Dreamin is apparently taking a power nap.

The restaurant at 80 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street is closed for renovations.

Per an Instagram post: "We will be temporarily closed for the time being as we go through some changes here at #SundayDreamin. Give us a follow so you can stay up to date for when we reopen!"

Sunday Dreamin opened in May, and we mostly heard positive things about the food. 

Meanwhile, one block to the north, the Sunflower East Village has also announced a closure for a "restructure" (photo by Steven)...

This sister cafe to the one on Third Avenue in Gramercy Park (with the Instagram slogan "Let’s Brunch baby!") also opened in May. It's not known what a restructure entails, but there was a very long build-out ahead of the grand opening. 

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same folks as the previous tenant here, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021. 

Unfortunately, in recent months, neither Sunday Dreamin nor the Sunflower seemed all that busy.

Tacombi is now closed for renovations on 12th Street and 3rd Avenue

After 14 months in business, Tacombi has closed for renovations on the NW corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street.

EVG reader Doug points out the posted signage, which states the taqueria "is temporarily closed for needed renovations and changes."

All exterior signs of Tacombi have disappeared, including the painted wall branding and awning along the 12th Street side where the entrance is.

The brand's latest outpost opened in July 2023 after an extensive renovation here. 

The East Village location was a departure from Tacombi's typical dine-in format and featured a communal standing table for patrons. 

Now to theories (aka totally guessing)! 

Tacombi will take the currently vacant corner space and create a dining room for Tacombi-ites. That vacant corner slot just so happens to have a 14-day Rent Demand on the front for a little more than $100,000 for a business that never opened called Flying Pig. (Mmmm, flying pig.)

As two or three may say, bring back Funkiberry!

Café Social 68 temporarily closes for renovations on Avenue A, reopening in 2 weeks

Café Social 68, located at 68 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, will be closed for the next two weeks.

The signage that arrived over the weekend notes that the temp closure is "due to some changes being made in our café. These adjustments will allow us to better serve our community and offer you all a better experience." (Thanks to Stacie Joy for the sign picture!)

Café Social 68 opened in August 2019, taking the space over from Croissanteria.

[Updated] The Roost remains at rest

Photos by Stacie Joy

The Roost remains closed this spring at 222 Avenue B between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

A sign for patrons points to a temporary closure for a renovation and promises that "something special is coming."

A few readers asked if we knew what the plans are here ... we do not! 

The Roost's Yelp page points to a July 1 reopening. 

The venue — a cafe in the front and a speakeasy-style bar in the back — recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Updated

Thanks to the reader comment... we missed this from the March CB3-SLA committee meeting.

Andrew Loscaizo, who owns Salumeria Rosi, an Italian restaurant, deli, salami and cheese shop on the Upper West Side, is leasing the space. He plans to open an outpost here. You can read his application for the business here.

Kolkata Chai Co. closed for renovations until April 1 on 3rd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Kolkata Chai Co. is closed until April 1 here at 199 E. Third St., just west of Avenue B. 

Door signage notes that ownership (brothers Ani and Ayan Sanyal) are "making some much-needed changes to our equipment and decor."

The cafe's Kenmare Street location is open. 

The shop, serving masala chai, debuted in September 2019 in the East Village.

Yuca Bar closed for renovations on 7th and A

Photos by Steven

Yuca Bar is now closed for renovations on the NW corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A ... door signage points to a Jan. 25 reopening date for the restaurant offering Latin cuisine and weekend brunches ...

The Dolly Llama remains closed for renovations

Photos by Steven 

The Dolly Llama has been closed since the late summer at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

According to the gate signage, the ice cream and waffle shop, which opened in March, is "temporarily closed for remodeling and a refreshed look."

Dolly Llama Watchers (oh, there are some!) wondered why they might need a refreshed look after just six months. 

In any event, the EV location is no longer listed on the Dolly Llama website. And based on the mail and leaves inside the front doorway, no one has been inside of late. However, in an Instagram message, management said they didn't have a reopening date yet but hoped to soon.

