EVG reader Angela Moore shared these photos from the Tompkins Square Park playground along Avenue A ... where someone drew a dick on the children's slide ... and a tree ...
Not sure if kids will buy that this is an interpretative drawing of R2-D2.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Some dick tagged the Tompkins Square Park playground
EVG reader Angela Moore shared these photos from the Tompkins Square Park playground along Avenue A ... where someone drew a dick on the children's slide ... and a tree ...
Not sure if kids will buy that this is an interpretative drawing of R2-D2.
The ghost stand of Christmas past: Holiday confusion as trees return to 2nd Avenue
The EVG inbox lit up this afternoon
This was the very spot that the Tree Riders had this past holiday season before they packed it up on Dec. 24.
Salim, who shared this photo below, notes that the trees appeared this afternoon, seemingly ready for sale, though no one was around to actually sell them. A ghost stand!
Meanwhile, Derek Berg spotted these workers delivering trees to a nearly locale in the Abe Lebewohl Triangle at 10th/Stuyvesant this afternoon ...
Apparently all this is prep work for holiday-related scenes tomorrow for "The Village," a new NBC series that has been filming around here in recent months.
Updated
I asked the Tree Riders via Facebook what was happening: "NBC liked our set up so much they asked us to come back after the holidays for a shoot!"
[Photo from last night]
EVErything about the new luxury rentals at the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office
[View from 14th Street]
Leasing is underway in the new luxury building called EVE, officially at 433 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. This is on the site of the onetime Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (1951-2014).
[View from 13th Street]
New York Yimby, who first reported on the leasing, noted that market-rate units begin at $3,250 per month for studios and up to $7,000 for two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. In addition, as an 80/20 development, 20 percent of the apartments are designated as affordable.
Here are a few items about EVE to note from the website, which includes lines such as "rEVEl in your surroundings" and "EVEnings out" ...
Amenities:
Eve’s premium amenity package was thoughtfully designed to appeal to the busy New Yorker. An inviting tenant lounge, complete with a cozy fireplace, is perfect for freelancers working from home, and the state-of-the-art fitness center makes it easy to fit in a workout first thing in the morning, or later on as the day is winding down. The true stand-out is the fully landscaped roof deck, furnished with an expansive lawn, a barbecue area, and an outdoor TV and sound system which will change movie night forever.
Design:
The neighborhood’s artistic and rock roots are tastefully woven into the building’s design, bringing color and creativity to the clean, contemporary spaces. Original artwork in the REED lounge by Francis Le Gaucher and Alexander Jackson pays homage to some of the neighborhood’s most iconic bands, and Remko Heemskerk’s courtyard mural adds palpable warmth to a collaborative area.
Those iconic bands would be the Velvet Underground, Blondie and the Ramones.
And some renderings...
In the short term over the next 24 months or so, residents facing 14th Street will have a view of the L-train construction work, including the new entrance and elevator for the train at Avenue A. As previously reported, 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A is serving as the main hub for the Canarsie tube rehab, likely even under Gov. Cuomo's new plan for weekend-only work.
The L-train prep work started in July 2017 on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B. In recent months 14th Street residents and local elected officials here have spoken out about the noise, traffic, and dust and debris that have impacted air quality along this corridor.
As for the new building, reps for Benenson and Mack Real Estate previously sought a variance to build four more floors (to 12 from 8) than the zoning would allow to make up for the "extraordinary construction costs" from poor ground conditions here. They ultimately withdrew this request in March 2017.
A Trader Joe's was originally slated for the 14th Street retail space. However, a Trader Joe's rep told me the following in October: "Unfortunately, we do not have any current plans for a store at that location."
Several articles about EVE do mention the Trader Joe's for the new building ... it's also on the map of local businesses on the EVE website (though it's not actually mentioned anywhere on the site) ...
And here's a look inside the under-construction retail space, which includes an escalator...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rants: the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office
Meanwhile, at everyone's favorite local post office branch...
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished
The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building
New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room
Developer withdraws zoning variance request for former 14th Street post office site
The Peter Stuyvesant-PO-replacing residential building tops out on 14th Street
All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street
[2014]
Chelsea Thai closes after 5 months on 1st Avenue
[Photo Saturday by Steven]
On Friday night, Chelsea Thai founder-chef Saruj Nimkarn hung the closing sign on his restaurant at 192 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
[Photo by Lola Sáenz]
Nimkarn just debuted here in August after 21 years in the Chelsea Market. (A rent increase there forced Nimkarn to look elsewhere.) Unfortunately, he told EVG regular Lola Sáenz that there wasn't enough business in his new space to make the rent.
