Showing posts with label restaurants that are now closed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants that are now closed. Show all posts

Monday, April 17, 2017

Caffe Bene closes on St. Mark's Place


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The Caffe Bene outpost at 24 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue closed on Saturday ... workers were spotted removing boxes yesterday.


[Photo this morning by Steven]

This location, one of 1,600 worldwide that is part of the South Korean-based company, never seemed all that busy since opening in December 2015.

Apparently they weren't attracting their target audience.

According to brokers quoted in the Commercial Observer in August 2015, the building's landlord, Beame Realty, "is looking to tap into the hedge funds and tech companies coming to 51 Astor Place, as well as the New York University and St. John’s University crowd."

Caffe Bene had signed a 10-year lease, with asking rent in the $240 per-square-foot territory.

The storefront previously housed a Pinkberry, which closed at the beginning of 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
2 Caffe Bene locations coming to the East Village

Work starts on the 2 Caffe Bene spaces in the East Village

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Mimi's Hummus closes on 14th Street



The outpost of Mimi's Hummus at 245 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue shut down on Monday.

A sign posted to the front door thanks patrons for their support...



Mimi's opened here in October 2015. The original Mimi's in Ditmas Park remains open ... as does the location in the Urbanspace Vanderbilt near Grand Central.

The quick-serve restaurant serves "some of the city's best hummus and shakshuka" (per Eater). Not sure why they couldn't make it in this spot.

The small space was previously home for eight months to the $1 pizza/BBQ combo of Wicked Wolfe BBQ.

H/T EVG reader Jimmy

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Jason Wang's Biang! closes after 15 months on 2nd Avenue


[EVG photo from December 2015]

Biang! — the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang — has closed at 157 Second Ave.

EVG reader Brian P. shared this notice from yesterday at the restaurant between Ninth Street and 10th Street...



The well-regarded restaurant opened here in December 2015. (And it always seemed crowded.) The sign notes that most of the dishes are available at the original Biang! location in Flushing... as well as the Xi'an Famous Foods at 81 St. Mark's Place near First Avenue.

Wang and his father David Shi started the business in a small food stall in Flushing. There are now nearly a dozen locations of Xi’an Famous Foods in NYC. They also opened Dumpling Spot in Chinatown last month.

The previous tenant at 157 Second Ave., Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder, closed after two-and-a-half years at the end of August 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jason Wang bringing Xi'an Famous Foods offshoot Biang! to the former Alder space on 2nd Avenue

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Rustico has closed on 1st Avenue



Rustico, the cafe that specialized in crêpes and Italian coffee at 135 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, has closed.

The owners are selling off the contents of the restaurant ...



There isn't any mention of the closure on Rustico's website or social media properties. It was a small place, so it always seemed busy, particularly during high brunch time on the weekend. (I never ate here, so I can't speak to the quality of the food or service.)

Rustico opened in November 2013. Before this, the address was home to everyone's favorite — Iconic Hand Rolls, which closed in April 2013 after 10 months in business.

Thank you to Lola Sáenz for the photos

Monday, February 6, 2017

Sugar Cafe has closed



As expected, the 24/7 cafe on Houston and Allen shut its doors after service yesterday.

This note greets patrons...



BoweryBoogie had previously heard that a rent increase — perhaps as much as double the current ask — was behind the closing.

The narrow cafe had been here for 10-plus years.

For now, a few desserts remain behind ...

Monday, January 30, 2017

Updated: East 12th Osteria closes on 1st Avenue, moving to the West Village



East 12th Osteria looks to have permanently closed. Someone removed the sign from the front door here on First Avenue at 12th Street...



EVG reader dwg said the dining room was cleared out on Friday.



Back on Dec. 12, the State seized the space for nonpayment of taxes. Eater reported that restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine owed more than $190,000 in unpaid taxes.

However, without any notice, East 12th Osteria then resumed service several days later.

The restaurant opened in March 2013.

Updated
From restaurant's website: "East 12th Osteria will be moving to the West Village, and would henceforth change name to Osteria."

A spokesperson for the restaurant told us in an email:

We opened 2 days after NY State Department of Taxation and Finance shut us down. We've paid the principal amount months back, it is the interest and other fees that we're trying to negotiate down. 120% interest is a lot.

Having said that, earlier this month we chose to close down East 12th Osteria because we found a bigger location in the West Village, and will be opening sometime in the summer.

East 12th attracted regulars Ron Chernow... Preet Bhararra and Scott Stringer, lots of NYU faculty and gallery owners. We thank our supporters in the East Village — a warm welcome awaits them at our next Osteria, opening soon just a few avenues away.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Guaco Taco has closed on 2nd Street



The for rent sign is now up at 91 E. Second St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... marking the end of Guaco Taco's seven months in business.

The quick-serve Mexican restaurant had irregular hours of late... something that marked its short run here. Guaco Taco was closed for nearly two weeks shortly after its grand opening on May 20...


[EVG photo from May 20]

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Fresh & Co. closes 4th Avenue location



After 21 months on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street, Fresh & Co. has called it a day...



