Tomorrow is the last day for Zibalee on East 13th Street

[Image via]

After five years, first as Jellyfish then Zibalee, the clothing store for kids closes for good after the business day tomorrow at 244 E. 13th St.

Owner Adam Kirszner told us a little more about the situation at his shop between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

"It wasn't exactly the usual story of an impossible rent hike, although rent was no picnic and the real-estate taxes were particularly onerous. More like the growing realization that there was only so much growth that a business like mine could possibly have, especially considering my non-retail-y mid-block location and my low-margin wares," he told us via email. "And so many little annoying things that would add up to take a toll — SantaCon/St. Pat's/Halloween foolishness hurts most EV businesses that aren't bars. As you know, it's pretty much over for independent bricks-and-mortar retail around here, with increasingly rare exceptions."

Meanwhile, through tomorrow, there are some big sales on kids' clothing. (Find more details at Zibalee's Facebook page.)

And what might be next at the address?

"Brace yourself for another salon — nails, I think — coming soon," he said.

At Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co., closing soon on 3rd Avenue

As Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co. continues its going-out-of-business sale at 50 Third Ave. near East 10th Street, Jeremiah Moss pays a visit to the store.

Biomed was one of a dying breed of surgical supply shops, the place to go if you needed a bedpan or a sling or some rubber catheter tubing, a knee brace, a sitz bath, crutches, or a wheelchair.

They still have an impressive selection of podiatry products, including bunion regulators and hammer toe cushions.

High rents did the store in, the cashier told Jeremiah. And what might be next? The cashier figures "a chain, a restaurant or a bar — they're the only ones that can afford the rent."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co. closing on 3rd Avenue

Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co. closing on 3rd Avenue

The going-out-of-business sale continues at Biomed Drugs & Surgical Supply Co. at 50 Third Ave. near East 10th Street…



Not sure of the reason behind the closure… (and we're not even sure if we've ever been inside the drug store…)

The listing for the space doesn't appear online just yet at the EVO Group website.

High rent forcing David's Shoe Repair to leave the East Village

[Bobby G]

EVG reader Bobby G passes along the sad news that David's Shoe Repair, which has been in the same location on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue for more than 35 years, "is closing and moving to Midtown due to an exorbitant rent increase."

Jeremiah Moss confirmed the move in a post this morning. "The owner says the rent has gone up too high, and he is forced to move out of the neighborhood."

David's last day here is May 31.

Jeremiah has written about the store several times in the past ... noting that we almost lost the shop once in 2008 to a rent hike ... the store was gutted in the fall of 2009, but, to some surprise and relief, the store lived on, with David's grandson taking over the business... which he will now continue from Midtown.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life with those Yelpers: 'This is one store I wouldn't mind if it ever closed and was replaced with a Starbucks'

Reader report: 9th St. Bakery is closing after 87 years

[May 2012]

Ugh. EVG reader Dave M. from 13th St. passes along this sad bit of news today: 9th St. Bakery, which has been around since 1926, will have to close. Oleg, who has owned the bakery with his wife Tetyana since the 1990s, said that the landlord is doubling his current rent. This, along with a barely-break-even summer, is forcing them to close.

[Via Manhattan Sideways]

There's not timetable yet for the closure — mostly likely in the next 2-4 months.

Per the bakery's website:

Max and Lena Wolkirmerski emigrated to the United States in 1913 from Zetel Belarus. They opened up a bakery on the corner of Allen and Stanton. Their children Joe, Harry and Helen moved the bakery to 9th and first ave where it still remains today.

Per Dave: "No more cheap, good pastries and bread. Such a shame."

And a tough time for the older bakeries. Aside from 9th St., Something Sweet on First Avenue and East 11th Street remains closed from last summer ... and Whole Earth Bakery on St. Mark's Place shuttered at the end of December.

Pinisi Cafe & Bakery has closed on East Fourth Street

On Saturday, EVG reader Blaine passed along the above photo... showing workers clearing out the Pinisi Cafe & Bakery on East Fourth Street near First Avenue. Workers also removed the neon Bakery sign.

The Pinisi outpost on First Avenue closed in late July 2010. We know of a lot of readers who liked their various pastries and desserts.

