Openings: Trader Joe's Pronto on Union Square

Photo Friday by Pinch

A one-off store on Union Square opens today for the Trader Joe's brand.

Trader Joe's Pronto is a grab-pay-and-go concept at 138 E. 14th St. at Irving Place (inside TJ's former wine store and steps away from the Trader Joe's at 142 E. 14th St.).

"Trader Joe's Pronto is a one-of-a-kind extension of our store in Union Square," a company spokesperson told EVG. "This additional space allows us to carry more of the products our customers in this neighborhood purchase daily."

The idea is that TJ's shoppers can get items in a hurry for, say, lunch and dinner and not have to wait in longer lines with customers shopping for the week. 

And there aren't any other Prontos planned for now.

The spokesperson said, "We do not have plans to open additional Trader Joe's Pronto markets in New York or elsewhere in the country."

 
TJ's Pronto hours:10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The wine shop, representing the brand's only liquor license in New York State, abruptly closed on Aug. 11, 2022, after 15-plus years in business. Workers here reportedly planned to unionize when the company announced the closure.

Since the shop closed, Trader Joe's has held onto the space for storage at the base of NYU's Palladium Hall. At the time, the company announced that the "space currently used for the wine shop will be used to improve the overall operations of store 540, our grocery store in Union Square." 

In a statement to Gothamist, a company spokesperson said that its decision to close the store had nothing to do with the unionizing efforts. The spokesperson called the outpost an "underperforming wine shop," which anyone who saw the lines out the door disagreed with.

Last fall, EVG readers noticed activity inside the 138 E. 14th St. space, fueling speculation of a wine store comeback. Perhaps they were planning for Pronto.

As CNBC noted in 2021, TJ's founder Joe Coulombe previously ran a chain of convenience stores in California called Pronto Markets, though they couldn't compete against the likes of 7-Eleven.

Updated 4:30 p.m.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) released this statement:

"Trader Joe's decision to open a new store in place of its former wine shop, after displacing its former staff without warning, is a giant slap in the face. We are disappointed, but not surprised, to learn that the space has been filled before reopening our shop. While management claims to be searching for a new location to move its successful wine store, they've been content to let its former location lay empty for almost 2 years as an alleged cost-saving measure.

"We believe Trader Joe's is doing everything in its power to prevent a profitable unionized shop from reopening. We refuse to let Trader Joe's continue to get away with their egregious and illegal union-busting tactics."

Checking in on the former mucky tree well on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Last Tuesday, we reported on longtime East Village resident Siobhan Meow taking care of the formerly mucky-smelly tree well on Avenue A just south of Sixth Street (now known as the Noel Reed Memorial Tree Pit).

We spotted Siobhan at work yesterday, putting in some early ground cover for the soil ...

We're looking forward to seeing this formerly soggy, bread-ridden plot come to life this spring.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• This spring, new life for the mucky tree well that smells like dead things on Avenue A

Tribes of Morocco relocates to a larger storefront on 9th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Tribes of Morocco recently debuted in its new home at 346 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The boutique offering hand-crafted Moroccan goods moved to this larger space from down the block at 428 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. (The business dates to the 1990s at other LES outposts.)

Owner Khalil H. said the aisles are wider here ... and he has more room for new merchandise, including clothing and a Moroccan foods/drinks section.

Here's a look at the well-appointed shop ...

Tribes of Morocco is open daily from noon to 8:30 p.m. You can follow the shop on Instagram here.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

On Cooper Square, a shoot for a Maybelline commercial... maybe it's Maybelline!

Marking the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Today marks the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

As in past years, volunteers have participated in the chalking project (organized by Street Pictures), writing the names and ages of the victims — mostly young women —  in front of the buildings where they lived on the Lower East Side.

The reader photos are from St. Mark's Place (above) and 11th Street...

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City on March 25, 1911, was the largest industrial disaster in U.S. history ... causing the death of 146 garment workers who either died from the fire or by jumping from the factory windows.

The Triangle Waist Company was located on the northwest corner of Greene Street and Washington Place, just east of Washington Square Park. The Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition website has more details on the tragedy and its legacy.

Friday is the deadline from these 2 East Village housing lotteries

Friday is the deadline for two new East Village residential buildings that include "affordable" units. 

We wrote about 351 E. 10th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C here.

There's also an open lottery for three units at the under-construction 645 E. Ninth St., a 7-story residential building on Avenue B and Avenue C. (H/T PIX 11.) 

Per the Housing Connect website: 

The building consists of spacious and modern apartments built with meticulous attention to detail and quality. Two bedroom unit has 2 levels and stairs. Amenities include bike storage lockers, pet-friendly, shared laundry, dishwasher, outdoor areas, package lockers, and virtual doorman. 

