Graceland addresses its customers

At Graceland, the corner deli on Avenue A and Second Street, signs are now up announcing its closure...




EV Grieve reader Ryan says, "At this point it sounds as though some of the employees will be kept on, fingers crossed. Unfortunately I can't imagine a new place is going to clear enough $ to make up for the astronomical rate hike. Unless they jack everything up to Gracefully prices."

Word is the rent is being hiked up to $20,000 a month. Grace Dancyger owns Graceland as well as Gracefully, the more upscale sister deli two doors up the Avenue.

Meanwhile, 24 Avenue A remains empty

Well, while on the topic of Avenue A retail... I recently noticed new(ish?) plans in the window of the former Graceland space at Second Street... (And it seems longer than six months that Graceland has been gone...)

Anyway the space can be chopped up into one, two or three storefronts... (Here's the listing.)



The one storefront might be best suited for the threatened 7-Eleven. And what do you think life would be like here had the CB3 approved Frank's plan for fast-food Italian (Raguboy) back in June?

Meanwhile, the FDR cheap pizza place behind the space on Second Street is ready for action... as you can see from the canopy, you can get 99-cent pizza, Indian snacks, tea...



Previously on EV Grieve:
"All uses considered" at former Graceland

More here.

The remaining piece of urban archeology at 24 Avenue A

On Friday afternoon, EV Grieve reader Paul Dougherty (check out some of his NYC-centric films here) captured a little bit of urban archeology under the former sign of Graceland on Avenue A at Second Street... As he says, the sign shows some of the old neighborhood when Avenue A was the baby-nursery furniture district... (BaHa snapped some photos too earlier last week.)



However, by Sunday, all traces of the ghost signage had been removed by workers....





The space now just sits and awaits its fate.

Previously on EV Grieve:
"All uses considered" at former Graceland

More here.

Waiting for the 7-Eleven to open (in Greenpoint)

So I have no idea what's next for the Graceland space now that Raguboy has been denied... As you know, EV Italian eatery guru Frank Prisinzano said last week that the landlord of the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street had four prospective tenants: Frank's fast-food Italian joint, a bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank. Perhaps Frank will make some amendments to his proposal and try again some day.... or...

Perhaps we'll learn from Greenpoint ... As Brownstoner reported yesterday (via Racked), the 7-Eleven is opening very soon on Manhattan Avenue.

[Update: The CB3 can't stop him from opening a restaurant.... they voted to deny his request for a liquor license.... and will pass that recommendation on to the SLA....]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with a 7-Eleven

Avenue A mystery bar/restaurant off tonight's CB3 docket

For me, one of the most interesting items on the CB3/SLA docket was:

10. Corp to be Formed, 150 E 2nd St (wb) (aka: 24 Ave A)

As you recall, Frank Prisinzano, who owns EV Italian empire Frank, Lil' Frankie's and Supper, came before the CB3/SLA committee on June 14 with his plans to turn the former grocery at 24 Avenue A and Second Street into what he described as fast-food Italian. The board never approved the application.

Anyway, the future of this corner inspired some spirited debate hereabouts. (78 comments or so.) Read some of that here.

So is someone else looking to take over the former Graceland space (and not a bank or 7-Eleven then!)? Plus, 24 Avenue A was Graceland's address; 150 Second St. is the address of Nicky's and the former barber shop next door. More mystery!

I asked district manager Susan Stetzer about this "corp to be formed." She said that she wasn't sure on this one — she didn't pursue because the application was withdrawn.

Anyway, it appears the real-estate listing for this space is still active.

Graceland gutted

Speaking of Graceland, workers started gutting the former grocery yesterday...

Owners of Frank-Lil' Frankie's-Supper taking over the former Graceland space

Earlier today, I posted information about the new "eco-friendly" Italian restaurant coming to the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street... Well! Thanks to some sleuthing by EV Grieve reader RyanAvenueA .... we now know the person behind this new eatery are none other than Frank Prisinzano, who owns Frank, Lil' Frankie's and Supper... (For the record: Ryan called the number on the CB3 flyer and got the Frank Caters voicemail...) More to come on this...

[Image via]

Two signs coming down quickly on Avenue A

Yesterday, EV Grieve reader Ryan on Avenue A sent along some photos of workers removing the Graceland canopy/sign on Avenue A and Second Street......revealing the former tenant...



