DumplingGo expected to reopen later next month

DumplingGo is entering its third week of closure on Second Avenue at East 12th Street ... and there still isn't any "temporarily closed for renovations" sign on the door for customers ... the phone goes unanswered and their website is down.

However, as we previously noted, there is a freshly approved permit for a "minor renovation of the existing restaurant" on file with the city. And we looked in the window where there wasn't any paper ... and saw a fairly disheveled-looking interior...



Can't really tell what's happening... aside from the workers are getting KFC to go...



Anyway! According to a message on Yelp, the quick-serve restaurant is expected to reopen on May 28...



The DumplingGo team was getting the OK this month from CB3 for a beer-wine license. (Suppose they could just turn it into a bar with a "small bites" menu.)

DumplingGo opened 13 months ago. After Shima closed here in early 2014, the asking rent for the storefront was just over $25k.

DumplingGo is closed right now

An EVG reader notes that brown paper is up on the windows at DumplingGo, the quick-serve restaurant on Second Avenue at East 12th Street. There aren't any signs up noting "closed for renovations"... the phone goes unanswered ... and the DumplingGo website has a "Error establishing a database connection" message.

However, there is a freshly approved permit for a "minor renovation of the existing restaurant" on file with the city. In addition, DumplingGo is on CB3's SLA docket (PDF here) on Monday night for a beer-wine license. (This application will not be heard before the committee.)

Anyway, this is likely just a closed for renovations for real (even though there isn't a note for customers).

DumplingGo opened here 13 months ago.

16 Handles is closed for renovations on 2nd Avenue

The location on Second Avenue between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street is closed for renovations, per the EV Handles website... they will return on Thursday...



And this location has been closed for renovations before. And for this.

Thanks to EVG reader Brian Polay for the photos...

Thailand Cafe now closed for renovations on 2nd Avenue

Meant to note this earlier in the week... looks like Thailand Cafe at 95 Second Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street is sitting out the holiday season... the sign on the gate points to a renovation that will keep them closed through an unspecified date next month...



I also realized that I've never eaten here... if anyone wants to put in a good word for the place...

For 10th birthday, Dunkin' Donuts on 1st Avenue and East 6th Street closes for renovations

The Dunkin' Donuts on the northeast corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street shut down after the business day on Thursday... the plywood and the closed for renovation sign are up... Happy 10th birthday!? (Seems like this DD has been here longer...)



As you can see, they are closing for "less than two weeks." And there's no truth to the rumor that the big DD cup out front will be available for use as a hot tub at parties.

The Organic Grill closed for the rest of the month on 1st Avenue

Don't be alarmed by the plywood surrounding Organic Grill at 123 First Ave.

Per the sign outside, the 14-year-old vegan-oriented restaurant between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place will be closed for two weeks due to sidewalk repairs that landlord is making...



The OG will be providing updates on their social media properties (Facebook and Twitter) about their reopening.

Juice Press on East 10th Street (the one near Avenue A) closes for renovations

And this is a legit closed for renovations, not one of those "closed for renovations" tactics (examples here and here and here) …

Not sure exactly what is being renovated here. (We thought it might also serve as a JP test kitchen.)

One tipster on the block heard that the JP was expanding into the vacant storefront next door… but that rumor hasn't been confirmed.



There are approved work permits on file with the city for "interior renovation with partition and plumbing works" on the first floor.

This Juice Press location opened in June 2011.

Changes afoot at North River

North River at 166 First Ave. just north of East 10th Street has been closed in recent evenings.

There isn't any mention of a closure on the restaurant's website or various social media properties.

Meanwhile, someone has removed the North River sign and menu … and painted over the gate.

And over at Open Table, the first reservations are available starting on April 16.



But apparently the place is just closed for renovations … according to the sign now on the front door…



In case you were wondering, Dead Drop is the name of the sorta hidden speakeasy in the basement.

North River's American-style comfort food, from chef Adam Starowicz, who worked at Momofuku Ko and Hearth, seemed to get positive notices (here and here, as an example), though some readers thought the prices were too steep.

Anyway, so no word yet on what these changes might be at North River, which opened on Dec. 19, 2013.

Hummus Place closed for renovations on St. Mark's Place

The chickpea specialists at 109 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue closed yesterday ... the sign on the door notes they are closing for renovations...



There isn't any mention of a temporary closure on their website or social media properties. A call to the restaurant yields a "voice mailbox full" message.

Hummus Place expanded into the adjacent storefront back in April 2009.

Saint's Alp Teahouse closes for a revamp

Saint's Alp Teahouse at 39 Third Ave. near East Ninth Street closed after business on Saturday… it's just for what the detailed sign on the door describes as "a minor renovation" …



That's about as detailed as a closed for renovation sign gets… Meanwhile, follow them on Facebook or Twitter for reopening news.

Saint's Alp last closed for a renovation back in May 2010.

Gena's Grill closed for construction until Jan. 10

We were sorry to see Gena's Grill closed the other day at 210 First Ave. near East 13th Street… fear not, though — the small restaurant that serves delicious and inexpensive Latin fare is closed until Jan. 10 for renovations… actual renovations…



Perhaps they will squeeze a seventh seat into that lunch counter?

d.b.a is temporarily closed for renovations

We walked by d.b.a. last night and noticed that the gates were down at the bar at 41 First Ave. We didn't spot any signs offering an explanation.

