Landlord Greed stickers on St. Mark's Place

Someone has placed Landlord Greed stickers on the long-empty storefronts at 37 St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue...





Some of the spaces have been without retail tenants since late 2011. Back in the fall, workers removed the for rent signs and papered the windows, given the impression that someone had leased the space. Guess not yet.

Thanks to EVG contributor Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Timi's Gelateria Classica™ facing eviction on St. Mark's Place

[Updated] Baoguette Cafe still looks rather closed

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

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

Halloween reminders

If you're wearing a mask and want to enter the 7-Eleven on Avenue A and East 11th Street, then you will need to remove it before heading into the store, per the sign.

If you absolutely MUST keep the mask on while shopping at 7-Eleven, then head to the locations on East 14th Street near Second Avenue or the Bowery near East Third Street. Neither of those stores have the mask-off mandate.

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

Meanwhile, next to the 7-Eleven on Avenue A

It's an EV Wacky Package.

Photo via cartknocker

The Subway (sandwich shop) has closed on the Bowery

Is the new Bowery becoming too upscale for even a Subway? (OK, so the 7-Eleven is still alive and well across the way.)

Anyway, workers gutted the Subway space at 342 Bowery between Bond Street and Great Jones yesterday.

The Subway opened here in late 2009, taking over the space after Downtown Music Gallery moved to Monroe Street.

This is the latest Subway to close in the neighborhood… joining the one on East 14th Street … First Avenue … Second Avenue…

Meanwhile, the Subway next to McDonald's on First Avenue recently came under new management …


[Photo by EVG correspondent Steven]

… after doing away with the "Restroom & 10% Cab Discount Available" campaign.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nearly 4 years later, sidewalk bridge removed from 338 Bowery

Organic food store taking over the former Kim's Video and Music space on 1st Avenue

We don't have many details just yet, but we can confirm what's coming soon to 124 First Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place — an all organic food store called East Village Organic.

They hope to be open in two months. (Meanwhile, the proprietors started a Twitter account.)

Kim's closed here for good last Aug. 25. The original listing for the space noted the address would be perfect for a bank, 7-Eleven or Starbucks.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 1st Avenue yesterday by Derek Berg]

Tire swing kills man in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday … Wednesday … Thursday)

8-story retail-residential building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (Friday)

7-Eleven finally moves its noisy AC units on Avenue A (Thursday)

Out and About in the East Village 2014 recap (Wednesday)

277 E. 7th St. condos rebranded Seven East Village, and will feature a bike-sharing program (Tuesday … Thursday)

Is an Avenue A entrance for the L train in our future? (Thursday)

East Village represented on this list of the city's worst landlords (Tuesday)

More about the first show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East Sixth Street (Monday)

Spice on Fourth Avenue closes (Thursday)

At the 23rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

The cat cafe is now open on the LES (Tuesday)

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence has been demolished (Monday)

Veniero's turns 120 (Thursday)

Lake Extell on East 14th Street (Monday)

More details on Bruno Pizza, opening early next year on East 13th Street (Tuesday)

A new wine shop for Third Avenue (Friday)

The DF Mavens storefront finally — REVEALED (Thursday)

428 E. 10th St. now available for multiple uses (Tuesday)

Spot Dessert Shoppe shaping up on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

The bone broth is popular at Brodo/Hearth (Thursday)

Noise nightmare for neighbors comes to an end as 7-11 moves AC units to the roof on Avenue A

More than 15 months after 7-Eleven installed three noisy refrigeration units in an alleyway between 500 and 502 E. 11th St., workers arrived this morning to move them to the building's rooftop where they hopefully won't keep neighbors up all night.

Back in October, the Department of Environmental Protection ordered the Avenue A 7-Eleven to stop using the units, saying they violated the city's noise code. At the time, 7-Eleven reps said that they needed more time to sign a contract with a company to move the equipment. Landlord Westminster City Living claimed that 7-Eleven had refused to meet with them to discuss the ongoing issue.

As previously noted, the constant grinding, clicking noise caused several tenants in 502 East 11th St. to abandon their bedrooms.


[Photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]

The crane was originally scheduled to arrive last Thursday, but the company had to amend their plans the day before the lift.

Upon hearing that news last week, one resident wrote, "We are at our emotional ends — exhausted beyond belief. We were fantasizing about the use of our living room for a Christmas tree (instead of a cluttered bedroom), and now we will have to wait… until when?"

The wait appears to be over… as these photos by Brian Katz, one of the residents who has endured the noise, show…





Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'

Report: 7-Eleven's AC units have forced residents from their bedrooms on Avenue A & East 11th St.

Local pols blast 7-Eleven for blocking order to remove noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A

1 year later, 7-Eleven asks for more time to move noisy refrigeration units from residential windows

Week in Grieview

[Photo outside Gem Spa yesterday by Derek Berg]

Someone dumped motor oil in this Steve Croman-owned building (Friday)

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station (Wednesday)

The Whitehouse Hostel has closed for good on the Bowery (Monday)

Activity again at the long-dormant 25 Great Jones (Friday)

Now open: Barcade on St. Mark's Place; King Bee on East Ninth Street (Thursday)

A matcha bar on East Fourth Street (Friday)

An Out and About recap (Wednesday)

Interior of 137 Avenue C is gutted (Monday)

Longtime East Village resident Jack Smead has some of his photos on display at the 11th Street Bar (Thursday)

Local pols blast 7-Eleven for blocking order to remove noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A (Tuesday) and .... 1 year later, 7-Eleven asks for more time to move noisy refrigeration units from residential windows (Wednesday)

Pricing and interior shots of the 'intimate new development' at 277 E. Seventh St. (Tuesday)

Possibly albino bank robbery suspect has been busy (Wednesday)

Checking out Centre-fuge Cycle 15 on East First Street (Monday)

Residents continue to speak out about living conditions in Jared Kushner's 170-174 E. Second St. (Wednesday)

The Yaffa mural returns to view (Tuesday)

People behind Gestations still pretending to be opening a bar for pregnant women on Avenue A (Monday)

Avenue A Classic Food opening soon on ... Avenue A (Wednesday)

Lunar eclipse! (Wednesday)

The Subway Inn has a new home (Wednesday)

Looks like The Cock won't be moving into the Idle Hands space (Wednesday)

At Empellón al Pastor, with graffiti on the outside and Charles Bukowski on the inside (Tuesday)

The Post discovers graffiti around the city (Friday)

The changing of the facade at 9 Bleecker St. (Tuesday)

And thanks to Tim Hayes at CBGB for giving 50 EVG readers tickets to the CBGB Music & Film Festival (Tuesday)

1 year later, 7-Eleven asks for more time to move noisy refrigeration units from residential windows

[File photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]

7-Eleven representatives appeared yesterday before the Environmental Control Board to discuss the ongoing issues with the store's Avenue A refrigeration unit that has caused sleepless nights for nearby neighbors these past 12-plus months.

And the result of this? According to DNAinfo:

At the hearing, a judge granted a two-week adjournment after a 7-Eleven representative said the franchise was entering into a contract to have the equipment moved. The judge gave 7-Eleven two weeks to submit a signed contract to show that the units would be placed elsewhere, he said.

Meanwhile, the building's landlord at Avenue A and East 11th Street, the Jared Kushner-owned Westminster City Living, put the blame directly on 7-Eleven. A Westminster spokesperson told DNA in a statement that they have been trying to meet with 7-Eleven for eight months.

“We completely agree with local residents. The units installed and owned by 7-Eleven need to be moved, and we’re working to make sure it happens,” the spokesman said in a statement.

There wasn't any comment from 7-Eleven reps.

You can read more about this at WABC and WCBS.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'

Report: 7-Eleven's AC units have forced residents from their bedrooms on Avenue A & East 11th St.

