After 20-plus years on 13th Street, Keybar is relocating to Bushwick

After 20-plus years at 432 E. 13th St., Keybar is wrapping up its last month on the block between Avenue A and First Avenue before relocating to Bushwick. 

Ownership made the announcement on Instagram...

Ownership said that a rent hike courtesy of landlord Steve Croman is behind the relocation.

In May 2022, Keybar looked to relocate to a larger space nearby ... reps appeared before Community Board 3 to seek a license for the more high-profile SE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street (the former Caffè Bene and previously a dry cleaners). 

However, CB3 voted to deny the application "because it does not show public interest and seeks a full on-premises license in a location that has never been licensed for a full on-premises liquor license in a saturated area with a history of quality of life issues on upper Avenue A."

On July 12, we'll know more about the future of East Village newsstand Ink

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated July 11. The shop has closed.

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Here's the latest from Ink, the 33-year-old newsstand that's fighting for its survival on Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (Find more background here.)

After going back to court, the judge denied owner Ben "Benny" Dahud's Order to Show Cause, citing the stipulation he previously signed without legal counsel. The judge scheduled a Marshal's eviction for July 12. 

Benny said that he had already placed all the owed money — rent and real-estate taxes — in an escrow account. Now, the landlord can either accept the money and Benny can stay at least until the end of his lease (in about a year and half to two years), or they can choose not to accept the payment, in which case the Marshal will padlock the space on July 12. 

Benny says if the landlord chooses not to accept the payment, he will close the store and retire. He is at peace with the decision, saying that his "kids are grown up and have completed their education, and this is the perfect time to retire."

To the community, Benny says, "Thank you very much for supporting me all these years! If it wasn't for your help, I wouldn't have made it." 

If the eviction goes through, Benny will be having a liquidation sale — everything will be available at a discount.

To recap our last post:

A private equity firm bought this block-long residential building and strip of retail last September for a reported $64 million. On the way out last fall, the building's previous landlord, who had run the place since the 1980s, informed Benny that he owed three years of real estate taxes, about $20,000. 

The new landlord, reportedly Derby Copeland Capital, through the entity Derby Alphabet Blues 5872, LLC, later took Benny to court. 

"And they didn't cash three of my rent checks," Benny said. "They disputed the checks — one was undated, one was incorrect, and whatever. They won in court. They won the judgment in a lump sum — three months' rent plus the real estate taxes. So more than $50,000 I owed right away. I didn't have a lawyer, so I signed the stipulation, a legal agreement. I paid 80% but hadn't paid the last 20%, and they took me back to court." 

There has been an outpouring of support for the shop since our original story on June 26, Benny said.  If only the landlord knew how much Ink meant to residents.

The East Village Fine Wine & Champagne's sign has a new home

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The (iconic? beloved? confusing?) Fine Wine & Champagne's signage that anchored the NE corner of Avenue A and Fourth Street for decades has a new home. 

As reported last week, workers removed the sign from outside the former Nizga Liquors, now under new ownership and going as LES Fine Wines & Spirits. 

Understanding how much people like the signs (unnecessary apostrophe lovers unite!) management there announced they two signs were for sale.

Irena Lasenby, a former East Village resident who now lives in Bushwick, is the proud new owner of the smaller of the two signs, the (iconic? beloved? confusing?) apostrophe one.

"I bought it because I love old signs, and it triggers nostalgia," she said. 

Priced at around $500, the sign is en route to its new home in Irena's garden space.

The other signs is still available, as per Rich, manager of LES Fine Wines & Spirits. If you are interested you can stop by the store or message him via Instagram. 

Universal signage for all the businesses on this block is on the way, a directive from the new landlord who bought 58-72 Avenue A last fall for a reported $64 million.

Mystery solved? Avenue A residents track down source of the incessant 'loud mechanical sound'

Updated 8:45 a.m.: The original resident who reached out about the noise last month said that this is "clearly not the issue we are dealing with." And: "We are fairly certain it's coming from mechanical equipment in the rear of the business at 171 Avenue A. We are in contact with them to hopefully get it resolved. Anyone else experiencing this can reach out at LongtimeLesRes@gmail.com.

