75 1st Ave.'s growth spurt

Several 75 First Ave. Watchers (low initiation fees with group memberships available!) have remarked how much the condoplex at 75 First Ave. has risen in recent weeks here next to the Rite Aid between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Work appears to be just starting now on the sixth floor of what will be an eight-floor, 22-unit residential building. That work picked up earlier this year after nearly 14 months of inactivity. (The ground breaking was way back in September 2016.)



The completion date on the plywood rendering is listed at summer 2020.

Previously on EV Grieve:
2020 vision: New completion set for Rite Aid-adjacent condoplex on 1st Avenue

Punto Rojo looks done for on 1st Avenue

Last month we noted that a homemade restaurant for sale sign was hanging in the front window at Punto Rojo, the reasonably priced bakery-restaurant that serves traditional Colombian food at 221 First Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street.

Punto Rojo has apparently closed for good. As you can see in the top photo, the signage was recently removed, and the space looks as if it was cleared out.

These actions also coincided with a closure at the hands of the Department of Health on Nov. 12 ...



Inspectors found 86 violations points, including "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations," per public records.

Punto Rojo took over the space from Señor Pollo, which specialized in Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, in the spring of 2018.

Dig debuts on 4th and 13th

Dig opened last week on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue at 13th Street.

And this outpost of the health-conscious fast-casual chain is taking part in a pilot program for its take-out food containers.

Per Forbes:

The program called Canteen by Dig allows customers to checkout a reusable bowl (for $3 per month) made of a BPA-free melamine, take their food anywhere and then return the container once they’ve finished.

“More than ever, people are conscious of their everyday impact on the environment and looking for ways to actively reduce their footprint,” said Elizabeth Meltz, Head of Environmental Health at Dig.

Dig will test the program for the next few months and eventually extend it to other partner restaurants and businesses, per Forbes.

Meanwhile, this storefront has been reusable in recent years. This has been a challenging corner for businesses since the longtime deli was rent-hiked out of here in November 2012. The space has been home to Fresh & Co. and Pie Face and, most recently, Sandwicherie in the past five years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dig Inn confirmed for 13th Street and 4th Avenue

The former Steamy Hallows space is for rent (the back rent is also due)

The former Steamy Hallows (and Cake Shake!) space is now for rent at 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The Harry Potter-themed coffee and dessert shop closed at the end of October. According to the Steamy Hallows Instagram account, the owners couldn't come to an agreement with the landlord on a new lease.

Meanwhile, the landlord legalese taped to the front window shows that the Potterheads owe back rent of more than $12,000...



Steamy Hallows debuted in February in the storefront that briefly housed Cake Shake, the dessert shop that debuted in August 2018.

Sunday's parting shot

The view down Second Avenue via EVG reader Tobias...

Week in Grieview

[The Con Ed plant as seen from Avenue C]

Details on the guilty verdicts in the 2nd Avenue gas explosion case (Monday)

Here are more details on East Village Homes, the affordable housing set for 2nd Street (Monday)

The city is removing the garbage trucks that were parking overnight on 10th Street (Thursday) ... No parking signs remain after garbage trucks leave 10th Street (Friday)

A 'build-to-suit' opportunity for the long-dormant development site at 14th and C (Wednesday)

With petition, El Sol Brillante Jr. Garden volunteers hope to protect their green space from demolition next door (Tuesday)

Financing comes together for the office building planned for the gateway of the East Village (Wednesday)

This week's NY See (Thursday)

Taking stock of the neighborhood's disappearing single-story buildings (Thursday)

2nd Avenue about to get Sauced Up! (with wings) (Monday)

Is it Nov. 28 yet? Turkey time again at the Odessa with the $18.95 Thanksgiving Special (Thursday)

The Ben's Deli t-shirt (Wednesday)

Openings: The Dip on St. Mark's Place; Jell & Chill on 7th Street (Friday)

The Subway (sandwich shop) closes on Avenue B (Tuesday)

The Union Square Holiday Market opens (Tuesday)

Former Neapolitan Express space for rent on 2nd Avenue; or buy the whole the whole building (Monday)

As the Bean moves on Broadway (Monday)

Koko Wings waiting to take flight on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)

Holiday pop-up bar season underway with arrival of Miracle on Ninth Street (Monday)

... and a carving by George in Tompkins Square Park...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

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Saturday's parting shot

Christmas at Stuy Town, as seen on 14th Street and First Avenue...

Holiday Joe

The holidays have arrived at the Joe Strummer mural outside Niagara on Seventh Street and Avenue A...



Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Schiti no more

On Thursday night, as Eden pointed out on Twitter, the "Schitibank" signage was removed from outside Gem Spa on the corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

The satirical advertisements for Schitibank arrived in September ahead of the Cash Mob for the shop, which has been struggling financially this past year. (The signage was only expected to be up through September. One piece of it remains behind.)

As you know, "Schitibank" was a play on Citibank, who was rumored to be interested in buying out the lease. (Citi has denied they had any interest in the storefront.) You can read more about the art installation that Tommy Noonan and Doug Cameron of the design firm DCX Accelerator created at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

Meanwhile, the shop, now run by owner Ray Patel's daughter Parul, is working toward profitability again. The financial turnaround has been aided by the sale of Gem Spa-branded hats and t-shirts.

And now, hoodies are available...


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• At the Gem Spa Cash Mob (Sept. 16)

• Gem Spa is now a 'Schitibank' (Sept. 12)

• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)

• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)

• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)

• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)

• A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)

8th Street sunrise

Thank you to @RealPKeys for sharing the sunrise shot from Eighth Street and Avenue B today...