Retro signage alert: Good Time Country Buffet on 1st Avenue

ICYMI: Signage is up for Good Time Country Buffet at 166 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

As we previously reported, the owners of C as in Charlie on Bleecker Street, and Kisa on Allen and Houston, signed a 10-year lease for the space — an all-you-can-eat Southern buffet is headed to the East Village. 

According to a May 19 report in Food & Wine, restaurateur David Yun — a co-owner of Kisa and C as in Charlie — said the concept will offer an all-you-can-eat spread for $26.99, featuring Southern comfort-food staples such as fried chicken, Salisbury steak, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread. 

Yun told Food & Wine that affordability is part of the appeal.

"At that price, it won't be too difficult for people to come in and try," he said. "People can't always just go and try a new three-star, fine-dining restaurant, but most people could come [to our buffet] to see if they like it or not." 

The opening date is set for this month. 

P.S. 

We like the retro signage, btw... created by Noble Signs in Brooklyn... who also run the New York Sign Museum. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• On the CB3 SLA docket in October: A country buffet from the C as in Charlie and Kisa team

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo in Tompkins by Derek Berg)

Never miss an EVG post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here. 

• RIP Albert Fabozzi, who started the holiday tree tradition in Tompkins Square Park (May 13) ... A celebration of life for Albert Fabozzi in Tompkins Square Park (May 16)

• RIP Ben Morea (May 14) 

• A 13-story mixed-use development is now in the works for this 3rd Avenue lot (May 12) 

• Report: Judge keeps East Village intake center plan on hold (May 11) 

• At the first Show Brain show of 2026 in Tompkins Square Park (May 12) 

• Scenes of Nine Perfect Lives, a new local band with some familiar faces, at Irving Plaza (May 15)

• The 50th anniversary edition of the Ukrainian Festival is this weekend (May 13) 

• From Avenue C apartment to LES studio: 5 years of Good Time Pilates (May 14) 

• Checking out "Obscura," the latest exhibit at Ninth Street Espresso's 10th Street outpost (May 15) 

• Regina's Grocery & Deli debuts on 1st Avenue (May 11) 

• On the May CB3-SLA docket: The return of Kotobuki East Village; a Georgian-inspired bakery and café for 6th Street (May 11) 

• Double the Han Dynasty signage on 3rd Avenue (May 12) 

• A new dining room for Katz's? (May 11)

• Signage alert: Tea Leaf and Creamery on St. Mark's Place (May 12) … Skinny Louie on 2nd Avenue (May 13) 

• The East Village Sephora debuts (May 13) 

And a few interior shots of the Sephora via Stacie Joy...

On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: The return of Kotobuki East Village; a Georgian-inspired bakery and café for 6th Street

Here are a few items of interest on tonight's CB3-SLA committee docket (find the full calendar here) ... 

• Kotobuki East Village (Soundview Horizons LLC), 8 Stuyvesant St (op) 

The Japanese restaurant is returning to the neighborhood with a new space at 8 Stuyvesant St. at Ninth Street, which has been vacant for six years since Sharaku closed in the early days of the pandemic. 

Eric Kim and Bon Koo manage three Kotobuki restaurants on Long Island, in Babylon, Hauppauge and Roslyn. They previously owned Kotibuki at 56 3rd Ave., which closed in 2024, as developers bought up the parcels between 10th Street and 11th Street for a new residential building. 

The mall-like Wonder is the main tenant in the Stuyvesant space, which makes us curious whether Kotobuki will also use part of the upper level. 

In any event, people will be pleased that Kotobuki is on the way back.

• Lanna Cafe Inc, 164 1st Ave (op) 

The owner of Bib Gourmand recipient Zaab Zaab in Queens and Zen Yai in Brooklyn is bringing Isan-Thai cuisine to 164 First Ave. at 10th Street. 

According to its questionnaire on the CB3 website, Lanna Café will offer a morning coffee service before its lunch and dinner offerings. (The questionnaire has a sample menu.)

The previous tenant here, Beron Beron, closed on Dec. 31 after the death of its owner, Yuji Umeki.

• Wild Project (Wild Project Productions Inc), 195 E 3rd St (op)

The wild project has applied to upgrade its existing beer and wine license to full liquor for sale before and during performances at the 89-seat theater venue. (Pictured above: Chris Moseley, operations manager.)

