A look at the fire-damaged 218 E. 9th St. and Yakiniku West

[Photos from yesterday morning]

In case you missed this news from Saturday afternoon... when a two-alarm fire broke out at 218 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

FDNY officials told reporters that the blaze likely started behind a refrigerator in a second-floor apartment.

A fire official said the building is now "unlivable." The building houses Yakiniku West restaurant on the first floor and three apartments

No word on when (or if) Yakiniku West, the restaurant specializing in cook-it-yourself Japanese BBQ, might reopen. There weren't any messages on the restaurant's Facebook page or website. Calls to the restaurant go unanswered.



CBS 2 reported that 25 units with 106 firefighters had the fire under control in about 90 minutes. Nearby residents on the block applauded the FDNY's efforts, containing the fire and keeping it from spreading to the parking garage next door. No injuries were reported.


[Photo Saturday by Steven]

Developing: Second major fire hits the East Village this morning

We're now getting word of a second major fire this morning... Some 20 trucks are on the scene... early reports put the fire at 505 507 E. Sixth St. just east of Avenue A. One witness says it's the building that houses Eastern Bloc, where there's speculation the fire stared. No word on any injuries. [Updated 8:15 a.m.: Another reader says the fire started at 6th Street Kitchen at 507 E. Sixth St.]

The first photo is from reader Steve...



The following photos are from reader Creature...

Report of a fire at 505 E. 13th St.

An EVG reader shares the above photo... the FDNY is responding to a report of a fire at 505 E. 13th St. at Avenue A...

MAN ALL HANDS 505 E 13TH ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE APT G2/2ND FLR,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) March 29, 2019

One witness says "smoke is pouring out of the top floor apartment on the back right side of the building." The retail space on this corner is currently vacant (the former Percy's Tavern).


[Photo by Christine Champagne]

The @fdnyalerts account reports that the fire was under control in less than 30 minutes...

MAN ALL HANDS 505 E 13TH ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE APT G2/2ND FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) March 29, 2019

No word on cause or extent of the damage just yet.

H/T dwg

Reader report: Fire destroys 2 apartments at 542 E. 14th St.

The FDNY responded to a fire late this morning at 542 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...

MAN ALL HANDS 542 E 14 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON 3RD FLR,

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 10, 2014

East Village-based photographer Michael Paul, who took these shots, spoke with a resident of the building... word is two apartments were ruined in the blaze, which started in a third-floor unit...





There were not any reports of injuries. The FDNY is investigating the cause of the fire.

MAN ALL HANDS 542 E 14 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON 3RD FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 10, 2014

The FDNY remembers fire marshal Christopher T. Zanetis on 2nd Street

The FDNY and NYU are hosting a Celebration of Life today in remembrance of FDNY fire marshal and U.S. Air Force Major Christopher "Tripp" Zanetis, who died in a military helicopter crash in Iraq on March 15.

Zanetis, 37, was on leave from the department, where he had been a marshal in the Bureau of Fire Investigation.

After graduating from NYU, he was appointed as a firefighter in 2004, and was assigned to Engine Company 28, Ladder 11 on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. Zanetis was promoted to fire marshal in 2013.

Yesterday, the FDNY turned out to honor Zanetis on Second Street...

Today we gather to remember #FDNY Fire Marshal and @USAirForce Major Christopher “Tripp” Zanetis. Watch live beginning at 10:30 am at https://t.co/mhaAigts9x pic.twitter.com/DAlYFoB9ls

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 29, 2018

Thanks to EVG reader Victoria L from Second Street for the photos.

Updated 11:30 a.m.

EVG reader Karen shared these photos of the FDNY procession from Engine Company 28...

Reader report: Fire on an Avenue C rooftop caused by fireworks last night

The ongoing fireworks around the neighborhood nearly resulted in a major fire early this morning.

An EVG reader shared the following from along Avenue C:

People setting off fireworks from Avenue C and neighboring buildings caused a fire at 1 a.m. on the rooftop of our co-op. Thankfully someone saw it and called the Fire Department and no one was hurt. Our doors were destroyed by the firefighters gaining entry, and an apartment now has considerable water damage as a result of the effort to put out the fire.

The reader then asked a follow-up question that others have asked: "Is there any effort to try and stop people from lighting these fireworks?"

Updated 9 p.m.

