The great First Avenue Laundry Center is closing for renovations this fall

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

In the days/weeks ahead, the First Avenue Laundry Center will be closing for renovations at 33 First Ave. at Second Street.

Fear not! The laundromat will reopen. 

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy recently talked with Anne DeVita, the 88-year-old manager (above left with her assistant Nellie). 

"The dryers haven't been working well since there was a fire a few months ago due to lint accumulation. The fire department had to come," said DeVita, who has worked here for 40 years. "The plan is to close down for renovations. I think it will happen after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, if I had to guess." 

The rest of the conversation went like this: 

How long will the laundromat be closed? 

"I don't know; your guess is as good as mine. Maybe a few months? When you see a sign out front saying 'CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS' that will be it. In 40 years there have been no renovations. The owners are going to take out the nonfunctioning dryers and put in new ones."

All new washers too? 

"I don't know. Maybe they will paint too, or do some flooring work. I will be getting paid to be here every day to let the contractors and workers in. I'm not doing it for free."

Anyway, in our estimation, the frozen-in-time laundromat is PERFECT the way it is...

And H/T to EVG reader Steph! 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A visit to First Avenue Laundry Center

Tuesday's parting shots

Some e-bike drama today on Eighth Street just west of Broadway... as the FDNY was called in to douse the flames on a bike that caught fire... thanks to EVG reader MP for the shots...

A look at the fire-damaged 11-13 Avenue D

Here's a look at 11-13 Avenue D one week after a two-alarm fire caused smoke and water damage in the 6-floor residential building between Second Street and Third Street. 

Windows on several of the 16 residential units are boarded up. The city also issued a full vacate order on the premises...

Per the city: 

Due to extensive fire damage at 1st-floor restaurant along with fire, water and smoke damage throughout building... fire fighting operations to vent out entire building where all windows and doors have been removed along with removal of the skylight for venting. These hazardous conditions have therefore rendered the ENTIRE premises unsafe to occupy. 

The fire has also shut down the three retail establishments at the address: Joseph's Convenience Store, New Chinatown Restaurant and Royal Fried Chicken. 

Sources said the fire started in the New Chinatown Restaurant, which was not open at the time. An EVG reader and resident of the building left a comment on the post about the fire stating that no one was injured. 

The FDNY has not released an official cause of the fire.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo of Ruckus Interruptus playing the excellent Ninth Street block party yesterday... photo by Derek Berg)...

• Report of a 2-alarm fire at 11-13 Avenue D (Tuesday) 

• Remembering East Village artist M. Henry Jones (Wednesday)

• Astor Wines & Spirits has new owners — its employees (Tuesday) 

• City unveils Adela Fargas Way in honor of Casa Adela's legendary founder (Friday ... Saturday)

• Green days: 6&B Garden program teaching East Village kids how to garden and cook (Thursday) 

• Good Beer is closing (Monday) 

• What is the city planning for the multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park? (Wednesday)

• Compilation Coffee debuts on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Jo's Tacos coming to 14th Street (Monday) 

• The state of this Stuyvesant Street retail space (Thursday) 

• A full reveal at Zero Irving on 14th Street (Monday) 

• These cats need a home (Thursday) 

• The pre-dawn Moon in Taurus (Thursday) 

• A new broker for 44 Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• J. Crew signage official a day before its grand opening on the Bowery (Monday) 

• Signs of fall: the Feast of San Gennaro is underway (Thursday) 

• Thursday's parting SERVE (Thursday) 

• Full reveal at 15 Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• City removes the outdoor dining structure from Pardon My French on Avenue B (Friday) 

...  and after nearly seven weeks of rent-free business while parked on Sixth Street at Avenue A, the Mo' Eats truck disappeared on Wednesday...

... though it was spotted again Saturday morning not too far away...

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Report of a 2-alarm fire at 11-13 Avenue D

A two-alarm fire damaged several businesses and displaced residents late last night at 11-13 Avenue D between Second Street and Third Street. 