Local pols blast 7-Eleven for blocking order to remove noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A

Local pols blast 7-Eleven for blocking order to remove noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A

[File photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]

From the EVG inbox yesterday afternoon…

Today, a group of elected officials and community groups blasted 7-Eleven for being a bad neighbor and demanded they drop the October 7, 2014 appeal of a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) order to cease using a noisy ground-level refrigeration unit in the East Village. The refrigeration unit at 7-Eleven’s 170 Avenue A store has been tormenting neighbors for over a year and violates the City’s noise code.

Since the refrigeration unit was installed in September 2013, residents of adjoining 502 East 11th Street have been driven from their bedrooms by the unit’s constant grinding, clicking and vibrating. Residents have secured multiple DEP noise violations against 7-Eleven, which culminated in the agency issuing a cease and desist order for the unit last month. 7-Eleven has chosen to fight the order at the City’s Environmental Control Board rather than fixing or disabling the offending unit.

Senator Hoylman (D, WFP – Manhattan) said: “This is an outrage. It’s like living in a wind tunnel. Neighbors can’t get a good night’s sleep thanks to 7-Eleven and its noisy refrigeration unit at 170 Avenue A. I demand 7-Eleven to fix or disable the refrigeration unit and drop their appeal immediately.”

Hoylman continued: “This case is a perfect example of how the incursion of franchises like 7-Eleven have hurt the quality of life in the East Village. It’s sad they can’t be trusted to be good neighbors.”

Council Member Rosie Mendez said: "Since NYC is a city that never sleeps, 7-Eleven believes that translates into the fact that it can disrupt its neighbors quality of life of 24/7. If 7-Eleven wants to operate a 24 hour business in NYC and in our community, then act like good neighbors by dropping the appeal and fixing the HVAC unit that is located only 2-3 feet from the rear windows."

Maria Rosenblum, a resident of 502 East 11th Street, said: “Having this refrigeration unit next to my apartment windows has been a living a nightmare. The constant noise and vibrations prevents our daughter from doing her homework and prevents me from doing my own work; I'm a freelance film editor and I work from home. At night we all have trouble sleeping and have had to all camp out on the floor of our living room, my husband, daughter and I. We have all been uprooted and our bedrooms are useless. 7-Eleven is destroying my home, my neighbors’ homes and our neighborhood.”

Gigi Li, Chair of Community Board 3, said: “Community Board 3 thanks Senator Hoylman for working with residents and the Community Board for almost a year to try to remedy this illegal installation that has been a nightmare for the neighbors. 7-Eleven has shown blatant disregard for their negative impact on neighbors by appealing the cease and desist order. They have moved into our community without concern of being a good neighbor and contributing to our community.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'

Report: 7-Eleven's AC units have forced residents from their bedrooms on Avenue A & East 11th St.

Angelica Kitchen is latest East Village restaurant in danger of closing

Angelica Kitchen has been serving vegetarian and health-conscious fare since 1976. Like many other restaurants, though, Angelica Kitchen is struggling in today's real-estate environment.

So the folks from Angelica have embarked on a public awareness campaign … from a site titled "Don't Let This Happen!" (the Angelica turning into a 7-Eleven, for instance):

After a couple of very difficult years including a hurricane and a debilitating winter 2013-2014, Leslie — Angelica's owner — had to make the tough decision of either closing the restaurant after almost 40 years in business or signing a new lease skyrocketing the cost of occupancy. She signed the lease in March.

Since then, Angelica Kitchen has introduced several new products (such as beer and wine!). However, it hasn't been enough. What can you do?

Dine often with friends and family at Angelica's. Get takeout. Give Gift Certificates. Recommend us. Share our posts on social media, like us on Facebook. The fact is, we need your financial help and we're not messing around here. Keeping Angelica's doors open is not something we can do without you!

And upcoming…

We will be holding "Kitchen Table Talks" in the coming weeks to discuss Angelica's situation and what is needed to prevent the non-stop proliferation of chain stores and banks in the East Village. Please come to our first "Talk" Sunday Sept. 21, 4:30 PM; appetizers and beverages will be served.

Angelica Kitchen is located at 300 E. 12th St. near Second Avenue.

