Sunny's Florist returns after winter break

Photo by Steven 

The fine folks at Sunny's Florist — with arguably the best flowers in NYC — are back after a January hiatus here on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street. (They returned last Thursday, though they stayed closed on Friday and Saturday with the frigid temps.) 

Given that Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year, the sliver of a storefront — in business for 32 years — will be open for more than the normal Wednesday-Sunday schedule (The shop may close early if she sells out of flowers.)

Phone: (212) 473-0185.

Noted

There is still room for one or two more sets of initials here on this fresh patch of sidewalk on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street — hurry!

Reposting: A GoFundMe campaign launched ahead of Ray's 90th birthday at Ray's Candy Store

In the aftermath of the assault on Ray last week outside Ray's Candy Store (story here and here), several readers-residents asked us to repost the crowdfunding campaign for the shop from November. 

Ahead of Ray's 90th birthday last month, the shop, which opened in 1974 here at 113 Avenue A just north of Seventh Street, hosted a GoFundMe "to help ensure he can keep his bills paid and his doors open for as long as he wants!" 

February is typically one of the slowest months for Ray ... and given that he may be out of commission while mending the three broken bones in his face and a dislocated jaw, some Ray's fans have been donating to the campaign.

Meanwhile, we're told that Ray is resting and eating a lot of blended soups. 

The crowdfunding link is right here.

The former Commodities space is now for rent on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven

A for-lease sign now hangs in the front window of the former Commodities.

On Jan. 12, the landlord took legal possession of 165 First Ave. just north of 10th Street — which had been home to Commodities for 30 years. 

There was hope for a reprieve, though that didn't happen here. Workers were spotted dismantling fixtures the following week... now comes the leasing notice. (Per the listing, the rent is available upon request for the ground floor, which measures 2,100 square feet... plus a similar-sized basement.)

New owners took over the business in January 2019 and changed the name to Commodities Health Foods from Commodities Natural Market.

Michael Hughes opened Commodities here in 1993. Hughes and his wife Audra opened an outpost in Vermont in 2015. 

Owner of the fire-damaged Gjelina seeking jobs for its staff

As we first reported last week, a fire has temporarily shuttered Gjelina, a popular L.A. import that just opened at the start of 2023 at 45 Bond St. between the Bowery and Lafayette. 

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the vegetable-centric restaurant will be able to open anytime soon.

On Friday, Gjelina Group CEO Shelley Kleyn Armistead posted an appeal on Instagram to help find positions for her staff. 

Her letter reads in part:

To have persisted for 6 and a half years to open Gjelina NY on Bond Street, and to have experienced a fire 1 day short of our one month anniversary — the only feelings right now are heartbreak. For every human who put so much into creating this restaurant. And it was them that created it — make no mistake.This team are like no other that I have had the privilege to work with. Every single one of them made Gjelina what she was. Every single one of them deserve the most outstanding work opportunity. 

We have no timeline for rebuilding and reopening. Thus I am asking, please, if you have any positions — please email me and I will pass it onto them ...

Shelley@gjelinagroup.com

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Retail options on the Bowery

For-rent signage is up now at 32 E. First St. at the Bowery... where Blue & Cream moved out to a new location (on Bleecker Street) at the end of 2022. (First reported here.)

The retailer arrived at  Avalon Bowery Place in 2007.

Not much info as the JLL listing, except that "restaurant use not permitted" and "logical divisions considered."

Meanwhile, across the Bowery, Olde Good Things is now gone (this happened on Jan. 24; we reported on this pending departure in early November).

This outpost of the architectural artifact dealer specializing in reclaimed building materials and antiques opened here in 2013.  

The listing for 302 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston mentions a "cannabis dispensary" as a potential tenant ...

Sunday's parting shot

New sidewalk addition on Avenue A and Sixth Street... Gem Spa RIP 2020.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery from 2nd Avenue) ...

 • First on EVG: Early morning assault outside Ray's Candy Store leaves Ray with a black eye and facial wounds (Thursday) ... An update on Ray (Friday) ... Suspect who allegedly assaulted Ray has been arrested (Saturday) 

• Report: The former Charas/P.S. 64 is headed to auction this March (Tuesday) 

• Fire shutters the recently opened Gjelina on Bond Street (Tuesday) 

• Det. Jamie Hernandez honored after 34 years with the 9th Precinct (Thursday) 

• A youthful exchange of ideas with Dr. Cornel West at Performance Space New York (Monday) 

• Signage alert: O'Flaherty's on Avenue A (Monday) 

• Why this East Village writer is on an apology tour (Friday) 

• Packing up Café Cortadito (Wednesday) 

• 280 E. Houston St. prepped for new building construction (Wednesday) 

• Openings: Bobby’s Night Out on Avenue C (Wednesday) ... Gen Korean BBQ House on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Essex Squeeze has closed its 5th Street outpost (Monday) 

• Signage alert: Saint Pizza on Avenue B (Tuesday) 

• The return of 99-cent pizza?! (Monday) 

• What's going on with Pop's Eat-Rite on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• City removes curbside dining structure from outside AO Bowl on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

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

This is a public service announcement: International Clash Day is Tuesday

This Tuesday (Feb. 7), Seattle's KEXP is hosting its 11th annual International Clash Day. 

The KEXP holiday's 11th annual celebration will be a day of on-air programming all about The Clash, with an exploration of present-day human rights issues that underscore the seminal track's ["Know Your Rights"] relevance over 40 years later. 

You can tune in to the station here from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. All sessions are archived for two weeks here.

Top photo from 2009 shows Ezo's Clash-inspired (and long-gone) mural on Third Street between Avenue B. It was on the wall outside the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

ATM FYI

Photo by Stacie Joy

From earlier this week... DOT reps placed these ATM flyers around (seen above on Avenue B)... reminding merchants/landlords that ATMs are not permitted on NYC sidewalks.

Per the signage, ATM fines are $2,500, as of 2011... and now, property owners "may be charged an additional $5,000 for every five-day period that the property owner remains in violation."