2 small shops out on East 14th Street, though 1 is moving into the Copper Building

EVG reader John passes along information about the friendly fellow named Ba, a Senegal native, who has a sliver of a shop next to East Side 99¢ on East 14th Street near Avenue B.

"He works very long hours selling socks, gloves, phone chargers, etc. — all kinds of stuff," John wrote. Unfortunately, the landlord is looking for a big rent hike, and both shops will be out.

John said that Ba is looking for a new space in the neighborhood, or perhaps elsewhere. "If anyone hears of anything, it would be nice to let him know."

As for the East Side 99¢ shop, it's our understanding that they are moving into the retail space in the Copper Building around the corner on Avenue B at East 13th Street. (Several readers noted this after our post on it here.)

The stock is piling up at the store (unless a Copper Building resident is hoarding personal toaster ovens and blenders) ...

We like this addition to this corner...

[October 2010]

From wigs to veggies on East 14th Street

For the past few months, we noticed that the Royal Wigs shop was never open on East 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... sure enough, in recent weeks, a few readers have spotted workers inside gutting the space... such as this one via LvV...



...and from Dave of 14th Street...



Dave said that it has been on the block the 15 years he has lived nearby ...

Before getting into history ... as for the future: A tipster tells us that it will be a vegetarian restaurant selling items that include wraps and sushi.

As for the past... like, Dave, it seems like the place has always been there. Does anyone know any of the store's history?

We came across an alt.rock country band called The Royal Wigs, who took their name from the store. According to the band's bio, the store "was frequented by such famous NYC denizens as Lou Reed, the New York Dolls, and Vivienne Westwood." Not sure about the merits of these claims ... though we like the thought of, say, Arthur Kane rummaging around in here one day years back ...

In any event, the storefront was always photogenic ... Here's a shot by Goggla...



...and via LuciaM on Panoramio...

No tears for Sniff as store is able to relocate

After 20 years at 21 E. Seventh St., Sniff Aromatherapy, which sells custom-mixed bath oils and what not, lost its lease at the end of 2011 ... (reported here previously)...

Fortunately, in this case, Sniff was able to secure another location nearby... at 65 E. Fourth St. ... and, in case you haven't noticed, they are open here for business...

Autumn Skateboard Shop has closed on East Ninth Street

The other day @bonatron9000 pointed out that Itzocan Café closed on East Ninth Street near Avenue A... now, she notes that the restaurant's next-door neighbor, Autumn Skateboard Shop, has also rather abruptly closed...

As New York magazine wrote, "Autumn may not have the largest inventory in the city, but they are big on creativity and carry unusual pieces that you won’t see everywhere else."

The store's website is still live ... so perhaps you can still order stuff online...

The New Charlie's closes on Avenue C

[JVNY]

Back in 2008, the changing economics of the neighborhood forced the 41-year-old Yes! This Is Charlie's out of business on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The neighborhood favorite variety store that sold a little bit of everything — greeting cards! activity books for kids! school supplies! — closed on March 31, 2008. (Read about the store at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York and The Villager.)

As manager Danny Rodriguez told The Villager: "Mostly outsiders are moving in, and they couldn’t care less about us. All the new shops don't cater to the people here. You feel like an outsider in your own neighborhood. To be honest, I don't think they even want us here. They would love it if little by little we would just get out so they can move into our apartments."

However, with help from some loyal customers, Charlie's was able to relocate to 167 Avenue C several months later in June 2008. (There's more on the move via Jeremiah's Vanishing NY here.)

[JVNY]

Unfortunately, we noticed that the store had seemingly disappeared the last time we walked on this stretch of Avenue C... Indeed, a salon has now taken over the space... advertising a Grand Opening as of yesterday...

As a longtime customer told The Villager upon hearing that Charlie's was closing in March 2008: "I've been coming here since I was 7 or 8," said a 46-year-old Hispanic woman. "We need to have our community stores. This is what keeps the neighborhood healthy. There is so much greed that is destroying the neighborhood."

On East Seventh Street, Sniff Aromatherapy loses its lease

A reader points out that Sniff Aromatherapy, which sells custom-mixed bath oils and other smelly stuff, is being forced from its home on 21 East Seventh St. ...