I went by later to catch a look at the sign...




Unfortunately, I was too late to see the sign on the Second Street side... workers had already ripped it off...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Graceland sign removal reveals previous tenant on Avenue A

Ave. A Deli & Food is now open

And now, 893 posts about Graceland later ... Here at Second Street, the corner deli opened on Thursday night... bringing closure to the drama that included Graceland closing, Frank's fast-food eatery not getting CB3 approval and 7-Eleven threat theatrics...

We'll have complete live team coverage — Assignment: Ave. A Deli & Food — all weekend, though I wouldn't count on it.

And now, a photo of the floor that I accidentally took...

[Updated] Another East Village corner market closes; 13 and counting for the last year or so

The Fuji Apple deli on First Avenue at 12th Street is the latest corner market to close.

The deli shuttered on Monday. (The space has been on the market — "perfect for any use.")

So many deli/markets have either closed or gone upscale in the last year or so in the East Village that I've lost track...Some of the replacements are just too bland and even more expensive with the ambiance of an airport terminal...

Anyway, let's try to piece this together.

Olympic on First Avenue at 13th Street closed and will become an upscale market...



Roger's Garden on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street closed for renovations back in early January... and is now a new food courty-looking place ...



The market on the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C closed and reopened as a Wholesome Foods...


[Photo by Bob Arihood]

On Avenue C near Eighth Street, the market/deli just off the corner closed and reopened as a Yankees Deli 2...

Christine's on 10th and C moved and reopened with more upscale items...

Jay's on Avenue C and 11th Street closed and reopened as the Yankees Deli...

The market on 12th Street and Avenue C remains closed...

The East Side Gourmet Deli on the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street closed and reopened under new ownership...



Across the street, Finest Pizza and Deli closed last June.... and reopened as the East Village Finest Deli......



The Houston Deli & Grocery on Avenue A and Houston closed to make room for the new fancy Union Market...

The market that took over half of the Dunkin Donuts space on Second Avenue closed and is now part of the liquor store.

And how could I have forgotten this... Graceland on the corner of Avenue A and Second Street...



I'm sure there are more just from the last year (not including the fire-stricken Stuyvesant Grocery on A and 14th Street or East Village Farms on Second Avenue and Fourth Street.) Let me know what I'm forgetting...

Community Board 3 rejects proposal for restaurant-bar-performance space at 34 Avenue A; here comes Subway?

By a vote of 27-5, according to Shawn Chittle who was at the meeting. (Another reader said it was 25-7.) In any event, the State Liquor Authority requires Community Board approval for liquor license transfers. This was for a new license within a resolution area. We'll have more on last night's debate and vote later.

Meanwhile, what's next for the former Mo Pitkin's space? The CB3/SLA committee voted down a similar proposal from Todd Patrick and company in March.

There is always that rumored (and effective scare tactic) fast-food joint. And fast food has been mentioned coming here if operators couldn't secure a liquor license. The building is for sale. (A commenter claims there is a draft lease on the table for a Subway here. )

Last June, EV Italian eatery guru Frank Prisinzano said that the landlord of the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street had four prospective tenants: Frank's fast-food Italian joint, a bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank.

CB3 rejected his plans for Raguboy last June. The space at Avenue A and Second Street remains vacant.

Is it better vacant than a restaurant or bar?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Phil Hartman bringing a 'performance venue' back to former Mo Pitkin's space

[Updated] Bringing 'the tradition of the old Knitting Factory and Tonic' to 34 Avenue A

Because you want to know more about the plans for 34 Avenue A

A look back at Avenue A and Second Street

Well, we've had a lot of discussion this week about the future of Avenue A and Second Street where Graceland called home for 20-plus years... Many thanks to EV Grieve reader BaHa for this photo from the early 1980s... this is looking north on Avenue A at Second Street....



How about another upholstery shop here now instead of an Italian eatery, bank or 7-Eleven?

The Ave. A Deli & Food awning

Oh, just meant to note this on Avenue A and Second Street...

In September, EV Grieve reader Josh talked to the fellow behind the now-closed Houston Deli & Grocery on Avenue A and Houston ... he said that he is taking over the corner space at the old Graceland. Anyway, the awning is up. It does not say 7-Eleven.