What was the kale-and-quinoa chainlet's 12th NYC location closed late last week. Fresh fans are directed to nearby locations on Broadway at Waverly and Eighth Street at Mercer...



The last tenant here, Pie Face, didn't fare much better. Before the renovation and rent increase (to $30,000), the previous tenant, Brothers Deli, didn't seem to have any issues with business.

Friday, December 16, 2016

That time this restaurant closed after less than 2 weeks on St. Mark's Place

[Photo from June 2011]

In recent months, several restaurants have closed after a short time in business.

In late November, for instance, 100% Healthy Blend (or maybe just Healthy Blend) shut down at Second Avenue and Fifth Street after less than three months.

And at the beginning of November, 'Merica, described as "the most American bar and restaurant in the world," switched concepts after three weeks in operation on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Each time a restaurant comes and goes so quickly, someone asks if this is a record for a closure.

In recent years, at least in the nine years of EVG, an Italian restaurant called Tre Scalini holds the dubious East Village record, closing after less than two weeks at 130 St. Mark's Place in 2011.

Here's the EVG post from July 21, 2011:

Back on June 17, we pointed out that an Italian restaurant called Tre Scalini was taking over the former Bello's space at 130 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A.

I meant to note when they opened... If I had to guess, then I'd say they opened around July 1... During the weekend of July 8, I spotted this sign...


I walked by a few times and never saw anyone inside, save the owner and a worker or two. I last saw it open on July 10. I've walked by every day since then. It has not been open in the past 10 days.


If this is all true, then it was probably a good idea that they never changed the awning from the previous tenant.

They weren't even open long enough to merit a Yelp review.

By my count, they were open nine or 10 days. I wondered how many guests they served (if any) ... and why they decided to bail so quickly. (Did their lease have some kind of escape clause? There was still the cost of renovating the space.)

Tre Scalini wasn't a new venture. They had a location on 58th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue that eventually closed. They re-opened 13 years later on St. Mark's Place. There was also a location on Melville, Long Island, that now goes by a different name.

The restaurant that eventually took over this space, Kura, has been open for three-plus years.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

[Updated] East 12th Osteria has closed on 1st Avenue



Here's the sign that greets patrons at East 12th Osteria on First Avenue at 12th Street... the restaurant is relocating...



Chef/owner Roberto Deiaco served "elegant Northern Italian [fare] with a casual East Village vibe," per its social media description.

The relocation notice coincides with a posted Warning Seizure flyer via the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance...



The sign notes that the business has been seized for nonpayment of New York State Taxes.

The restaurant opened in March 2013. The space was previously held by the Fuji Apple deli, which closed in April 2011.

Thanks to dwg for the photos!

Updated 11:30 a.m.

Eater reports that the state seized it for more than $190,000 in unpaid taxes. "The restaurant ... had 14 open warrants from the government, mostly for unpaid sales tax."

Friday, November 4, 2016

'Merica dream fades as Zerza returns to 6th Street



After less than three weeks in business, 'Merica, described as "the most American bar and restaurant in the world," has apparently closed here on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Thanks to EVG regular Creature for the tip.)

The red, white and blue awning now advertises Moroccan Mediterranean food... and the menu for the previous tenant, Zerza, has returned... (now La Zerza)...



It was a whirlwind month or so here. The well-liked Zerza closed in late September. Then came the Facebook page for 'Merica, co-founded by Radoune Eljaouhari, who ran Zerza, and Zach Neil, an owner of the Tim Burton-themed Beetle House a few doors away on Sixth Street as well as Stay Classy, the bar for Will Ferrell fans on Rivington Street.

As Patch reported:

Neil said he, a Christian, and Eljaouhari, a Muslim, bonded over making fun of "all things America." Especially during this election season, they find Americana to be exceptionally funny, Neil said.

"I mean it's just crazy that Donald Trump is running for president," he said.

Crazy, sure, but not really funny.


[Photo from last Friday]

The décor included rifles, NASCAR memorabilia ... as well as TVs showing episodes of the Chuck Norris vehicle "Walker, Texas Ranger." It was supposed to be a humorous, tongue-in-cheek homage to the "real America" ... there were advertised debate nights, where diners could discuss a variety of topics, humorous or otherwise, during this divisive election season. (There was a "House of Cards" trivia and dinner scheduled on Election Night.)

The menu, full of comfort foods with names like the Walmart, the Hog Beast and the Boo Boo Burger, included topical items such as the The T-Rump Mexican Burger and the Hillary Burger, "a 100-calorie lie" — a triple bacon cheeseburger topped with mac and cheese.

Despite some opening publicity (including a segment on "Good Day New York"), the dining room sat empty. (One direct neighbor claims that he never spotted one person inside, other than employees.)

Around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, an EVG reader says that she saw a worker taking the "Taste the Liberty" words off of the awning "using some kind hair drying or torch." Sounds pretty American.

Previously

Monday, October 10, 2016

Dieci closes on 10th Street

Dieci closed at the end of September on East 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. EVG regular Blueglass notes that the space has been cleaned out.