And a few more photos from the roof,







Per another building resident: "Part of the brand new roof will need to be replaced, and the apartment below suffered water damage. It could have been much worse, but just goes to show what happens when neighboring buildings set off fireworks from their roof."

Early morning look at the fire-damaged SE corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street

Here's a 6 a.m.-look at the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street following the three-alarm fire that started here yesterday afternoon shortly before 4...



A lone police car is on the scene...



FDNY officials said that the fire started on "a lower floor" of the five-story building and spread up to the top floor before it was extinguished by about 140 firefighters, according to published reports. The cause is under investigation. Five firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

Here's more via the Post:

The owner of Cafe Mocha, the ground-floor restaurant, said he smelled the fire before the building went up in flames.

"I was in the restaurant and we smelled the fire coming from the bathroom. We smelled it, I think, coming through the shaft," owner Ghasan Ballan said.

"I feel bad for the residents, they have no home," he added.

No other word at the moment on the status of the two retail tenants here — Cafe Mocha and Via Della Pace ... or the displaced tenants of the building with 15 units.

One report said that the building suffered extensive interior damage.

Updated 8:30 a.m.

One tenant of the building left this comment on our Facebook post:

I am a tenant of the building. Live on the top floor. Thank you all for your concern. All tenants and animals (including my 2 cats) are safe and sound. Thankfully my family is blessed with much love and support from family, friends and neighbors. According to my super, building has much smoke and water damage. Will take about a year to restore the building.

A garden party tomorrow to help rebuild the East Side Outside Community Garden

[Photos from Sept. 20]

A sizable chunk of the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street just east of First Avenue has been damaged during the post-fire work behind First Avenue.



In recent months, workers have accessed the garden space to gain entry to the rear of 188 First Ave., which suffered a major fire last October. While the structural stability of No. 188 was reportedly unaffected by the fire, the extension behind the permanently closed Uogashi needed to be removed.

Meanwhile, the garden is in poor shape as a result of the demolition work...



Tomorrow (Sept. 28), garden volunteers and other community members are coming together in support of East Side Outside at El Sol Brillante Garden, 522 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B starting at noon (to dusk). Per the invite:

Come join us for food, drink, and raffle prizes from local businesses! Raffle will happen at 4 p.m. ... We are excited to announce that photographer David Croland has donated a beautiful portrait of Debbie Harry in her prime, for sale to benefit the garden!

East Side Outside Community Garden was partly destroyed in the aftermath of the October 2018 fire at 188 First Ave. We need to clean up and rebuild almost everything from scratch, and are trying to raise funds to help us reopen for the 2020 season.

East Side Outside Garden is a public community garden in the NYC Parks GreenThumb program. We offer green space and programs for community members and businesses, provide a learning lab for students at the adjacent schools, and operate a community composting program. Help us rebuild better and stronger!

There's also a crowdfunding campaign underway at this link.



The stone wall dating to the 1860s that lines the garden was also badly damaged during the work behind the First Avenue buildings. You can read more about that at the link below...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue

Report: Ravi DeRossi bringing Fire & Water to 7th Street

[EVG file photo]

East Village-based restaurateur Ravi DeRossi is adding to his vegan empire later this year with the opening of Fire & Water at 111 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue — next door to his tapas cafe Ladybird.

Eater reported yesterday that DeRossi will "veganize two cuisines at once — sushi and dim sum" with Fire & Water.

A Japanese sushi counter with 16 seats and minimalist design will occupy one part of the space, offering a vegan omakase menu and a sake list. The price for the omakase has not been set yet.

On the other side of a dividing glass wall, there will be Chinese dim sum cart service in a 36-seat, flashier space with neon lights and red decor. Vegan small plates are on the menu in the dim sum portion. There will also be beer, wine, and no-abv cocktails.

DeRossi's executive chef, Tony Mongeluzzi, who oversees the kitchens at Ladybird, Mother of Pearl, Cienfuegos and Avant Garden, will reportedly have similar duties at Fire & Water.

The new home for Fire & Water was previously a showroom for furniture designer Todd Hase. That venture lasted one year. Village Style Vintage Shop, the previous tenant here, moved out to Brooklyn in October 2016.

[Updated] Report of a fire at 204 E. 13th St.