Week in Grieview: Saying so long to 'Walk Man,' looking at John Legend's apartment

[Photo by blue glass]

Waiting for TenEleven's new liquor license (Wednesday)

Extending Banjo Jim's life (Friday)

Learning about Legacy Russell's Open Ceremony project (Thursday)

Saying goodbye to "Walk Man" (Tuesday)

Looking at John Legend's girlfriend, apartment (Wednesday)

Stealing Westville East's bench (Monday)

Splitting up the former Graceland space (Friday)

Examining the next CB3/SLA docket (Monday)

Remembering No Se No (Wednesday)

Comeback special: Arrow Bar owners opening Elvis Guesthouse on Avenue A

[85 Avenue A]

Arrow Bar, the subterranean space with a good happy hour at 85 Avenue A between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street, closed last month.

The same owners (who also run Baby's All Right in Williamsburg) have now turned the space into a venue called Elvis Guesthouse. There was a soft opening this past Friday night featuring DJs and the Los Angeles-based punk duo Girlpool. Brooklyn Vegan has a rundown on the show with a lot of photos.

And this arrived in our inbox last week...

On August 16, 1977, the morning after Elvis Presley theoretically met his end on the toilet in Graceland, a chubby man in a white linen suit and an ill-fitting blonde wig bought a one way ticket from Memphis to Istanbul. He paid in cash and used the name John Burrows.

Once he arrived in Turkey, he bounced around the hippie trail, hitchhiking from Tehran to Peshawar, Kabul to Lahore, Delhi to Goa, Kathmandu to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Instead of staying in the finest hotels, where he would have certainly been noticed, he bunked in guesthouses, small lodgings run by local families and foreign Heads.

In 1979, political changes in the Middle East put an end to the hippie trail. John had grown tired of his nomadic lifestyle and settled on the outskirts of Kathmandu, where he opened a small bar inspired by his years spent in guesthouses. He named it ELVIS GUESTHOUSE.

After the place had been open for a year, John disappeared one day. A gin soaked journalist claimed to have spotted him on the beach in Occupied Cambodia, and others said that he had made his way into the ethnic minority areas of Southwest China. Eventually, the building was demolished to make way for a shopping mall. But a few photos of the bar survived, and we have created its exact replica here.

We haven't heard anything just yet about an official opening date for the bar.

Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with a 7-Eleven

OK, this is half-assed Photoshopping at its finest... still... just trying to wrap my head around this... picking up on the vigorous debate from yesterday (thank you to everyone for the spirited comments)... As you know, EV Italian eatery guru Frank Prisinzano said on Monday night that the landlord of the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street had four prospective tenants: Frank's fast-food Italian joint, a bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank.

Of course it's very possible this was just a scare tactic... still, given 7-Eleven's recent emergence in Manahattan, it's probable. (As The Real Deal reported, the chain is planning on opening 100-150 new locations in the five boroughs inthe coming few years.)

Regardless, Prisinzano's dream of another outpost isn't dead despite the CB3/SLA committee's deadlock Monday night -- the full CB3 will hear this whole thing again next week.

There are no easy answers here... Jill puts it into some perspective in the comments about life with another Frank here:

The issue with that space is that it is huge, not that anybody thinks it will become a bar. He also put in for a sidewalk cafe ... I believe the total occupancy quoted was 190. That's a hell of a lot of people to bring to that corner all at the same time, with loads of turnover ("5-10 minute wait for fast food.") Do the math -- potentially 1,000 people coming in there every night if it's truly an in and out kind of place that is successful. Crikeys.

Indeed. I imagine the new suitor for this prime space will remain a hot topic this summer... is there any compromise?

Full CB3 says no to fast-food Italian and fishmonger for Avenue A

During a nearly four-hour meeting in a steamy PS 20 auditorium tonight, Community Board 3 denied Frank Prisinzano's application to open a fast-food style Italian restaurant on Avenue A and Second Street. Raguboy would have seated 121 people inside and another 44 people on a sidewalk cafe at the former Graceland grocery.

As you know, the CB3/SLA committee members were deadlocked in their vote last week. Prisinzano, who owns EV Italian empire Frank, Lil' Frankie's and Supper, was on hand as were several of the residents who spoke out against another liquor license on Avenue A during the CB3/SLA meeting.

