EV Grieve

Friday, November 7, 2014

Santa Barbara Deli returns after renovations on Avenue B

After a two-month renovation, the corner market on East 12th Street and Avenue B is back with a new look … including a new floor and ceiling … and new name, having lost the Superette.

We never really shopped here much, so we can't say much about what is new and better about the space… if this is your regular spot, then let us know in the comments…

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Noted

@evgrieve Nyc is prepared for the 30% chance of rain in Union Square! pic.twitter.com/KLD4pnDhYM
— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) November 7, 2014

Robots continue their East Village takeover

Yesterday, drivers dropped off several Robot Butler boxes around the neighborhood as part of some kind of marketing stunt or promo or whatever. (They were also spotted in San Francisco and Chicago.)

Coincidentally, crews will be filming a USA computer hacking drama pilot called "Mr. Robot" tomorrow.

Derek Berg spotted this sign on East Fourth Street.

6 more floors in store for the soon-to-be unrecognizable St. Marks Hotel

[Via Wikipedia Commons]

The Pappas family, owners of the St. Marks Hotel, have filed plans to build a 10-story mixed-use building on the hotel's lot at 2 St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue.

As The Real Deal reported:

According to the building plans, the expanded building would also have retail on the ground floor, in addition to a medical office and other commercial space in the cellar. The hotel would occupy floors two through 10.

And New York Yimby got a look at a rendering.

Brace.

Hjhdjhsjhuu!!!! klsdfsJF;KLSFKJ;K!!!! KLKJASJJIQIOWUIQOWI!

Sorry.

Whoa.

Well, it looks appropriately ~~garish~~ Midtown Southish to blend in with the Death Star across the street and the Cooper Union Spacecraft down the block.

New York Yimby notes that John Pappas also owns the Park Savoy Hotel on West 58th Street... and that the new address will also be known as 71 Cooper Square, a long way from its hot-sheet hotel days of the 1970s and 1980s... and likely its current clientele of the hostel set and European tourists.

It was the Valencia until what, the early 1980s?

[From Blast of Silence, circa 1961]

[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards from 1980]

Never-ending construction continues to hurt Punjabi Grocery & Deli

The plight of Punjabi Grocery & Deli on East First Street near Avenue A/East Houston got some much-needed attention this past summer. The never-ending East Houston Reconstruction Project is killing off the 20-year-old shop's business.

Through the years, cab drivers made up a good chunk of Punjabi's business. The reconstruction, however, has prevented the cabs from being able to stop by for an inexpensive vegetarian meal.

EVG reader Vinny paid a visit yesterday, and shared these photos noting the new configuration of East First Street… (notice you can no long access First Street from Avenue by motor vehicle)

And to show you where Punjabi is buried in here...

Vinny also noted that Punjabi had to raise its prices across the board by 50 cents to $1 ... still, given the size of the portions, it's still an insanely good deal... and arguably the best around...

And as you may recall, Punjabi started an online petition asking the commissioner of the Taxi And Limousine Commission to approve a taxi relief stand at Avenue A and Houston Street. You can find the petition here. (It's up to 3,300-plus signatures.)

The East Houston Reconstruction Project is now scheduled (PDF!) to be completed by mid-2016, according to the latest city estimates.

Here's a look at the new Greenstreets and street configurations at A and Houston...

Previously on EV Grieve:
How you can help Punjabi Grocery & Deli stay in business

Activity at the soon-to-be-condoed former synagogue on East 6th Street

We haven't noticed too much activity lately at the soon-to-be-condoed Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St.

However, yesterday, EVG reader Michael Hirsch spotted workers bringing in a load of rebar for the building between Avenue A and First Avenue...

"We are excited to be fully approved and beginning construction soon," Jody Kriss, principal and co-founder of East River Partners, told us via email.

As previously ~~cut-n-pasted~~ reported, the city approved the condo-conversion plans last December. Workers will renovate the building and add two floors.

The landmarked building was in disrepair and the congregation's population had dwindled. Synagogue leaders signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million. The renovations include a penthouse addition and an elevator. The synagogue will reportedly retain space on the ground floor and basement for their use.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

Stained-glass windows removed ahead of condo conversion at Congregation Mezritch Synagogue

Sarge's Deli celebrates its 50th anniversary today on 3rd Avenue

Just wanted to mention a favorite spot not too far away… Sarge's Deli on Third Avenue between East 36th Street and East 37th Street… the deli is celebrating its 50th anniversary with some all-day specials.

Sarge's reopened in March after a devastating fire put them out of business for 15 months. Amazingly, despite the renovations, the place retains its old deli charm.

95 Avenue A, home of Gin Palace, is apparently sinking

That's the word from owner Ravi DeRossi, who told Eater that the building that houses Cienfuegos, Amor y Amargo and Gin Palace is currently sinking into the ground.

To remedy the situation at 95 Avenue A (at East Sixth Street), Gin Palace will close after service this evening while crews address the structural issues. (The other two bars will somehow remain open.)

The Gin Palace Facebook page estimates they will be closed for two months.

Live at the Fillmore East, a commemorative plaque

Last Wednesday the former home of the Fillmore East, which helped launch some of the biggest names in music at Second Avenue and East Sixth Street from 1968-1971, received a commemorative plaque marking its place in history… and we just realized that we never posted the photo of the plaque. So…

And here is the whole ceremony, if you care to watch…

You can read more about the Fillmore East at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, who, along with Two Boots, made the plaque possible.

And find a listing of every band who played the Fillmore East here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bank branch becomes bank branch at former site of the Fillmore East

The Loew's Commodore Theatre

Rock of ages: Commemorating the Fillmore East on 2nd Avenue