The @FDNYalerts account first noted the fire at 12:41 a.m. ...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0415, 13 AVE D, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, 1 FLR STORE

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) September 13, 2022

... with the "under control" coming at 2 a.m. ...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0415, 13 AVE D, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, 1 FLR STORE, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) September 13, 2022

Nearby residents reported seeing flames coming through the roof of the six-floor building. (H/T Bobby G.) 

Video taken from the scene shows extensive damage to the three ground-floor businesses: Joesph's Convenience Store, New Chinatown Restaurant and Royal Fried Chicken. (New Chinatown Restaurant was not open at the time, as firefighters had to cut through the gate to access the establishment.)

At this time, there isn't any official word of injuries, the origin of the fire or the extent of the damage to the residential units.

Updated 8:30 a.m. 

EVG reader Bobby G. shares this photo from this morning...

Screengrabs via video by THEMAJESTIRIUM1.

At the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This morning saw the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop. 

As you know, the storefront at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street was destroyed in a fire this past Jan. 10. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by and found a happy owner, Muhammad Aslam, and his daughter, Mehnaz Noreen, the retail sales manager...

Some locals were there to support the shop's first day back and pick up some office or school supplies, greeting cards, etc.

Stacie also had the chance to check out a fully stocked store...

Because people will ask: Longtime manager Jayant "Jay" Patel is currently traveling in India and will return soon.

Reminders: Essex Card Shop reopens today!

Photo by Stacie Joy

As we first reported on Thursday, Essex Card Shop reopens today (Sept. 6!) at 10 a.m.

The new awning arrived over the weekend ahead of the big day here at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street.

A fire destroyed the storefront this past Jan. 10. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Filling the shelves as Essex Card Shop moves closer toward a reopening on Avenue A (Aug. 2)

• Cleaning out and preparing to rebuild Essex Card Shop on Avenue A (Feb. 22)

• Assessing the fire damage at Essex Card Shop (Jan. 13)

• Information about a crowdfunding campaign to help the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop (Jan. 11) 

Essex Card Shop reopens on TUESDAY

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Signage went up early last evening... announcing the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A this Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The store opens at 10 a.m. ...

... for the first time since a fire destroyed the business this past Jan. 10. 

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.

Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week include (with a photo of Blondie at Pier 17 Thursday evening) ....

• VIDEO: Watch the Nissan Sentra drive through Tompkins Square Park on Sunday morning (Tuesday) ... Reader report: A chaotic scene as man drives car into Tompkins Square Park; no arrests (Sunday) 

• Another day, another car drives into Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• Report of a fire at 313 E. 6th St. (Wednesday) 

• Rake Wine debuts on 3rd Street adjacent to Urban Wine & Spirits (Thursday) 

• On 12th Street, Hi Noona says goodbye (Monday) 

• Residents come together to pick up trash around Tompkins Square Park (Friday) 

• The Gallery Watch Q&A: Tilde Thurium and Nicole Aptekar on 'Anaphoric Fractures' (Friday) 

• Love Thy Beast departing 5th Street for Brooklyn (Tuesday)

• Free fitness classes return to Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• Boot party: Why so many immobilized vehicles in the East Village? (Thursday)

• Masked garbage bandit spotted on 12th Street (OK, it's just a raccoon) (Thursday) 

• Days of wine and closures (Monday) 

• A new residential building for this block of 9th Street (Wednesday)

• Shinzo Omakase set to debut on 2nd Street (Wednesday) 

• A sticky situation this morning at the Keith Haring sculpture on Astor Place (Tuesday) 

• A smoke shop for this block of 4th Street (Monday)

... and also at Pier 17 before Blondie, the Damned's David Vanian looking cool in the high-80s temps...

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Report of a fire at 313 E. 6th St.