The owners took to Facebook to post a brief goodbye message: "Unfortunately Dieci has closed its business. We hope to open again in the near future. Thank you for your patronage and we will keep you updated."

The owner and chef here are Japanese, but they served Italian fare that critics found interesting.

Dieci opened in this small, subterranean space in 2006.

Friday, September 30, 2016

The former Schnitz space is for rent



Shepard Fairey is wrapping up work on his mural on East 11th Street at First Avenue... above the space that housed Schnitz.

Several people said that they weren't aware that the sandwich specialists had closed.

We noted on Sept. 2 that the quick-serve restaurant hadn't been open in several weeks ... and that the storefront was listed for rent online.

The retail space for lease sign has been up for maybe two weeks now. According to the listing (PDF) at RKF, the asking rent is roughly $9,100 a month.

No one from Schnitz has responded about the closure via social media yet.

Schnitz, which served old-fashioned schnitzel sandwiches with unconventional toppings, opened here in March 2014. This was the first permanent retail space for Schnitz after gaining a following at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and Dumbo.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Tonkatsuya has apparently closed on 6th Street



Zerza isn't the only recent closure to note on East Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Tonkatsuya has been dark all month at No. 328. The Japanese restaurant's webite has been taken down and the phone number isn't in service.

The restaurant just opened in March... taking over the space from Sri Lankan specialists Banana Leaf, which also only lasted a few months.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Sahara Citi has apparently closed on 13th Street



Brown paper on the windows and a disconnected phone number greet potential Sahara Citi patrons on East 13th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

A look inside reveals that workers have cleaned out the hookah/hummus restaurant, which opened in the spring of 2012.

Perhaps they are just renovating the space before the start of the school year, as it is conveniently located next to NYU's Palladium Hall.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Red Koi Organic Sushi Lounge has closed on 1st Avenue



An EVG reader notes that in fairly quick succession, Red Koi Organic Sushi Lounge at 57 First Ave. closed... was served an eviction notice from the Marshal and put on the market.

We didn't know too much about this restaurant between Third Street and Fourth Street... it opened, as we recall, in late 2014...



As you will no doubt remember, the space was home, too briefly, to the Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo during the glorious summer of 2012. That fryplex of fatty fun was sadly gone by the end of 2012. But we have our memories. And photos.

[Photo from 2012 by Bobby Williams]

The listing for the space isn't online just yet. It was posted at $7,500 after Pudgie's died.

Monday, June 27, 2016

King Bee has closed on East 9th Street



King Bee, which served Acadian cuisine (Canadian-Cajun), has closed at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The owners left this message on their King Bee website:

King Bee has closed.

We are grateful for each one of you who came through our door during the past (almost) 2 years.

Yours in good cheer,

Jeremie, Eben & Ken

On Friday, they were selling some plates, dishes and glassware for $1... (Updated: A reader said that the new owners of the restaurant were selling the leftover dishes and glassware.)



King Bee took over the space in 2014 from Exchange Alley, which opened in August 2012. Previously, Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep came and went in fairly quick succession.

Despite some quality operations, nothing has worked here. Doomed location?

We'll see. A tipster tells us that new owners already bought the space and are planning Korean BBQ.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Desi Shack is no longer open on 4th Avenue

I can't say for sure when this happened (recently though!) ... Desi Shack, the quick-serve Indian-Pakistani restaurant on Fourth Avenue between East 13th Street and East 14th Street, has apparently closed... the signage is down, and the phone has been disconnected. There isn't any message about a closure on their social media properties (not that they were up-to-date) .... there's not even a mention of this on Yelp...

Anyway, the Desi Shack is gone... and the storefront now sports Pakistani Kitchen letters...



Perhaps the owners are retooling their concept. The original Desi Shack on Lexington Avenue has also closed. This location opened in July 2014.

Pretty good food, but this is a competitive stretch for quick-serve restaurants with neighbors Liquiteria, Dos Toros, Glaze Teriyaki and Fresh.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Lyric Diner has closed once again in Gramercy Park



Heading out of the neighborhood for a quick post... the second time around didn't work so well for the Lyric Diner on Third Avenue at East 22nd Street. The restaurant recently closed... and the for rent sign has now arrived.

A little recap.

In August 2012, the Lyric owners decided to shut down the diner... they reopened the space as Taverna, a white tablecloth Greek restaurant. That concept lasted six months. The owners then decided to reopen the Lyric in October 2013.

Previously

H/T @urbanmyths!

Monday, March 7, 2016

The former Bago space is for rent on 1st Avenue



Bago, the quick-serve Filipino restaurant on First Avenue between East 13th Street and East 14th Street, went dark in mid-to-late January. (H/t Nick Solares.) There wasn't any notice about a closure, temporary or otherwise.

A for rent sign now adorns the front window...



The listing is not yet online at the ABS Partners website.

The restaurant opened last June in the former Hibachi Dumpling Express space (and a 2 Bros. before that). Three quick-serve restaurants have come and gone here since the summer of 2014.

A daughter of Elvira Cinco, the proprietor of Elvie's Turo-Turo across First Avenue, ran Bago.

H/T Edmund John Dunn!