56 E. 1st St. is for sale

The three-unit, five-story property at 56 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has arrived on the sales market.

Here's part of the listing via Leslie J. Garfield:

This 5-story, approximately 6,090 sq. ft. building contains a commercial space on the ground level (with spacious cellar) that could be converted to residential, a duplex apartment with outdoor space and a sprawling triplex with 20' ceilings, terrace, and roof deck. There is additional FAR that could be realized by building up and/or utilizing some of the unused internal cubic feet. In its current configuration, the property provides an ideal live-plus-income or investment opportunity. It could also be converted to a grand single-family home or used for institutions.

Asking price: $13.250 million.

According to Jennifer Gould Keil, who first reported on this at the Post, the owner is Eric Anderson, a co-founder of Prune right next door.

This story from the archives at the Times has more on the building, constructed in 2004, and Anderson.

The ground floor here was the home of the Lower Eastside Girls Club until their move to Avenue D. The space is currently the City Lore Gallery.

The boutique office building replacing the Sunshine Cinema will be 'unbounded by walls' with an outdoor space called Houston Alley

[Photo of the Sunshine from the other evening]

The former Sunshine Cinema remains in place at 143 E. Houston St. awaiting demolition to make way for a 9-story boutique office complex with a retail component.

East End Capital and K Property Group, who bought the building for $31.5 million in the spring of 2017, have launched a website marketing the spaces. (City Reality first reported on the new website on Tuesday.)

Here's the building's "redefined vision" ...

From acclaimed architect Roger Ferris, the only new development of its type on the Lower East Side, 141 East Houston is a new frame for viewing the neighborhood. Column-free and unbounded by walls, it reinterprets the area through a bold geometric perimeter of cladding and glass. State-of-the-art workspaces and private terraces reframe expectations, while a well-connected location recasts perspectives.

With its glass frame and dynamic courtyard running the length of its eastern side, doubling as a second facade, 141 East Houston challenges the distinction between indoors and out.

The ground-floor space along Houston Street will include outdoor seating in "Houston Alley" ...



As City Realty noted, the new building, which is still awaiting for the city's approval, "couldn’t be further removed from the community or its surroundings."

The five-screen Sunshine Cinema here between Eldridge and Forsyth closed on Jan. 21 after a 17-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

Prime cut: Documentary offers a day in the life of Michael Saviello, longtime manager of the iconic Astor Place Hairstylists

Nicolas Heller has been getting his hair cut at Astor Place Hairstylists since he was a kid.

Heller, a filmmaker (aka New York Nico), had never talked with Michael Saviello, better known as Big Mike, the shop's manager for nearly 40 years. About a year ago, Heller used the restroom there, and spotted Big Mike in the storage area — painting.

"I had to hear what his deal was after that," Heller says with a laugh.

The end result is "Big Mike Takes Lunch,” Heller's documentary that captures a day in the life of the longtime manager at Astor Place Hairstylists, which opened in 1947 at 2 Astor Place at Broadway. For the past year, Big Mike has spent his lunch break painting, an activity that he hasn’t done since high school.

Per the documentary's description: "Follow Mike as he takes you on a journey through his shop full of characters and the storage unit he’s turned into his personal art studio."

In conjunction with the screening of the film, Big Mike will be having his first-ever art show at Astor Place Hairstylists on Saturday night at 8:30. RSVP to BigMikeTakesLunch@gmail.com. if you want to attend.

Meanwhile, Heller shared a copy of the 12-minute film here for EVG readers...

Sunday is the last day for the Wineshop on 9th Street

EVG reader Brucie shared these photos from outside the Wineshop at 438 E. Ninth St. west of Avenue A... the chalkboard sign on the sidewalk reads: "Here today...Gone next week" on one side, and "Thank you, East Village" on the other... not a good sign, unfortunately...



The owners of the neighborly shop, which opened in 2013, confirmed the closure via Instagram, writing: "It’s heartbreaking to say this but this will be the last week that Wineshop will be open and Sunday 11/18 will be our last day ... I’ll be at the shop sporadically throughout the week but all day Sunday with open bottles of sparkling to say goodbye to the best customers one could ask for. Thank you for everything."

That's a wrap for Yonekichi's rice burger spot on 9th Street

[Photo by Steven]

Yonekichi has shut down its quick-serve spot on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... EVG Ninth Street Bureau Chief NOTORIOUS notes that Yonekichi even took their bench seat out front..



Yonekichi, part of Bon Yagi's East Village stable of restaurants, announced on its website that the lease was up ... and they will be looking for a new home...



The to-go spot was a big hit (except with the Daily News) when it opened back in August 2014, serving a variety of crisp rice buns with made-to-order fillings.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Yonekichi bringing rice burgers to East 9th Street

Greekito tragedy: The back rent is due at this 12th Street cafe

Last month, the owners of the Wayside on 12th Street near Third Avenue switched from one cafe concept to another with the introduction of Greekito, featuring Greek tacos, beer and wine, and coffee.

Now, however, a Three Day Rent Demand has appeared on the gate (thanks to food writer Nick Solares for these photos!) ... the document shows that the owners owe nearly $60,000 in back rent (dating to April), late fees and returned check charges...



Perhaps the owners, who also run Merakia: Greek MountainThief Spithouse + Steak on West 21st Street, will get all the finances straightened out here and continue on.

The Wayside, a coffee shop with a variety of pleasant cafe fare, opened in July 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Merakia owners swap out the Wayside for Greekito on 12th Street

The nutella cafe of your dreams opens today with the arrival of the Nutella Cafe

EVG reader Doug shared these photos (from Sunday) from outside the Nutella Cafe, which opens today on 13th Street and University Place...



This is only the second Nutella Cafe in the ENTIRE WORLD (Chicago was the first). Menu items at the NYC location include pound cake panzanella with yogurt and berries, topped with — wait! — Nutella and toasted hazelnuts ($11). A grilled baguette comes topped with — ding ding! — Nutella ($7), and a brioche sandwich is filled with Nutella-flavored gelato ($9). (H/T Eater for that info.) If you want more menu details and pics, then check out this Bustle Nutella preview.

The cafe is in the retail space of the Adjmi Architects-designed seven-story condoplex where the starting prices for the homes are $6 million.

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry. Their leases weren't renewed and the corner was demolished.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

Report: Incoming condos for 13th Street and University Place will start at $6 million


[Photo from June 2015]

Tuesday's parting shots

Spotted on First Avenue at Second Street... part of a date-night scene via Adrian Wilson (it looked like this before the rain/wind)...

The 2nd Annual SlimaFest is tomorrow night at Max Fish

[File photo of Count Slima by Walter Wlodarczyk]

Max Fish down on Orchard Street plays host tomorrow night (7-9) to the 2nd Annual SlimaFest ... in honor of local legend Joseph "Count Slima" Williams, who worked for the Two Boots family for 30-plus years, starting with helping build the original location at 37 Avenue A in 1987.

Slima, one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, is also an artist... his work will be for sale at Max Fish, where a suggested $10 donation gets you free pizza from Two Boots as well as some live entertainment ... and the chance to see some of his art...



Max Fish is at 120 Orchard St. between Rivington and Delancey.

Tuesday so far

Rainy day pic on Seventh Street via Derek Berg...