Last call for Chopt on Astor Place

Chopt is closing its Astor Place outpost after more than 10 years in business. (Thanks to EVG reader Seth for the tip!)

Friday (Aug. 28) is the last day for the fast-casual salad chain at 51 Astor Place — aka the IBM Watson Building/the Death Star — on the Fourth Avenue side at Ninth Street. 

Chopt opened here in February 2016. 

Sweegreen on Astor Place shuttered last summer. No one wants salad around here anymore? 

Meanwhile, the adjacent storefront that housed Bluestone Lane Coffee (RIP Feb. 2025) remains vacant...

Bye, bye Blank Street

And then there were none.

Blank Street Coffee at 149 Avenue A between Ninth and 10th Street has closed.

A for-rent sign showed up on the storefront back in April. We heard that the lease is up, and management declined to renew, citing the storefront's (alleged) outdated electrical system as the reason. 

This closure marks the last of the East Village Blank Street outposts. The V.C.-funded coffee chain also had locations on Third Avenue... First Avenue and in the Bowery Market. The Avenue A location opened in November 2021. 

As previously noted, not everyone was a fan of the company. Per the Times in 2022: "When word got out that Blank Street is not an independent chain ... but an enterprise with global ambitions backed by private equity financing, many became curious — and sometimes suspicious."

Another location of the Bean closes, leaving 1 East Village outpost

Photos by Stacie Joy

And then there was one.

The Broadway location of the Bean at Ninth Street has closed, following the May shuttering of the café's Third Avenue outpost. 

A 14-day eviction notice is on the front window over the closure notice...

This closure leaves just one remaining East Village location: 54 Second Ave. at Third Street. 

At one point, the brand had five NYC locations.

Champions Martial Arts taps out on 11th and C

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A recent closure to note: The Champions Martial Arts outpost on the SW corner of Avenue C and 11th Street shut down earlier last month...

The business also offered Little Tigers, a program for kids. 

EVG regular Jose Garcia first told us about the closure, noting: "What was most lovely about it over these last years was the parents who would bring lawn chairs and sit on the sidewalk on the 11th Street side to watch their kids inside. They brought their dogs, too." 

There are more than a dozen other locations for the brand in the metropolitan area... 80-plus in the US. 

Champions Martial Arts arrived here in 2019... taking over from the New York Health Choice (aka Eastside Market): RIP 2017. 

As for what is next, a reader said: "I hope it doesn't become a bar."

At the last day of REI's flagship NYC store

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday's final day at REI's NYC flagship brought plenty of discounted camping gear — and plenty of emotions. 

By day's end, the outdoor retailer had closed its only NYC location after 15 years in the Puck Building at Lafayette and Houston. 

The pending closure was announced last October. REI has said the decision was part of a broader strategy to adapt to changing business conditions while focusing on long-term growth.

When we stopped by yesterday, much of the 35,000-square-foot store had already been roped off, with empty shelves throughout as shoppers picked over the remaining merchandise.

Several employees, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity outside the store, said they believe the closure is retaliation for workers' efforts to unionize. 

They noted that the SoHo location is one of REI's unionized stores and said the company's Boston store — another unionized location — is also slated to close. 

REI has publicly cited business reasons for the closures and has not said they are related to union activity.

"Any claim that this store is closing because of unionization is simply not true," a spokesperson told WWD. "As we shared with our employees and members last fall, the decision was based on broader business considerations and our need to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs."

Employees also told us they have not been offered transfers to other REI stores and instead must re-apply for any open positions elsewhere within the company. 

Inside, there were some bittersweet moments as longtime customers stopped to thank staffers for their years of service.

More than one conversation ended with hugs — and a few tears. 

With the NYC store now closed, the nearest REI locations for city residents are in Carle Place on Long Island and East Hanover, N.J.

For many outdoor enthusiasts, it's the end of an era.

After 31 years, White Trash is closing on 5th Street

Photos courtesy of Stuart Zamsky & @WhiteTrashNYC 

White Trash, the vintage furniture and home furnishings shop at 304 E. Fifth St. just east of Second Avenue, is closing next month after 31 years in business. 

Owner Stuart Zamsky said the shop's last day is expected to be around Aug. 10. To help clear inventory, White Trash is holding its first-ever 25%-off storewide sale. 

A bittersweet decision 

"It's definitely a bittersweet moment," Zamsky told us. 

