36 St. Mark's Place for rent again as Joe's Steam Rice Roll closes

Last week we reported that workers had emptied out Joe's Steam Rice Roll at 36 St. Mark's Place.

It wasn't immediately clear if this meant a closure — or renovation. After all, the quick-serve shop between Second Avenue and Third Avenue closed for seven weeks without any public notice in the fall of 2019.

Unfortunately, it looks like a permanent closure — the address is now on the RIPCO website. The rent is available upon request. 

Joe's debuted in the East Village in June 2019 ... and it seemed poised to break the curse of concepts that couldn't make it work in this space. This was the first standalone location for the business, described as a "cult favorite" by Eater, which got its start in a tiny storefront in Flushing.

No. 36 has seen a variety of openings and closings in recent years, including Cheers Cut, the Taiwanese mini-chain of fried foods ... Friterie Belgian Fries ... Fasta ("Pasta Your Way") ... and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza.

Photo by Steven; H/T Upper West Sider!

Hot dogs? How about Korean-style corn dogs for 147 Avenue A

Last week we mentioned that a new quick-serve restaurant was in the works for 147 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street. The work permits listed the business as a "hot dog store." 

Well! That's sorta accurate. Turns out "corn dog store" would have been an even better descriptor.

As Steven points out, there's now a QR code out front ... taking you to the website for Two Hands — "Seoul fresh corn dogs" ...

This looks to be the first NYC location for the expanding company that has franchises in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Here's a look at what to expect with their varieties of corn dogs...

... and here's some fetish promo footage via the Two Hands Instagram account...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Two Hands Corn Dogs - Lakewood (@twohands_lakewood)

Monday's parting shot

The Gov. Cuomo wheatpaste as seen on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street...

An open window at the former P.S. 64

An EVG reader shared these photos... showing an open window on the top floor of the former (and long-empty) P.S. 64 building — on the 10th Street side between Avenue B and Avenue C...

The reader, who reports seeing people on the roof here fairly often, believes yesterday's gale-force winds KO'd the window.

Developer Gregg Singer, who bought the property from the city during an auction in 1998, has wanted to turn the building into a dorm called University Square. The DOB continues to maintain a Stop Work Order — dating to August 2015 — on the property. 

In years past several local elected officials, community activists and residents have asked for the return of the building for community use. The building became the Charas/El Bohio Community Center after the school left in 1977. The group was eventually evicted when Singer took over as the landlord. It has sat empty these past 20-plus years, causing locals to be concerned about its crumbling façade. 

Report of a roof fire at 170 E. 2nd St.

There were some dramatic moments this morning as the FDNY quickly extinguished a rooftop fire at 170 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

FDNY on the scene of the rooftop fire at Ave A @ 2nd @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/yfQaH35swV

— Alice Bodemyr-Dunaway (@alicedunaway) March 15, 2021

Witnesses reported seeing "intense flames" coming from the roof.

No word at the moment what caused the blaze or the extent of the damage. 

Here's a view of the FDNY on the building's roof via @alicedunaway ...

Vinny & O shared images from Avenue A and Second Street...

Top photo via the Citizen app

Owners of Tribeca's Khe-Yo plan to bring Laotian cuisine to 12th Street

The owners of Khe-Yo, which serves Laotian cuisine down on Duane Street in Tribeca, have designs on opening a bar-restaurant at 503-505 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

They'll be appearing before CB3's SLA committee tonight for a new liquor license for the space...

The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website shows that the restaurant will hold 74 people inside and another 19 in the backyard... with proposed (post-pandemic) hours of 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. (with a 2 a.m. close on Sunday and Monday).

The virtual committee meeting starts tonight at 6:30. The Zoom link is here.

Until late last summer, this space was home to Mace, the high-end cocktail bar... which moved on to West Eighth Street. Mace relocated from Ninth Street to this larger space in early 2019. 

Double Wide closed at No. 503-505 in March 2018 (much to the relief of some neighbors). Noise issues have been persistent here dating back to the Mundial and Totem days.

H/T to the reader who shared these photos!

The Wafels & Dinges outpost on Avenue B has closed

The Wafels & Dinges cafe has closed on Avenue B and Second Street. Workers were spotted clearing out the corner space this past week. 

This was the first brick-and-mortar cafe — opening in July 2013 — for the popular food trucks serving Belgian waffles that have been in circulation around the city dating to 2007.

W&D founder Thomas DeGeest, who lived with his family in the neighborhood, confirmed the closure to EVG contributor Stacie Joy. (All photos from Friday by Stacie.)