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire this morning at 7 on the top floor of 204 E. 13th St., a four-story building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

MAN ALL HANDS 204 E 13 ST, MIXED OCCUPANCY FIRE ON TOP FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) November 23, 2018

A resident on the block shared these photos and video...









No word at this moment on injuries or the cause of the fire. The resident said that the FDNY quickly extinguished the fire in the apartment, which appears to be gutted.

According to Streeteasy, the building, owned by Steve Croman, has three residential units. Bruno Pizza is in the retail space.

Updated 11/26

Bruno Pizza, will be closed for the foreseeable future.

"There is extensive water damage in the restaurant," owner Demian Repucci told me via email. "But the biggest thing is that ConEd shut off the electricity, gas and water to the whole building.

"We're trying to figure out the situation and what it will take to get back up and running."

Reader report: The result of this morning's fire behind 105 Avenue B

There was a report of a fire this morning at 105 Avenue B just south of East Seventh Street.

A neighbor with knowledge of the situation shared this:

This morning’s fire in the rear of 105 Avenue B was apparently started when a lit cigarette was dropped from a window into the trash and igniting it. The basement access was locked and no super was present, so firefighters used the ladder to scale to the roof and down the rear of the building to the fire.

The fire was severe enough that it melted the main TWC feed for that section of the block. Residents of several adjacent buildings will be without Internet, TV or phone until TWC can address the problem.

Photo this morning via @af

Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera's office posted this information this morning on the state of affairs after yesterday's six-alarm fire at 188 First Ave.

Via Facebook:

Our thoughts remain with the residents affected by yesterday's fire in the East Village. Though the incident centered on 188 First Ave, adjacent buildings were evacuated as well. The blaze was persistent, smoldering into Wednesday evening. We thank our brave first responders for their work yesterday and in the days to come: New York City Fire Department (FDNY), NYPD 9th Precinct, the American Red Cross in Greater New York, Con Edison, and NYC Environmental Protection.

INJURIES
Thankfully, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.

TENANTS
188 First Avenue remains vacated until further notice.
186 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.
190 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.

Landlords or the Red Cross have relocated most residents to hotels. Agencies are doing their best to get tenants back in their homes. If you still require emergency housing assistance, call the Red Cross at (212) 875-2301.

SCHOOLS AFFECTED
PS 19, East Side Community High School, and Girls Prep are all re-opened. Thanks to principals and staff for jumping into action, and to parents and students for their patience.

BUSINESSES
All businesses can re-enter their premises except for those located at 188 First Avenue. If you have a business on the block affected by the incident, please reach out to NYC SBS at (212) 618-8810.

TRAFFIC
Aside from emergency vehicles placed on the east side of the block, vehicular traffic has resumed on First Ave. All side streets will re-open today.

OTHER NOTES
Madina Masjid has reopened on a normal schedule; FDNY will keep one mobile unit at the scene until further notice; Thanks to NYC Emergency Management, New York City Council Staff, NYC SBS, DOE, DOB, NYC Mayor's Office, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, state Senator Brad Hoylman and LES Ready - Long Term Recovery Group for their support; and special thanks to 14th Street Y for offering assistance from the get-go.

You can always call our office at 212-677-1077 with questions. We will continue to provide updates to residents and the community as needed.

Several readers/residents asked about any crowdfunding campaigns for the displaced residents. I haven't heard of any just yet.

And these photos from today via Steven show some business on the block between 11th Street and 12th Street back open, including Atomic Wings...





Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo of a large mulch mound in Tompkins Square Park by Steven) ...

 • Fire destroys Essex Card Shop on Avenue A (Monday) ... Scenes from the fire at 47 Avenue A (Monday) ... Information about a crowdfunding campaign to help the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop (Tuesday) ... Assessing the fire damage at Essex Card Shop (Thursday) 

• Exit9 reopens on Avenue A after fire next door (Thursday) ... Downtown Yarns hopes to reopen in a week (Thursday)

• The March Hare is closing so the owners can focus on health and family (Friday)

• Man shot and killed in shooting inside the Lillian Wald Houses Saturday (Saturday) 

• Sunny's Florist closed until early March (Monday) 

• Lights out: Bulb Concepts has closed on 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• Key Food is no longer open 24/7 (Wednesday) 

• Gallery Watch checks out a new show at The Hole on Walker Street (Saturday) 

