A new broker for 44 Avenue A

New broker signage went up late last week outside 44 Avenue A at Third Street. The long-empty (three-plus-years) storefront adjacent to Two Boots was previously the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast.

It's a large space — 3,300 square feet over two floors, including a 99-seat theater ... with entrances on Avenue A and Third Street.

No word on the asking rent via the new listing. (Theater image about via Tri State Commercial Realty.)

Citing financial difficulties, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater closed UCBeast in February 2019. The comedy venue first opened in September 2011. UCB took over part of the expanded Two Boots empire — the video store on Avenue A and the Pioneer Theater around the corner on Third Street.

The Pioneer Theater, which screened indie, underground and cult fare, closed on Nov. 7, 2008, after an eight-year run. As owner Phil Hartman said at the time: "[I]t was always a labor of love and never commercially viable."

As noted before, we've talked with several residents who'd love to see the space used for some type of cinematic venture similar to the Metrograph, the boutique two-screen theater — which also features a restaurant, a bookstore and a lounge — down on Ludlow Street.

In the spring of 2021, Marcello Assante was looking to open Cinema Paradiso here... a cafe, restaurant, and center for cinephiles to enjoy foreign and independent features. However, Community Board 3 would not approve a full liquor license for all hours of the space, which Assante argued was necessary to help the venture be profitable.  

Signs of fall: the Feast of San Gennaro starts Thursday

The Feast of San Gennaro starts Thursday in Little Italy... and runs through Sunday, Sept. 25. 

Workers have been setting up along Mulberry Street... as seen last night... 

Two FYI dates! The 24th Annual Cannoli Eating Contest is Friday at 1 p.m. ... and save room for the 3rd Annual Zeppole Eating Competition on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. 

Go hear Andrei Codrescu at the Bowery Poetry Club

Andrei Codrescu, the poet-author and longtime contributor to NPR's "All Things Considered," is releasing his new book, "Too Late for Nightmares," tomorrow (Sept. 13).

And tomorrow night, he'll give a reading alongside several of his colleagues at the Bowery Poetry Club. Time: 7-9 p.m. at the Club, 308 Bowery near First Street... there isn't an entry fee ... or required advance registration.

Noted (again)

As noted on Saturday... the booted Subaru (without plates) remains booted in the bus lane (sung to the tune of "Sandy" aka "Stranded at the Drive-In") outside 35 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. 

A reader has said the city towed the car here and left ahead of the milling on Third Street last week. So it has been here since at least Thursday.

Good Beer is closing

Photo by Steven

Several bummed-out Good Beer fans told us that the retail shop on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue is closing.

Owner David Cichowicz confirmed to EVG contributor Steven that Good Beer will shut down in the days ahead, depending on the inventory. 

The shop apparently couldn't recover from the COVID-related closures and subsequent slowdown in business. 

In an appreciation post from April 2020, EVG reader Abfus had this to say: 

As the name suggests, Good Beer has always stocked an impeccable selection of domestic and international beer across every style. And it gets deliveries from local breweries several times a week, so you can simultaneously support the locally owned store and the city's flourishing brewery scene.

Good Beer first opened in November 2010.

A full reveal at Zero Irving on 14th Street

As you may have noticed, Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street is now completely free of scaffolding, a sidewalk bridge, etc. ... providing the final view of the completed 21-story building...

The building, developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as a technology training center, co-working and event spaces on the seven floors beneath.

Zero Irving has reportedly signed several full-floor deals recently, including data analytics software company Sigma Computing Inc. on the ninth floor and B2B payments platform Melio on the 15th and 16th floors. And most recently: Laurel Road, a digital banking platform and brand of KeyBank, leased space for offices on the 11th floor. 

Urbanspace will operate a food hall on the ground level...

A refresher on what to expect with that via the Urbanspace website:

Thirteen vendors will occupy the 10,000-square-foot venue with an outdoor patio. Urbanspace is curating a dynamic lineup of chefs, food entrepreneurs, and exciting new restaurant concepts. The result will be more than a market: it will be a fertile ground for the food community, a place where ideas are shared and creativity and individuality shine. At least 25% of the Food Hall will be reserved for use by first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies operating for less than four years.

No word on an opening date.

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Foundation work started here in August 2019.

Jo's Tacos coming to 14th Street

Signage is up for Jo's Tacos, coming soon to 226 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Thanks to Pinch for the intel!)

Not sure who Jo is at the moment.

The landlord here split the storefront in half (The previous tenant, Williamsburg Pizza, decided not to reopen this spot during the pandemic. The pizzeria's other locations remain in service.)

The other side is — ding, dong — Bong World. 

And remember when we asked what will pair well with a bong shop?

J. Crew signage official a day before its grand opening on the Bowery

Updated 9/13:  From J. Crew:  This is "a new men’s concept store featuring a curated collection of J.Crew menswear, vintage finds including art and furniture, plus coffee from Urban Backyard." 

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 The JC signage went up Friday here at 316 Bowery at Bleecker...

... ahead of the grand opening of a new men's concept tomorrow...

As previously noted, the storefront will be selling coffee-espresso drinks (Think Coffee across the street must love this!) ... and there looks to be space for sidewalk seating.

There's also speculation, via Gear Patrol, that this will be a J. Crew Liquor Store redux. That was the brand's "clubby boutique" in an old liquor store in Tribeca from 2008-2019. 

Also from Gear Patrol: "Even if J.Crew doesn't use the basement, the ground level is still over 3,000 square feet, making this, at least to my knowledge, the biggest dedicated J.Crew Men's Shop in New York City, if not the U.S."

Last year, JC hired Brendon Babenzien — former Supreme design director — to be the creative director of J.Crew Men's. He debuted/celebrated his first collection last week at a party at Jean's, an opening-soon restaurant via the owners of Superiority Burger and Williamsburg Pizza in the former Butter space on Lafayette that featured a 7-song set by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  

After filing for Chapter 11 in May 2020, J. Crew exited bankruptcy that fall. Per Retail Dive:

Lenders have taken over controlling ownership after a federal bankruptcy court approved J. Crew's reorganization plan. That deal left investment firm Anchorage Capital Group as the retailer's current majority owner. Kevin Ulrich, Anchorage's CEO, said in the release that his firm sees "an immense opportunity for growth and expansion at each brand," which includes the J. Crew and Madewell banners.

Sunday's parting shot

A Twin Towers memory on the 21st anniversary of 9/11... a view from Second Avenue and Third Street circa 1995. Thanks to Grant Shaffer for the photo.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Avenue A) ... 

• Here's a look at the proposed designs for the new East River Park amphitheater (Thursday) 

• At the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop (Tuesday) 

• Officials now say water tested at the Riis Houses never had arsenic in it; lab says results were 'incorrect' (Saturday) 

• An end-of-summer appreciation: InCircles (Monday) 

• CB3 wants your input on 2023 budget priorities (Friday)

• The East Village outpost of the Mermaid Inn reopens; take a look inside (Thursday) 

• Caleta will offer small plates and Bad Habit ice cream on Avenue A (Wednesday)

• Today in civic duty (Wednesday)

• The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space turns 10 (Wednesday) 

• It's milling time (Thursday) • Why Blank Street Coffee seems everywhere, and maybe that's not a good thing (Monday) 

• J. Crew confirmed for the Bowery; opening scheduled on Sept. 13 (Tuesday) 

• State seizes Sestina for nonpayment of taxes; owners cite 'technical difficulties' (Tuesday) 

• Classic Odessa Restaurant signage gone for now on Avenue A; 'It's in a safe place' (Wednesday)

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