"We are in the process of moving out. The store is closed and won't reopen," he said. "It's been many years of great memories, of meeting interesting neighbors and wonderful customers. We always considered it a privilege to serve everyone. People came to spend their time with us, they came to enjoy our food and our cafe, and that's something to be grateful for.

"For the East Village, unfortunately, it's gonna be another empty storefront," he continued. "But for many New Yorkers and tourists over the past 14 years, Wafels & Dinges has become part of their New York experience."

Although this outpost has closed, he said his family business is here to stay. "We'll heat up our irons again, we'll bake and we will thrive."

The W&D trucks are still in circulation and they still have their permanent kiosks at Bryant Park and Herald Square. They're also now selling their wares online.  

"When the COVID crisis forced us to close all brick and mortar locations last year, we were able to pivot, thanks to many customer donations, and we shipped over 12,000 waffles out to frontline workers in New York, Baltimore, New Orleans and Chicago," DeGeest said. "That was the launching pad to start our online shop."  

Jian Bing Man coming to 1st Avenue

An outpost of Jian Bing Man will be opening later this year at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The quick-serve restaurant that specializes in Chinese crêpes recently signed a lease for the vacant space. This will be the third outpost in the city, joining the ones in Food Gallery 32 on West 32nd Street and at the Gansevoort Market on West 14th Street.

As for their signature dish, here's a description via the Jian Bing Man website:

This savory crisp-fried crêpe is all about bold contrasts of flavor and texture: eggs, spread over the surface of the wheat and mung bean flour pancake as it cooks. Each one is cooked fresh to order on a circular cast-iron grill, just the way you want it.

They'll also offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes.

The previous tenant here, Doma Food and Drinks, a Korean bistro, didn't have much of a chance, opening in February 2020 — about six weeks before the PAUSE ... this was a new concept from the owners of the Tang, which opened in this space in July 2016. 

H/T Upper West Sider!

Sunshine Cinema-replacing office building reaches the top on Houston

The steel structure is complete at 141 E. Houston St. ... and workers this past week planted the American flag atop the 9-story building here between Eldridge and Forsyth to mark the occasion... 

Some marketing background:

From acclaimed architect Roger Ferris, the only new development of its type on the Lower East Side, 141 East Houston is a new frame for viewing the neighborhood. Column-free and unbounded by walls, it reinterprets the area through a bold geometric perimeter of cladding and glass. State-of- the-art workspaces and private terraces reframe expectations, while a well-connected location recasts perspectives. 

With its glass frame and dynamic courtyard running the length of its eastern side, doubling as a second facade, 141 East Houston challenges the distinction between indoors and out.

East End Capital and K Property Group bought the property for $31.5 million in the spring of 2017. The links below provide more background on what has transpired on the site of the former Sunshine Cinema (RIP January 2018).

Previously on EV Grieve: 
• Sunshine Cinema-replacing office building moving forward; demolition watch back on

• Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

• The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

• A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

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

2 new plant-based restaurants arrive for takeout and delivery on 1st Street

58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue is now home to two plant-based restaurants — VistroBurger and PurpleThai...

The restaurants, offering takeout and delivery, popped up here last week.

Vistro offers several varieties of burgers, including the CHICKpea, the Shroom'n, the Beanoa (black beans and quinoa) and the Sexy SeiTAN. The menu is here. You can find the PurpleThai menu here.

Both establishments are from Ross Glick, the founder of Vegan Warrior Project. 

The new businesses must mean the end of Km1, short for Kilometro Uno, the Caribbean restaurant that debuted late in the summer of 2020 and only lasted a few months before going dark.

This address has seen several quality restaurants come and go in recent years. Esperanto Fonda lasted nine months, closing in May 2017. Before that, this was home to BARA for two years and Prima for three years. The Elephant, a Thai restaurant, was previously here for 17 years.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo outside Cooper Union by Derek Berg...) 

• RIP Julian Baczynsky (Friday) 

• Appreciating the pinhole photography of late East Village resident Veronica Saddler (Wednesday) 

• Frank Prisinzano planning grocery concept near Lil' Frankie's on 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Claim: The pandemic caused more bar-restaurant closings in the East Village than in any other NYC neighborhood (Wednesday) 

• At the Black History Bowl (Sunday) 

• On the Bowery: Stop Asian Hate (Saturday) 

• City removes tree said to have been tangled up with a sanitation truck on 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

• Sidewalk bridge fakeout at the beleaguered Mariana Bracetti Plaza (Wednesday) 

• PSA 4 providing increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza (Monday) 

• Concern for the barking dogs at 58 St. Mark's Place (Friday) 