The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Not entirely sure why the restaurant didn't last. (Lack of a liquor license? Not enough daytime foot traffic? Too many other buzzy new restaurants nearby such as Little Tong Noodle Shop and Tatsu Ramen?)
The address was previously home to the Neptune. The Polish-American diner closed in December 2016 after 15 years in business. According to one source, the rent doubled. After Neptune's departure, the landlord divided up the restaurant into two retail spaces.
Space 194, a hybrid tea-coffee shop-gallery recently opened in the other storefront.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Chelsea Thai coming to former Neptune space on 1st Avenue; Filipino fare for Avenue A
Chelsea Thai debuts on 1st Avenue
[Updated] Bad Carma? 6th Street dim sum spot hasn't been open lately
Updated: We understand that Carma East will reopen Jan. 14 after a kitchen upgrade. Updated 2: Carma reopened the week of Jan. 28.
The gates have been down of late at Carma East, the dim sum bar at 507 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The closure during the holiday stretched into this past weekend.
There isn't any notice about a temporary closing on the restaurant's website or social media properties, though their phone is out of service and Yelp lists them as closed.
An EVG reader who lives nearby shared this photo from early December, when Carma East added six flat-screen TVs (tuned to sporting events) and a random assortment of NFL pennants ...
Per the reader: "Seems like a bit of an odd mix with soup dumplings." (The Carma East Instagram account does say "Tapas to Get Drunk With.")
This sibling of Carma Asian Tapas in the West Village opened on Sixth Street in September 2016.
And this has been a tough stretch of Sixth Street for restaurants. If this closure is permanent, then that makes three restaurants out of four storefronts to shut down in the past year... the others are Cholo Noir (a new applicant is looking to lease this spot) and Out East (new ownership was expected in this space too).
Make Sandwich leaves 4th Avenue, will try again somewhere else
Catching up to a year-end closing on Fourth Avenue ... where Make Sandwich shut down right before Christmas here between 13th Street and 14th Street.
According to the shop's website: "We’ll be closing the shop ... to look for a location that is more suitable for our craft. We’d like to thank you all for your support and sando love."
This area around Union Square seems like a suitable spot for a sandwich place... or maybe there were too many quick-serve options right around here. (Sandwicherie New York arrived on Fourth Avenue at 13th Street shortly after Make's debut, for instance.)
Make, an extension of the Melt Shop brand, opened at 135 Fourth Ave. in January 2017.
H/T Laura!
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Week in Grieview
[Photo on Avenue A last Sunday by Derek Berg]
Stories posted on EVG this past week included...
Remembering a few of our friends and neighbors who died in 2018 (Monday)
Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown (Thursday) Reactions and questions over Gov. Cuomo's surprise subway announcement (Friday)
A visit to Rossy's Bakery & Café on 3rd Street (Thursday)
East Village in Images 2018 (Tuesday)
Webster Hall returns this spring (Thursday)
Metropolis Vintage is on the move to a larger space nearby on Broadway (Wednesday)
Report: Suspect arrested in connection with sexual assaults in the East Village dating to 2014 (Saturday)
The Continental has likely closed for good on 3rd Avenue (Wednesday)
Sushi by M opens on 4th Street (Wednesday)
Juicy Lucy's 1st Street outpost is on a winter break (Thursday)
New tenant for 37 St. Mark's Place — REVEALED (Friday)
Cienfuegos bows out to make way for Honeybee's on Avenue A (Friday)
This 12th Street penthouse includes a home gym, screening room and 1,600sf guest apartment (Wednesday)
The art of Sir Shadow and the remaining residents of the Whitehouse Hotel on the Bowery (Monday)
... and checking in on the New Year's Resolution on 14th Street...
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Luke's Lobster rolls back in business after temporary closure
Luke's Lobster is back in action (as of Friday) after a fire broke out on the fifth floor of 93 E. Seventh St. just east of First Avenue on Dec. 27.
Luke's originally thought they'd be closed for several weeks... turned out to be just one.
No one was injured in the fire. The FDNY has yet to disclose the cause of the fire on the fifth floor.
Report of a stolen car on Fifth and A
An EVG reader shared this video from last night ... when there was an unconfirmed report of a stolen car on Fifth Street at Avenue A just before 8:30.
Per the reader: "Some woman threw herself on top of the car ... and said her car was being stolen... everyone nearby jumped in and tried to get in the car to stop."
Here's the video...
