Signs of life (again) at the former Benny's Burritos on Avenue A

For the second time (that we're aware of!) in 2021, there's activity inside the former Benny's Burritos space on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street.

Photos from Salim (top pic!) and John Tymkiw (pic below) show some tools and signs of pending construction inside the long-vacant storefront...

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business.

The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)

Will we finally see a new tenant here? Or will the Benny's Museum shutter again for another six months?

An open door at the former Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Several readers pointed out that something (or something?) pushed in the front door at the former Essex Card Shop at 39 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street... offering access — as of this morning — inside the very empty city-owned storefront...

The card shop moved to 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street in June 2020. And whatever happened to their great old sign?

All along 1st Avenue with Neil Goldberg

Text and photos by Stacie Joy 

Like so many New Yorkers, especially those of us who live in the East Village, I was deeply moved by local resident Neil Goldberg's op-ed piece "Hallelujah Anyway, Anyway" in The New York Times earlier this spring.

A video piece that speaks of his experiences watching shopkeepers all along First Avenue rolling up their gates each morning, and how the city and our neighborhood have changed since he first started videotaping merchants in the early 1990s. A meditative piece dealing with twin viruses, first AIDS and now COVID, Neil reflects on change, impermanence, resiliency and hope. 

I recently met up with the artist and we walked along First Avenue from Houston to 14th Street on both sides and revisited some of the storefronts featured in his story. We even visited his former apartment building, where his name remains on the buzzer. 

We chatted about old favorites long gone like Baby Jake's, Black Forest Pastry Shop and Foot Gear Plus, and marveled at places that are (thankfully!) still here, such as Speedy Lock & Door, Gizmo and Cosmo's Launderama ...

You can keep up with Neil here ... and tune into his podcast, "She's A Talker."

Benny's Burritos still frozen in November 2014 time on Avenue A

Here's your periodic reminder that a) Benny's Burritos closed almost seven years ago and b) the storefront has sat vacant since November 2014. 

Anyway, every so often the gates are up here — like yesterday! — on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street... showing the well-preserved Benny's museum (though the menus have come down from the doors since our last look).

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business.

The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)

Anyway, no idea why the gate seems to open every few years. The original rental ask for the spot was $22,000.

Mark Merker, who launched Harry's and Benny's Burritos in 1987, attempted a revival with Benny's Burritos & Empanadas at 86 E. Seventh St. in January 2018, but it didn't last.

Avenue A storefront watch

Obscura Antiques and Oddities has officially closed, and a for rent sign now hangs in the storefront at 207 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

A variety of factors led to the closure. "Our lease is up at the end of February and we are a bit burned out," co-owner Mike Zohn told us back in November. "The business has changed as has the neighborhood, plus the expense and overhead are high."

The asking rent for the space is $4,995 — all uses considered, per the listing.

And on Avenue A at Ninth Street... a for rent notice is up at the recently shuttered Arepa Factory. The listing hasn't made it online just yet.



Meanwhile, the corner space — the former Gelarto — has been leased. The brokers didn't disclose who the new tenant is, however.

These spaces, overseen by two difference landlords — Icon on the corner and Steve Croman next door — were home to Cafe Pick Me Up until May 2015...



One last nearby storefront to note... Three Seat Espresso is now officially closed (as of Jan. 19) at 137 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...



No word on what might be coming to this space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A visit to Obscura Antiques and Oddities, closing soon on Avenue A

• After 20-plus years in the East Village, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing

• Arepa Factory closes up on Avenue A

• Three Seat Espresso will close by the end of 2019 on Avenue A; founder blames Starbucks

#notourpresident storefront not coming to 2nd Avenue

[Reader photo from Nov. 18]

As we first noted on Nov. 19, coming soon signage arrived for #notourpresident on an empty storefront (No. 64) on Second Avenue between Fourth Street and Third Street.

The #notourpresident sparked some speculation, especially when there was a cafe sign in view as well. (Maybe this would be another attempt at satire like the dearly departed 'Merica on Sixth Street.)

In any event, the signage is gone, and the for rent banner is back in view ...



The asking rent here is $13,000, per the listing.

The space previously housed NYC Velo, who moved next door in March.

Velo was curious too about what might coming next door...

In non-bike news, it looks like our former shop space is getting a new tenant. While we try to be apolitical (it's #allaboutthebike) it will be interesting to see this one unfold #notourpresident

A photo posted by @nycvelo on Nov 27, 2016 at 2:24pm PST

Noted

Several readers have noted this new coming soon signage for #notourpresident on an empty storefront (No. 64) on Second Avenue between Fourth Street and Third Street.

The space previously housed NYC Velo, who moved next door in March.

Storefronts and signage: Top A Nail makes the move next door; Bahr Ché closes on Astor Place

It's another exciting edition of storefronts and signage... a few items to note from recent days and weeks...

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Top A Nails opened Monday in their new home on Avenue A ... right next door to their former shop here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street... According to the listing for the old space at No. 137, the storefront has already been rented.

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[Photo by Steven]

The signage is up at 440 E. Ninth St. near Avenue A for Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery. As we first reported, the retail shop will be a collaboration between the New Paltz-based vegan chocolate company Lagusta’s Luscious and bakery Sweet Maresa's.

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Workers recently cleaned out the remainder of the former Sounds space at 20 St. Mark's Place...taking with them the last traces of the record store that closed last October...the asking rent is $22,000...



