7-Eleven aspires to be the brightest store on the Bowery, New York State

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] And the Bowery dies a little more: Here comes 7-Eleven

Exclusive first look inside the Bowery 7-Eleven

7-Eleven is now hiring on the Bowery

Meeting recap: 'Pringle-lizing' the East Village, 7-Eleven style

[Photo of Bob Holman by Jose Garcia]

As previously noted, members of the 11th Street A-B-C Block Association met last night at Father's Heart Ministries to discuss the incoming 7-Eleven on East 11th Street and Avenue A..

A tipster passed along a quick recap of the No 7-11 meeting...

The meeting was the usual mix of brainstorming, with some good ideas and some silliness, but it all came from the heart. There were some ideas put forth that a lot of us had not even thought of — for instance, how to keep schoolkids from patronizing a shiny, magical 7-11 instead of a Slurpee machine-free bodega?

There was talk about banding together with other block associations to fight this and other chains...

The problem, and believe me I don't mean to sound cynical, is that a lot of this is sound and fury ... I have been on many committees and in many groups, and have repeatedly found that while you might have any number of interested people, only a few of them will actually step up to the plate and take on the struggle, with the rest encouraging from the sidelines. That's a hard way to win a war, and sometimes it doesn't work.

Jeremiah Moss always has a summation here.

And here are a few quotes from Serena Solomon's article at DNAinfo this afternoon:

"People come to New York because it is not the suburbs," said Rob Hollander, the meeting's organizer, who also heads up the 11th Street A-B-C Block Association. "7-Eleven is not here to contribute to the culture of New York, and someone has to stand up for that culture."

And!

Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club, was also on hand at the meeting to blast the store.

"They are boring. They are bland. They are not New York," said Holman, who wore thick links of industrial-size chain around his neck to symbolize the fight. "They are Pringle-izing our population."

A writer from Gothamist was also at the meeting. Read that post here.

Mixed messages about the future of 7-Eleven on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Late last week, we received reader reports that the 7-Eleven was closing this coming week on the SE corner of Avenue A and 11th Street — the information coming from a manager. 

The closing wouldn't come as a complete shock, as Seven & I Holdings, the chain's Japan-based parent company, revealed in an earnings report last month that it would close more than 400 "underperforming" stores, CNN reported. The company did not provide a list of store locations. 

While we don't know if this outpost underperforms, two other 7-Elevens in the East Village — St. Mark's Place and 14th Street — have closed since 2013. 

We stopped by on Saturday, and as the readers told us, the store is pretty empty — looking ready to shutter.

However, the employees on duty said they were NOT closing.

The employees, who preferred not to give their names, consented to photos. They said a pipe burst in the ceiling and they had a flood, which is why everything is in trashbags and boxes.

One of the employees said that the rent, which was $16,000 (the store opened in October 2013), was now $40,000. 

He also said that people come in and steal all day, every day. He said, "Mothers steal, kids steal. They steal Red Bulls, they steal hot food. They steal cups, candy, and anything they can get their hands on. The police do nothing. Nothing. They don't care. And if they do come and arrest someone, he's out later that day and back here stealing again. Some guys they steal in here, four, five times a day." 

While I was here, two people asked if the store was closing. 

There was a lot of pushback from local residents before this outpost opened in 2013, including rallies and chalking campaigns via the No 7-Eleven group (which had at least one celebrity endorser).

7-Eleven shutters on 14th Street

The 7-Eleven on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue shut down last week. (Thanks to Pinch for the tip!)

No closing notice, no explanation behind the closing.

As you can sorta see in this shot above the papered storefront... the space is mostly empty...

This outpost arrived in 2012 (bring back Exquisite DVD Video!). And this is the second 7-Eleven to close in the East Village, joining the one on St. Mark's Place in 2013.

Still, there are still plenty of 7-Elevens around (the Bowery, Avenue A, etc.) to get your Fiery Hot Taquitos and Mountain Dew Major Melon Slurpee...

[Updated] 7-Eleven signage arrives on Avenue A

A truck toting signage for the new 7-Eleven on Avenue A and East 11th Street arrived on the scene at 6:30 this morning, Shawn Chittle happened to notice. Crews have been hard at work late at night prepping the store for its Grand Opening... one crew member said they'd open today... while another member of the set-up crew said that the opening had been pushed to tomorrow.

The No 7-Eleven blog spotted an employee taste-testing the Slurpee machines...



Meanwhile, the Blue Plywood remains up around the store... the one with the active Partial Stop Work Order on it.

Updated 7:31 a.m.

EVG reader John shares these from the ground. Or Avenue A.





Updated 8:21 a.m.

Shawn Chittle notes that workers are removing the plywood from around the store's perimeter...






... and where will they place the work permits and Partial Work Order?




And there is video too...



Updated 9:08 a.m.

Via EVG reader Lauren...

Workers continue 7-Elevening the former J.A.S. Mart on St. Mark's Place

As you may unfortunately remember, we reported that a 7-Eleven will soon open on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue in the the former J.A.S. Mart. (The official address is 133 Second Ave.)

Workers have been molding the 7-Eleven into shape, as this shot from yesterday by Bobby Williams shows... expect the sign and awning any day or two now ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-Eleven continues to feast on the East Village; next up, St. Mark's Place

The 'No 7-Eleven' chalk campaign expands its reach; plus, drip art

The No 7-Eleveneers were at it again last night ...