Last fall, management purchased the building that houses the long-running indie performance space here between Avenues A and B. 

• Prosciutto LLC, 435 E 9th St (wb) 

We first mentioned this pending arrival between Avenue A and First Avenue here. 

The operators, Gabriele Tosi and Mattia Casarin, previously worked as chefs at Fiaschetteria Pistoia on 11th Street near Avenue C.

Per the CB3 questionnaire, Prosciutto will have eight tables for 20 guests with proposed daily hours of noon to midnight.

• Thoné NYC LLC, 501 E 6th St (wb) 

This item will NOT be heard at tonight's committee meeting. 

Thoné is a Georgian-inspired bakery, café, and wine bar located in the space directly behind Corner Bistro on Sixth Street, steps away from Avenue A. 

Per the questionnaire: 

The concept focuses on freshly baked traditional Georgian breads, breakfast offerings, sandwiches, shareable plates, desserts, coffee, beer, and Georgian natural wines. Food service will be available throughout all operating hours. The establishment will operate as a full-service café and wine bar with prepared food available during all business hours.

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CB3's SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited public seating is available. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

Photos of 164 First Ave. and 195 E. Third St. by Stacie Joy

Signage alert: Art Laboratory Wine Bar at 40 Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy

The Wine Art Laboratory signage has arrived at 40 Avenue B, between Third and Fourth Streets. 

Per the questionnaire on file with CB3 this month, this will be a Georgian-style restaurant with a wine bar.

Despite concerns about the history of this space (see below) and the block, CB3's SLA committee OK'd a beer-wine license for the operator, though with the added stipulation that the business closes daily at midnight. (Find the full CB3 vote sheet here.)

No. 40 had an uneven run of tenants in recent years — from the good, like Fonda (RIP 2020), to the more problematic. El Carnaval, a notoriously loud Panamanian restaurant and bar, was accused of serving liquor without a license in the summer of 2021 (and caught on video)... Dora's Restaurant, which followed with similar allegations, and DJs playing to an empty establishment.

New Italian restaurant Prosciutto coming to 9th Street

Coming-soon signage is up for an Italian restaurant called Prosciutto at 435 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...

The owners will appear before CB3's SLA committee on May 11 to seek a beer-and-wine license. As of now, the applications aren't online just yet. 

This space was previously the sando shop Evil Katsu, which closed in December after five-plus years here in December.

On tonight’s CB3-SLA docket: Recente, Wine Art Laboratory and more

Here are a few items of interest on tonight's CB3-SLA committee docket... 

New Liquor License Applications 

• Recente (LW Restaurant Projects LLC), 182 2nd Ave (op) (restaurant) 

A restaurant called Recente, featuring an "upscale Italian menu," is seeking a full on-premises liquor license for 182 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

The operators are hospitality vets Willem Hock and Lukas Canan. Hock previously served as general manager at Dante NYC (2017-2021) and later as director of guest relations for Golden Age Hospitality, overseeing venues including The Nines, Bar Bianchi and Le Dive. Canan worked as a bartender at Dante NYC (2017-19), was beverage director at Sovereign Remedies in North Carolina, and later bar manager at the Freehand Hotel in Manhattan. 

Recente would replace the 22-year-old tenant, Cacio e Pepe. 

Photo by Stacie Joy 

• Wine Art Laboratory Inc, 40 Ave B (op) (bar/tavern) 

We mentioned this one a few weeks ago... Wine Art Laboratory is in the works for 40 Avenue B between Third and Fourth Streets. 

Per the questionnaire on file with CB3, this will be a Georgian-style restaurant with a wine bar... with daily hours of noon to 2 a.m. 

Residents may still have some lingering concerns from previous tenants. El Carnaval, a Panamanian restaurant and bar, drew noise complaints and was accused of serving liquor without a license in the summer of 2021. Dora's Restaurant followed, facing similar issues — along with DJs playing to largely empty rooms.

Photo by Stacie Joy 

• B Scene (B Scene Corp), 50 Ave B (op) (bar/tavern) 

Abby Ehmann, who also owns two other Avenue B establishments, Lucky Bar and the sober Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge, is back with an application for 50 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

After a lengthy discussion during last month's SLA committee meeting, Ehmann withdrew her application for the two-level space. 

