Thursday Kitchen will serve Korean tapas on East 9th Street

A few more details have emerged about the restaurant taking over the former King Bee space at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... the space will be called Thursday Kitchen, and serve Korean tapas, according to workers...



Thursday Kitchen is expecting to open in two more weeks.

As previously noted, a variety of concepts have come and gone in the space in recent years... including King Bee (Acadian cuisine), Exchange Alley (New Orleans-inspired fare), Olivia (Mediterranean), Sintir (Moroccan) and Zi' Pep (Italian).

Thanks to William Klayer for the photos and Steven for the initial tip.

King Bee has closed on East 9th Street

King Bee, which served Acadian cuisine (Canadian-Cajun), has closed at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The owners left this message on their King Bee website:

King Bee has closed.

We are grateful for each one of you who came through our door during the past (almost) 2 years.

Yours in good cheer,

Jeremie, Eben & Ken

On Friday, they were selling some plates, dishes and glassware for $1... (Updated: A reader said that the new owners of the restaurant were selling the leftover dishes and glassware.)



King Bee took over the space in 2014 from Exchange Alley, which opened in August 2012. Previously, Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep came and went in fairly quick succession.

Despite some quality operations, nothing has worked here. Doomed location?

We'll see. A tipster tells us that new owners already bought the space and are planning Korean BBQ.

Opening today: Barcade on St. Mark's Place; King Bee on East 9th Street

The newest outpost of Barcade, the craft beer-retro video game venue, opens today at 6 St. Mark's Place.

Unlike the other locations, this one will feature video games from the 1990s… like Moonwalker…



You can find the rundown of games, beers, food, etc., at the Barcade St. Mark's website here.

The address was previously home to NY Tofu House … and, after a quick succession of restaurants, Mondo Kim's, which Barcode co-owner Paul Kermizian used to frequent.

"It's just cool to be in the same space and to try [to] be here for a while, hopefully catering to the same nerdy, geeky crowd they did, just gamers instead of movie nerds," he told DNAinfo.

Gothamist has photos of the interior here.

Barcade's hours are noon to 2 a.m.

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[Photo from last week]

And tonight, King Bee debuts at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The restaurant is a collaboration between Eben Klemm, a beverage consultant, and Ken Jackson, a founding partner of restaurant Herbsaint in New Orleans. Their speciality: Acadian food.

We'll head to Fork in the Road's preview for more about this.

"We both felt that real Cajun cooking is hard to do in the north," says Klemm ... But through their research, they learned about the Acadian people, who are behind Cajun cooking: these people moved to Canada from France before making their way down through the United States via Maine, eventually ending up in Louisiana. And the cuisine they left in their wake, thought Jackson and Klemm, was something that could be explored here.

As we've pointed out, this space has been a carousel of restaurants in recent years... Exchange Alley, Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep couldn't make it work.

Back to Fork in the Road:

The partners have tried to price King Bee moderately, because they'd like it to become a neighborhood restaurant as well as a destination. "Ken and I had been looking for a space for three years, and he knew the people on this lease," Klemm says. "It's on a great, quiet block, and it's great to go to the Tompkins Square Greenmarket on Sundays and stock up on things for experimentation. Also, according to my mom, I was conceived 100 yards away from here. So there are a lot of reasons to be here."

Hours for dinner are Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 5 p.m.-midnight. Beer and wine only for now.

Cocktail specialist Eben Klemm opening King Bee in the former Exchange Alley space

The other day, we wondered if 424 E. Ninth St., where Exchange Alley just closed, was a doomed location.

After all, Exchange Alley, which opened in August 2012, was the latest to give this space a try between Avenue A and First Avenue … where Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep all closed in fairly quick succession.

However, there's a already a new suitor lined up to try the space… a sign out front notes that a restaurant by the name of King Bee will appear before next month's CB3/SLA committee for a wine-liquor license... and the applicant is noted mixologist Eben Klemm, the former MIT molecular biologist who created the "aperitif-driven cocktail program" at Pearl & Ash on the Bowery, among may other bars and restaurants.

That's apparently it for Exchange Alley; is 424 E. 9th St. a doomed restaurant location?

Last Monday, we noted that Exchange Alley on East Ninth Street had not been open for the past week or so. Everything was still in place inside. It looked like a working restaurant.

In recent days, we noticed that the space had been cleared out … and paper is now hanging in the front windows. The phone is no longer in service either.

Perhaps we can say that this is a jinxed/doomed location for a restaurant? Exchange Alley, which opened in August 2012, was the latest to give this space a try between Avenue A and First Avenue … where Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep all closed in fairly quick succession.

As Eater put it, "Exchange Alley opened to some decent buzz, but most of the big critics skipped the restaurant, and the hype quickly died down."

Exchange Alley has not been open lately

The New Orleans-themed Exchange Alley has not been open for the past week or so here at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

There aren't any signs up to note a temporary closure … and there's nothing on their website or Facebook page to indicate anything is amiss. Calls to the restaurant go unanswered. However, the well-regarded restaurant is no longer listed on Open Table. We reached out to chef Paul Gerard, formerly of the SoHo House kitchen, to see what was happening here.