The FDNY battled a two-alarm fire overnight on the top floor of 313 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Two people, a resident and a firefighter, reportedly (via Citizen), sustained minor injuries 

The FDNY first reported the fire at 2:03 a.m. ... with the "under control" coming nearly 90 minutes later...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, COCKLOFT , Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Neighbors reported seeing flames coming from the roof of No. 313 (reader photo below). The FDNY said the fire started in the cockloft.

No word on the cause of the fire. 

This morning, boards covered windows on the third and fourth floor of the circa-1900 building, which has three residential units.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Cooper Square Friday evening by Carol from East 5th Street) ... 

• Help for Chino Garcia (Friday) 

• The Trader Joe's Wine Shop on Union Square has permanently shuttered (Thursday) ... Here's the midnight email that employees of the Trader Joe's Wine Shop received about the closing on Union Square (Friday) 

• A visit to Aliens of Brooklyn on 9th Street (Thursday)

• On 5th Street, some residents say they want green space and not senior housing (Monday, 84 comments) 

• Cafe Mocha, destroyed by fire in 2020, is reopening in a new East Village location (Monday) 

• East Village cafe AO Bowl closes, owner blames Sen. Schumer (Monday) 

• A memorial for Jack the cat on 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• A look at the remaining red-tailed hawk fledgling in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• TabeTomo owners have new venture planned for St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• El Primo Red Tacos primed for 151 Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• Here's info about a Virtual Rat Academy for East Village business owners, gardeners and residents (Tuesday)

• Signage alerts: Hi-Note on Avenue B; Le Burger on 5th Street (Wednesday) 

• iSouvlaki has closed on 12th Street (Thursday) 

• Today in iconic hotel awning sightings (Monday)

• Manhattan Marketplace coming soon to 1st Avenue and 12th Street (Monday) 

• [solidcore] bringing the pilates to 14th Street (Monday) 

• 5 years later, signs of progress at 180 2nd Ave. (Wednesday) 

• Seeing (Empanada Mama) red on 14th Street and 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

 ... and earlier this summer, a Janovic Paint & Decorating Center opened at the former Duane Reade on Third Avenue and 18th Street... we missed that the company closed the outpost on Fourth Avenue near 10th Street... 

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A look at the remaining red-tailed hawk fledgling in Tompkins Square Park

Photos yesterday by Steven 

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, welcomed three chicks to the nest this spring. 

Unfortunately, as you may have heard, two of them died last month. 

As Goggla first reported, a fledgling died on July 4 from what appeared to be frounce, "a naturally occurring illness that afflicts raptors."

On July 27, the second fledgling was found with its eyes closed and looking weak on a fire escape across from the Park on Seventh Street. Sgt Dan of the Urban Park Rangers was able to scoop up the unwell hawk, who died later that night at the Wild Bird Fund.

While a cause of death has not been determined, from what Goggla observed (and based on what happened in previous summers), she strongly speculates that it was rodenticide poisoning. 

Meanwhile, the third fledgling appears to be healthy, remaining active in the Park (despite this heat) ... and providing a thrill for onlookers... 

You can visit Goggla's site for more photos of Amelia, Christo and the fledgling.

Cafe Mocha, destroyed by fire in 2020, is reopening in a new East Village location

Cafe Mocha was wiped out by a three-alarm fire in February 2020 at 48 E. Seventh St./116 Second Ave. Any hopes for a reopening were dashed when another fire destroyed the corner building in December 2020.

However, the all-day cafe will be returning after all... with a new space at 111 First Ave. just south of Seventh Street.

Owner Ghasan Ballan received administrative approval from CB3 for a new beer-wine license for the address. (The previous Cafe Mocha also served beer and wine.) Paperwork filed with CB3 shows that the restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight, with nine tables for 30 diners.

No. 111 became available when Suki Japanese Kitchen relocated to St. Mark's Place earlier this summer.

Cafe Mocha first opened in the East Village in 2008. No word on when the new space will debut.  

Filling the shelves as Essex Card Shop moves closer toward a reopening on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Workers are busy restocking the shelves at the fully renovated Essex Card Shop, which was gutted by a fire in early January at 47 Avenue A.