Now for the income eligibility: 

• A one-bedroom unit with a monthly rent of $1,741 for incomes ranging from $59,692 to $88,970 

• A one-bedroom unit with a monthly rent of $2,500 for incomes ranging from $85,715 to $165,230 

• A two-bedroom unit with a monthly rent of $2,900 for incomes ranging from $99,429 to $198,250.

Find more details and apply online here.

The new building, developed by Center Development Corporation, sits on the site of a former residential parking lot on the block ... and across the street from La Plaza Cultural. 

Coming soon to the East Village: No More Cafe, 'a haven for alcohol-free celebration'

Here's some potential respite for anyone tired of a booze-heavy nightlife scene.

No More Cafe, which opens next Monday at 352 E. 13th St. just west of First Avenue, is touted as a "zero-proof hideaway." 

Per the Cafe's website: 

A Haven for Alcohol-Free Celebration. Zero-proof is more than just abstaining from alcohol. It's about fully embracing life's experiences without compromise. At No More Cafe, we offer a way to enjoy socializing and taste without relying on alcohol, ensuring every choice feels like an upgrade. 

Rodrigo Nogueira, who worked as a corporate chef at Michael Mina Group, a San Francisco-based restaurant management company specializing in creating and operating full-service dining concepts, is behind this venture. 

In an Instagram post last month, he wrote: 

A little over a year ago, I reached a personal milestone: no more alcohol. I embarked on a journey across the country in search of a place that resonated with my new lifestyle. I wanted an environment where enjoying going out meant engaging in great conversations, savoring delicious food, and relishing proper drinks — all without the shadow of alcohol. 

You can find more details about No More here.

 

Other alcohol-free destinations in the East Village include Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge, which opened in January 2022 at 167 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Openings: Yummy Hive on 2nd Avenue

Yummy Hive debuted last week on the SW corner of Second Avenue and 10th Street. (H/T Steven!)

This is a 24/7 deli with an extensive offering of sandwiches, salads, smoothies, etc. (One EVG reader was impressed with the selection, though he wondered how many people might order the Seafood Sampler Platter, which costs $19.99 and features chilled shrimp, tuna salad, smoked salmon, calamari rings, lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, and crackers.)

You can find their menu on Yelp. 

This storefront has been empty since Capital One® left in 2019.

Previously

Art Gotham is the new tenant for the landmarked 4 St. Mark's Place

The upper-level retail space at 4 St. Mark's Place, just east of Third Avenue, is now occupied by the gallery Art Gotham. 

This will be the second location for the business that started in 2005. Per its website, the gallery represents "early and mid-career contemporary artists. With locations in Soho and the East Village, Art Gotham is dedicated to providing a platform for emerging talent and fostering a vibrant artistic community in New York City." 

The inaugural exhibit, "Rockstart," takes place this Thursday evening from 6-9 ...

There is no word on hours moving forward. The outpost at 478 West Broadway is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The upper level has been vacant since 2019, when Chi Snack Shop and the Imogene boutique closed. Wanyoo, Asia's largest gaming café chain, was at a lower level for a minute but never reopened after the pandemic started in March 2020. A bar-cafe called Lava Ground was the last leaseholder, a business that seemed to be open once every few weeks before disappearing.

Until February 2016, 4 St. Mark's Place housed Trash & Vaudeville for 41 years. The store relocated to 96 E. Seventh St. in 2016.

The Hamilton-Holly House (aka 4 St. Mark's Place), built in 1831, was once owned by Alexander Hamilton's son. The landmarked building, which changed hands for $10 million in the spring of 2016 for $10 million, also underwent a gut renovation and expansion.

Kolkata Chai Co. closed for renovations until April 1 on 3rd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Kolkata Chai Co. is closed until April 1 here at 199 E. Third St., just west of Avenue B. 

Door signage notes that ownership (brothers Ani and Ayan Sanyal) are "making some much-needed changes to our equipment and decor."

The cafe's Kenmare Street location is open. 

The shop, serving masala chai, debuted in September 2019 in the East Village.

Weekend parting shots

Walking on Stuyvesant Street in the rain on Saturday morning...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with an early spring shot from Stuyvesant at Ninth)...

