Space Mabi closes 1 year in on 1st Avenue

That's apparently it for Space Mabi on First Avenue at Fourth Street... the Korean cafe-restaurant quietly closed earlier this month. There isn't any message on their social media properties about a closure, though Google and Yelp both list it as permanently closed. The signs have been removed and paper covers the windows.

Space Mabi opened on Nov. 3, 2017, with a shifting focus depending on the time of day. Per their Facebook description:

Space Mabi is a new gastropub with cozy atmosphere in East Village that specializes in New Korean cuisine, plus creative Korean alcoholic beverages.

Under the sun, we operate as ‘Cafe Space Mabi,’ under the moon, we serve as ‘Restaurant Space Mabi’, and under the stars, we turn into ‘Bar Space Mabi’.

[Photo from November 2017]

They eventually discontinued the daytime service, opening then at 5:30 p.m.

The space was previously Guayoyo, the low-key, family-owned Venezuelan restaurant, which never reopened after a basement fire in the Icon Realty-owned building in January 2015.

This marks the second self-described gastropub to close within two blocks this month on First Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Guayoyo has been closed now for 1 year

Gastropub — 'Your new playground' — slated for former Guayoyo space on 1st Avenue

Biga NYC debuts on Clinton and Houston

Several EVG readers passed along word that a new pizzeria/Italian restaurant called Biga NYC opened last week on the southwest corner of Clinton and Houston. (H/T Stacie Joy and Nick!)



I don't recall seeing this address (293 E. Houston St.) on any recent CB3-SLA committee dockets for a new liquor license ... and the sidewalk signage currently notes BYOB...



Don't know too much about the operators at the moment ... they have an Instagram account, where you can see their style of pies...

View this post on Instagram

Giovanni and his favourite creation: buffalo mozzarella, caramelised onion and Cetara anchovies. Sweet, salty and creamy! #pizza #biganyc #foodies #nyfoodies #nycpizza #foodporn #nyfoodporn #foodblogger

A post shared by biganyc (@biganyc) on Nov 15, 2018 at 4:58pm PST

Until early this year the space was home — since 2014 — to Ariel’s Latin Bistro.

Three Seat Espresso increases the seats for espresso on Avenue A

After two-plus years of life as a cafe-barber combo at 137 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, Three Seat Espresso [and previously & Barber] has expanded its seating for food and drinks and discontinued the hair cuts.

This is their message via Instagram:

Three Seat Espresso is expanding the cafe in place of the barber. Thank you to those who have come in for a chop over the last two years. Please bare with us through the brief refurb. We are super excited to offer more cafe seating, plus more, starting Monday Nov. 19.

The barber shop was in the back in a separate area away from the food and beverage operation. Aside from Australian-style coffee drinks and tea, Three Seat serves several varieties and bagels and light breakfast fare.

Ummburger has closed on 1st Avenue

After a little more than a year in business at 99 First Ave. at Sixth Street, Ummburger has closed... the gates had been down of late during announced business hours... then a for rent sign arrived late last week...



Ummburger seemed doomed from the get-go, to be honest, with cutesy names for their burgers (the Good Morning Vietnam, for instance) ... and, well, the name for the restaurant. The drinks menu included the "Ummazing Chalices," 38-ounce fish bowl cocktails on dry ice for $25.

NYU's Washington Square News featured Ummburger in an article from February on restaurants suffering from a drop in business after the New Year.

[Co-owner Salil Mathew] put out a 40 percent discount coupon for students in Campus Clipper magazine after the holidays, aiming to attract local college students in the hope they would return later, paying full price.

Because of the dip, Mathew has been forced to lay off employees, and by his estimation, has had to cut work hours by as much as 50 percent. Balancing a new restaurant, a second job as a nurse manager and a family, Mathew hopes his steep discounts will bring him a much-needed break.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ummburger makes it official on 1st Avenue

Ummburger vying for the Mancora space on 1st Avenue

At Leah Tinari's book signing for 'Limitless' at an.mé on 9th Street

East Village-based artist Leah Tinari signed copies of her new illustrated book, "Limitless: 24 Remarkable American Women of Vision, Grit, and Guts," this afternoon at an.mé on Ninth Street.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by and shared these photos of Tinari...



... shown here with the owners of the boutique for kids and families here between First Avenue and Second Avenue... Melissa Scott (left) and Annie Ju (right)...