The Citizen app notes that the police were called to the scene and reported "there was no carjacking."
Regardless of what transpired, the reader called this "a strange scenario."
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Report: Suspect arrested in connection with sexual assaults in the East Village dating to 2014
Police have arrested a Brooklyn lawyer suspected in several sexual assaults committed in late 2014 and early 2015, according to multiple published reports.
Per the Daily News:
Rashaun Kelley, 35, is facing multiple burglary, sex abuse and attempted rape charges for sneaking into apartment buildings and trying to force himself on at least three women in the East Village and Harlem, police said. He’s also a suspect in two other similar sexual assaults.
CBS2 reports: "Authorities say they tracked the suspect down as a result of extensive police work."
In each of the attacks, the suspect wore a Yankees cap, as surveillance videos showed.
Updated 8 p.m.
The Daily News has an updated article:
At his arraignment Saturday evening, Kelley — whose brother is an NYPD cop, according to a court source — denied the charges, and said the police case has holes.
“To say it was shaky is being generous,” lawyer Christopher Carrion, a law school friend of Kelley who represented him at his arraignment, said of evidence — including DNA — compiled in the case.
Carrion said one victim viewed a lineup and indicated Kelley looked like her attacker, but that she wasn’t sure.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Police searching for man now suspected of 2 sexual attacks
NYPD looking for suspect in 5 sexual assaults, including 2 in the East Village
When two cars beat as one
Noted
[The L-train construction zone along 14th Street this a.m.]
Details continue to emerge from Gov. Cuomo's L-train bombshell from Thursday ... like this one today via the Post on Cuomo's untested approach:
The engineering team behind Gov. Cuomo’s miracle L-train cure has little experience working on transit projects — and spent a grand total of an hour evaluating the damage firsthand in the subway line’s tunnel, The Post has learned.
But, in a stunning piece of spin, the governor’s office defended that lack of expertise as innovative thinking.
“We’re breaking the box by using the expertise of engineers who don’t usually work on subways in order to improve it,” Cuomo spokesman Patrick Muncie told The Post.
Freshman year
Local artist Lexi Bella completed this mural yesterday of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at First Street Green Cultural Park.
Per Lexi on Instagram: "I have been so inspired by our new women in Congress I had to paint my favorite..."
Friday, January 4, 2019
Friday's parting shot
A reader shared this photo from Avenue A and 14th Street tonight, where workers continue to jackhammer away on the new L-train entrance here... apparently not impacted by the Governor's 11th-hour plan.
Today in Urban Etiquette Signs; 'How dare you'
And a reminder not to discard your mattress and box springs over on this part of 11th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, via @ChrisRyanAction...
As you can see, there are two notes affixed to the discarded property... starting with an effective:
And, uh-oh! ...
As you can see, there are two notes affixed to the discarded property... starting with an effective:
How dare you
And, uh-oh! ...
We have you in [?] camera. It's a violation to put your garbage in private property.
Keep your BED.
Yours, mine and ours
Piroshka is a supergroup of sorts, featuring Miki Berenyi of Lush as well as KJ McKillop of Moose, Justin Welch of Elastica and Michael Conroy of Modern English. The band's debut record, Brickbat, is out Feb. 15 via Bella Union. The video here is for "Everlastingly Yours."
To L and back: Reactions and questions over Gov. Cuomo's surprise subway announcement
In a surprise move yesterday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the L-train won't be completely shut down between Brooklyn and Manhattan for Sandy-related repairs in April after all.
With this new plan, workers will repair the Canarsie tunnel one tube at a time on nights and weekends, with one track remaining open for service... all over the course of 15 to 20 months.
According to Cuomo, crews will install cables on racks along the inside of the tunnels, and leave the old cables where they are. Per various published reports, the workaround relies on the use of a fiber reinforced plastic, which hasn’t been used in the United States for this type of tunnel repair.
There are questions about all this...
I'm trying to break down what Cuomo did to the L train today, and at a very fundamental and basic level, I think there are two gating questions: "what the hell did he even just propose?" and "how do we have any assurances it will work?"
— Second Ave. Sagas (@2AvSagas) January 3, 2019
Hmm...
The lack of rigorous analysis missing from today for a project of this scope is staggering.
— Second Ave. Sagas (@2AvSagas) January 3, 2019
Gersh Kuntzman at Streetsblog has the best post (link here) on answering some questions raised following yesterday's presser.
Meanwhile, here's reaction from two local elected officials...
