On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: A vinyl cafe called Bobblehead for the former Pardon My French

Photos by Stacie Joy

Tonight's September meeting of Community Board 3's SLA committee includes the following applicants (find the full list here)... 

• Bobblehead NYC LLC, 103-105 Ave B (op) (restaurant) 

The former Pardon My French space at 103-105 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street may become an all-day vinyl cafe and restaurant called Bobblehead. 

Applicants Kahiem Rivera (GM experience includes Le Dive and Jean's) and Natalie Manion (who worked with Rivera at The Turk's Inn and the Sultan Room in Brooklyn) will appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee to apply for a new liquor license. 

According to the questionnaire on file with CB3, Bobblehead would serve coffee and lunch during the day, then transition to a New American restaurant at night. Plans also call for curated vinyl playlists on a custom sound system and retail sales of records, clothing and ceramics.

The cafe hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the restaurant open until 2 a.m. The rear garden would close at 10 p.m. The sample menu includes baked goods, a Basque breakfast, salads, skewers and natural wines. 

Pardon My French closed in May after more than a decade in business. The Parisian-style bistro opened in March 2015, taking over Casimir's longtime home. 

• Laozao Hotpot 8ST LLC, 37 St Marks Pl (op) (restaurant) 

An authentic Chinese hot pot restaurant is in the works for 37 St. Mark's Place just west of Second Avenue. 

The questionnaire on file with CB3 shows that the restaurant will feature 26 tables with 110 seats. 

Proposed hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, with the kitchen closing at 10. The plans do not include music or outdoor dining. Principal Ming Lin has 11 years of restaurant management experience with Szechuan Mountain House. The application also lists connections to the nearby Mountain House and Blue Dimsum restaurants on St. Mark's Place.

Chef Tan closed here in February after nearly four years in business. A sign initially cited exhaust-duct maintenance, though a demand-for-rent notice later appeared on the front door. The restaurant opened in 2022 as the first NYC location of the Jersey City-based establishment serving Szechuan and Hunan cuisine. 

• Red Onion (Red Onion Foods Inc), 277 E 10th St (upgrade to op/corp change/alt: license space next door) 

Red Onion is looking to expand into the adjacent storefront (the one on the east side) here on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Reps for the Indian restaurant are also seeking an upgrade from beer and wine to a full liquor license, a corporate change and approval to license the additional space. 

According to the questionnaire on file with CB3, the expanded restaurant would have 22 tables with 53 seats and a bar with eight seats ... with proposed hours of 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

Red Onion has been operating at the address since 2024. Incoming president Vishnu Singh, who will hold a 69% ownership stake, previously worked in restaurant operations at Darbar Grill and Darbar Fine Indian Cuisine. 

• The Hairy Lemon (Galmac LLC), 28-30 Ave B (op/method of operation: removal of security on quiet evenings, addition of a DJ, allow cover charges) (bar/tavern) 

The Hairy Lemon is seeking several changes to its current method of operation at 28-30 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

The sports bar requests approval for a DJ once a week, cover charges for approximately 12 sporting events per year, and the addition of a pool table. Ownership also seeks to remove the requirement for security personnel on quieter evenings. 

Under the proposed change, security would be used as needed Thursday through Saturday. No changes are proposed to the hours: noon to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. on weekends. 

The Hairy Lemon opened in September 2017 in the former Croxley Ales space.

• The York (Dos Dudes LLC), 186 Ave B (op/alt: license adjacent storefront) (bar/tavern) 

The York is looking to expand into the adjacent storefront at 186 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

According to the questionnaire on file with CB3, the expanded space would include six tables with 22 seats and a bar with nine seats. The York would continue serving its American comfort-food menu, including smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and tater tots. 

The York opened in March 2023 and currently occupies the north storefront at the address. 

The adjacent south storefront was home to Jose Luis Restaurant (seen below in better days), which recently closed...

----- 

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.

On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Tompkins Social Club on 6th Street

A new bar-restaurant concept called Tompkins Social Club is in the works for 503 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The applicants are on tonight's Community Board 3 SLA committee docket for a new liquor license. The principals aren't new to the bar-restaurant business: They have previously been licensed for the now-closed Figaro on Bleecker Street. 

According to the application materials, the space would have 50 seats — 14 at the bar, 24 in four booths and another 12 at a banquette — as well as a small stage. 

