This might be the First great deli name we’ve seen in a while

A new business is now open at 14 First Ave. near First Street — First Things First. Not a bad name! 

The place sells cold beverages, snacks, smoking accessories, and more. 

And this was an ultra-quick storefront turnaround. The last tenant, the dessert joint Tiki Tiki, just closed at the end of July.

Signage alert: Deli Convenience on 1st Avenue; Partea on 14th Street

Pinch shares these new signage photos for two coming-soon retail establishments... for starters, the generic yet descriptive-sounding Deli Convenience is opening on the west side of First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

Given the lack of marijuana leaves or weed puns on the sign, it looks like it will be a market-type shop instead of a smoke shop.

Tony's Famous Pizza closed here (No. 231) at the start of the year after 18 months in business. Tony's took over the storefront from Vinny Vincenz, which quietly closed in April 2021 after 18 years of service.

And at 220 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ... the Partea signage is up...

As previously noted, this will be the second location for Partea, which started in Flushing. The concept: "Street eats, bubble tea and games in an energetic restaurant inspired by Taiwanese night markets."

As such, the sign highlights claw machines, bubble tea and fried chicken.

The renovated storefront here previously housed Kent's Dumpling House, which went dark last summer.  

A Healthy Deli for 1st Avenue

Another day, another new deli!

Signage is up now at 158 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street for Healthy Deli. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

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Update! Wait! Per the comments, that looks like "Heathily" 

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The incoming shop will offer a variety of organic products, fresh juices, salads, etc. — similar to some of the other delis that have opened along Avenue A and at First Avenue and Ninth Street. And First Avenue and Seventh Street. 

First Avenue did lose two corner markets during the pandemic — on the SE corner of 10th Street and the SE corner of 12th Street.

No. 158 was previously the spa Yu's on First.  

Avenue A Deli and Grill shapes up

Photos by Steven

The market-deli coming to 123 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is shaping up.. temp signage on the front window reveals the name — Avenue A Deli and Grill...

Bit of a logjam now with like-minded businesses within a few blocks of each other on Avenue A... two new places have opened in recent weeks — one on the SW corner of Sixth Street ... the other mid-block between Sixth and Seventh... not to mention the recent renovation of Kamaran Deli & Grocery at 79 Avenue A at Fifth Street to include more to-go food options. Plus the places already in service — East Village New Deli at 115 Avenue A and Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill at 153 Avenue A.

The storefront at 123 Avenue A has been vacant since Tony (aka Abdul) died in the fall of 2018. Tony, who owned the building, ran the deli, which operated under various names in this spot for 25 years.

Renovations underway at the long-vacant retail space at 123 Avenue A

Work is underway inside the vacant storefront at 123 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

A worker on the scene told EVG correspondent that the space would eventually house a deli. (There isn't any sign of work permits on file online with the DOB just yet.)

The storefront has been vacant since Tony (aka Abdul) died in the fall of 2018. Tony, who owned the building, ran the deli, which operated under various names in this spot for 25 years.

Meanwhile, a block or so to the south, another deli is in the works for another long-vacant spot on the corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A — the former Benny's Burritos.

Stuyvesant Gourmet Deli announces itself on the corner of Avenue A and 14th Street

Signage for the Stuyvesant Gourmet Deli has arrived at the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A. (The flower vendor has been there now about a month.)

As noted previously, some of the gang from the old Stuyvesant Market on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A (RIP May 2010) will be behind the counter here.

The market takes over from Dion Cleaners, which closed in November after 35 years in business.

No word on an opening date. But probably soon.

Corner report: 14th and A

From the EVG inbox... a reader notes the progress with the deli-grocery going in on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A.

As noted previously, some of the gang from the old Stuyvesant Market on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A (RIP May 2010) will be behind the counter here.

The market takes over from Dion Cleaners, which closed in November after 35 years in business.

Reader report: A mini return of the former Stuyvesant Market on 14th Street and Avenue A?