The Dolly Llama started in Los Angeles in 2017, and there are multiple locations now in the United States. 

On 2nd Avenue, Moko temporarily relocates during renovation

Photos by Steven 

Moko, an omakase restaurant that opened in the fall of 2021 at 138 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, is now closed for renovations. 

According to a sign on the door for patrons, Moko has "relocated temporarily for renovations" ... and can now be found at Moko's unnamed sister restaurant at 214 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

In July, Moko's ownership was to appear before Community Board 3 for a new liquor license for 214 E. Ninth St. The restaurant, Shiso, was said to offer a Japanese and French tasting menu. (Questionnaire here.)

It's not immediately clear how long Shiso may have been in service. We spotted two nearly identical TikToks about the opening (here and here) from July. 

According to minutes from the July meeting (PDF here), CB3 SLA committee members recommended denying Shiso's application for a liquor license. 

Per the minutes: "Three people spoke in opposition, including a representative of the condominium board, primarily due to noise, safety, and quality of life issues as well as DOB violations for the construction, liens against the building for unpaid contractors and that they have already held events with velvet ropes, doormen and large crowds outside without a license." 

In addition, "there were 2 residents who wrote an email in opposition, and 2 residents who said their signatures were forged on the petitions."

According to the State Liquor Authority, this address has no active liquor license. Public records show that the license expired at the end of August for the previous tenant, Dumpling Lab, which closed last fall shortly after making the 2022 Michelin Guide's list of 18 new Bib Gourmands.

Moko's Second Avenue outpost also did not have an active liquor license, per the State Liquor Authority. 

The former Raíz Modern Mexican space is for rent on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven

A for-lease sign arrived Friday at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The arrival comes nearly three weeks after a "closed for renovations" sign went up on the gate for Raíz Modern Mexican. There wasn't any mention of the closure on Raíz's website or Instagram account. (In contrast to the well-documented closed-for-renovations happening at The Wren on the Bowery.)

The retail space had been posted on LoopNet since April. (The listing wasn't on the Meridian Retail Leasing site as of this morning.)

The plant-based, fast-casual restaurant — featuring burritos, tacos, salads and bowls. — debuted in early 2022.

No. 120's previous tenant, Chef Hans Asian Kitchen, closed after just a few weeks in business in 2021.

Raíz Modern Mexican is closed for now on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven

Raíz Modern Mexican is now in "closed for renovations" mode at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The gates have been down since this past Tuesday, Aug. 1

There isn't any mention of the closure on Raíz's website or Instagram account.

In an Instagram message, the restaurant confirmed they were closed for renovations, with a possible reopening next month.

The retail space has also been listed on LoopNet since April, with the last update on the storefront posted on Aug. 1. 

The plant-based, fast-casual restaurant — featuring burritos, tacos, salads and bowls. — debuted in early 2022.

Eros remains closed on 2nd Avenue

Eros has been dark since early August on the NE corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street.

A "temporarily closed" sign has been on the front door. The Greek restaurant's website notes that this location is "closed for renovations. Reopening TBA."

We have not spotted anyone inside the space during this time either.

Through the months, various notices have been spotted inside the front door, like this letter from the DOT dated Sept. 6 requesting that ownership correct some deficiencies in the curbside dining structure on Fifth Street ...

And in October, someone smashed the front door, which remains this way today...

Eros took over for the diner the Kitchen Sink in September 2021 (same owners) ... management previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

Several Kitchen Sink fans have emailed us about the current state of the space, with the feeling that it won't return. There was a general consensus that people preferred the Kitchen Sink's reliable diner staples instead of more upscale Greek dishes.

H/T Steven!

Motorino closed for renovations; return set for Nov. 18

Motorino is behind plywood at 349 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The pizzeria will BRB...

This Motorino outpost closed on Oct. 18 for "equipment maintenance, a new sign and a fresh coat of paint." Their Instagram account says, "We'll be back on Nov. 18, ready for another 12 years in the East Village."