• Pod dining in this week's NY See (Wednesday) 

• Gallery Watch heads to Public Access on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Indoor dining in NYC increases to 50% on March 19; Little Poland promises to reopen (Thursday) 

• "Russian Doll" films on 3rd Street (Wednesday) 

• Anthology Film Archives will remain closed for the time being (Thursday) 

• New owners for Thirsty Scholar Pub on 2nd Avenue (Friday) 

• Phony Express returns with an "Odessa" special (Friday)

• O Ramen Dim Sum M has closed on 9th Street (Monday) 

• Changes: Looking for a Coinstar replacement after the Food Emporium closes this spring? (Tuesday) 

• Full reveal for Spike's on Avenue A (Monday) 

• San Francisco's Beloved Cafe ready to adore the LES (Thursday) 

• Incoming pizzeria check, 14th Street/Avenue A edition (Monday)

... and, to keep with a bike theme in the photos, a moment along St. Mark's Place Friday via Derek Berg...

---

Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Tonight, the city will honor the 30,000 New Yorkers who have died from COVID-19

Photo of the COVID-19 memorial on A and 10th from April 11. 

Tonight at 7:45, the city will pause to mark the one-year anniversary of the first reported COVID-19 fatality in New York City.

One year. One city.

Tonight we remember and honor the New Yorkers we lost to #COVID19.

Join us: https://t.co/nro6pm8sRc #COVIDMemorial pic.twitter.com/68skVpaqBX

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 14, 2021

As Gothamist reports, 30,031 people have died from COVID-19 in New York City — 25,147 deaths categorized by the city as confirmed, and 5,027 considered probable. 

The City has more on this evening's memorial event here.

Report: Kavasutra ownership blasts educators who teach remotely, 'pussy leftists' for wearing masks

As the New York Post reports, Kavasutra Kava Bar, the Florida-based chain, "is taking heat" for posts this past week from its main Instagram account that called out educators who still teach remotely and "pussy leftists" who wear masks. 

According to their Instagram posts, those educators who aren't teaching in-person are banned from all Kavasutra locations, including the two in the East Village (10th Street and First Street). 

After a barrage of criticism and one-star reviews on Yelp for the post on March 9, Kavasutra followed up with another on Instagram:

"It has come to our attention that we may have upset some people with our last post. We've been reading your comments and we understand how we may have effected [sic] some of you, so we want to be very clear: masks are for leftist losers. Teachers unions are trash. Women are born with ovaries. And we are doing slams at midnight tonight."

As The Miami Herald noted in its headline Friday: "This South Florida bar just managed to insult almost everyone in two Instagram posts." On Friday, the editorial board at The Denver Post suggested to its readers that they "steer clear" of the two Kavasutra outposts in that city.

Various news outlets have reported that this isn't the chain's first go-around with inflammatory social media posts. In sexist and anti-transgender posts in 2018, they stated that participants in ladies night must be women from birth. In a follow-up, they tried to clarify their position: "The point of ladies night is to get ladies in the door so the men can bang them. If there's no vagina then they don't qualify because they don't benefit the business and the plan."

Initially, management reportedly blamed an employee who they said was fired. However, as the Sun-Sentinel later reported, owner Dylan Harrison admitted to police that he wrote the posts. The admission came after a confrontation at a South Florida location led to several arrests.

The 10th Street Kavasutra location opened in July 2015; the First Street outpost in December 2019.

EVG Etc.: Gov. Cuomo's rise and fall; Eisenberg's possible revival

Photo on 4th and the Bowery last night by Stacie Joy

• The rise of fall of Gov. Cuomo (The New York Times)

• The great Eisenberg's sandwich shop on 5th Avenue has closed; the building's manager and owner want someone to save it (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York) 

• Inside the city's SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan (Off the Grid) 

• Egg watch for Amelia and Christo in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Survey says half of NYC's office workers won't return until September (Gothamist) 

• The importance of the midsize NYC chain grocer (Grub Street) 

• On 3rd Street, Book Club extends hours from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends (Instagram) 

• Details on a Joey Ramone tribute live stream in the U.K. (NME) 

• Rough Trade in Willismburgh closes on March 21 ahead of a move to a new, undisclosed location. Anyway, sales! (Instagram) 

Saturday's parting thank you note

A note as seen on First Avenue and Fifth Street (thanks Karen!)... 

To the guy who 

found & returned 

my wallet today 

(Saturday), thank 

you so much!!! 

Sorry I was frazzled 

& didn't thank you

enough. I am so

grateful. — Emily

Noted

As seen on Second Avenue and Second Street... no sign of the headboard... photo via Stacie Joy...