This month, she has dropped the "nightclub" ask for a bar/tavern license. You can read the questionnaire here. And our Q&A with Ehmann here.

• Forsythia NYC (JDS Restaurant 2 LLC), 32 E 1st St (op) (restaurant) 

The owners of Forsythia on Stanton Street plan to open an events space in a storefront within the condoplex at the NE corner of Second Avenue and First Street. 

The space will be closed to the public, available to host events as well as weekly cooking classes. 

Forsythia, which serves Roman-inspired pastas from chefs Jacob Siwak and Mark Coleman, opened in 2020 between the Bowery and Chrystie. 

Questionnaire here.

Photo by Stacie Joy

• SKWR (Stuffed Ice Cream LLC), 139 1st Ave (wb) (restaurant) 

SKWR, the quick-serve space selling a variety of skewers, recently opened at 139 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

They are looking to add a beer and wine service for the 16-seat establishment. 

Questionnaire here.

• Sous Vide Panda LLC, 218 E 10th St (op) (restaurant) 

Kuro Neko is the proposed new Japanese restaurant for 218 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue — the former Rai Rai Ken space. 

According to the questionnaire, the space will include eight tables with 16 seats, a counter/bar with five seats, and a private dining area for six to eight guests. Background recorded music is planned, with no outdoor seating. Proposed hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. 

Rai Rai Ken closed in December 2024 after 24 years in service. 

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CB3's SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited public seating is available. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a shot along 2nd Avenue by Heather Dubin)

Never miss an EVG post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here. 

• DOT launches planning process for redesign of 14th Street corridor (March 10) 

• Someone swiped the Basquiat plaque on Great Jones Street (March 12) 

• Noho Food Market relocating as another Bowery corner awaits development (March 11) 

• Ruby/Dakota gallery signs off on 2nd Street (March 12) 

• Anti-tagging defense goes up at future Sephora on St. Mark’s Place (March 13) 

• Social reaction to a line at Panna II (March 8)

Emmy Squared returns to service after months-long renovation (March 12) 

• Grand opening for Metro Acres Market on 1st Avenue and 5th Street (March 14)

• La La Laundry team opens new venture on 3rd Street (March 11) 

• LPC hearing on controversial development proposed for NoHo Historic District Extension (March 10) 

• Bellevue Shelter closing; intake shifting to East 3rd Street and the Bowery (March 9) 

• A new plan for the former Housewatch space on Avenue B (March 9) 

• On the April CB3-SLA docket: Caledonia East Village and Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar (March 9)

• Signage alert: Apna Pind on 4th Street (March 11) 

• A signage snag for Small Village Deli on Avenue B (March 11) 

• Crews prepping Avenue A for pavement milling above 4th Street (March 13) 

• The first Genre is Death video IS SO GOOD (March 13)

... and a moment at Pardon My French on Avenue B the other evening (photo by Stacie Joy)

A new plan for the former Housewatch space on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated March 10: After a lengthy discussion during last night's SLA committee meeting, Ehmann withdrew her application and will try another month.

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Back on Feb. 23, we noted that a for-lease sign had appeared at 50 Avenue B, between Third Street and Fourth Street, following the quiet closure of Housewatch earlier this year after nearly 18 months in business. 

The bi-level space has been many different things over the years, including Joey Bats Café, Gama Lounge, Lovecraft, Affaire Bistro and Lounge, and China 1. 

At the time last month, we also heard there might already be a new suitor for the address. Fast-forward to tonight: a proposal for a nightclub at 50 Avenue B appears on the CB3 SLA committee docket. The proposed operator is Abby Ehmann, who also owns two other Avenue B establishments — Lucky Bar and the sober Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge. 

We caught up with her outside the space and asked about her plans. 

What are you planning here? How will it differ from your other places?

I see the space, which will be called B Scene, as an extension of both my current businesses. Those rooms are small, which limits my ability to accommodate larger events, such as birthday celebrations, baby showers, live music and dancing. 

What would you say to neighbors who are concerned about a nightclub opening on lower Avenue B? (See the signs of opposition that arrived on the gate late last week.) 

To my neighbors, I say, first, that I am sorry for their problems with previous tenants. I've lived in the East Village for almost 40 years and know some businesses have proven problematic. 

If you speak to my Lucky and Hekate neighbors, I believe you will hear that I've never been a nuisance, followed the regulations in place, and contributed significantly to the culture of the neighborhood. 

