Imogene Beauty Salon arrives on 7th Street

The Imogene Beauty Salon is the new tenant at 80 E. Seventh St. ... replacing O.O.T.D., the women's boutique that opened last summer here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The previous previous tenant, East Village Cheese, closed here without any notice in December 2017 after two-plus years at this address.

The FryGuys space is for rent on 2nd Street

A for-rent sign hangs in the front window at the now-closed FryGuys at 150 E. Second St. just east of Avenue A.

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

FryGuys, which served a variety of french fries and potato dishes, opened in September 2017.

The closure comes nearly three months after the sale of 24 Avenue A (aka 150 E. Second St.). The Sabet Group bought the building for $15.8 million, per public records.

According to the listing at Compass, the asking rent for the 400-square-foot space is $4,561.87 per month with $79,000 in key money.

The former Thaimee Table space is for rent

A for-rent sign arrived late last week at Thaimee Table, the now-closed Thai restaurant at 99 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street.

As we reported on May 10, the Marshal had taken legal possession of the space. However, Chef Hong Thaimee's business partner, Matt Bruck, said in an email that they planned to reopen this past week.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The space has been emptied out. There isn't any mention of a closure on the Thaimee social media properties. The restaurant's website is now offline. Bruck did not respond to an email about the closure.

Chef Thaimee, who previously worked in the kitchens at Jean-Georges’ Spice Market and Perry Street restaurants, opened Ngam in 2012 (The Village Voice named Ngam NYC's No. 1 Thai restaurant in 2013) ... the restaurant was later renamed Thaimee Table.

The Marshal's notice remains on the front window of Thaimee Box, the quick-serve option around the corner on 13th Street near Second Avenue. That space hasn't been open in months, according to a reader who lives nearby.



Meanwhile, Chef Thaimee's third establishment, Thaimee Magic, remains in service in the Urbanspace 570 space on Lexington Avenue.

As for 99 Third Ave., the asking rent for the storefront is $18,995, per the listing.

Sugar Sketch has closed on 2nd Street

Sugar Sketch, the bakery-cake shop on Second Street, has closed. A for-rent sign now hangs on the storefront between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thank you to Salim for the photo!)

There's no mention of a closure on the Sugar Sketch website or social media properties.

Last spring, owner-baker Martina Nardo closed the space to retail business (though walk-ins with small orders were welcome), focusing on her catering operation instead.

The small bakery opened here in the fall of 2016. You can read our Q&A with Nardo here.

The Blind Pig wraps up 13 years on 14th Street

The Blind Pig, the sports bar/pub (home to Arsenal supporters in the English Premier League), closed after service Saturday night at 233 E. 14th St.

As previously reported, the owners of the 13-year-old Blind Pig were hit with an untenable rent increase.

There's a Loopnet listing for the space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. The asking rent is $300,000 annually — $25k per month.

The closing festivities Saturday night included a set by the house band "previously called A Buncha Guys, now called: F*ck the L*ndl*rd," per the Facebook invite.

Public records list the landlord as the Berliza Corp.


[Image via Facebook]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Blind Pig is closing on 14th Street following 50% rent hike

Ravi DeRossi's Fire & Water is closed for now on 7th Street

Restaurateur Ravi DeRossi is currently enjoying the opening of Honeybee's over at 95 Avenue A.

Meanwhile, though, one of his other establishments, Fire & Water, remains dark at 111 E. Seventh St.

Tony Mongeluzzi, the corporate executive chef of DeRossi's restaurant group DeRossi Global, which includes Ladybird, Avant Garden and Death & Co., had been working on the Fire & Water menu — veganizing sushi and dim sum — for a year before the restaurant was set to open last fall here between between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Sadly, Mongeluzzi died last September at age 31.

"He had been with my company for many years. He was a very close friend and one of the best chefs I have ever come across in my life — vegan or not," DeRossi said in an email on Saturday. "He tragically passed away just a few weeks before we were supposed to open."

Fire & Water eventually did open in late November.

"We tried to make it work with another chef but failed miserably. Our hearts just weren't in it," DeRossi said. "So for now the space is closed while we figure out what to do next."

Sandwicherie has closed on 4th Avenue and 13th Street; doomed corner status yet?

That's all for Sandwicherie New York on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street.

EVG regular Laura shared these photos from Saturday, showing that the quick-serve, health-conscious sandwich shop has been emptied out...



Sandwicherie opened here in April 2017.



This has been a challenging corner for businesses since the longtime deli was rent-hiked out of here in November 2012. The space has been home to Fresh & Co. and Pie Face and now Sandwicherie in the past five years. Next!

The Blind Pig is closing on 14th Street following 50% rent hike

[Image via TripAdvisor]

The Blind Pig, the sports bar (home to Arsenal supporters in the English Premier League), will close on May 18 after 13 years in service.

Ownership made the announcement on Facebook this past weekend.