Exchange Alley, which opened in August 2012, was the latest to give this space a try … where Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep all closed in fairly quick succession ...

The restaurant enjoyed some high-profile press ahead of its opening, including a write-up on Vogue.com

Exchange Alley latest restaurant to give 424 E. Ninth St. a go

[Image via Gothamist]

In the past few years, 424 E. Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue has proven to be tough sell for restaurants, where we've seen Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep close in fairly quick succession ...

The New Orleans-themed Exchange Alley will give it a go starting tonight ... chef Paul Gerard, a Brooklyn native who spent his salad days in New Orleans, has spent time at Sweetwater in Williamsburg ... and more recently at Soho House and the Soho Grand Hotel... His partner is Billy Gilroy, founder of Employees Only, the "it-speakeasy," according to one account of the place... You can read more about Exchange Alley at Grub Street ... Gothamist ... and Vogue ... their menu is here.

Zi' Pep has closed at seemingly jinxed East Ninth Street location

Zi' Pep opened in November on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue... The owner based the Southern Italian eatery on the East New York restaurant, Pep's, that his grandparents ran from 1935 to 1972, as Grub Street reported.

Anyway, Zi' Pep is now closed... and the owner and chef are now focusing on their Italian sandwich shop in Tribeca. Here's the official message about Zi' Pep:

It is not without regret that we are closing Zi' Pep, but as they say, we were made an offer we couldn't refuse. This is for the best, as now we'll have the opportunity to focus on our friends & family over Pane Panelle. We thank you for your patronage, and look forward to seeing you in Tribeca.

The Zi' Pep space had been on the market for several months... per the listing, the rent is $9,000 plus $175,000 for key money.

This looks like a tough sell for a restaurant. Zi' Pep is the third eatery to close here in quick succession, following Olivia and Sintir.

We'll see what gives this space a go next...

Meatballs coming to East Ninth Street

Two restaurants have quickly come and gone here at 424 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ... (Olivia and Sintir.)

Now, a new tenant is taking over the space...

...and they provided a sneak preview Saturday during the block party. Zi Pep's Italian Sorry — we had the wrong name. It's Zi' Pep's Italian.

[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

Speaking of meatballs... a quick look at the Destino-backed Meatball Factory coming to the former Pizza Hut-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's combo on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue ...

Olivia has closed on East Ninth Street

When we last checked in on the Mediterranean-themed Olivia on East Ninth Street, the restaurant had closed because of a problem with the air conditioner...

A few weeks later, the space is now for lease.

Olivia had taken over the the short-lived Sintir, the Moroccan eatery/lounge that opened in May 2009. Too early to say that this is a jinxed/doomed location for a restaurant?

East Village eatery etc.: Percy's opens tonight; Caffe Buon Gusto loses an awning

Percy's Tavern on Avenue A and 13th Street does open tonight...



Sintir quickly became the Olivia Bistro on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue....




An EV Grieve reader notes that someone removed the canopy from the never-opened Caffe Buon Gusto on Fifth Street and Avenue B...



The Village Pizza Restaurant and Pizza joint on First Avenue near Second Street is closed now for some reason.... DOB signs on the gate..



A "for rent" sign just went up at the former Layalay space on Avenue B....



And there were big lines at Katz's yesterday.....

Ninth Street update; and graffiti artist Crash makes a return

There are several empty (and soon to be empty) storefronts along Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Avenue A...

Previously we've mentioned closures such as Atomic Passion and Sintir Cafe...





Giant Robot closed on Sept. 23... But a crew turned the space around quickly....



...it's now home to the Dorian Grey Gallery....




And they're opening with a great event on Friday.... per the release:

Pioneering Street Artist Crash Returns With Solo Show “Works of Paper 1980–2010” @ Debut Show of Dorian Grey Gallery in NYC’s East Village October 7 Artist’s Reception Will Include “Live Action” Art Event

WHAT: A solo show of works on paper spanning 1980 to today by CRASH, a legendary fixture on New York’s graffiti/street art scene for three decades. The 30 drawings and watercolors presented served as a virtual diary and workbook for the artist, a way of venturing into artforms not covered in his best-known large-scale murals and tags. The show will also be highlighted with a “live action” art performance during the opening reception, October 7, from 6 – 9 pm, when CRASH and TAT’S CRU will be spray painting on a silhouette image of an old IRT “redbird” subway car, the canvas for some of his most powerful early work.

WHERE: CRASH “Works On Paper 1980 – 2010” will be the debut of the East Village’s new art attraction, the Dorian Grey Gallery (DGG). Dorian Grey Gallery is a dynamic “pop up” retail venue geared at showcasing both established and emerging artists, presenting a diverse selection of exemplary art in an intimate and informative environment. DGG is a joint venture between veteran art dealers Christopher Pusey and Luis Accorsi.

Did Mayor Bloomberg kill Moroccan restaurant's business?

