Japanese dining taking over the Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor space on East 13th Street

Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor, the Mexican restaurant from Danny Mena, the chef and co-founder of Hecho en Dumbo, quietly closed this past November at 432 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Per their Facebook message last Nov. 14: "Sembrado is moving. We are closing our East Village location … Don't worry, we'll be opening a new location soon!" The restaurant's website states, "expect us on the other side of the river in early 2015."

Meanwhile, the sign is up for the next tenant… Japanese dining featuring sake and tapas...



Not sure what the reason was for the closure/move. Too much taco competition in the neighborhood?

Per the EVG reader who told us about the closure:

"It seems to have gone unnoticed that Sembrado has closed. I'm not sad to see this place go. The food was pretty good but it was clear from their bar set-up, which included many varieties of artisinal/specialty tequilas, how their business model was going to work."

Sembrado's opened in July 2013.

This seems like a tough address for a restaurant. The well-regarded Singapore-influenced Masak closed here in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor opening Thursday on East 13th Street

Villacemita, serving authentic Puebla Mexican cuisine, announces itself on Avenue A

Interior renovations continue at 50 Avenue A between East Third Street and East Fourth Street. As we first noted on Jan. 6, a cafe featuring Mexican food is taking over the space that Native Bean held before moving to 36 Avenue A.

The sign is up now for the new tenant — Villacemita, serving authentic Puebla Mexican cuisine ...



There's a teaser website up now for the cafe ... there isn't any further information just yet. The cafe is in line to receive a beer-wine license. The owners were on this month's CB3/SLA committee docket.

According to paperwork (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, Villacemita's proposed hours are 7 a.m. to midnight every day except for Sunday, when they'd close at 8 p.m. In total, there are 10 tables with seating for 20 people. The owners describes the place as "a small, community-oriented restaurant."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Space that houses Native Bean on Avenue A is for rent

Native Bean space apparently back on the market

Native Bean will be moving on Avenue A

Mexican food spot slated for former Native Bean space on Avenue A

Native Bean reopens in new Avenue A home

Hey, it's a dorm

We've posted photos of the new dorm at 35 Cooper Square and East Sixth Street in various states (like here and here).

Anyway, we just realized that we haven't posted a photo of the (almost) FULLY REVEALED dorm. So here you go.

And, as previously reported, the dorm will house students from Marymount Manhattan College, which is nowhere near here.

A news release from the school in April 2014 said students will be moving in for the fall 2015 term...

As for the rest of the release....

Cooper Square will be an all-encompassing, apartment-style residence hall for sophomore, junior, and senior residents. The new residence hall will be located on the corner of Cooper Square and East 6th Street, otherwise known as one of the most trendy and artistic locations in all of New York City. The 12-story residence will include a floor-wide student lounge, a robust fitness center, a study room, and a beautiful terrace on the 7th floor. The new residence hall is located just a few minutes from the 6 train, where students can quickly make their way up to the Upper East Side for class, or can bike uptown thanks to a bicycle storage room.

And two of the renderings from the release...





Previously on EV Grieve:
City OKs 13-floor dorm for Cooper Square

Updated: Here's what the newest East Village dorm will look like

Dig bottoms out on Cooper Square; here comes the dorm, here comes the dorm!

Your chance to lease the retail space in the new Cooper Square dorm

Ahead of possibly historic blizzard, Key Food shoppers pretty much making a mess

That's not where you found the oatmeal!

Critters in Tompkins Square Park hoarding sandwiches ahead of epic winter storm

Unless you have a better explanation!

Photo this afternoon by Bobby Williams

Week in Grieview

[1st Avenue and East 9th Street via Derek Berg]

Permit pre-filed for new 12-floor building at 79-89 Avenue D (Tuesday)

Ess-a-Bagel on the move (Monday)

RIP Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez (Friday)

Christo and Dora are building another nest (Friday)

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's NYC pop-cultural video gem (Thursday)

Space that houses 1st Avenue's Polish-American diner Neptune is on the market (Tuesday)

Out and About with Gala Darling (Wednesday)

Sunrise where the Domino Sugar Refinery stood for nearly 135 years (Monday)

Warwick and Framus Custom Shop closes on East 7th Street (Wednesday)

Car alarms still annoy (Monday)

New residential building at former 14th Street post office will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room (Thursday)

The Continental files for bankruptcy (Thursday)

Gina's Grill returns (Thursday)

The Save Manitoba's crowdfunding campaign is underway (Wednesday)

Matty's takes over the Idles Hands space on B (Tuesday)

Saint's Alp Teahouse closes for a revamp (Tuesday)

M. White closes on East 13th Street (Friday)

A threat against the 9th Precinct (Monday)

Tuscan food specialist opening 1st U.S. outpost on 4th Avenue for some reason (Tuesday)

City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C (Wednesday)

Gas problem temporarily closes Thai Terminal (Sunday)

Gingersnap's Organic is leaving the East Village for the West Village (Tuesday)

A $2,400 pizza at Fat Sal's? (Thursday)

All-new 212 E. 14th St. seeks retail tenant (Thursday)

Pinkberry remains closed; UPS InfoNotice® awaits

As we first noted this past week, the Pinkberry on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue abruptly closed on Tuesday… just days away from the FroYo mothership's 10th anniversary.

Meanwhile, a UPS InfoNotice® dated Wednesday remains on the door… looks like they were here for a pick up…



And this Pinkberry location has been scrubbed from the chain's website…



According to this listing, 10 PB locations remain in the city … as well as locations in Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio, among other states not listed here.

Little Pakistan Deli has apparently closed on 2nd Avenue

There hasn't been any sign of life here at 200 Second Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street. We heard a city marshal seized the deli earlier in the week. We noticed it closed starting this past Wednesday.

Meanwhile, next door along this stretch of businesses with Little and country names in them, Little Poland remains alive and well...

d.b.a. is back open on 1st Avenue

A reader told us that d.b.a. reopened last evening.

The bar at 41 First Ave. between East Third Street and East Second Street closed for renovations in early December.

As previously noted, David McWater is d.b.a.'s new owner. (His other bars include Milano's and Doc Hollidays.)

It was our understanding that the bar would have the same basic look and feel... except for maybe the bathrooms. We'll swing by later to see how it all looks.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling collison. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The d.b.a. in Williamsburg closed for good in late November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
David McWater looks to be the new owner of d.b.a.

Meanwhile outside Gem Spa

We have no idea what's happening here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place... just rumors (a breakout attempt among them)...





Photos by Derek Berg

NYPD Rally underway now in Tompkins Square Park

A quick note reminder to the drivers and owners:

It is the entrant's responsibility to provide manufacturer's documentation such as sales brochures, workshop manuals, service bulletins, etc., where necessary to substantiate the eligibility of the vehicle and its components.

Photo today by Derek Berg

Last night's winter wonderland this morning

Thanks to EVG reader Peter Brownscombe for the photos from along Avenue A…



… and East 11th Street…