However, there is a message on d.b.a.'s Facebook page dated Monday:

Dear Customers!!! d.b.a is temporarily closed for renovations. Stay tuned for reopening date - and Yes! new loos!!!

As previously noted, David McWater is the bar's new owner. On Nov. 17, CB3's SLA committee approved a new liquor-license for the 20-year-old bar. As BoweryBoogie reported: "Nothing about the bar is changing; it’s the same name, same method of operation, and same staff."

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The d.b.a. in Williamsburg closed for good after service this past Sunday.

Jum Mum closed for a 'new look' on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Jordy Trachtenberg]

Paper has covered the windows at Jum Mum at 5 St. Mark's Place these past few days... giving the impression that the quick-serve Thai-Chinese restaurant near Third Avenue is a goner.

However, it's just a renovation (not a "closed for renovation"). According to the restaurant's Facebook page:

We will be temporarily closed for renovation ... Hold on to your VIP cards WE ARE COMING BACK. Getting ready for a new look this fall!

Reader report: AlphaBet Cafe will not reopen

[April 1]

AlphaBet Cafe closed on April 1 … signs on the diner at East 14th Street and Avenue B pointed to a renovation/remodel …


[April 1]

However, yesterday, EVG reader Patrick heard from the building's landlord that AlphaBet Cafe will NOT be returning… the gate was up and workers were inside cleaning out the space. The landlord said that the Cafe owners had been behind in rent … and they voluntarily turned over the keys ahead of an eviction.

The landlord indicated that he did have an interested party in the restaurant… and hoped to have it rented in the coming weeks.

The folks at AlphaBet Cafe seemed to have a tough time last year … the DOH closed them down several times for various infractions …

Previously on EV Grieve:
AlphaBet Cafe is closed for renovations

Virage remains closed for renovations

Virage closed for renovations on March 24... the signs on the 14-year-old restaurant at Second Avenue and East Seventh Street indicated an April 15 reopening date.

However, the Mediterranean-influenced bistro remains closed... there appears to be plenty of work remaining to be done on the exterior ...



... and interior...



Workers removed the signs indicating the April 15 reopening. The restaurant's website and Facebook page do not have any mention of the temporary closure.

Closed for renovations: Veselka until tomorrow; Tofu House till who knows when

As you can see from the sign, Veselka is closed until tomorrow morning...

We wanted to give you all a heads-up that Veselka will be closed for a little maintenance from MIDNIGHT SUNDAY until TUESDAY MORNING.
— Veselka Restaurant (@veselkanyc) April 5, 2014

All the tables and chairs were moved from the dining room and workers were buffing/something the floors.

Meanwhile, at 6 St. Mark's Place, the Tofu House closed yesterday...



Signs point to a renovation.



There's no other information available. Phone calls get routed to a generic Verizon voice-mail box. The Tofu House Facebook page hasn't been updated since December 2011.

AlphaBet Cafe is closed for renovations

Several readers told us that AlphaBet Cafe closed Tuesday here on East 14th Street and Avenue B… signs point to a renovation/remodel …





Not sure if this is an actual closed for renovations … or a "closed for renovations," where we never see the place open again … A new operator was on the February CB3/SLA docket for a new liquor license, but they were scratched from the agenda.

AlphaBet Cafe had a few bouts of the DOH last year… however, there's nothing on file with the DOH now pointing to a health-related closure.

Red Pepper has apparently closed

[Photo from March 18]

Several weeks ago, a notice appeared outside Red Pepper saying that they are temporarily closed for "mandatory repairs" in the building…

Now there's a for rent sign outside ... marking the end of the Sichuan restaurant that opened last September at 324 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo is officially dead, officially

Back in the dark days of January, signs went up noting that the Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo was "closed for renovations."

[The darks days of January]

The fryplex of fatty fun opened on First Avenue in June... by the fall, the joint was for sale. The asking price was $189,000.

We held out hope for a return, a renovated restaurant where we could stand proudly under the Pudgie's canopy out front.

[Bobby Williams]

But that was not to be. We spotted this sign last weekend...



Farewell, our feathered Pudgie friend... farewell... until we see you again at the West Islip branch...

Oh, and on a more serious note... the asking rent for this space between Third Street and Fourth Street is $7,500.

Crowdsourcing campaign winding down for Rawvolution — in Santa Monica

Rawvolution, the raw vegan cafe/retail store on East 12th Street, closed "for renovations" back in early December. At the time, Jill heard from an employee that they would reopen Jan. 1.

A week or so later, a former employee said the Rawvolution was done here, that the owners were focusing on their Santa Monica, Calif.-based flagship store.

Claimed the employee: There was "no warning, or heads up to their employees…shady shady." Said another former employee: "Furthermore, they failed to pay their entire staff their last two paychecks."

The Rawvolution website still says: "At this time we are not delivering locally to New York City, this is only temporary and will keep you updated when we do start again."

Meanwhile, in Santa Monica, a crowdsourcing campaign is winding down to save that shop. Per IndieGoGo: "Our landlord is trying to evict us. He has been trying to find ways to take away this community hub of amazing food and inspiration for years and to replace RAWvolution with a corporate coffee bar. We need $38,000 to keep the doors open and to ensure that we have enough capital to ensure a sustainable future." [Updated: Good point per a commenter: No mention in this campaign of the East Village location.]

With about 20-some hours left, the owners are nearly $34,000 short of their goal.

An East 12th Street resident told us that the storefront has been gutted, with some "real-estate types" in and out of the place.

Rawvolution opened in August 2011 here just east of Avenue A.