In the comments, the owners said that "the lease is finished and the landlord bumped the rent 50 percent" in the storefront here at 233 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Public records list the landlord as the Berliza Corp.)

And here's the full post from the Blind Pig:

To our friends and loyal guests,
It is with a heavy heart that Blind Pig must close our doors for the final time.

For the past 13 years we have been a part of this community and you have supported us through good times and bad.

For that you have our everlasting thanks. We hope we have reciprocated by providing you with a comfortable place to meet friends, unwind and grab a great burger and a cold beer.

We will miss this moving forward but its not over yet. Come say goodbye as we wind down 'the Pig' and make sure no beer gets left behind. Our last day will be May 18th, 2019.

Finally we would like to give a special thanks to our staff who over the years have been the real heart of Blind Pig. We wish you all the best and hope to see you for a final beer.

Cheers,
The Blind Pig Team

Updated noon: There's a Loopnet listing for the space. The asking rent is $300,000 annually. (H/T Steven!)

Thanks to Vinny & O for the tip!

The Marshal takes over Bar Taco on Avenue C

That's apparently it for Bar Taco at 185 Avenue C between 11th Street and 12th Street.

The Marshal recently came calling, putting the space in the legal possession of the landlord...



Bar Taco arrived in early 2018, taking over the space from a short-lived venture called Malcriada, a self-described "Latino Gastropub" ... which arrived after Kaz, another short-lived venture that lasted seven months.

Cafecito, the Cuban-style cafe, had a good run here, closing in early 2016 after 14 years in business.

Basics Plus apparently not closing on 3rd Avenue after all

[Photo from Friday]

As previously reported, housewares shop Basics Plus was set to close this spring at 91 Third Ave. and 12th Street. Employees had said that today, April 29, was the last day.

The prominent going-out-of-business signs in the front windows directed future Basics Plus shoppers to the location on University at 13th Street ... along with notices for 20 percent off all items.

However, in the past week, several EVG readers passed along the news that Basics Plus is staying put. Per one reader:

"I went in there a few days ago to ask when their closing date was, and the employee told me they're no longer closing, they're just downsizing. So I asked why everything was still on sale, and she said she didn't know."

In a brief telephone call, an employee confirmed the change of closing plans, saying that they're just moving out the hardware section. When pressed for more details, she hung up. (The phone went to voice-mail on the return call.)

The store closing/sale signs were still up as of Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Be Juice bar connected to the shop has cleared out...



Basics Plus opened here in August 2014.

Surprise! Surprise! — a like-minded housewares shop with, according to readers, better customer service — was the previous tenant, closing in April 2014 after 25 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Basics Plus is closing on 3rd Avenue

Avenue A Copy Center & Shipping Outlet has closed

After three-plus years, the Avenue A Copy Center & Shipping Outlet has closed at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street (in one of the retail spaces of the Ageloff Towers).

As you can see, workers have started clearing out the space...



The Copy Center was an annex run by the owners of Essex Card Shop at 39 Avenue A. You can now head there a block to the south for your copy and shipping needs in this part of the neighborhood...

East Side Gourmet Deli has closed on 4th and B

That's all for the East Side Gourmet Deli on the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street (in the retail space of the colorful building). A look through the slats in the gate reveals an stripped and empty shop.

Word from around here is that the newish owners decided against staying following an increase in rent. The deli had been open lately with limited hours of operation.

The block isn't without market options — East Village Finest Deli is open right across the Avenue ... and Ben's is one block to the south.

H/T Stacie Joy for the photo!

Edi & the Wolf closes after service on Sunday

Austrian bar-restaurant Edi & the Wolf is closing Sunday after nine years at 102 Avenue C between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

The restaurant — named after its executive chefs, Eduard "Edi" Frauneder and Wolfgang "the Wolf" Ban — is closing due to "increasing operating costs," Eater reports.

The closure had been expected, as a new applicant — listed as Rosey Kalayjian — appeared before CB3's SLA committee for a new liquor license for the space back in January in what was described as a sale of assets. The CB3 materials cited the proposal as "an American restaurant" with hours of 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Kalayjian has previously managed restaurants in Westchester and NYC.

Frauneder and Ban also operate The Third Man at 116 Avenue C. No word on the status of that bar.

Jebon Sushi & Noodle has closed on St. Mark's Place

That's all for Jebon Sushi & Noodle at 15 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... the restaurant wrapped up 10 years in business at the beginning of the month, as these photos via EVG correspondent Steven show.



Workers have (mostly) emptied the space...



This closing doesn't come as a complete surprise. Owner Wayne Yip recently opened Wara, a Japanese izakaya restaurant, at 67 First Ave. and Fourth Street. The Batsu theater, a Japanese-style variety show, moved there from Jebron in early February.

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And 15 St. Mark's Place was previously home to Coney Island High, the live music venue that closed back in 1999... the building was demolished to make way for the current condoplex now minus a retail tenant.

