Not such a lonely Planet: Broadway's iconic comic book-toy store would like more space

I recently noticed the listing for 840 Broadway at 13th Street...

Which is home to Forbidden Planet — one of the largest sellers of comic books, graphic novels, science fiction, toys and associated collectibles in the world.

Uh-oh! Trouble in the Republican Clone Army? What's this all about?

Jeff Ayers, Forbidden Planet's manager/buyer, sent along this e-mail to my query:

Actually, we're just testing the waters, trying to possibly find a new, bigger (yet local!) space for the shop. We need to expand and can no longer do so in this space.

As much as I like this corner we're just outgrowing this location. Thanks for the support and the interest. We're stickin' around.

Tag, you're it, RCN Building

Back in November, Jeremiah reported that workers painted over the Chico murals on Avenue C's RCN building... And we wondered how long the building would remain tag free...

Turned out to be longer than I thought... EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams noted the recent addition of two small tags...

Meanwhile, remember how the RCN spokesperson got huffy about Chico's mural, which was up there for two years? The spokesperson told DNAinfo: "The bottom line is the building had illegal graffiti on it and we cleaned it up — period."

Fine, fine... Funny, though, how they left the RCN logo with Chico's signature intact...



Previously.

Speaking of graffiti on Avenue C...

There has been a lot of back and forth here on along the Stone's wall on Second Street at Avenue C...

Expect all this to be painted over soon enough... only to return a few days later...

A new era for watching TV at the Grassroots

So you know the Grassroots on St. Mark's Place had that lone TV leftover from, say, 1991 at the south end of the bar. Pretty much everything looked orange and green. And distorted. It was awesome.

However, a tipster notes that the owner installed a new 19-inch TV flatscreen TV this past Thursday...

Well, at least they still have the phone booth by the front door. (And never mind that the phone doesn't work.)

Lighting up Second Avenue for 'Gossip Girl'

And earlier today, via EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Veselka closed today for "Gossip Girl" shoot

Veselka closed today for "Gossip Girl" shoot

They'll reopen at 11 p.m. .... Can't wait to try their new menu item — the Chace Crawford beef stroganoff.

DNAinfo has some paparazzi shots.

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

Indie bookstores making a comeback (Crain's)

The death of Shoe Row on Eighth Street (Lost City)

Is this a pile of snow? (Nadie Se Conoce)

Hilarious hipster renderings from the forthcoming Allen Street hotel (BoweryBoogie)

Lower Eastside Girls Club Co-Founder and Executive Director, Lyn Pentecost, has been nominated for a Diane von Furstenberg People’s Voice Award (The Lo-Down)

Renting a Stuy Town apartment for $260 a night (Lux Living)

Developers withdraw proposal for controversial Greenpoint men's homeless shelter (New York Shitty, who first reported on the story)

City Council wants to know when Bloomy is out of town (Gothamist)

Hmmm: "On the Road" getting the movie treatment (Nonetheless)

The Hells Angels unveil new line of defense for their bench

Back in June 2009 we pointed out the sign on the bench outside the Hells Angels headquarters on Third Street ...



This was an effort to thwart clueless hotel guests from the Sanctuary Guest Suites next door for plopping down here ... However, this reporter still saw European thrillseekers taking a seat here...

So now! It's a little more difficult...

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Hells Angels kindly request that hotel guests please refrain from sitting on their bench

About Union Market coming to Avenue A and Houston

By now you probably know that the Brooklyn-based Union Market is taking over three storefronts on Avenue A and Houston... (Reported here first Friday.)

During the weekend, some various readers chimed in on Union Market coming here... Among the comments:

Anonymous said...
the one in park slope is nice, albeit a little expensive. lots of hale and hearty soups, a good selection of cheeses and produce. honestly though, it really has nothing to offer that whole foods doesn't already in that area.

Madeline said...
So I lived on Union street in park slope for years — it's a really, really high end supermarket. Just what the neighborhood needs! (joke.) It'll have to compete with whole foods and the nine million trader joes, but at least it's not a condo, or a real estate office, or an NYU dorm, and I guarantee there won't be as many babies.

onemorefoldedsunset said...
The Union Markets in Brooklyn — steep in price, & abuzz with the well-heeled hordes. Seems like a successful model, though you have to wonder if over-expansion might be a mistake.

Anonymous said...
Whatever it is, it can't be more expensive, or have worse customer service (or more expired food on its shelves) than Gracefully.

Anonymous said...
there are just as many babies in the EV as in park slope.
deal with it.
people have babies.
hipsters, deadbeats, rockers, etc...
and as much as i am now lamenting the loss of another corner bodega within two blocks of each other, the one that union market will replace was a dump.

Jeremiah has more on the likely arrival of Union Market's East Village coffee blend here.

Meanwhile, we've also heard from residents who worry about what chain store may come to Second Street and Avenue A...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with a 7-Eleven

Two Nicky's now for the East Village

On Friday night, we reported that the new location of Nicky's had a soft opening on East Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

[Photo via EV Grieve reader Hanser]

The restaurant will be open in the next week.

Of course, there's already the Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Second Street just east of Avenue A. There was some speculation last spring that Nicky's may be leaving the neighborhood.

A member of the Dang family, who owns the four Nicky's in NYC, said they will continue operating the Second Street location. The family member also said they'd be looking for a liquor license at the Fourth Street restaurant.

Previously.

There goes the Elephant

Over the weekend, workers continued gutting the former Elephant thai place on East First Street...

The Elephant closed in December. (You can read its history here, including an interview with the manager.)

What's next here?

The Feast reported that the team behind fancy cocktail emporium Summit Bar on Avenue C will open an Italian cafe this spring. They are considering the name Prima Strada, which translates to First Street. Word is the place will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and open at 8 a.m.

Tonda was closed this past weekend

We've been keeping an eye on Tonda, the pizzeria at 235 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B. The place was closed Friday and Saturday night.

During the previous weekend, Tonda was closed on Friday but open on Saturday. No sign on the front door... or nothing on their website about being closed. We tried their phone number, and got a message saying there was no room to leave a message. And their Twitter feed hasn't been updated since Aug. 11.