Previously

Week in Grieview

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

That 40s show: Get lost in the NYC Municipal Archives's online collection (Monday)

Prime cut: Documentary offers a day in the life of Michael Saviello, longtime manager of the iconic Astor Place Hairstylists (Wednesday)

A visit to Bali Kitchen on 4th Street (Friday)

What's next for 131 1st Ave., the former Foot Gear Plus space? (Thursday)

The boutique office building replacing the Sunshine Cinema will be 'unbounded by walls' with an outdoor space called Houston Alley (Thursday)

The 30th annual New York Cares coat drive is underway (Friday)


[Photo Thursday night by Derek Berg]

It snowed (Thursday) ... and there were many downed limbs (Thursday ... Friday)

More signs of the 14th Street SBS lanes (Tuesday)

This week's NY See panel (Friday)

False alarms: A moment of panic yesterday afternoon on 3rd Avenue (Monday)

Ray gets to see Ray's Candy Store on 'Parts Unknown' (Monday)

That's a wrap for Yonekichi's rice burger spot on 9th Street (Wednesday)

The Wineshop is closing on 9th Street (Wednesday)

Coming soon: Mi Casa Latina on 14th Street (Tuesday)

20 Avenue A is now 3 storefronts (Tuesday)

Future You Café debuts on 7th Street (Thursday)

Jump drama on 9th Street (Monday)

Empire Gyro announces itself on Allen and Houston (Tuesday)

56 E. 1st St. is for sale (Thursday)

Greekito tragedy: The back rent is due at this 12th Street cafe (Wednesday)

A full First Lamb Shabu reveal (Tuesday)

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota resigns; Twitter responds (Monday)

So long to the 13th Step signage (Friday)

... and disposing a refrigerator on St. Mark's Place is always a good idea...





---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

Off-season training

This morning at the Tompkins Square Park mini pool...

Saturday's parting shot

Photo on 10th Street via EVG regular Lola Sáenz...

A celebration of women tomorrow with Leah Tinari at an.mé on 9th Street

East Village resident and artist Leah Tinari has a new illustrated book out titled "Limitless: 24 Remarkable American Women of Vision, Grit, and Guts."

Here's more about it via publisher Simon & Schuster:

In the spirit of She Persisted, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, and Rad American A-Z, acclaimed artist Leah Tinari offers a spectacular collection of portraits, celebrating iconic, inspirational, and groundbreaking American women.

Fine artist Leah Tinari’s stunning, spellbinding portraits honor the groundbreaking achievements and indelible impact of twenty-four extraordinary American women. These women’s dreams were without boundaries; their accomplishments limitless in their reach and lasting power.

Tinari’s list is comprised of trailblazers, whose vision, grit, and guts paved the way not only for the generations to come, but for Tinari’s own artistic journey. These women include Louisa May Alcott, Rachel Carson, Julia Child, Shirley Chisholm, Ellen Degeneres, Ray Eames, Eve Ensler, Carrie Fisher, Dian Fossey, Aretha Franklin, Betsey Johnson, Carol Kaye, Yuri Kochiyama, Liz Lambert, Lozen, Shirley Muldowney, Tracey Norman, Annie Oakley, Georgia O’Keefe, Dolly Parton, Kimberly Pierce, Gilda Radner, Sojourner Truth, and Abby Wambach.

Tomorrow, Tinari is signing copies at an.mé, the boutique for kids and families at 328 E. Ninth St. (between First Avenue and Second Avenue) from noon to 5 p.m.

Undercover of the sidewalk bridge

Spotted the other day on Second Street... teasing an imminent announcement of a Rolling Stones U.S. tour, reportedly including a June 2019 stop at MetLife Stadium...

[Updated] The First & First Finest Deli is no longer called that

I don't know when this signage switcheroo happened... in any event, the MTA-stop-friendly First & First Finest Deli at 18 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street is now a very noticeable...



...Food U Desiere 3. (Not sure if this is supposed to be Food U Desire 3. There are other Food U Desire locations in NYC, as the 3 would suggest.)

Anyway, if anyone has any Food U Desiere 3 inside information, please leave a detailed comment. (Same phone number, same employees.)

The space was Roger's Garden, which was rehabbed back in 2011...



Updated 11/19

The sign now reads Food U Desire 3... got rid of that extra e

Consumer affairs

#FlashbackFriday with X-Ray Spex doing "Art-I-Ficial" from 1978... the band's debut album, Germfree Adolescents, was released this week in 1978.