Sen. Brad Hoylman:
“As the State Senator who represents the entire stretch of the L train in Manhattan, I welcome any alternative to the L-train tunnel shutdown that repairs the tunnel within the current project timeline and maintains train service, while eliminating the need for hundreds of additional dirty diesel buses in our neighborhoods and traffic on side streets.
That said, after three years of planning and community input, my constituents have reason to be circumspect about the details. It’ll be the job of the new Senate Democratic majority along with our Assembly colleagues to provide sufficient oversight of the MTA and this plan.
In addition, we must continue to push for more reliable train and bus service, planned upgrades to our station and bike infrastructure, and work toward the ultimate goal of reducing car traffic through congestion pricing.”
District 2 City Councilmember Carlina Rivera:
“While I believe that the State and MTA are committed to providing the best L train plan for New Yorkers, I am disappointed that today’s news was announced without warning and with nowhere near enough detail, after years of careful planning by our communities.
Residents in my District are now in the dark about how they will be impacted by this new plan, and I am worried that many New Yorkers unnecessarily moved from affected areas and local small businesses suffered preparing for the expected shutdown.
In my discussions with MTA officials [yesterday] afternoon, I did hear some encouraging information, including potentially less noise and construction along 14th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue B. But I am still left with more questions than answers.
As we learn more and weigh the dramatic impact this plan will have on our city, I am calling on the City Council to hold hearings this month on this plan so we and the public can have our questions fully answered from State and agency officials well ahead of the plan’s commencement.
In addition, the city Department of Transportation must stay the course with that the current L Train Alternative Service Plan, including new bike lanes, bus routes, and protected bus corridors, until the public and advocates are able to process and comment on this new plan.
But regardless of how the L Train Tunnel repair goes, our State and City agencies must deeply evaluate how the mishandling of these announcements continues to erode public trust in our most important institutions, and work to redouble their efforts with our communities.”
At an unrelated event yesterday, Mayor de Blasio said that "anything that avoids disruption I favor obviously and a lot of people in Brooklyn, a lot of people in Manhattan have been really worried about the L train shutdown," as reported by the Associated Press. "So, if there is a plan that can be better for the people of our neighborhoods, that's great, but I want to reserve any further judgment until I hear more."
The immediate impact this might have on the construction along 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B isn't known just yet. There are many questions, such as what does Cuomo's new plan mean for the power substation slated for 14th Street and Avenue B?
The Times had more on East Village impacts:
Construction and congestion on side streets in the East Village could be abated, sparing neighbors fumes from supplemental buses and asbestos in the debris removed from the tunnel.
Andy Byford, who oversees New York City’s subways and buses, said there would likely not be a high-occupancy vehicle lane over the Williamsburg Bridge, as had been planned. Additional ferry service from Brooklyn to Manhattan will also not be needed.
No decision has been made regarding shutting down 14th Street in Manhattan for bus service...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A
Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction
What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown
Prepping for the new bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets
Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street
DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot)
New tenant for 37 St. Mark's Place — REVEALED
The signage arrived yesterday for the next tenant at 37 St. Mark's Place (aka 133 Second Ave.) — Shibuyala, which sells beauty and health-care products from Japan. (Thanks to Steven for these photos!)
Shibuyala arrived in the United States in 2016, and now has stores in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston with 50 more outposts expected to open worldwide by 2022, per its website.
We were just talking about 37 St. Mark's Place on Wednesday. Workers have been gutting the space, which has been tenant-free since the 7-Eleven closed in November 2013. (Also, I predicted a dessert place for the space. 0-1 in 2019!)
No word on an opening date. The space is still in the gut-renovation stage.
Here's what to expect inside the shop once it opens, via this Japanese promo clip on the Shibuyala website...
Cienfuegos bows out to make way for Honeybee's on Avenue A
Back in November, owner Ravi DeRossi told me that it was time to change up concepts at the space. This spring, Honeybee's, specializing in plant-based Texas BBQ and bourbon and rye, will make its debut.
Like his other restaurants — LadyBird and Avant Garden, among them — the menu will be all vegan.
DeRossi told Eater that he's experimenting with a blend of mushrooms and other vegetables to create his own "meat" patties.
He says he wants to avoid “fake meat” products like seitan — instead honing in on vegetable dishes with barbecue flavors.
DeRossi brought on chef Amira Gharib to helm the kitchen. She’s spent time in fine-dining kitchens like Daniel Boulud’s Boulud Sud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Matador Room in Miami.