... expanding their protest beyond the construction site at the corner of East 11th Street and Avenue A to the 7-Eleven at St. Mark's Place ...



...where a security guard sought to dissolve the protest with some water, creating the first piece of "No 7-Eleven" drip-art.

The 'No 7-Eleven' players in Tompkins Square Park

The No 7-Eleven gang visited Tompkins Square Park on Saturday for an afternoon of plays... games... and Reverend Billy from The Church of Stop Shopping ...


[Steve Carter]


[SC]


[Bobby Williams]

... and here's a video by Matteo Minasivia YouTube...



You may read a recap of the day via the brand-new No 7-Eleven blog right here.

[Updated] Reader report: The 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place has closed

A St. Mark's Place resident passes along word that the 7-Eleven here near Second Avenue has closed. Workers are currently removing various machines from inside the store this morning.


[Via EVG reader Robert]

There are three trucks lined up along St. Mark's Place. The reader says there isn't much, if any, merchandise left on the shelves.

No official confirmation from any 7-Eleven reps. (Updated: Workers on the scene confirmed this afternoon that the store has closed.) Perhaps that closed sign yesterday was more permanent that originally expected. Or maybe they are just renovating the place. Or there are some other issues that would cause workers to temporarily empty the store of every machine and food product.

This location opened in April 2012.

New broker for former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

The 7-Eleven at 37 St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue closed at the end of November 2013. And the storefront has been empty ever since... there's now a new broker for the retail space. (The listing isn't online just yet at Walter-Samuels.)

A few of the storefronts here in the corner building have sat empty since late 2011. (RIP Timi's Gelateria Classica™.)

However, there will be a new tenant soon enough next to the former 7-Eleven with the arrival of 98 Favor Taste, which will specialize in traditional Korean-style barbecue and Chinese hot pot meals

Breaking: 7-Eleven may open today at 2

Hot off the tipline from EV Grieve reader AB about the 7-Eleven on the Bowery:

"Guys were working inside all night and said they might try opening today @ 2pm."

Just in time for all your last-minute holiday shopping!

You can also buy the EV Grieve e-book that showcases our complete 7-Eleven coverage. Just $489.95 for a limited time. First 3 callers will also receive a souvenir "Hangover II" Buffalo Chicken Roller.

After nearly 4 years empty, 37 St. Mark's Place may be getting new retail tenants

Workers have removed the for lease signs and put up paper on the windows at 37 St. Mark's Place … where several storefronts here in the corner building at Second Avenue have sat empty since late 2011.

Timi's Gelateria Classica™ closed at the end of 2011 in one of the spaces… while Michael "Bao" Huynh's Baoguette Cafe shut down at summer's end in 2012.

Still no takers for the former 7-Eleven space next door, though…



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: The 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place has closed (48 comments)

A few more details about renting the former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

Timi's Gelateria Classica™ facing eviction on St. Mark's Place

[Updated] Baoguette Cafe still looks rather closed

7-Eleven's feeble attempt at an anti-blogger shield on the Bowery

We've heard that there is at least one local "blogger" head-scratchingly interested in the daily mundane updates at the incoming 7-Eleven on the Bowery.

To ward off attempts to document the installation of the Buffalo Chicken Roller machine and Quarter Pound Big Bite® heater, workers have placed brown paper over the front windows.

Below, we point out the weaknesses in the 7-Eleven defense plan.

Uh, hey — will someone please give me a boost?

Fighting a 7-Eleven on the LES; waiting for one on East 14th Street

Down on Grand Street, Seward Park residents are fighting the arrival of the dreaded double whammy — a 7-Eleven and a Dunkin' Donuts. (You can read reports on this at BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down.)

Part of the online petition:

We are concerned that corporately-owned chain stores in the Seward Park retail strip is inconsistent with the independent retail establishments that populate our properties.We are concerned that chain stores will have a chilling effect on property values as the establishments degrade the character and appeal of the neighborhood for both longtime and new residents.

Meanwhile, on IHOP Way, as we first reported, the incoming 7-Eleven is getting closer to arriving... workers recently removed the big blue Exquisite DVD Video store awning...

Previously!

Now!

At today's 'No 7-Eleven' rally in the East Village

Today's "No 7-Eleven" community event started in Tompkins Square Park and moved over to Avenue A and East 11th Street where the shop will some day call home...

First, a few photos courtesy of Steven Hirsch...







-----

And via Bobby Williams...







You will likely find more of a recap soon via the newish No 7-Eleven blog right here.

No 7-Eleven organizers are guests tonight on 'Let’s Get Real With Chef Erica Wides'

From the EV Grieve inbox... the organizers behind the East Village No 7-Eleven movement are guests tonight at 6:30 on "Let’s Get Real With Chef Erica Wides" on the Heritage Radio Network...

[Click on image to enlarge]

Here's the "Let's Get Real" Website.

Previously on EV Grieve:
'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report

Checking in on the Axis of 11

Back on Feb. 24, we noted that a 7-Eleven was in the works for 813 Broadway near 12th Street ... the cheap-o DVD shop packed up and moved across the street...

Jeremiah noted the arrival of the all-too-familiar signage yesterday...

The march continues...into the 7-Eleven zone...

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-Eleven to give its regards to Broadway