Wagamama is closing its East Village location

After nearly 18 months in business, Wagamama is shutting down its East Village location.

This outpost of the London-based chain that serves Japanese-inspired cuisine opened on the corner of Third Avenue and 11th Street in October 2017.

Here's the message posted to the Wagamama website: "As of april 12 we will [be] closing our doors. we wanted to say thank you, east village for being our neighbor. don’t worry, you can get your noodle fix at either our location on 25th and 5th or our newest location at 39th and 3rd. we look forward to seeing you soon."

On the surface, this seems to be a bit of a surprise: a well-known restaurant brand opening in a location surrounded by a large college population (NYU, Cooper Union, the New School) in a well-travelled corridor. (Not exactly a sleepy side street.)

This closure comes several weeks after Wagamama's 11th Street building mate Martina bid farewell to their space. Danny Meyer's attempt at a quick-serve pizzeria opened in August 2017.





In 2014, this previously rather drab and dormy-looking residential building received a facelift and rebranding to become more luxurious with rents going upwards of $10k a month.

The retail spaces underwent a major rehab after M2M closed here back in February 2017.


[EVG photo from June 2017]

Meanwhile, the Smith appears to still be doing big business in this complex.

Previously on EV Grieve:
55 Third Ave. sells for $57 million — AGAIN

Someone actually paid $57 million for this East Village building

Reimagining this 12-story East Village building, now on the market

NY Copy & Printing forced out of longtime E. 11th St. home, opening second location on E. 7th St.

Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group planning Martina for 55 3rd Ave.

A few details about the Wagamama coming to 3rd Avenue

The Kati Roll Company says goodbye to the East Village; 2nd Avenue outpost is now closed

[Photos via Steven]

That's all for the East Village location of the Kati Roll Company... the purveyors of Indian street food papered over the windows and announced their closure yesterday here at 128 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...



This comes after the quick-serve restaurant cut back their hours last month to 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week while staying closed on weekends. (Kati's original hours were 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, until 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.)

Landlord Icon Realty has had this space on the retail market. The asking rent is now $13,000 a month, down from $15,000 last month...



The Kati Roll Company opened here in November 2016. They still operate seven other locations in NYC and London.

The longtime previous tenant at the address, The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed in March 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon Realty, who took over as the landlord. (You can read that background here.)

H/T to EVG readers Lola Sáenz and Tim for also sharing this closing news!

The Starbucks on 2nd Avenue and 9th Street closes on Monday

Store closing signs are now up at the Starbucks at 145 Second Ave. (Thanks to Steven for the photos and tip!)

Per the signage, this outpost closes on Monday here on the northwest corner at Ninth Street...



This was expected, as the storefront was recently listed for rent. (Price is "negotiable.")

No word on why this location is closing.

Last June, Starbucks announced that it would close 150 "poorly performing company-operated stores" in 2019, "mostly [in] urban areas that are densely populated with Starbucks locations," as CNN reported.

This makes the second local Starbucks in recents months to shutter. The outpost on Broadway at Ninth Street closed in early January.

Other EV Starbucks are located on First Avenue at 13th Street, First Avenue at Third Street and Avenue A at St. Mark's Place. The 23-year-old location on Astor Place received a major interior renovation last fall.

Previously on EV Grieve:
145 2nd Ave., currently a Starbucks, is for lease

Timna is now closed on St. Mark's Place

On March 22, Timna chef Nir Mesika announced on Instagram that the Israeli-Mediterranean restaurant at 109 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue was closing after service on April 14.

Apparently Timna decided to wrap up their nearly four years in service early. Yesterday, EVG correspondent Steven spotted the contents of the restaurant — including chairs and kitchen equipment — stacked on the sidewalk...



... and getting loaded into a waiting truck...



Later yesterday the space was looking desolate...



As for reasons behind the closure, Mesika wrote: "This is undeniably a very difficult decision, which I did not really want to make but was really forced to make. Financial issues and all sort of disagreements have led me to deal with running the restaurant without support, to such extent that it can no longer be sustained."

Shiina closes on 3rd Avenue

Shiina, a women's boutique selling clothing, accessories and makeup, has closed at 83 Third Ave. at 12th Street.

The shop opened in June 2017 here in the base of NYU's Third North dorm.

Until Shiina arrived, the storefront had been empty for nearly two years after Pushcart Coffee vacated the space. The address was previously home to Just Sweet, which sold bubble tea and desserts.

In more positive retail news for the NYU dorm retail space, H Mart is opening soon in the long-vacant shops along the base of Alumni Hall on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Beijing Express went quickly

Several readers (and H/T Nick Solares!) have noted that Beijing Express has not been open lately during announced business hours at 92 Third Ave.

The quick-serve restaurant between 12th Street and 13th Street just debuted in January, taking the place of Gala BBQ, which opened and closed within three months.