At Honeybee’s, drinks will center almost exclusively on whiskey, specifically rye and bourbon, a first for the cocktail bar owner. All-American craft beers will also be served, he says.
The corner space on Avenue A and Sixth Street also houses two other DeRossi operations — Mother of Pearl and Amor y Amargo.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A concept revamp for the Cienfuegos space on Avenue A
Noted
The Wall Street Journal checks in with a feature (behind the paywall) today on Factory 380, a recently opened Warhol-themed bar located not too far away at 380 Third Ave. between 27th Street and 28th Street.
The name refers to the pop artist’s Manhattan “Factory” or studio, which became home to a host of artists, musicians and assorted creative personalities.
The idea behind the 2,700-square-foot dining and drinking space, developed at a cost of about $600,000, is to capture the energy and vibe of Warhol’s New York in the 1970s...
Design elements range from a collection of photos from Studio 54 to a silver disco ball. Drinks have playful names such as “The Camera Adds 10 Lbs.” and “We Deserve a Smoke Break.”
The article also includes comments from local theme-bar purveyor Zach Neil, whose establishments have included Stay Classy, Beetle House and 'Merica. (He says it's often best to operate themed establishments as short-term businesses or pop-ups.)
Speaking of theme places, the article notes that Neil will open a Harry Potter-inspired coffee shop called Steamy Hallows somewhere in the East Village next month. (Perhaps at his Cake Shake shop on Sixth Street, which has been closed for the past month.)
Thursday, January 3, 2019
What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown
Gov. Cuomo announced today that the 15-month L-train shutdown that was to start in April to repair Sandy-damaged tubes is no longer necessary.
During an early-afternoon press conference, Cuomo, joined by a team of Cuomo-appointed tunnel experts (engineering academics with unknown insights into MTA project management), unveiled a new renovation method using a different design for repairs that would require night and weekend closures of one tube at a time.
Details of the plan have yet to be released.
Per ABC 7:
"It uses many new innovations that are new, frankly, to the rail industry in this country ... With this design, it will not be necessary to close the L train tunnel at all, which would be a phenomenal benefit to the people of New York City," he said.
Cuomo said he does not believe this design has been used in the United States before, though it has been implemented in Europe.
The governor said that commuters should not worry about the integrity of the tunnel: Major structural elements were not compromised. The MTA needs to fix the circuit breaker house and power cables that were damaged after the tubes flooded and were therefore exposed to salt water.
Per The Wall Street Journal:
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials spent years weighing repair options, including shutting down one track at a time to maintain some service between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
In 2016, they opted for a full shutdown, reasoning that it could be completed in half the time and at less expense than a partial shutdown. Initially, they said that a full shutdown would be needed for 18 months, but that timeline was later shortened to 15 months.
Judlau Contracting Inc., which won a $477 million contract to repair the tunnel, was offered incentives to finish the work ahead of schedule and penalties of $400,000 for every day beyond the deadline that the project was delayed.
Mr. Cuomo’s decision to alter the project raises questions about how the contractor can now finish the work on time. It also raises questions about contingency plans that were being put in place by the MTA and New York City following years of planning.
The L-train prep work started in July 2017 on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B. This past summer, residents learned that this corridor was not only the main construction zone leading up to the L-train closure, but also during the 15 months the MTA expected the trains to be offline between Bedford Avenue and Eight Avenue.
Meanwhile, some quickie reaction via Twitter...
My hot take is that I have no idea if this is a better L-tunnel plan than what was supposed to happen. Obviously needs a lot of dissection. What I do know is that Cuomo took interest in this far later than he should have.
— Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) January 3, 2019
Now riders will be majorly inconvenienced for 3-5 years instead of 15 months of a total shutdown...#Cuomo plan very light on details except that it's a "breakthrough"
— David Krulewitch (@MovingBlock) January 3, 2019
Cuomo halting the L train shut down at this point is like when you've finally adjusted to life after being dumped and you feel fine in your new life and then they text you "I've been thinking a lot about you." https://t.co/Thcyvn6Efx
— Mel Owens (@melowens) January 3, 2019
Waiting until the last minute to cancel the L train shutdown -- after three years of anxiety, & a lot of uproot -- just to be hailed the hero, is the single most Cuomo thing possible https://t.co/7YBEFv2QUO
— Rebecca Fishbein (@bfishbfish) January 3, 2019
So I guess now the L train will never get fixed? Who does that help?
— Ananda Ferrari Ossanai (@aanunduh) January 3, 2019
Instead of shutting down the L train for necessary repairs we're gonna keep it running but it will be on fire. Enjoy!