Remembering LES Jewels on the anniversary of his death

[Photo via EVG reader Lilly]

LES Jewels died one year ago today.

And there are at least two makeshift memorials dedicated to him — one at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on East Seventh Street and Avenue A … and one in front of the former 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place…





On the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, Jewels was found unconscious on Avenue A at East Ninth Street. He reportedly died a short time later at Beth Israel.

The medical examiner's office said his cause of death was "blunt injuries of head" … however, "the manner of death is undetermined."

Jewels, aka Joel Pakela, was 43.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP LES Jewels (84 comments)

Memorials for LES Jewels in the East Village

37 St. Mark's Place is cleaner, still for rent

[Photo via EVG reader Patrick Reynolds]

We recently noticed workers cleaning up the empty retail spaces at 37 St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue. Workers even removed the "for lease" signs.

Perhaps there was a new retail tenant for the storefronts that previously housed a 7-Eleven, among other businesses.

Apparently a false alarm. The signs returned on Friday. The now spiffed-up space is still for lease.



The clean look didn't last long. Overnight Friday, someone left a tribute to LES Jewels outside the former 7-Eleven…



Meanwhile, work continues on the corner space… soon to be home to DF Mavens, a dairy-free ice cream shop…



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

A letter from a 21-year-old NYU student: 'We are not all the same'

[Rather random photo of 2nd Avenue by EVG the other morning]

From the EVG inbox...

I am a dedicated reader and appreciator of your blog. I am also 21, have lived in the neighborhood for less than two years, and am, in the eyes of many, part of the East Village's central problem. I have always wanted to voice my opinion on this matter, as it is one on which I feel very strongly, and such a feeling is only ever heightened after I read the many user comments on Grieve.

I recognize fully how the influx of young, yuppie college students and 20-somethings has dramatically altered the neighborhood, but I want to defend myself and say that while I can easily be grouped into this category (and I'm not arguing it — 21-year-old NYU student living in an over-priced apartment that still happens to be cheaper than living in an NYU dorm), I have found myself resenting this more and more.

Before I moved into an apartment (versus a dorm) in the East Village, I did my research. I investigated the shady and unlawful landlords, corrupt management companies to avoid, the best small businesses around the apartments I was considering, and the like.

As an 11th Street resident, I protested 7-Eleven when it arrived, I devote all my business to the local deli beneath my apartment, and I agree that many things happening in this neighborhood regarding rent, landlords, what have you, are truly absurd.

However rambling this may seem, I just want to give a voice to those younger residents who consider themselves to be on the same page. We are not all the same — I don't get belligerently drunk and hang off of fire escapes, I don't scoff at the rent-stabilized tenants in my building, I don't ignore my super and the other supers on the block. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I recognized immediately upon moving here that in order to make the most of the two years I'd be spending on this street, I would have to earn some respect by developing relationships with the people who've been here the longest and are truly residents of this neighborhood.

I also recognized that this is, in many ways, just how the growth of a city unfolds. My entire family grew up in a building on Christopher Street beginning in the 1940s, and they were priced out far before gentrification was a term being thrown around. While I did not live through the gentrification of this neighborhood, I can appreciate the good and bad it has done.

All I am trying to say in the end is that I want to enjoy and appreciate the East Village's quirks and unique charm as much as those who have resided here for decades, not drunkenly puke all over them in the early hours of a Saturday morning.

Sincerely,
Olivia
11th Street Resident

We asked Olivia why she finally decided to write this. The post Monday about the "obnoxious drunk girl" who threw up in her lobby and left a note and the post from July 20 about the game of truth or dare that ended with a fall helped inspire her.

Please do not loiter in front of the former 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place

[EVG file photo from March 2013]

When the 7-Eleven was still open on St. Mark's Place, it was an attractive spot for camping out.

Now that it is closed, the vacant storefront at the corner of Second Avenue remains an attractive spot for camping out.

Which might be why there are now some homemade "no loitering" signs taped along the empty property...





The space remains for rent.