Last month, we told you that a "deli & grocery" is in the works for the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A. 

Turns out that you may spot some familiar faces here one day: A tipster tells us that employees from the former Stuyvesant Market that was on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A are behind this new venture. (They've been working at another deli these recent years, per the tipster.)

As you may recall, Stuyvesant Market, as well as several other businesses, burned down in May 2010. According to published reports, the fire started at Pete's-a-Pizza, where a welder was working on a fire-access door.

The shell of the storefronts remained empty... and eventually Extell's EVGB development arrived, where the Target sits in the corner space where the market once stood.

As for the under-renovation storefront (currently paused due to a Stop Work Order), Dion Cleaners held down this corner for 35 years ... until this past November.

H/T Michael Paul!

A deli-grocery for the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A

Renovations have started at the storefront on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A. 

The posted work permits state that a "deli & grocery" is in the works for the address...

This is a pretty small space, so it may very well be a deli-grocery of the smoke shop variety.

Dion Cleaners held down this corner for 35 years ... until this past November.

Desires: Food from the corner deli

A recent corner deli rebrand to note, one with a romance novel meets Food Network vibe.

ES Wholesome Food has new owners here at 226 E. Seventh St. at Avenue C... the deli is now called [drumroll] Your Desire in Food...



Your Desire serves a variety of wraps and sandwiches as well as offers the usual corner deli items [that you desire?].

The rebrand comes shortly after the shed/storage space on the Seventh Street side welcomed a palm reader as its new tenant ... this after several years as a gallery called the Stand...


[Photo from Feb. 9]

Previously on EV Grieve:
On Avenue C, market known for Cobra Malt Liquor giving way to Wholesome Foods

[Updated] Another deli/market looks to be replacing Poppy's on 12th and A

In the shadows of Steiner East Village, the renovations continue at the former Poppy's Gourmet Corner on Avenue A and 12th Street.

There are detailed plans on the plywood... helpfully pointing out where the various items will be inside the incoming deli/market...



Among other things, the plans show a counter, a back counter, coffee, ice cream, a fryer, grill and juice bar.

And now, courtesy of EVG regular Greg Masters, an exclusive look at the market's new refrigeration units...







Poppy's closed at the end of January. Owner Mike Attal told Poppy's regular Shawn Chittle that a rent increase made it too challenging (Kushnered) to stay in business.

Updated 8/2

The coming-soon sign is now up for NY Grill & Deli...

What we'd lose if we lost the neighborhood delis

7-Elevens and neighborhood delis/bodegas have been a popular topic around here of late. (Specifically here ... and here... and here).

Sarah Goodyear had a thoughtful post on the topic yesterday at The Atlantic Cities titled "Battle Cry for the Bodega."

A few quick excerpts on the positive influence of the bodegas/delis... (she also points out their downsides, such as the less-than-sanitary conditions at some stores... but...)

[T]here’s no denying that the texture of the city would be flattened if the idiosyncratic bodega became an endangered species. Not so much because of what the stores sell as because of the larger role they play in the community.

As an example, she cites a friend, a single mom raising a 10-year-old son. They live across the street from a bodega ...

... where a group of regulars spends the whole day either out front (if the weather is good) or by the cash register. Sometimes they drink a bit much, it’s true. But they are a living example of the "eyes on the street" that Jane Jacobs loved to talk about. My friend’s son feels safe walking home from school because he knows those folks are watching out for him, always calling out to him by name as he passes by.

If that bodega became a 7-Eleven, it’s hard to imagine that the inspectors from corporate headquarters would want those guys in the picture. That would be their loss. And everyone else’s.

Read the whole piece here.

Also, we'll have more info later on Saturday's Bodega Walk with the No 7-Eleven Committee...

[File photo/Bobby Williams]

New deli on First Avenue looks like every other new deli

The deli on First Avenue near St. Mark's Place closed for a renovation (same owners) back on Oct. 22...

...and yesterday, workers unveiled the new sign...