The word "nightclub" obviously strikes fear in people's hearts. I will say that the "nightclub" is underground, with a regular bar above it, where music will be at a conversational level, and will absorb any noise from the basement. There won't be lines down the sidewalk because guests will have access through the upstairs bar. I'm not sure how else to reassure them. 

As a 66-year-old woman and a longtime resident, I'm alarmingly different from other potential business owners. I'm not a nightlife consortium or a recent arrival, dependent upon TikTok to bring in business. 

My staff thus far consists of a full-time manager who lives on 14th between A and B, a head bartender who lives on Houston and Avenue B, and a sound guy who lives on East Seventh, all of them residents who are well over 40 and have lived here for over 25 years. You cannot possibly find a team that is more mature and experienced OR more local.

Find info on tonight's meeting, which starts at 6:30, here. The Zoom link is at this link.

On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Caledonia East Village and Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar

Here are a few items of interest on tonight's CB3-SLA committee docket... 

• Caledonia (Caledonia East Village LLC), 511 E 6th St (op) (whiskey lounge/bar) 

There's an applicant for the long-long vacant storefront at 511 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

According to the application on the CB3 website, the principal here, Michael Ferrie, plans to open a bar specializing in whiskey... who operates a handful of similar bars in the city, including Caledonia Bar with outposts on the UES and UWS, and The Hunterian Bar on the UES.

There are plans to operate an outdoor space in the rear garden (six tables/12 seats) and to host weekly private whiskey tastings. 

The last tenant here was Identity Bar and Lounge, which closed in the fall of 2013.

• 88 2nd Ave Buenavista Restaurant & Bar LLC, 88 2nd Ave (op) (restaurant) 

As we first noted in late January, Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar is opening on the NE corner of Fifth Street. 

This will be the second outpost for the Latin American restaurant that opened in 2018 at 536 Ninth Ave. in Hell's Kitchen. 

Owner Christian Nuñez provided more details to Crain's this past week about the EV space. 

The menu at the new spot, which focuses on Latin America's snack culture, will feature shareable plates, croquettes and paella. Nuñez, who is also behind restaurant and nightlife spot Café Nuñez in the Garment District, also plans to have DJs at brunch and in the evenings. 

Nuñez signed a 10-year lease with an option for a five-year extension. Asking rent was $21,000 per month. 

You can find more details at the CB3 questionnaire. 

CB3's SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

Residents say ‘do not disturb’ to Holiday Inn rooftop bar proposal on the Lower East Side

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 12/9: CB's SLA Committee denied this application during the Dec. 8 meeting.

Residents on the Lower East Side are speaking out against a proposal to add a rooftop bar to the Holiday Inn at 150 Delancey St., ahead of the hotel's appearance before Community Board 3's SLA Committee tonight. 

In a letter submitted to CB3, neighbors say the plan — an alteration to the hotel's existing liquor license — would bring unwanted noise and late-night activity to an area that is already heavily burdened by nightlife.

According to the hotel's questionnaire, the rooftop bar and dining area would feature 12 tables with four seats each, 15 bar seats, and six booth seats. The proposed hours are noon to 11 p.m. daily. 

Residents note that a similar rooftop request at this location was rejected a decade ago, and they argue that conditions on Suffolk Street, a primarily residential corridor, have only worsened since. They point to ongoing issues with nearby rooftop venues/horror shows such as The DL, Hotel Chantelle, Mr. Purple and The Delancey. 

The letter outlines several concerns: 

• Noise: A rooftop bar four stories above homes could affect an estimated 1,000 residents between Delancey and Rivington. 

• Nightlife saturation: Neighbors say the area is already oversaturated with bars and clubs, triggering CB3's policy requiring clear public benefit for any expansion — something opponents say this proposal lacks. 

• Safety and congestion: Residents cite crowding, sanitation problems and sidewalk congestion on the narrow block. 

The letter concludes by urging CB3 to once again deny the rooftop request, saying the hotel's indoor basement and ground-floor bars are already sufficient and far more appropriate for the area. 

Resident Pam Ito, whose building abuts the Holiday Inn — now undergoing exterior maintenance — invited EVG over to show what the situation looks like (and sounds like). Residents like Ito were here before the hotel arrived in 2013.

... and the section of the roof slated for the proposed outdoor bar.