The locations on the UWS and the original in Williamsburg remain open.

Motorino arrived here in the fall of 2009. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The white and red stripes: The new-look KFC on 14th Street

The KFC on the SW corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue closed earlier this month for interior and exterior renovations...

As a few EVG regulars have noted, the new-look outpost has reopened with a refreshed look featuring KFC's signature white and red stripes on display outside (this pattern replaces the rather drab beige-red combo on the Second Avenue side) ...

The interior now features a wall dedicated to founder Harland Sanders, who started the business in Corbin, Ken., in 1930, billed here as the original celebrity chef... 

Momofuku Noodle Bar closes for a month-long renovation

Momofuku Noodle Bar closed after service on Sunday evening at 171 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Management announced last week that this flagship outpost in David Chang's empire would be closing for a month-long renovation.

Yesterday, workers were spotted outside the restaurant, hauling out tables, chairs, etc. ... (thanks to Choresh Wald for these photos)...

The Noodle Bar — Chang's debut restaurant — first opened at 163 First Ave. in 2004 before moving a few storefronts away to this space several years later.

Westville East on Avenue A is closed for renovations until Jan. 3

In case Westville East on Avenue A at 11th Street was in your dining plans for the remainder of the year... Per the notices on site, the restaurant is now closed for renovations until 5 p.m. on Jan. 3.

Tatsu Ramen has not been open lately

The Tatsu Ramen location at 167 First Ave. has been closed for the past month-plus ... signs on the storefront between 10th Street and 11th Street note a closure for renovations.

An EVG reader who lives nearby hasn't seen any activity inside for weeks... with the mail piling up ... 

There isn't any mention of a closure — temporary or otherwise — on the restaurant's social media properties. The East Village outpost is also no longer listed on the Tatsu website. (The three L.A.-area locations remain open.) 

We reached out to find out if/when this space will return.

The Southern California transplant opened here in a competitive ramen market back in July 2018.

H/T Steven

Gino Sorbillo now closed for renovations on the Bowery

A "temporarily closed for renovation" sign now greets patrons at the Gino Sorbillo outpost at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond...

There isn't any message about a closure on the pizzeria's social media. Their website is now offline, and the phone goes to a random voice mailbox. They had previously been open for takeout and delivery ... as well as some outdoor seating.

The first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" Gino Sorbillo arrived here in November 2017. In 2019, the controversial pizzaioli, who has reportedly spoken out against the mob, closed his flagship pizzeria in Naples after a bomb exploded outside his restaurant. 

Meanwhile, right next door, Burkelman, the high-end home-design shop, has closed for the winter...

... with online sales continuing. All signs point to a spring return.

What's happening with the Ten Degrees space on St. Mark's Place

In recent weeks it has been difficult to tell what businesses might be temporarily closed and which ones may be gone for good.

Ten Degrees, the bar-bistro at 127 St. Mark's Place, has been dark of late, and the interior has looked to be in disarray...



However, the space here between Avenue A and First Avenue is only closed for a renovation. Management has been sharing updates on Instagram, with the latest posted this past Friday... they are using the COVID-19 PAUSE to take "the opportunity to make some remodeling changes and get the bar looking fresh."

Thai Direct is under renovation on Avenue A

[Photo from Saturday]

As you may have noticed, the windows at Thai Direct on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street are now covered with paper...


[Photo by Steven]

The paper is also covering the closed-for-renovations sign that appeared last week. In an Instagram message, management confirmed the renovations, with a reopening date set for Feb. 14.

The quick-serve establishment, which bills itself as offering a healthy take on Thai street food, also has a beer-wine license in the works. CB3 gave approval back in December.

Thai Direct opened here in September 2018.

Le Sia remains closed for renovations on 7th Street

[Photos by Steven]

Le Sia remains dark on Seventh Street near Cooper Square.

The well-liked restaurant, which serves a Chinese crawfish boil, has been closed since before Thanksgiving.



A notice on Instagram states that Le Sia is "closed for maintenance."

Le Sia debuted in January 2018.