• 2 East Village residents 'shaken and scared' after assault inside their building (Monday) 

• Same gunman suspected in shooting in Tompkins Square Park, police say (Thursday) 

• A 7-floor development in the works for the NW corner of 1st Avenue and 2nd Street (Monday) 

• This spring, new life for the mucky tree well that smells like dead things on Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• Bella McFadden bringing her iGirl brand to the East Village (Thursday) 

• These zine editors want your rat stories ('Don't call us gross') (Wednesday)

• The Lazy Llama has closed in First Park; no new vendor in the pipeline (Tuesday) 

• Openings: Bungalow on 1st Avenue (Sunday) ... Sauced on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) ... Terminal B on Avenue B (Thursday) ... Okiboru House of Udon on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) ... The Lions on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday) 

• Aliens of Brooklyn leaves the East Village to harvest the Chelsea Market (Monday) 

• Flushing-based cafe and bakery Sweet Cake is opening an East Village outpost (Monday)

• Another pink-out at 57 Great Jones St. (Wednesday)

• Peak-a-boooo: Partial reveal at 1 St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• East Village Tattoo debuts on 4th Street (Wednesday) 

• Behold 57 Great Jones St. in small scale (Friday) 

• Signage alert: Crispy Burger on 1st Avenue (Monday)

• The faceless Charlie Brown mural is now headless (Monday)

  ... and Eddie Izzard's "Hamlet" made its EV debut this past Tuesday at the Orpheum on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... here through April 14 (thanks to Steven for the photo)...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or X for more frequent updates and pics.

March 24

Photo by Derek Berg 

As seen this morning on Second Avenue at Seventh Street... and just three months since Christmas Eve. There's a lot of green left in that tree (at last it looks that way on a laptop).

Purple reign: Marking Holy Week at Most Holy Redeemer

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

We mentioned a few weeks ago that Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B could change the color of the clock faces on the recently restored bell tower. 

The clocks were green for Saint Patrick's novena, but now they are a shade of violet-purple to mark Passion Week, aka Holy Week, which marks the observance between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. (H/T Matthew 27: 1-62, and Mark 15: 1-47.) 

In other Most Holy Redeemer news, the church's historical bells are now used for the hourly chime. You will only hear the carillon bells for hymns and the noon/6 p.m. ringing. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Openings: Bungalow on 1st Avenue

Interior photo by Stacie Joy

Bungalow debuted yesterday at 24 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street. (Previously mentioned here.) 

Several readers have noted the grand entryway to the Indian restaurant run by Vikas Khanna, host and judge of "MasterChef India," and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi of Bombay House hospitality group. (Khanna opened Junoon on West 24th Street in 2009 and earned a Michelin star in 2011.)

In an Instagram post, Khanna said March 23 would have been his sister Radhika's 50th birthday. "We open Bungalow on the auspicious day as a tribute to her life and also to honor millions of kitchens, chefs, cook book writers, street vendors, home cooks across India — and most importantly to our MOTHERS who have nurtured our souls forever." 

Bungalow has received a lot of pre-opening press... You can read more about the place in the Times, WWD, or Vogue India, among other outlets. (Restaurant website here.)

As we've noted, two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished several years ago to make room for the new residential building here called the 101 Condominium.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012).

Saturday's parting shot

"Job" ended its run today at the Connelly Theater on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B after more than two months (including an extension). 

We bought tickets to see the psychological thriller a few weeks back and have talked about certain plot points ever since. 

Congrats to the playwright (and NYC native), Max Wolf Friedlich, for the twists and turns and the two-person cast, Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• On the Job: Talking with playwright Max Wolf Friedlich at the Connelly Theater

Entering week No. 5 for the Veselka documentary at Village East by Angelika

Crowds keep showing up to the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street for screenings of "Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World" ... so the documentary on the longtime East Village diner keeps getting extended. 

The film is now in its fifth week here, with daily screenings scheduled through Thursday. The screening tonight (6:30) and tomorrow (3 p.m.) includes a Q&A afterward (tickets here) ... and there are other incentives (as seen below)...

See @VeselkaMovie tonight thru Sunday (3/22-3/24) at the Village East (@AngelikaFilm_NY) and enjoy filmmaker Q&As after. Then…FREE dessert at @veselkanyc with @VeselkaMovie ticket stub. And free Veselka Musette Bag given out in-theater after the Q&As (one bag per ticket)! pic.twitter.com/yidxIOKyD1

— “Veselka” Documentary (2024) (@VeselkaMovie) March 22, 2024

Saturday's opening shot

From a rainy 10th Street and Avenue A, photogenic steam courtesy of Con Ed...

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

The Frank Booth/"Blue Velvet" hoodie on St. Mark's Place... What kind of beer do you like?

The 'Quiet' life

 

Brooklyn-based band Razor Braids has a new album (Big Wave) coming out on June 7... the video here is for the single "It Goes Quiet."