The proposed food menu — described as "modern American" — leans into New York comfort and street food, with sections dubbed "The Deli," "The Bodega," "The Cart" and "The Slice Shop." 

Offerings include pastrami on rye, chopped cheese, bacon-egg-and-cheese, dirty-water dog, chicken over rice and a "dollar slice." There are also bánh mì bao buns, pork soup dumplings, steak frites, fish and chips, several varieties of fries and black-and-white cookies. 

On the drinks side, the proposed menu includes martinis, Negronis, margaritas, Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, along with wine and beers, plus a "Nada List" of nonalcoholic cocktails. 

No. 503 has sat empty since the cocktail-oyster bar Down and Out went dark in late 2024.

----- 

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.

On tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Applicants for 13 E. 1st St., 41 St. Mark's Place, and more!

41 St. Mark's Place 

The July meeting of Community Board 3's SLA committee tonight includes applicants for a Southeast Asian restaurant and cocktail bar from the team behind Fish Cheeks, a new restaurant from the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Chez Ma Tante, and a paint-and-sip tie-dye studio on Avenue A. 

New Liquor License Applications 

• Chacha's Bar LLC, 13 E 1st St (op) (restaurant) 

A new Southeast Asian restaurant and cocktail bar is in the works for 13 E. First St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery. 

According to an application on this month's CB3/SLA docket, Chacha's Bar LLC is seeking a liquor license for the address, which was most recently home to Baar Baar. The principals are Jenn Saesue and Chat Suansilphong, who also operate Bangkok Supper Club in the West Village and Fish Cheeks on Bond Street. 

The proposal calls for seating for 94 guests, plus two customer bars with a total of six seats. Hours would be noon to 2 a.m. daily, with a full kitchen serving food throughout operating hours. 

Baar Baar, an Indian gastropub, closed last fall after an eight-year run. 

• Anderson (Happy Lyre LLC), 41 St Marks Pl (op) (restaurant) 

An establishment called Anderson Cafe & Restaurant is seeking a liquor license for 41 St. Mark's Place, between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

According to CB3 documents, the proposed "Modern American" restaurant comes from Happy Lyre LLC, whose principals are listed as Aidan O’Neal (Le Crocodile and Chez Ma Tante), Jeffrey Robbins (Wei’s), and George Riddle (Chez Ma Tante and Leon’s). 

The application calls for seating for 56 diners, plus six bar seats and outdoor seating. 

Proposed hours are 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with outdoor seating ending at 10 p.m.

The Anderson has an Instagram account here. Find a sample menu on the CB3 questionnaire.

Marylou closed at No. 41 at the end of May following four years in service. Many folks will remember it as the longtime home of Cafe Orlin (RIP 2017).

• Friends with Benefits (Tres Tres Chic LLC), 60 2nd Ave (op) 

Friends with Benefits is coming to the former Black Ant space at 60 Second Ave., between Third and Fourth Streets. 

According to the pre-meeting documents (which include a sample menu), the proposed "New American" restaurant would be operated by Tres Tres Chic LLC, whose principals include Evan Hawkins (Romeo's on St. Mark's Place), Ben Yabrow (former headbartender at Double Chicken Please), and Randy Pechin (a partner at Romeo's and co-owner of several bars in Atlanta). 

The questionnaire shows seating for 74 guests indoors, plus an eight-seat patio, with proposed daily hours of noon to 2 a.m. 

Black Ant closed in June 2024 after nearly 10 years in business. 

Items not heard at the Committee

• Sigiri NY LLC, 91 1st Ave (wb) 

Sigiri, the awesome Sri Lankan restaurant, will soon be serving beer and wine from the upper level of 91 First Ave. between Fifth and Sixth Streets. 

• Tipsy Tie Die (Rusty Retail LLC), 191 Ave A (wb) (recreation facility/exhibition hall) 

A business called Tipsy Tie Dye is in the works for 191 Avenue A at 12th Street. 

The concept is a "paint-and-sip" tie-dyed art studio and bar where customers can create tie-dyed apparel, with the option to have a beer or wine. 

The proposal calls for seating for 46 people, one L-shaped bar, and hours from 2-10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. to midnight on Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The business would be closed on Monday and Tuesday. 

Food offerings would include snacks, meat-and-cheese boards, hot pretzels and pizza bites. The application lists Amanda Rust as the principal. 

The space was most recently occupied by Stand-Up MRI, which needed to serve beer and wine. 

----- 

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.

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.

----- 

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. 

------

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.

-----

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.