Also: The sleuths do NOT live on Avenue A as previously reported.

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Late last month, a longtime East Village resident wrote in about "a loud mechanical sound" that has been driving residents along Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street a little bonkers. 

To recap the sound situation: 

Unlike most commercial AC units that cycle on and off, this sound is incessant, and it sounds like a cross between an AC unit and a refrigerator. Occasionally there is a mechanical grinding noise as well. The noise doesn't stop, is loud, and is making it impossible for us to have our windows open and is making it difficult to sleep. 

Over the weekend, some local residents who read the previous post believed that have tracked down the source of the noise — from atop 118 Avenue D in the Jacob Riis Houses at Ninth Street.

So the noise was coming from three avenues away? 

"Yes, it's crazy how this sound carries all the way over to Avenue A," one of the residents told us. 

Now to the sleuthing: 

We just kept circling around trying to find the source. We initially thought it could be coming from the East River Park construction area but when we went there, we heard it coming from inland and we just circled around, closer and closer until we found it. 

We were able to access the roof of 100 Avenue D thinking it came from there and that's where we saw the actual source — the rooftop of 118 Avenue D.

   

Now what?

"We're just not sure how to get the NYCHA to address the issue," the resident said. "We didn't contact anyone about it." (Yet!)

Given the distance from 118 Avenue D to Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street, certainly other residents must be experiencing sound issues as well — especially those who live near the Riis Houses.

Tuesday's parting shot

Happy 4th! Hope your dogs are less traumatized (except for the 500 people lighting fireworks on the block). 

Back later with a round-by-round analysis with letter grades!

Afternoon cloud break

The #NoFilter sky view from Avenue A and Fourth Street this afternoon...

[Updated] TODAY is the last day in business on 1st Avenue for East Village staple New Double Dragon

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 7/5: The restaurant was able to stay open for a little longer... through Friday, July 7. There is a limited selection of menu items available. You can call (212) 598-0730.

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Today (July 4) is the last day in business for New Double Dragon, the inexpensive and reliable quick-serve Chinese restaurant at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street. 

We first reported on this pending closure in February, when there were rumors that the building's landlord was planning to either renovate or demolish the building and the two properties to the south. 

According to the Department of Buildings, the landlord is going the demolition route, as permits are on file for the three buildings — 33-37 First Ave.

We'll have more about the demolition and what might be next at another time.

Meanwhile, owner Shawn Lin said he has restaurant items available to sell and give away.

Among the items for sale: large woks, fridges, fryers, a freezer. And the freebies include large rice warmers, prep tables and kitchen supplies. You can take a look today and pick up items tomorrow or Thursday. 

Shawn says he has been looking for another space but has not found one. (He'd like the opportunity to lease a space someday in the new development here but realizes he likely couldn't afford the new rent.)

In the interim, he hopes he and everyone else at New Double Dragon can get short-term jobs. If an employment opportunity doesn't work out for him in the weeks ahead, he may visit his extended family in China.

While bagging up some orders, Shawn reiterated a message on the flyers: He was grateful for all the patronage through the years and looked forward to seeing everyone again some day at New Double Dragon — here or elsewhere.

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

• On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

• First Avenue Laundry Center is closed for now

B&H Dairy is on a summer break

Photos by Steven 

In case B&H Dairy was in your future dining plans... the classic lunch counter at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is taking its usual summer break... and will be back in action with the borscht and blintzes on Tuesday, July 18...

Monday's parting shot

Good day for cloud watching... and taking photos of clouds.

PSA: In case you planned on going to the Astor Place Greenmarket tomorrow

You know, pick up some corn on the cob, etc., for the holiday. Anyway, the Astor Place Greenmarket is closed tomorrow (Tuesday, July 4). 

Back at it on July 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

H/T Steven!