[Bobby Williams]

Well, most new delis have this food court/regional airport terminal look these days... all selling panini, tossed salad, etc. Two quick examples...

Or maybe we need to say that they're better than [fill in the blank] a 7-Eleven...?

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Another East Village corner market closes; 13 and counting for the last year or so

New life for old deli on First Avenue

The deli over on First Avenue near St. Mark's Place was closed on Monday...

...and yesterday, the plywood and workers arrived. These days, you can't help but think it will become a 7-Eleven or something. However, workers on the scene told EVG regular William Klayer, who took the photo below, that the same owners were renovating the space...

Our friends at East Village Wines next door confirmed this as well...

Will be curious to see how the spruce up the place...

Fresno Gourmet Deli now with signage on Avenue C

Last Wednesday, we pointed out that a new deli was opening on Avenue C near East Third Street... the signage for the Fresno Gourmet Deli appeared on Friday.

2 new delis for Avenue C

Well, we've heard from several correspondents — Dave on 7th, Bobby Williams and Matt LES_Miserable — that a new deli is in the works for the empty storefront on the southwest corner of Avenue C at 11th Street...

The last tenant, the Monk Thrift Shop, closed in December 2010. At the time, neighbors heard that a bank branch would open here.

Anyway, nothing in the DOB paperwork suggests any kind of chain, like, say, a 7-Eleven. Of course, there are already two delis on the other side of 11th Street.

Meanwhile, down Avenue C a bit... at 27 Avenue C between Second Street and Third Street... another new deli is opening...

Again, the DOB permits don't show a chain-related store in the works. The DOB shows that the place is going by "Fresno Gourment Deli."

Previously, 27 Avenue C hosted the New York City Poker Tour.

This is what Tompkins Finest Deli will look like

Well, speaking of new delis... The other day, Bobby Williams passed along photos of the new deli coming to Avenue A near 10th Street... the one that is replacing the previous deli here...

Matt LES_Miserable took a look inside...

He notes: "Looks like every other deli that's opened the last few years. Well, at least they were happy and invited me in to look."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ave. A Mini Market abruptly closes

On second thought, Avenue A Mini Market not reopening

Avenue A Mini Market now without part of its front window

And here's Tompkins Finest Deli on Avenue A

As we first noted back in August, the Ave. A Mini Market abruptly closed... Workers rehabbing the space near 10th Street said that another deli was coming soon... Yesterday afternoon, Bobby Williams got a look at the new signage going up...

It's the one of the Deli 3.0s with paninis and wraps and smoothies and stuff.

And look — bagels! (Bagel war?)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ave. A Mini Market abruptly closes

On second thought, Avenue A Mini Market not reopening

Avenue A Mini Market now without part of its front window

No 7-Eleven for former Graceland; and the return of Houston Deli & Grocery

In June 2010, EV Italian eatery guru Frank Prisinzano said during a CB3/SLA committee meeting that the landlord of the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street had four prospective tenants: Frank's fast-food Italian joint, a bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank.

Which caused us to play with PhotoShop.



Anyway, on June 22, 2010, the full Community Board 3 denied Prisinzano's application to open a fast-food style Italian restaurant here.

And the space has sat empty ever since... However, workers have been splitting up the space. There are now three different storefronts.

Anyway, remember that The Houston Deli & Grocery on Avenue A and Houston had to close in the spring to make room for the new fancy Union Market...?

EV Grieve reader Josh saw one of the fellows inside the corner space at the old Graceland. Per Josh: "The really nice guy who ran the corner market on Houston and A ... is opening up on the corner of 2nd and A at the old Graceland space. Says by the end of the month. Glad to see he'll be back in the neighborhood."

Not sure if they'll actually still be called Houston Deli & Grocery seeing as they're a block to the north... Still, we'll take it.

And no word yet on the tenants of the other two storefronts...

Ave. A Mini Market will reopen

Ave. A Mini Market abruptly closed last weekend... Now! A sign appears (so to speak) on the door ...