On the Bowery: Stop Asian Hate

As seen at 246 Bowery at Stanton — #StopAsianHate, a mural by @plannedalism in collaboration with @lisaprojectnyc.

This CNBC article from Wednesday has more on the rise in anti-Asian violence and its impact on the restaurant industry. 

A group of restaurateurs, including many in the East Village (886, Málà Project and Nowon), have joined forces to raise awareness via a #EnoughIsEnough campaign. Read more about it at Eater. 

Welcome to Chinatown is also a good resource for how to support businesses in that neighborhood.

Another chance to Zumba on the open streets of Avenue B this afternoon

The Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition is hosting two Zumba sessions this afternoon on Avenue B between Ninth Street and 10th Street... there's a low-impact version at 1 p.m. followed by an all-level session at 2 p.m. 

Your Rite Aid on 1st Avenue signage update

As a follow-up to Wednesday's post on the disappearing signage at the Rite Aid on First Avenue and Fifth Street...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the store yesterday: "Crew reports new lettering and signage (to reflect new colors, font, etc.) should be up next week. They told me they have no plans to close, that all Rite Aids are being rebranded."

Workers smoothed over the marquee to make way for the new brandage/signage... which will look like this...

And there's a sneak preview up now (thanks Goggla!)...

Friday's parting shot

A moment on Rivington Street today... thanks to Colin Clark for permission to repost this photo... (find more of his work on Instagram).

March 12, part II

When the temps get above 60, it must become a good time to toss the ol' Chrsitmas tree ... Wheezy tracked this one down on 11th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue today... way to go Wheezy!

Friday I'm in love

Was flipping through magazines at Ink on A (66 Avenue A) the other day... came across the March issue of Mojo, essentially a tribute to the Cure... including the band's 30 greatest songs... No. 1 on the magazine's list? "A Forest" from 1980 ...

 

Good pick, though not my No. 1. This is all really subjective ... I'd put "The Catepillar" atop the list ... (No.  10 at Mojo)...

  

 "Six Different Ways" would be in there (didn't even rate a mention in Mojo)...

   

... and "Primary" (No. 16 in Mojo)...

  .

.. and "In-Between Days" ... (No. 2 in Mojo)...

 

... and one that didn't make the list..."Cut Here"...

 

March 12

As seen on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... photo by Steven... 

And don't forget to spring forward this weekend.

Concern for the barking dogs at 58 St. Mark's Place

Back in October, an EVG reader wrote in about a seemingly unattended dog (or dogs) coming from somewhere in the shared courtyard toward the west side of the block between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place ... and First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Since then, thanks to some sleuthing, the reader has tracked down the location ... but is stymied by the lack of progress to free the dogs.

I posted on Next Door, where I was able to find a man across the courtyard who had already posted about the dogs, and could identify the building and posted a video of the dogs barking and scratching at the back entrance, as well as someone who had seen the dogs moved into the same building at the time when the barking started. 

Unfortunately, what we learned is that the dogs are being kept in the abandoned unit that formerly was home to Clay Pot at 58 St. Mark's Place. It's empty. So every time I report it to 311, they send a police officer who knocks on the door, no one answers, and they shut the animal neglect ticket. 

The Office of Health and Mental Hygiene isn't answering their phones or returning messages. The barking is near-constant day and night, and obviously very distressed and suffering. I have been posting flyers outside the door, which get ripped off, and I found a ConEd notice this week saying that there was no tenant in the unit but it was still receiving gas, which would be shut off. 

I (and the others on NextDoor) am now worried that if it gets cold again, or if electricity is cut off, those dogs will freeze to death, or die of sheer neglect in the dark.

Is there anything else EV Grieve readers can think of? I have tried 311 and the 92nd St ASPCA (both of which send the complaint to the local NYPD precinct, which knocks and leaves), flyers, Next Door. I'm at wit's end and feel as though I am just waiting for the dogs to die tragically. 

58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second is one of the many East Village buildings scooped up by now-disgraced landlord Raphael (Rafi) Toledano. The building appears to still be in his name, per public records.

In 2017, a subsidiary of lender Madison Realty Capital took over the portfolio while Toledano was mired in bankruptcy proceedings. It's not immediately clear who is managing the building today... or who is keeping the dogs behind an empty restaurant space.

RIP Julian Baczynsky

Julian Baczynsky, who opened the East Village Meat Market in 1970 at 139 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, died on Wednesday. He was 98. 

The shop's Instagram account posted this tribute:

It is with great sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of our beloved founder/owner, Julian Baczynsky. His work and dedication to the Ukrainian community and the East Village will always be remembered.