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

Fight Night on St. Mark's Place

Someone posted this to YouTube today … it's a brawl of sorts on St. Marks's Place near Second Avenue … the YouTube description: "Held It Down: Man From NYC Is Outnumbered In A Fight But Comes Back & Stands His Ground!"

The video is not too recent. The 7-Eleven is still open across the way … and the sidewalk shed remains outside No. 32 and 34 …

So it you want to watch some testosterone in action …

Sidewalk bridge collapses on the Bowery

[EVG photo from Thursday]

The sidewalk bridge arrived last Wednesday ahead of the demolition of Salvation Army's former East Village Residence on the Bowery at East Third Street.

Earlier this evening, a portion of the structure came crashing down, nearly blocking the entrance to the 7-Eleven next door… and spilling into the street…



EVG regular Pinhead shared these photos … and said that the FDNY responded within 2 minutes … thankfully, no one was injured …



The Residence closed in August 2008. It will be torn down to make way for a 13-floor residential building.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Whatever happened to that really ugly hotel planned for the Bowery?

Permits filed to demolish former Salvation Army residence on the Bowery

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence will be demolished on the Bowery

Looks like 347 Bowery will be home to a 13-floor mixed-use residential development

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

[2nd Ave. & E. 4th St. via Derek Berg]

Search on for skateboarder who robbed this East Village apartment (CBS 2)

Details on the LES Film Festival 2014 (The Lo-Down)

About that black rock in First Park (BoweryBoogie)

Checking out the food at Box Kite on St. Mark's Place (The New York Times)

A Jerry Lewis retrospective at the Anthology Film Archives this weekend (Anthology Film Archives)

A look at the new Dairy Queen on East 14th Street (Eater)

Bar-restaurant Suspenders, an "emotional haven" in the days that followed 9/11, getting pushed out by landlord (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Recalling a hotel collapse on Broadway (Off the Grid)

White Castle coming to Coney Island's Luna Park (Amusing the Zillion)

7-Eleven just killed whatever remained of hipsterism (The Wire)

... and EVG contributor James Maher ran into Out and About in the East Village alum Angel Eyedealism the other day...



... and finally, an instant request...

@evgrieve A suggestion for today's video band, perhaps? (@ 9th and 3rd) pic.twitter.com/MV8ThHO6Xq

— Pinhead (@evpinhead) May 23, 2014

Oops. He meant the White Stripes! Next time!

Week in Grieview

[Avenue A the other day]

An arrest in the deadly attack of Ruan Wen Hui (Thursday)

Exclusive: East Village Radio is signing off after 11 years (Wednesday)

Rumors: The Brant Foundation is buying Walter De Maria's workshop-home on East Sixth Street (Tuesday)

Baby hawks! (Friday)

CB3 says no to Friedman-Bloomfield cafe concept (Monday)

El Sombrero closes for renovations (Monday)

St. Mark's Bookshop signs a lease for a new home on East Third Street (Wednesday)

6-floor building in the works for former LaVie space (Monday)

A Dunkin' Donuts is taking the former Norman's Sound & Vision space (Friday)

Listing for Kim's Video says location is good for a bank, Starbucks or 7-Eleven (Friday)

Miss Lily's 7A Cafe opens Monday (Thursday)

Basic Plus moving into the Surprise! Surprise! storefront? (Thursday)

Lebrini's Pizzeria has been sold (Monday)

Matiell Consignment Shop leaving the East Village (Thursday)

Empire Biscuit had to be closed on National Biscuit Day (Wednesday)

Out and About with Alan Lefkowitz (Wednesday)

Westside Market revealed on Third Avenue (Tuesday)

Plantworks is closing after 40 years (Tuesday)

The Mars Bar 2.0 = The Pink Elephant (Monday)

Mother's Day on Avenue A (Sunday)

118 E. First St. is on the market with air rights (Wednesday)

When the moon showed off (Monday)

Merry May 12 Christmas! (Monday)

Waiting for the bike lanes to reappear on East Ninth Street and East 10th Street (Tuesday)

East 14th Street demolition getting serious (Wednesday)