Sintir on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue is now officially gutted...



After some neighborhood opposition, the Moroccan eatery/lounge opened in May 2009... it was run by the Marrakech-born Hassan Hakmoun, considered the Jerry Garcia of the sintir in his native country....

Anyway, the place looked cute enough....Despite some so-so early reviews, I wanted to give it a try...



...and every time I walked by, I saw the photos of Hakmoun prominently displayed on the restaurant's front window...posed next to Mayor Bloomberg....



These were the only two photos up... no Katz's-like Wall of Fame or anything...

"Maybe he doesn't realize that having a photo of Mayor Bloomberg in the front window in this neighborhood isn't really a selling point," Mrs. Grieve helpfully said after I decided that I really didn't want to try it. Always wondered if anyone else felt the same...

East Village Eatery etc.: Plum open, Ruben's closed

Haven't seen Sintir on Ninth Street open in a while...



Plum is now open on Second Avenue....in the former Cafe Brama space.



As Eater first reported, the former Jeollado space on East Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue is becoming a Korean fried chicken/jazz club... (As East Village Feed reported, they already have a Tumblr... )



... and they want you to enter a raffle....



The new craft beer store on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue has a sign...



And Neighborhoodr reports that the Ruben’s Empenadas location at 122 First Ave. closed....

"The Jerry Garcia of the sintir" behind Sintir

New York has the scoop on Sintir Restaurant, Cafe & Lounge on East Ninth Street near Avenue A. As the magazine reports:

Unless you are an aficionado of world music, you may not have heard of the Marrakech-born Hassan Hakmoun, but he is something like the Jerry Garcia of the sintir — a long-necked, three-stringed wood-and-camel-skin lute. He’s also somewhat of an authority on good Moroccan food: “In New York, there is none,” he says matter-of-factly. To rectify that sorry situation, he opens his own place this weekend in the East Village. Unlike his distinctive sound, which fuses Western influences with the music of Morocco’s Gnawa people, Hakmoun’s kitchen specializes in straight-up traditional fare (couscous, bisteeya, harira), and is run with an iron fist by his sister.

On Feb. 9, Sintir went before CB3's SLA Licensing Committee. Bailly Roesch was there to cover the meeting for Eater:

Sintir . . . met some opposition from nine members of the Block Association. They collected a petition with 109 signatures trying to block the restaurant and cited ads the owners had apparently posted on their MySpace pages advertising upcoming live music performances. After a half an hour struggle, the ap was denied, the owner was in tears.

Still want to know more about this sign.

P.S. Here's Hakmoun in concert.

Unopened restaurant has stern warning for anyone thinking of soliciting, loitering, littering, etc.

For reasons unknown to even me, I've been keeping an eye on 424 E. 9th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A. The Moroccan-themed Sintir is planning on opening here...(The owners were denied a beer/wine license in February ... there is opposition from members of the Block Association concerned about the possibility of live music here...)



Work continues at the space... and check out this warning on the front window....



Is that stern warning so necessary?

About last night's CB3 SLA meeting...

Yesterday, I noted that Sintir, an aspiring Moroccan place under wraps at 424 E. 9th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, was going before the Community Board 3's SLA Licensing Committee.

So, how did it go? Bailly Roesch was there last night to cover the meeting for Eater.

Here's the lowdown on Sintir:

Sintir . . . met some opposition from nine members of the Block Association. They collected a petition with 109 signatures trying to block the restaurant and cited ads the owners had apparently posted on their MySpace pages advertising upcoming live music performances. After a half an hour struggle, the ap was denied, the owner was in tears.

You can read the rest of Roesch's report here.

Two items of interest:
There's a new restaurant going into the old Affetati/East Village Pie Lounge space at 131 E. Seventh St. Cure will serve Italian cured meats and cheeses along with Italian wine.

And! One thing that I was confused about...I noticed on the CB3 site that there was a transfer from Lucky Stiffs to something called Stokes (a sports bar, natch) at 211 Avenue A. According to Grub Street: "They were approved to open the bar with the stipulation that the outdoor patio be removed from the request."

Drop Off Service is at 211 Avenue A near 13th Street. Do they share an address with the now-closed Boysroom next door on the corner? Never been to Drop Off Service... just want to make sure that I didn't miss anything.



BONUS:
Salvatore D'Aquila, the first boss of what is now the Gambino Organized Crime Family, was shot and killed on Oct. 10, 1928, in front of 211 Avenue A.

Sintir update (you know, that new place opening on East Ninth Street)

The rather mysterious looking, we're-assuming-Moroccan joint coming to East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

November:


January:


February:


...is one of the few places applying for a new liquor license (wine)...the Community Board 3's SLA & DCA Licensing Committee will consider this other applications tonight at 6:30.

I kind of like Bass Plucked Lute for a restaurant name

One of the many vacant storefronts along East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue will soon be a Moroccan restaurant. (OK, we're assuming Moroccan given that Sintir is "a three stringed skin-covered bass plucked lute used by the Gnawa people of Morocco.")