According to Village Preservation, Baczynsky emigrated here from Ukraine in 1949.

In 1955 he opened his first store on Avenue B and 10th Street, and later he and a partner opened a store on First Avenue. In 1970 he and his partner parted ways and he started his own store at 139 Second Avenue with the goal to have a store that would preserve Eastern European culture.

Per the East Village Meat Market website: "It was his life-long dream to own a business and have a slice of the American Dream."

We asked Tom Birchard, the longtime owner of Veselka on Second Avenue at Ninth Street, for his thoughts about the passing of his friend and neighbor.

Mr. Baczynsky opened his shop on Second Avenue shortly after I came to Veselka in 1966 and we’ve been friends and neighbors ever since. He has supplied us with his excellent home-smoked kielbasa for over 50 years. We have at times struggled to survive and at times flourished together. We couldn't have asked for a better neighbor and collaborator. We are very thankful for his long and very productive life. He will be sorely missed.

Although Baczynsky lived outside the city of late, he was a resident of this neighborhood for many years. The shop will continue under the leadership of manager Andrew Ilnicki.

Image via @eastvillagemeatmarket

New owners in line for former Thirsty Scholar Pub on 2nd Avenue

Thirsty Scholar Pub has not been open since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

New owners are now in line to open a like-minded establishment here. David Harris (above left) and Cris Nastasi (right) will appear before CB3's SLA Committee on Monday for a liquor license for a bar called the Long Pour.

The two, who collected signatures of support outside the space this week, have ties to the neighborhood — and this block. Harris is currently the manager of Bull McCabe's on St. Mark's Place and previously served as a bartender at now-closed block-mates the Telephone Bar & Grill and Ryan's Irish Pub. Nastasi was born and raised in the neighborhood and spent 15 years as the technical director of "Stomp" at the Orpheum Theatre on Second Avenue.

You can find the Long Pour questionnaire on the CB3 website here. 

The virtual committee meeting starts Monday evening at 6:30. The Zoom link is here.

The Thirsty Scholar opened in 1999, first going as the Jolly Rodger. 

Photo by Steven 

Phony Express serving up an 'Odessa' special

The pandemic-era local band Phony Express (read the backstory here) is back with a new single in honor of a longtime friend on Avenue A ... here's "Odessa" ...

Thursday's parting shot

A moment from the "FBI" shoot (the CBS series!) today around Cooper Union... photo by Derek Berg...

Spring break

66 degrees at 5 p.m. on this March 11... photo in Tompkins Square Park late this afternoon by Lola Saénz ...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood and NYC ...  

Indoor dining in NYC increases to 50% on March 19; Little Poland promises reopening

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday afternoon that New York City will expand indoor dining capacity to 50 percent beginning on March 19. 

The news coincided with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announcing that his state's restaurants would also increase to 50 percent. 

NYC and New Jersey restaurants are currently operating at 35 percent capacity ... while the rest of New York State is operating at 50 percent capacity (soon to be 75 percent on March 19).

And via the news advisory...

"In New York State, our decisions are based on science and data and we are encouraged by the continued decline in infection and hospitalization rates," Cuomo said in a statement. "We will continue to follow the science and react accordingly. If we keep the infections down and vaccinations up, we will continue to stay ahead in the footrace against this invisible enemy and reach the light at the end of the tunnel together."

Several East Village bars and restaurants have previously said that they'd reopen when the capacity hit 50 percent ... including Little Poland on Second Avenue. The diner teased this out yesterday on Instagram...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Little Poland Restaurant (@littlepoland_nyc)

Top photo at Il Posto Accanto from February by Stacie Joy...

Anthology Film Archives will remain closed for the time being

One year ago today Anthology Film Archives temporarily closed its doors at the start of the pandemic.

Although NYC theaters were OK'd to reopen at limited capacity last Friday, the theater on Second Street at Second Avenue was not among the movie houses electing to restart its in-person programming. 

Here's more via the Anthology Instagram account: 

[D]espite that announcement, Anthology is not planning to rush it — given the current COVID numbers in NYC, the uncertainty surrounding new variants of the virus, and the increasing momentum of the vaccination program, we are keeping our theaters closed for the time being. 

We're hard at work developing the protocols that will allow us to safely reopen when the time is right, and we’ll keep you updated. 

Meanwhile, we'll continue to offer online programming before and after we open our doors, so that until everything returns (as much as possible) to normal, watching our programs from home will still be an option.

The Anthology is a vital part of this neighborhood (and NYC)... looking forward to when they are ready to safely return.