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The broker brandage has been removed from the former Chase branch at 20 Avenue A and Second Street...



The marketing copy read: "Your corner. Your brand. Your town." So perhaps there is a taker for this (your!) corner...

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A for rent sign arrived the other day at the former Verizon Wireless on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place...


[Photo by Steven]

We didn't spot a listing for the space online just yet.

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An EVG reader told us that Bahr Ché, a wine-tapas bar at 26 Astor Place, has been closed for weeks now... it looks as if black trash bags cover the front door... their phone goes unanswered and the website is now offline...



Bahr Ché opened in late 2010.

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And workers yesterday cleaned out the East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop at 350 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.... the space is for rent...


[Photo by Steven]

The shop opened just eight months ago... taking over the former A.K. Shoe Repair.

Gutting some 3rd Avenue storefronts

Renovations continue on several of the storefronts along Third Avenue between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street...

Workers are tearing down the walls and gutting the former P&P Convenience Store, East Village Cheese (now on Seventh Street!) and Excel Art and Framing Store (now on the other side of Third Avenue!)...



...this is what the old EV Cheese space looks like...





Per the DOB work permit (in their ALL-CAP style): RENOVATION OF EXITING RETAIL SPACE. WORK TO INCLUDE PARTITIONS, FLOORING, CEILING AND FINISHES.

The rumor is that the Duane Reade on the corner of East 10th Street will expand into these spaces to make an even longer Duane Reade.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese (74 comments)

East Village Cheese makes move to 7th Street official

A Choice new space for cleaners on Avenue B

A storefront shuffle to note on Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street ... where Choice Cleaners is moving two storefronts to the north, to where the former pet supply shop was until a few weeks ago...



The new space will be larger for the owner, who plans on expanding her alteration services, per EVG contributor Stacie Joy.

And at the former deli next to Cornerstone ... the landlord is taking a new approach with the for rent sign...


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

As the storefronts move

OK!


[Photo in December by Derek Berg]

In late December, The 2nd Ave. Smoke Shop & News closed due to a rent hike at 89 Second Ave. near East Fifth Street.

However, the owners found something in their price range nearby ... on the east side of Second Avenue past East Fourth Street where Gelato Ti Amo recently shuttered.

The Smoke Shop & News is now open, and selling the usual, such as gum, water and sodas, water pipes for tobacco, and periodicals like Time Out New York, Escorts and She-Male.


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Meanwhile!



On East Fifth Street near Second Avenue, S & P Liquor & Wine, which had to close for parts of last year during renovations to the building, is moving to ...


[Photo last night by Goggla]

...89 Second Ave. near East Fifth Street, the former home of the 2nd Ave. Smoke Shop & News... which recently relocated to...

Design studio moving to empty Avenue A storefront

Obscura Antiques and Oddities opened at 207 Avenue A a few weeks ago... they'll soon have a new neighbor at a nearby empty storefront between 12th Street and 13th Street ... 203 Avenue A will be the new home of an The Original Champions of Design, an independent branding and design agency. There currently have space on East 12th Street...

Johnson's World comes down again

The other day we pointed out that the beauty salon on 14th Street and Third Avenue was relocating... exposing some ghost signage in the process ...



EV Grieve reader Jacob happened by when workers were peeling off another previous store sign....

On Avenue A, a flower replaces armpit-sniffing photo of Mariah Carey

FINALLY! Since I can remember, Luster Photo on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's has had this stupid photo of Mariah Carey in the window. The one in which she's sort of sniffing the armpit and showing off the hair extensions. Why do they have this photo in the window? What does she have to do with the East Village? This is just embarrassing. Back when the store was on Avenue B near 10th Street, they at least had a Lou Reed photo in the window. (Nothing against Luster... it's just that photo!)



But! No more! The store has changed the photo in the front window.




For now, we will savor this moment....

On sale, but not going out of business

Amaran, the home furnishings store on Avenue B at Seventh Street, seems to have been holding sales now for months and months... which leads to some speculation that the store is going out of business... which leads to their latest sales sign...




The store is NOT going out of business...

Was just a matter of time before EV got The 13th Step

Thanks to Jeremiah for remembering this one... So, now that the Jake's Dilemma-Down-the Hatch team and their Celebrating xxx years of Debauchery slogan folks have finally established an EV beachhead with the 13th Step.... We recall that Team Hatch unsuccessfully tried to open a bar at the former Grace & Hope Mission at 114-116 Third Ave. Our old friends at East Village podcasts covered the CB3/SLA meeting back in July 2008.

And, of course, the former Mission is now home to Robin Raj ...and the psychic!

Tully's Gluten-Free Bakery opening on East 11th Street

Those storefronts next to Veniero's on 11th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue have their tenants... the Village Veterinarian... and now, the first retail space for Tully's...



...the gluten-free bakery that has being peddling its good online and at outlets such as Zabar's. As a site called Gluten Free Atlanta reports, "Tully is an up and coming young female chef in New York City, originally from Memphis, TN, so she’s a gluten-free southern girl at heart. Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008 and a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, TX Tully’s made it her goal to create yummy gluten-free cookies and brownies that actually taste like cookies and brownies."

Oh, but so cruel to make people walk by Veniero's and Something Sweet to get here...



And, you know, Peter has a really nice selection of gluten-free desserts at Whole Earth Bakery on St. Mark's Place...