The cozy fragrance shop has been here for nearly 25 years...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Facing eviction, Village Scandal holding sale to pay for legal fees

M&M Variety Hardware space for rent on Avenue B

We don't know for sure when the M&M Variety Hardware closed on Avenue B near Houston... but we can't recall seeing it open anytime recently.

The space is now for rent — $9,000 per month. One reader who shopped here thought that a hardware store had been at this location since 1950.

...and this is the work of Goggla from last fall ... during happier times for the store...

'Food use OK' at former First Avenue video-computer store

The weird-cool little Intervideo Electronics store on First Avenue near Sixth Street closed earlier in the summer... And now, "for lease" signs have gone up here...

We took a look at the listing. The rent isn't listed. However, take a look at the ad... Espresso City? With wi-fi!

By listing "Caracas Arepa Bar, Luke's Lobster Bar, Porchetta NYC, Pylos ... and Cafe Mogador," they're certainly gunning for more upscale food...No mention of Restaurant (Turnover) Row across the street...

Dukovny Floors closes on First Avenue

[Photo by Blue Glass]

Both Blue Glass and Dave on 7th noted that Bernard Dukovny Floors on First Avenue just north of 11th Street has closed...

I went to Google Maps for a Street View... and the Google mobile caught Mr. Dukovny standing in front of his store...

I keep wondering what he was thinking about...

Super Saving Store closing on 14th Street

Here at 14th Street and Third Avenue... some signs say "store closing" ... others say "closing for renovations." We asked one of the fellows guarding the sales racks. Didn't exactly get a straight answer. Ultimately, the store is closing for good.

Not a surprise. The store is in the shadow of the luxury 123 Third Avenue, where residents likely won't have a need for butt-revealing denim shorts (two for $10!). The other corners include the Duane Reade and the incoming 5 Napkin Burger. Meanwhile, a few of the 99-cent stores remain on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Intervideo Electronics now closed on First Avenue

Store closing signs went up late last month at the computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... Swung by to see if there were any further markdowns...

Unfortunately, I found that the owners had already closed the store ... nothing left inside...

...with just a few reminders of what was here ...

Kinda weird and cool computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place closing on First Avenue

I suppose this isn't shocker ... The store formally known as Intervideo Electronics is closing. And you can see how they've tried to keep up with the times on their sign...

...and they were always good for oddball DVDs that I never knew existed.

And, of course, whenever a little place like this shutters... you have to wonder/worry about what might arrive next ...

[Updated] Another East Village corner market closes; 13 and counting for the last year or so

The Fuji Apple deli on First Avenue at 12th Street is the latest corner market to close.

The deli shuttered on Monday. (The space has been on the market — "perfect for any use.")

So many deli/markets have either closed or gone upscale in the last year or so in the East Village that I've lost track...Some of the replacements are just too bland and even more expensive with the ambiance of an airport terminal...

Anyway, let's try to piece this together.

Olympic on First Avenue at 13th Street closed and will become an upscale market...



Roger's Garden on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street closed for renovations back in early January... and is now a new food courty-looking place ...



The market on the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C closed and reopened as a Wholesome Foods...


[Photo by Bob Arihood]

On Avenue C near Eighth Street, the market/deli just off the corner closed and reopened as a Yankees Deli 2...

Christine's on 10th and C moved and reopened with more upscale items...

Jay's on Avenue C and 11th Street closed and reopened as the Yankees Deli...

The market on 12th Street and Avenue C remains closed...

The East Side Gourmet Deli on the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street closed and reopened under new ownership...



Across the street, Finest Pizza and Deli closed last June.... and reopened as the East Village Finest Deli......



The Houston Deli & Grocery on Avenue A and Houston closed to make room for the new fancy Union Market...

The market that took over half of the Dunkin Donuts space on Second Avenue closed and is now part of the liquor store.

And how could I have forgotten this... Graceland on the corner of Avenue A and Second Street...



I'm sure there are more just from the last year (not including the fire-stricken Stuyvesant Grocery on A and 14th Street or East Village Farms on Second Avenue and Fourth Street.) Let me know what I'm forgetting...