Several factors led to the decision.

"Yes, the rent is going up, but not so much that it would be impossible — enough so that it makes work that much harder," he said. "I'm 65 and wasn't sure that I wanted to be grinding even more to make the business profitable." 

He also cited the building itself, noting that the shop gets extremely cold in the winter and needs significant renovation. 

"When I added up those factors, it seemed that this would be a good time to retire," he said. 

Zamsky and his wife, Kim Wurster, who co-founded White Trash in 1995 (below), hope to travel more. While they expect to remain involved in the resale business in some capacity, they're not yet sure what that will look like.

A furniture store — and more

White Trash began with two actors who loved vintage furniture and hoped to leave behind survival jobs.

"We never thought it would become a multi-decade endeavor that would provide enough stability to raise a family," Zamsky said. 

Their two sons grew up in the shop, spending afternoons there after school before eventually becoming part-time employees. 

"The people we've met whose places we've helped furnish have been one of our great joys," he said. "We're still friends with our very first workers — now adults with their own children."

A neighborhood gathering place 

Over the years, White Trash became more than a place to buy mid-century furniture. 

"It became a 'third space' for us and our neighbors," Zamsky said. 

After becoming active in the Fifth Street Block Association, he said the shop evolved into an informal meeting place where neighbors discussed local issues, organized around neighborhood concerns and simply caught up with one another. 

"It was about as small-town as one could get." 

But the sense of community extended beyond Fifth Street.

"Whether it was famous actors, writers, comedians, musicians or folks just looking for some good shopping, our greatest pleasure was extending some hospitality, sharing our knowledge of stuff and where to get it, where to have it refinished or reupholstered."

A lasting memory 

Among Zamsky's favorite memories is creating the shop's distinctive Airstream trailer sign with his late father, a former mechanical engineer. 

"He helped me source the metal, construct it and hang it," Zamsky recalled. "He was fearless.

"I can still see him up there on the ladder at the top of the second-floor windows hanging the supports."

White Trash is open Monday-Saturday from 2-8 p.m.

Ladybird announces year-end closing on 7th Street

Ladybird, the vegetarian restaurant at 111 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, will close at the end of the year. 

The announcement came late last week via Instagram, when ownership said they have decided not to renew the lease after nearly a decade in the neighborhood. 

"When we opened Ladybird, we set out to create something playful, welcoming, and a little unexpected," the post reads. "What followed was more than we ever imagined." 

Ladybird opened in 2017 as part of the Overthrow Hospitality family, serving plant-based small plates and cocktails. 

Overthrow said the decision comes as Overthrow shifts its focus to expanding Soda Club (on Sixth and A), beginning with a Denver location this fall. 

Meanwhile, you have five-plus months to enjoy Ladybird.

"We hope you'll continue making memories with us around these tables, just as you've done for the past decade," per the closing post. 

Rent hike will close Francis Kite Club on Avenue C

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Another independent neighborhood gathering space is preparing to close. 

Francis Kite Club, the hybrid bar, social club and arts venue at 40 Avenue C between Third and Fourth Street, announced yesterday that it will close after service on Aug. 1. 

In a message posted to Instagram, the owners cited a rent increase. 

"With immense gratitude for your collaboration, Francis Kite Club will close its doors on Loisaida Avenue, Aug. 1. ... The song remains the same: the landlord is increasing the rent, making our endeavor unsustainable." 

The owners added that they're considering relocating and hope to reopen in a new space. 

Francis Kite Club officially debuted in early 2024, founded by friends Laura Hanna, Kyp Malone, John McEnerney, Alice McGillicuddy and Laura Raicovich. 

The venue quickly earned a following for its mix of live music, performances, art events and community gatherings, with many patrons describing it as having an old-school East Village vibe. 

The storefront has been listed for rent since late June. 

The club plans to pause memberships after closing while exploring its next chapter.

UPDATED 7/10: Mee Noodle Shop, another East Village mainstay, is staying open

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

H/T EVG reader Luke

UPDATED 7/10

A happy update: Mee Noodle Shop is no longer closing. According to staff, after this post, the owner and landlord reached an agreement to lower the monthly rent, allowing the longtime restaurant to remain open. Read the update here.

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Mee Noodle Shop & Grill, the longtime Chinese restaurant at 223 First Ave. between 13th and 14th Streets, is closing. 