— The Masked Zinger™ (@TimDuffy) January 3, 2019
How much has it already cost New Yorkers to pay for L train shutdown preparations that now won't be needed? There are A LOT of questions that need to be answered.
— Conor White (@conorjwhite) January 3, 2019
This 3-year-long L train hidden-ball-trick nonsense is the single most infuritiating event ever to occur
— Armin Rosen (@ArminRosen) January 3, 2019
reading all your L train jokes while on the L, feeling cyberbullied
— Alex Press (@alexnpress) January 3, 2019
Previously on EV Grieve:
Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A
Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction
Dreams of a light Christmas dashed, attention turns to mysterious hole in Tompkins Square Park
The lights on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree have been off now going on two weeks.
A mysterious hole arrived near the tree in the days leading up to Christmas Eve Eve.
That hole remains guarded by three sections of a barricade... with "Danger: Do Not Enter" signage...
Word here is an electrical issue KO'd the lights
Meanwhile... please do not attempt, despite what you might see on social media...
Happy New Years! Fuck the world! pic.twitter.com/M7MH2jKajI
— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) January 1, 2019
H/T Steven!
A visit to Rossy's Bakery & Café on 3rd Street
Photos and interview by Stacie Joy
I dropped by to talk to Rossy’s Bakery owner, Rossy Caba, and meet the family, including her mom Norma Ortiz and brother Gabriel Escalante, who runs the bakery and café at 242 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.
How did Rossy’s Bakery get started?
Rossy’s bakery was started by my mom, Norma Ortiz, who was baking out of her apartment on Second Street. She was baking for family and friends and it got too big, too many people were calling for cakes — the apartment looked like a bakery!
So, we started looking for places in the neighborhood — on Second Street, on Orchard Street, but had a hard time finding something affordable. We wanted something already built. This space we’re in now used to be a plumber’s office. [Ed note: The address was also home to Slugs' Saloon, operating as a jazz club until 1972.] We tore it down and rebuilt it. It’s a great location, next to the Post Office, and we get a lot of postal workers and law enforcement here too.
[Rossy's brother Gabriel Escalante]
What are your most popular items?
We are most well-known for our custom cakes, and Norma is still baking them. We feature Dominican-style cakes, which are more moist than traditional ones and have a merengue frosting not buttercream. We do a lot of birthday cakes! Our most popular flavors are the dulce de leche and the tres leches cakes.
We have a website and Instagram and Facebook but we are mostly world-of-mouth.
For our food offerings the most popular are the BBQ ribs and the baked chicken plates. We sell small a small lunch (take-out only) for the afterschool crowd. It’s for $6.50 (a dollar extra for the fish) made with rice and beans and chicken (or meat). We also have a large plate for $9 ($1 extra for fish). Kids love to come in and get empanadas or a smoothie too.
Who is your typical customer?
Neighborhood people, all people. Kids, families. People who like good food.
What, if anything, has changed since you opened?
When we first started, we just had some pastries and cakes, but we learned quickly it wasn’t enough to sustain a business. We branched out and added a juice bar, smoothies, steam tables and small lunches.
We are grateful to the Lower East Side Federal Credit Union — they were so helpful in getting us started. It took some time to hire contractors to build the place out. We have a lease for another six years and we’ve been here for more than 10 years already! We are here for the community and we want to serve the community. We keep our prices reasonable and affordable because times are not easy. Everyone knows each other here in the East Village.
The building right next door will be demolished to make way for a 7-floor luxury residential building. Any concerns about the impending construction and its impact on business?
We may benefit from it, because the construction crew will come here to eat. We are concerned about the noise and the dust. It may be horrendous. They might have to come over and put up plastic sheeting and things to protect our business, if not I will raise hell! We don’t know yet how it will affect the neighborhood other than there will be less affordable-housing options for people.
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On a recent visit I spotted legendary performance artist Penny Arcade dining at Rossy's along with Dr. Dave Ores...
"This is Lower East Side home-cooking at its best," Arcade told me. "A nice celebration of the food of the neighborhood."
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Rossy’s Bakery is at 242 E. Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. The café is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street
A visit to Bali Kitchen on 4th Street
A visit to Eat’s Khao Man Gai on 6th Street
A visit to Yoli Restaurant on 3rd Street
Preparing for Saturday's dinner at Il Posto Accanto on 2nd Street
A visit to the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen on 7th Street
A trip to the recently expanded Lancelotti Housewares on Avenue A
A visit to C&B Cafe on 7th Street
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