For Ito and her neighbors, it's a reminder of how close — and how loud — any rooftop activity would be.

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

New Korean–Italian restaurant seeking beer & wine license at former Black Seed bagels space

A new restaurant is in the works for 176 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street, where Black Seed Bagels operated for a decade. 

Moim Hospitality LLC — led by chef-owner Sechul Yang, whose résumé includes working in the kitchens at Gramcery Tavern, Oiji Mi and Maialino — will appear before CB3's SLA Committee tonight to request a beer-and-wine license for the address. 

According to the application materials, the yet-to-be-named spot is proposed as a Korean-Italian restaurant, serving daily from 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Wednesday and until 1 a.m. Thursday–Saturday. 

The plans show 12 tables, a 10-seat bar, and a full kitchen offering handmade pastas, Korean dishes and a mix of small plates. 

The applicant notes that alcohol service will include a small, curated wine list, beer, and house-infused soju, and that "alcohol is always secondary to food," with the restaurant pledging to follow all SLA and CB3 guidelines regarding hours, noise and usage. 

On the application, Yang said he aims to create a "quiet, community-oriented neighborhood restaurant" geared toward local residents and families. 

Black Seed had retained much of the charm of its predecessor, DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffè, the family-run bakery that occupied the space for 110 years before closing in December 2014. 

Hopefully, the new operators will do the same. 

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with an early am view along 10th Street and Tompkins)... 

Never miss an EVG post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here.

• Work stops, plans change for new building on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street (Monday, Oct. 13) 

• Stepping into her power: East Village native Laurice Fox brings Big Foot Energy home (Thursday, Oct. 16) 

• Owner of former P.S. 64 shares first public comments on building's future (Wednesday, Oct. 15) 

• Revisiting Britain's late-night weirdness at Various/Artists on the Lower East Side (Tuesday, Oct. 14) 

• CB3 to consider street co-namings honoring Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Jack Kirby (Tuesday, Oct. 14) 

• The last of the East Village Juice Press outposts has closed (Monday, Oct. 13) 

• These East Village streets will be closed Sunday for the Halloween Dog Parade (Friday, Oct. 17)

• Openings: Shifka on the Bowery (Tuesday, Oct. 14) … Zesty Tabbouleh on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday, Oct. 14) 

• ICYMI: Time Out Market debuts on 14th Street (Sunday, Oct. 12)

• On the CB3 SLA docket in October: A country buffet from the C as in Charlie and Kisa team (Wednesday, Oct. 15) … Former Good Beer space on 9th Street may yield a cafe-bar (Monday, Oct. 13) 

• The Sabieng Thai won't be reopening; Nounou Noodle Bar on the way (Thursday, Oct. 17) 

• Cue the next track: Hi-Note bids farewell (for now) on Avenue B (Wednesday, Oct. 15) 

• The Bowery gears up for more core work (Thursday, Oct. 17) 

• Signage alert: QQ Nails & Spa on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday, Oct. 15) 

... and crews for the Baquiat biopic "Samo Lives" will try again tomorrow after last Monday's rainout (post here). Tomorrow's weather doesn't look much more promising than Oct. 13...

The Sabieng Thai won't be reopening; Nounou Noodle Bar on the way

Early last month, we spotted a "temporarily closed for renovations" sign on the door at The Sabieng Thai on First Avenue. 

The windows were also papered over, but we did see several contractors inside the space between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, so it seemed to be a genuine renovation, not a stealth shutdown. 

Soon enough, Community Board 3 notices arrived — a new Thai restaurant is in the works here called Nounou Noodle bar. 

The applicants are on this month's CB3 SLA docket, though they've already received administrative approval based on their method of operation (beer-wine, early close, etc.). 

Here's more about what to expect via the Nounou website: 

At Nounou, every bowl starts with care and craft. Our noodles are made in-house each day—rolled, cut, and shaped by hand—because we believe they should be as fresh and full of character as the city we serve. Chef Kim Chaimongkolchai brings his Thai roots and years of kitchen experience to the table. 

Growing up in Thailand, bold flavors left a lasting mark on him. Later, in New York at the Institute of Culinary Education, he sharpened his skills in both Asian and Western cooking. With more than a decade in the industry, Chef Kim now blends tradition with creativity, giving noodles a playful modern twist. 