Owner Muhammad Aslam (below) provided EVG contributor Stacie Joy with an interior update the other day. He said he will be open before Sept.1, and he is looking toward mid-to-end of August. 

As of late last week, he was waiting on several items, including a new ATM, FedEx system and store signage...

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

Supporters of Essex Card Shop have helped it raise more than $91,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

Report: Alleged subway shooter who was arrested in the East Village set to stand trial in February

Photo by an EVG reader from April 13 

A federal judge today set a trial date for Feb. 27, 2023, for Frank James, who allegedly opened fire on a Manhattan-bound N train in Brooklyn in April. 

Per ABC 7: 

Numerous ideas, photos, records and reports have already been collected by the government and turned over to the defense. James has pleaded not guilty to federal terrorism charges. 

It wasn't immediately clear what his defense will look like. 

James is facing life in prison if convicted of the two charges he faces.

As previously reported, James reportedly shot 10 people on a subway train in Sunset Park on April 12. In total, 29 people were wounded in the aftermath on the train and platform. 

Police arrested James on April 13 on the NE corner of First Avenue and St. Mark's Place... aided by the actions of several tipsters. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• City honors Saifee Hardware manager Francisco Puebla for role in nabbing alleged subway shooter 

• Report: 5 people are splitting the $50,000 Crime Stoppers reward for Frank James tip

• Report: Alleged subway shooter held without bail after first court appearance 

• Videos: Witnesses describe spotting alleged subway shooter Frank James before his arrest in the East Village

Openings! Desi Stop on 2nd Avenue

Some good opening news... Desi Stop has debuted at 75 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Garth for the photo and tip!)

The deli, serving homemade Indian food, tea, coffee and snacks, is open daily for now from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 

For months it looked as if the quick-serve shop would never make it to an opening date.

Here's a recap from an EVG post from April...

Last August, Gurjaipal Singh and his partners took possession of the storefront at 75 Second Ave. 

They aimed to open Desi Stop in the fall. 

As of mid-April, Desi Stop remains in limbo, and Singh says he's gone bankrupt waiting for the city to OK the address to open and start serving food. 

"Unfortunately, after six months and spending thousands of dollars and meeting with all requirements of city departments, we are still waiting for clearance to open up," he said in a text message. "Slow working of city departments is killing small businesses like us even before they can open." 

The problems started in November 2021 when the Department of Buildings conducted the gas inspection. According to Singh, DOB officials said that they could not find any records in their database for the space after 1999. The DOB could not then approve the inspection. (It's not clear how the previous restaurants at the address, Nostro Ristorante and ZaabVer Thai, among others, were able to open.) 

So Singh said that they started from scratch with the DOB, which included getting clearance from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (the building is within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District), submitting new drawings and applying for new permits. 

Singh also hired a fire suppression company. There was an initial delay by the company and then with the FDNY, Singh said. The certificate of approval remains in the review process. 

Anyway, all that is behind Singh and his partners, and they look forward to serving the neighborhood "after a lot of struggle." 

La Mia Pizza remains closed for now

La Mia Pizza remains closed at 124 Fourth Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street... a board still covers the front window... (thanks to Steven for the photos)

On July 3, firefighters responded to a report of a gas leak at the building and called for ConEd to inspect the property. 

Initial reports indicated that a small explosion occurred in the pizzeria's kitchen, causing a minor injury to a ConEd worker (who declined a trip to the hospital). There were also accounts from passersby that the blast knocked out La Mia's front window. 

However, according to NBC 4, the explosion took place in a boiler room; that first responders broke the front window trying to access the restaurant. 

A look through La Mia's front door shows that there isn't any damage to the interior...

An employee told 1010 WINS that it was "just a little bit of fire." The cause of the leak has not been publicly identified.

There isn't any signage about a temporary closure, and there isn't an outgoing voice-mail message at the shop. Delivery apps list Friday as a reopening date, though that's far from official.

La Mia opened here in September 2020.