Meanwhile, the board also denied Keith Masco's attempt to open Sea on A, a fish market/restaurant at 171 Avenue A. Read all about that here.

More tomorrow on this often contentious meeting...

Lamenting two lost groceries on Avenue A

With yesterday's three-alarm fire that knocked out four businesses along 14th Street at Avenue A... several readers had nice things to say about the Stuyvesant Grocery....



...another reader mentioned that, with the recent closing of Graceland down on the corner of Second Street, Avenue A has lost two of its neighborhoody friends...

7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

[From August]

In recent years, when a business closes around here, it's inevitable that the Starbucks-7-Eleven-Subway rumor makes the rounds as a replacement.

We heard this after Graceland closed ... when 34 Avenue A was looking for a new tenant ... when Kate's Joint closed on Avenue B ... when 219 First Avenue had retail space available; ditto for the Copper Building retail ground floor — and so on. Sometimes it turns out to be true, and other times, it's just a rumor. Or something people use merely as a threat.

So we heard the Starbucks-7-Eleven-Subway whispers about the recently shuttered Bar on A at East 11th Street. In part, these rumors surfaced because Ben Shaoul of Magnum Real Estate owns the building ... and two of his East Village properties are now home to a Starbucks (First Avenue at East Third Street) and a 7-Eleven (Broadway and East 12th Street). On Monday, one of the construction workers gutting 170 Avenue A told told a reporter from The Local that a 7-Eleven was taking over the former Bar on A space.

[Photos by Shawn Chittle]

However, in addition, workers have cleared out Angels & Kings, Pete Wentz's onetime emo hangout behind Bar on A at 500 E. 11th St. (aka 170 Avenue A). According to the work permits for No. 500: "REMODEL EXISTING STAIR CONNECTING CELLAR AND FIRST FLOOR. REMOVE INTERIOR NON-LOAD BEARING PARTITIONS AT FIRST FLOOR."

[Last evening via EVG reader Cheryl Pyle on Facebook]

An EVG regular who has been watching all this unfold thinks that the two spaces together are too big for just a 7-Eleven, and believes that the two spaces would yield both a 7-Eleven and a Subway. Or a Starbucks. This is only a theory. But plausible.

In January, the CB3/SLA gave the OK for the people behind Keybar on East 13th Street to take over the Angels & Kings space and open a bar-restaurant serving Hungarian food. No word on whatever happened to those plans.

However, there's nothing just yet on the DOB permits pointing specifically yet to a 7-Eleven, Starbucks or Subway. One connection: The applicant of record for both 500 E. 11th St. and 170 Avenue A is Bentonville, Ark.-based Harrison French & Associates, an architecture and engineering firm whose clients include 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Subway. (Harris French did the 7-Eleven on Broadway at East 12th Street and East 14th Street.)

In any event, nothing official has been released about the corner's future. But given NYC's current retail environment, you may want to get ready for the first national, non-bank chain/franchise on Avenue A. And probably not the last.

Gracefully is closing on Avenue A

A few weeks ago, the market at 28 Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street cut back its hours, forgoing around-the-clock sales for an 11 p.m. closure.

Now comes word that the store will be closing for good soon. We've heard as early as this Friday … or by the end of the month. An employee confirmed the closure to us.

The story is that Gracefully needs to vacate to make way for the New York Sports Club that is opening here…



We were trying to remember when Gracefully opened — 1997? Anyway, long before Whole Foods… and, more recently, Union Market.

And this will be the last of Grace Dancyger's delis to close in the East Village. Graceland closed in April 2010 on Avenue A and East Second Street in April 2010 after a 19-year run. And Adinah's Farm closed in June after 20 years on Avenue C and East Second Street.

As far as we know, there are still three other Gracefully locations in the city, including on First Avenue in Stuy Town.

Thanks to @AnnaRoseMusic for the tip

Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: New York Health & Racquet Club taking over the space above Gracefully on Avenue A (24 comments)

New York Sports Club in the works for Avenue A

Sidewalk bridge and scaffolding arrive ahead of planned New York Sports Club on Avenue A

New York Sports Club says hello on Avenue A

Familiar Burger-Klein sign has disappeared from Avenue A