Chef Kim has most recently worked at Plue Thai Kitchen on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem. 

We liked The Sabieng Thai, which opened in the fall of 2016... taking over from Spice. (Another Thai spot, Pukk, was here until 2015.)

On the CB3 SLA docket in October: A country buffet from the C as in Charlie and Kisa team

In August, the owners of C as in Charlie and Kisa reportedly signed a 10-year lease at 166 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

On Monday night, reps for the hospitality group will appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee for a new liquor license. 

According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website, the still unnamed concept with seats for 60 diners will feature a "country buffet" priced at $25.99. 

The application includes a sample menu with some buffet faves...

Given the popularity of the food at C as in Charlie and Kisa, this may usher in a new era for buffets. 

C as in Charlie opened at 5 Bleecker St., just west of the Bowery, in 2022, while the Korean diner Kisa debuted last year on the SW corner of Allen and Houston. 

The bistro-bar Ferns closed at 166 First Ave. in February after more than seven years in business. 

CB3's SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

Former Good Beer space 0n 9th Street may yield a cafe-bar

A new cafe-bar called Cahoots NYC is in the works for 422 E. Ninth St., between Avenue A and First Avenue. (H/T Steven!)

The applicants, listed as Cheyenne Garcia and Daniel Frehner, who have experience working at establishments in Portsmouth, N.H., are scheduled to appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee on Oct. 20 to seek a liquor license for the space. 

The application on file for the public shows 13 tables with seating for 38, and proposed hours of operation from 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

The application includes a sample menu featuring various pastries and sandwiches as well as breakfast fare such as a granola bowl and avocado toast...

Good Beer, a shop-and-bar hailed as a craft beer pioneer, closed here in 2022.

CB3's SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

More about the new comedy club in the works for 44 Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

As noted last week, the former Upright Citizens Brigade's UCBeast space on Avenue A and Third Street has a new suitor: Mark Rothman, founder of the Top Secret Comedy Club, a UK-based venue with multiple locations. 

I spotted Rothman, who was visiting from the UK last week, collecting signatures on Friday. He said he first became interested in the Avenue A spot last fall.

After nearly a year of negotiations, he signed the lease two weeks ago. If all goes well, he plans to open later this fall.

"This is a comedy-focused place," Rothman told me of Top Secret, perhaps sensing possible opposition to a full liquor license for the space. "It's not drink-led, it's ticket-led. We are not a drinking establishment, we're a comedy club. There is no two-drink minimum here. We don't have tables, we don't have service, and no waiters. The alcohol is ancillary to the comedy."

The setup will feature theater-style seating, all facing the stage. A small bar at the front of the house will serve drinks during the shows. Rothman noted they use a queuing system capable of processing 30 customers per minute, which he says will help prevent long lines at the entrance.

As for food: with no kitchen in the space, the menu will be limited to frozen pizza and light bar snacks. Rothman's longtime colleague and friend, Claire Grinis, is moving to New York to manage the venue. Programming will focus almost exclusively on stand-up comedy, with the occasional musical-comedy act. 

The new venture will be the latest chapter for a space with plenty of recent history. UCB ran UCBeast here from September 2011 to February 2019, shuttering after citing the "extreme costs" of operating. 

More recently, the gallery-performance space O'Flaherty's made the address its home, closing last year after a memorable 18-month run.

Rothman's application is on CB3's SLA Licensing & Outdoor Dining Committee agenda for tonight. The meeting is at 6:30, and the Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, with limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who arrive at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Comedy club eyeing former comedy club space on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy (top pic from last summer)

The owner of the Top Secret Comedy Club, a UK-based comedy and improv venue with several locations, is eyeing the former Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's UCBeast space on Avenue A and Third Street.

Reps for the business started by Mark Rothman 13 years ago will appear before CB3's SLA Licensing & Outdoor Dining Committee on Monday.

They are aiming for a full liquor license along with a food menu featuring pizza. The proposed occupancy shows 242 seats. You can find the questionnaire here with more info. 

The past tenant here, the gallery-performance space O'Flaherty's, had a memorable 18-month run. 

Upright Citizens Brigade Theater operated UCBeast here from September 2011 to February 2019. At the time, UCB officials blamed the "extreme costs" of operating here for its closing. 

The club had its share of drama before and right after its opening, notably with the Hot Chicks Room and New Jack Cornballs. 