According to staff, Wednesday, July 15, will be Mee's last day.

The reasons, they say, are familiar ones. 

"Things cost too much. We pay more money for everything — food, supplies — but we cannot raise the cost of the food." 

They also pointed to the growing cost of delivery apps. "Uber Eats takes 30 to 35 dollars of every hundred." 

And, simply: Business is down. "The owner says we are forced to close." 

The original Mee Noodle Shop opened on the NW corner of First Avenue and 13th Street in 1993, becoming a neighborhood favorite known for generous portions and affordable prices. Among its early regulars was Allen Ginsberg, whose favorite dish was the steamed flounder with ginger sauce.

The restaurant closed after a fire damaged the building in 2006. 

Following the renovation of the residential building, which later included a Starbucks, Mee Noodle Shop made a much-celebrated return to First Avenue in December 2013, just a few doors from its original home.

Staff members — some of whom said they've worked there for more than a decade — told us they're saddened by the closure and uncertain about what comes next. They hope neighbors will stop by for one last meal before the final day. (There was a Mee Noodle on Ninth Avenue that closed a few years ago, though it was owned by different people.)

When we stopped by this week, several diners were visibly surprised to learn the restaurant was closing. One regular kept asking the waitstaff, "You're joking, right?" before finally asking, "Why?" When they explained that business had fallen off, he glanced around the nearly full dining room.

"Now it is," a waitress said. "We've been here all day."

As always, the portions were generous, and the kitchen was happy to accommodate substitutions and special requests.

The closure also comes as another chapter of First Avenue dining begins across the street, where Dim Sum Bloom is preparing to open with a kitchen that includes an automated stir-fry robot.

For many East Villagers, though, Mee Noodle Shop represented something increasingly difficult to find: a reliable, affordable neighborhood restaurant that endured through changing times.

Closings: Marylou on St. Mark's Place

After nearly four years of service, Marylou closed for good on Sunday at 41 St. Mark's Place just east of Second Avenue. 

The owners of the French bistro and cocktail lounge first announced the closure via Instagram on May 5, though didn't cite any specific reasons... instead, the post thanked patrons for their "love, energy and loyalty."

The storied Cafe Orlin closed here in October 2017, wrapping up a 36-year run on St. Mark's Place. 

The next tenant, Paper Daisy, had a year here before shutting down at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Hello, Yam! says goodbye

Photo by Steven 

Hello, Yam! has closed shop at 443 E. Ninth St. at Avenue A.

The business, which debuted in October 2023, specialized in desserts made with Japanese sweet potatoes. 

Moving forward, the owners said on Instagram that they'd be focusing on selling their goods at food festivals.

Somtum Der to close on Avenue A on May 31

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After nearly 13 years on Avenue A, Somtum Der is closing. 

The Michelin-recognized Isan-style Thai restaurant will serve its final meals on May 31. 

We were told the owners are planning to move back to Thailand, though it's unclear whether that is directly tied to the closure.

In the meantime, the restaurant at 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street is operating with a limited menu — meaning no noodle dishes for now, including favorites like pad thai and pad see ew.

Somtum Der opened here in 2013, bringing northeastern Thai cuisine to the East Village. 

They will be missed.

Closures: Cosmic Cat Cafe on 2nd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A for-rent sign hangs in the window at 170 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... bringing an official end to the Cosmic Cat Cafe here. 

On Feb. 9, two notices appeared on the front door: a closure notice from the Department of Health and a letter from the landlord.

According to the landlord, due to the "extreme weather," a cold-water pipe broke in the building "and created a leak that found its way into the cafe." 

Meanwhile, the DOH apparently visited that day, which seems odd if the place was closed... they handed out 71 violation points, per public records, including: 

• Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations. 

• Food preparation area, food storage area, or other area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.

• No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Hand-washing facility not accessible, obstructed, or used for non-hand-washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device. 

And the cafe never reopened. There hasn't been any notice about a closure — temporary or permanent — on the cafe's Instagram account. 

A first-time cat owner opened the space in September 2022.

Noona's Ice Cream & Bakeshop has closed on 5th Street

After nearly 16 months, Noona's Ice Cream & Bakeshop has closed at 304 E. Fifth St.

This was the first storefront for entrepreneur Hannah Bae, a Queens native who launched her Asian American ice cream brand eight years ago. Her products are sold in several NYC businesses, including H Mart. 