• A call to revamp ABC Playground at P.S. 20 on Houston and Essex (Wednesday) 

• Irving Farm New York is opening an outpost on 10th Street (Monday) 

• Solving the Great Santa Claus Mystery of Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) 

• City finally repairing 6th Street sinkhole (Friday) 

• Another day, another smoke shop reveal in the East Village (Wednesday) 

• Signage alert on the SW corner of Avenue A and 6th Street (Friday) 

• Chip, chip hooray! Video highlights from MulchFest 2022 (Tuesday) 

• LES Convenience is coming soon for your convenience on Avenue A (Monday) 

• Abandoned curbside dining structures attracting more attention on the NE corner of 6th and A (Monday)

As a follow-up to this Friday evening parting shot, in which two local college students tried to remove a Pete Davidson/Rowing Blazers wheatpaste ad on St. Mark's Place...  they shared a photo from their dorm room with Lola Sáenz showing how they fared...

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

Reader mailbag: 'Ever hear sirens and wonder?'

On Monday night, there was a report of a fire in an apartment at 70 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Thankfully the damage was minimal, though the tenant had to temporarily relocate.

This incident prompted a building resident to share this public service announcement:

If you were home, it was scary. Smoke. Flames. Lots of firefighters.

There is only one fire extinguisher (by the trash) for the entire building, which is basically all wood construction with a brick shell. One kitchen accident, faulty appliance, overloaded outlet or untended candle – and it all goes.

Even if the fire is small, smoke and water damage would make at least half or all of the building inhabitable. Bye-bye apartment.

Picture coming home to everything gone or evacuating in minutes (like those of us who were home thought we might have to Monday night) and not being permitted to return, and you know it’s time to — get a fire extinguisher for your apartment!

Saifee Hardware, First Avenue at Seventh Street, has a good selection ... as well as Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Amazon, etc.

Residents believe a faulty hot plate was the culprit for the fire scare, which led the resident to offer another tip: Check outlets, stove and unplug appliances — like hot plates — not is use.

Fire-damaged Mono + Mono remains closed, new roof on the way

[Via jdx]

Mono + Mono at 116 E. Fourth St. remains closed since a two-alarm fire swept through the restaurant four months ago to the day.

Last update that we heard came via the restaurant's Facebook page on May 7, a message that read in part:

Due to the recent fire, we're now renovating the restaurant.

We're committed to reopening in a few weeks as your favorite East Village destination for 30,000 jazz albums, Korean fried chicken and soju cocktails.

Thanks for your support. We'll be back stronger than ever!

We haven't heard a thing since then... the restaurant hasn't seen much action lately.



However, there is a work permit dated Aug. 13 for the following (the DOB's ALL-CAP format): "ROOF REPLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF EXISTING FIRE DAMAGED MEHANICAL EQUIPMENT FROM ROOF."

The permit is pending approval. Estimated price of the job: $83,500. A "full vacate" remains in effect for the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

(Kind of) An update on Mono + Mono

Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location

[Photo by Pinch]

Back on Friday, workers hoisted the new Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage at 321 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue — across the way from their current location that has been closed since the fire on May 26.


[Photo by KT]

We first spotted plans for the new location this past November.

Team Artichoke hasn't offered up much about the new 14th Street Artichoke. Co-owner Francis Garcia told Eater in April that the lease is up at No. 328, "so they took that as an opportunity for bigger and better. The new location will allow for expanded offerings, like cauliflower fritters, broccoli rabe sandwiches, and more."

There also hasn't been much more on the fire, which started as the pizzeria was closing up for the night/morning. An FDNY source told the Post that the fire didn't appear to be suspicious.

The Department of Buildings issued a partial vacate order on the building:

DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE 2 STORES AT LEFT AND RIGHT OF 1ST FLOOR, 10 FRONT APTS AT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FROM 2ND STORY TO 6TH STORY, 4 APTS AT MIDDLE OF RIGHT SIDE OF BUILDING FROM 2ND STORY TO 5TH STORY

It's not clear how many residents are currently in the building.

Artichoke's first location opened on 14th Street in 2008. There are now eight other locations, in Brooklyn, Queens and Berkeley, Calif.

In addition, the Artichoke website is featuring information about franchising...



Thank you to EVG readers Pinch, KT and Tyler for sending photos!