Upright Citizens Brigade opened in a new space on 14th Street last fall.

Monday's meeting is at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A look at the coming-soon Corner Bistro

Photos by Stacie Joy 

In late July, someone wrote "Corner Bistro Coming Soon" in green paint on the windows at the currently vacant 94-96 Avenue A at Sixth Street. This likely was not the official coming soon signage the business had planned.

Anyway, the West Village burger institute is opening an outpost in the East Village, as we first noted here. 

We've been waiting to get more information on timing, etc. However, we haven't heard back from ownership or the attorney who represented Corner Bistro during the May Community Board 3 meeting. CB3 signed off on the liquor license application in May. 

There is also a public notice on the door for a 500-foot hearing with the State Liquor Authority (SLA) dated Aug. 1.

According to the SLA website, the license remains pending...

To date, we haven't seen much activity from the storefronts, which housed the sports bar Offside Tavern until late last year. Before that, August Laura had a brief run beginning in October 2019 but faced a stop-start schedule during the pandemic and finally closed in December 2021. 

The address is best known as the longtime home of Sidewalk — the restaurant, bar, and live music venue (and host of the Antifolk Festival) that closed in February 2019 after a 34-year run. 

Corner Bistro opened in 1961 on West Fourth Street in the West Village. Elizabeth McGrath — daughter of Corner Bistro's original owners, Bill and Lorraine O'Donnell — took over the business in 2015. 

This wouldn't be the burger institution's first time branching out. Corner Bistro opened a location in Long Island City in 2012, which shuttered in 2020 due to pandemic-related pressures. An outpost at the Gotham West Market food hall in Hell's Kitchen also closed in 2020. 

What's next for the Minca space on 5th Street?

With reporting by Stacie Joy

Minca closed out a 21-year run in the East Village on July 14. 

Shigeto Kamada, owner of the Tokyo-style ramen parlor at 536 E. Fifth St., is set for retirement. 

However, the small space between Avenue A and Avenue B won't be empty for too long. According to Minca staff, Hiroki Odo, the chef at odo, the acclaimed Japanese restaurant on West 20th Street, is taking over for Minca with plans for a yakitori concept. 

We're told that renovations will take place over the next few months. 

From ramen to yakitori, the torch is already being passed.  

Updated: Odo is on the August CB3 SLA committee docket for a new liquor license. There's a sample menu for what will be odo East Village here.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• After 20-plus years, Minca on 5th Street will close its doors for good after service tonight 

• At the last night of Minca

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a rainbow shot from Friday evening by Jeanne Krier)... 

• Park access shifts again: What's open and closed in East River Park starting Memorial Day as construction moves to the north (Thursday)

• Me-Wow! FDNY rescues Nico the Cat from East Village tree (Tuesday) 

• Skim City: ATM at Avenue B Duane Reade hiding a high-tech heist (Friday) 

• Fresh sod and DanceFest crowds come together in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

• Housing lottery winding down for units at the all-new 280 E. Houston St., aka The Houston (Wednesday) 

• A few moments from the annual Dance Parade and DanceFest (Sunday)

• A quick look at the May CB3 SLA agenda (Monday) 

• Restaurant space at 88 2nd Ave. hits the market after 4 years of turnover (Thursday) 

• First look at the 'Caught Stealing' trailer, filmed partly in the East Village last fall (Wednesday) 

• The Juicy Lucy kiosk reopens on 1st and 1st for the season (Thursday)

• The Brant Foundation has a free exhibition featuring the work of Glenn Ligon (Tuesday ) 

• A new campaign stop on Avenue A (Thursday) 

• A Sweetgreen for the Lower East Side (Thursday) 

• Kijitora in soft-open mode on 14th Street (Sunday) 

• Signs of life at Taverna East Village (Wednesday) 

• The last jiggle: Viral dessert shop Ănjelly closes on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Power move: Citi Bike's new charging station lands on 1st Avenue and 14th Street (Wednesday)

• Global chain Sanku Maots'ai opening its first U.S. outpost on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• Signage alert: YoYo Chicken on 14th Street (Monday) 

... and several people have noted the arrival of hand-painted signage this past week for Maya, opening this summer at 115 Avenue A near Seventh Street. As we previously mentioned, the well-regarded taqueria has two outposts in Brooklyn (photo by Stacie Joy)...