Bae shared this message on the brand's website, highlighting the challenges of a small food operation in NYC: 

After 9 years of Noona's and a year and a half of operating our East Village ice cream-bakeshop, I've decided to close the storefront. Our first run at it was a hard and amazing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. As y'all know, NYC food establishment turnover is a thing and although we're all paying a leg and an arm and then some for food on top of everything else, food business owners based in NYC operate on some of the slimmest margins. 

With that said, I'll be rebooting Noona's (just without a NYC-based brick & mortar). I can't give more details than that at the moment, but Noona's will see y'all soon again. 

The shop opened in December 2024 and featured scoops of ice cream, mini sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes, regular cakes (baked on-site), and other baked goods. 

Locals enjoyed the desserts... though this block between First Avenue and Second doesn't have robust foot traffic.

Proletariat is closing for now on 7th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Proletariat, the craft beer bar via Overthrow Hospitality, ends its 14-year East Village tenure on Saturday. 

However, there's a glimmer of hope for Proletariat's fans. Per the closing announcement on Instagram:  

Your three favorite bartenders can't let 14 years of amazing community end, SO we are working to acquire and keep Prol alive & thriving! We're still unsure whether we'll be able to stay here or have to find a new spot, but wanted to at least give everyone the heads up. 

For now, in its current iteration, April 11 is the last day. 

Overthrow Hospitality's Ravi DeRossi told us that they are expanding nationally, starting with Denver and Austin, and are scaling back in NYC.

The bar got its start in the back of Jane's Sweet Buns (blast from the past!) on St. Mark's Place in May 2012 before taking over the whole space. They moved to this larger storefront on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square in June 2022. 

Meanwhile, next door, Overthrow Hospitality's mushroom-centric Third Kingdom closed on March 29.

"Third Kingdom was my favorite restaurant I ever opened, but it never did well enough to justify keeping it," DeRossi said.

You can find updates on the Overthrow Hospitality Instagram account here.

A Sunday shutter for Dim Sum Palace on 2nd Avenue

On Sunday, Dim Sum Palace will wrap up its seven-plus years in the East Village. (Thanks to EVG reader Garth for the photo below and tip.) 

A sign here at 59 Second Ave., between Third and Fourth Streets (once again under a sidewalk bridge), thanks patrons for their "support, trust and kindness over the years."

The restaurant's website lists five other Dim Sum Palace locations in NYC. 

The EV outpost opened in December 2018.

The Gray Mare has closed; new concept planned for the space

Image via @thegraymarenyc

After nearly 10 years at 61 Second Ave., the Gray Mare closed after service this weekend. 

However, the owners have plans for a new concept for the equine-inspired pub between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Here's part of their farewell message on Instagram:

We are so humbled and deeply grateful for all of the love & support we have received over the last decade. It's on occasions like this that we take a moment to look back over those years and actually marvel at how genuine and decent the vast majority of our patrons have been. We love our neighbors & our East Village home. It has been such a pleasure to serve you. As we look ahead, we are beyond excited to begin a new chapter right here with a new concept in the very near future.

The Gray Mare took over from Dempsey's, which closed in 2016 after a 24-year run. 

Comings and goings on this block of 1st Avenue (and wither Tropic Berry)

Let's take a look at a few storefronts over on First Avenue between Second Street and Third Street — all part of 45 First Ave.

The gate has been down at Tropic Berry, the cafe serving smoothies, acai bowls and coffee, for the past few weeks (H/T Nat!).

There's no word of a closure, temporary or otherwise, on the cafe's website or social media. Google still lists them as open during hours in which the gate remains down. 

However, there was a "short-notice" online auction here last month, where much of the shop's appliances and supplies were sold. 

A few storefronts away, New Mott Cleaners is now open (first mentioned here) ...

And finally, there's paper on the windows of that long-closed convenience store.

There were various legal notices on the front door last fall... and someone apparently did a number on the interior, which was visible from the sidewalk for several months... (photos by Steven)...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• City Fun expands into new 2-story space on 1st Avenue

Sliders up next at 34 St. Mark’s Place

St. Mark's Burgers & Dogs has closed at 34 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when it shut for good — the quick-serve shop (which opened in December 2024) was often dark during its posted business hours.

Anyway! A new burger venture is already in the works for the space. Whits, specializing in sliders, is coming soon. 

You can follow them on Instagram for opening updates...

 

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