Bronx Brewery has closed on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven

After three years at 64 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street, Bronx Brewery has closed its East Village location. 

Monday was the last day in service...

Ownership posted this on Instagram: 

After three unforgettable years, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our East Village location. 64 Second Ave was meant to be an extension of our Bronx roots, but it quickly became something so much more — a sanctuary, a gathering place, a second home. 

To our staff, friends, family, community partners, guests, and even that one squirrel who ran inside—we are endlessly grateful. Thank you for filling this space with your energy, your laughter, your stories... and, of course, your cheers. 

The space also featured the first U.S. location for Swedish brand Bastard Burgers.

The original location in the Bronx (b. 2011) and the newer one in Hudson Yards will remain open.

This retail space had been vacant since NYC Velo moved a storefront to the north in 2016.

Bluestone Lane has closed on Astor Place

The Bluestone Lane outpost in the Death Star at 51 Astor Place has closed. 

An EVG reader shared these photos, with one showing an empty storefront.

There isn't any closing notice for patrons on the door of the Australian-inspired coffee shop. However, a Bluestone Lane rep confirmed the closing with EVG.

This Bluestone outpost (the eighth in NYC at the time) opened in April 2016.

We thought they might have seen an uptick in business after Starbucks closed on Astor Place last summer.

Still, many coffee choices are nearby, including two branches of the Bean, Astor Plate, the Madman Espresso airstream trailer outside the Uptown 6 stop, Hidden Grounds around the corner on Third Avenue, Think Coffee on Fourth Avenue, and Irving Farm New York on 10th Street. To name a few in the immediate area.

Final cut: Hollywood Nail & Spa closes on 1st Street

Several EVG readers have noted that Hollywood Nail & Spa has closed at 114 E. 1st St., just steps away from Houston Street.

The gate was down during the announced business hours in the past week, and Google now lists the spot as permanently closed. 

The salon arrived in the spring of 2013 and endured several years of its storefront blocked by a hulking sidewalk bridge to construct a luxury building next door... as well as the never-ending East Houston Reconstruction Project that finally wrapped in 2018. 

Double Zero and Bar Verde combine space on 2nd Avenue

We weren't aware of this move until covering the fatal fire at 65 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street on Sunday.

Plantmade, the vegan pizzeria in the northern storefront, has merged with Bar Verde in the other retail space at the address. According to Vegan NYC, the business is now known as PlantMade By Bar Verde &  & Double Zero, which debuted on Jan. 21. 

The business website states: "PlantMade will feature Mexican and Italian favorites and inspired new creations." Ownership stated that "occupancy costs have tripled" since opening Double Zero, hence the merger. 

According to Vegan NYC, vegan restaurateur Matthew Kenney is not involved in PlantMade. Kenney previously had three establishments in a row here. The contents of Sestina, a pasta restaurant at 67 Second Ave. at Fourth Street, were auctioned off in the fall of 2022. (This marked the fourth Kenney concept in recent years in the corner space, following Plantmade, Plant Food + Wine, and Arata.)

Hours for PlantMade By Bar Verde & Double Zero: Sunday to Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., with a 1 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday. 

Sunday's fire likely damaged the now-empty storefront...

The longtime tenant who lived upstairs, a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran, died in the fire that broke out around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

A neighbor is caring for his dog, Bella, and is crowdfunding to cover her medical expenses.

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

Ferns announces February closing date

EVG file photo

Ferns, the bistro-bar at 166 First Ave., has announced a closing date after more than seven years in business between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

Feb. 26 is the last day. 

In an Instagram post from last week, owner Michael Bailey (who also operates The Belfrey on 14th Street) wrote, in part: 

We face a number of challenges that are hardly unique: high rents, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, to name a few. We've put up a hell of a fight, but our time has come to turn the page. While this chapter is coming to an end, we look back on it with nothing but gratitude for the support and love this community has shown us.

Ferns opened in the fall of 2017... taking over the long-vacant space that last housed cocktail lounge The Nite Owl.