Aug. 3

Someone obviously attempted to steal the thunder away from National Watermelon Day today by discarding a pretty sweet fake holiday tree on East 12th Street near Second Avenue...

Photo via Mary on East 12th Street

Exclusive: New owners of John's of 12th Street look to carry on the restaurant's tradition

There are plans for new owners to take over John's of 12th Street, the venerable Italian restaurant that opened here between First Avenue and Second Avenue in 1908.

Judy Anderson, whose late husband, Mike Alpert became a co-owner of John's in 1973 along with Nick Sitnycky, confirmed the news.

"Our accountant, Paul Dauber, a long-time friend and customer of John’s for about 30 years, along with his good friend from childhood days on the Lower East Side, Jan Siegel, are purchasing the restaurant," Anderson said.

Anderson emphasized the importance of new owners keeping the spirit of John's alive.

"Nick and I feel strongly about continuing the legacy of John’s of 12th Street and also ensuring that our long-time employees, some of whom have been with us 30-40 years, remain part of the continuing story of John’s," Anderson said. "There is great mutual affection and respect between Paul and our employees, and we are thrilled that Paul and Jan are enthusiastic about maintaining the character of the restaurant. They assure us that nothing will change, and Nick and I will assist in whatever way we can to be sure that the transition will be seamless."

Dauber and Siegel will appear before the CB3 SLA committee on Aug. 22 for a new liquor license.

"Nick and I plan to be at the Community Board meeting in their support," Anderson said.

In August 2014, a deal to sell John's to a team led by Brett Rasinski, who reopened the revamped Beatrice Inn, ended up not materializing.

Sitnycky and Alpert bought John's from the founding Pucciatti family in 1972. Sitnysky, who grow up on Avenue B, owns the building at 302 E. 12th St. Alpert died on July 13, 2013, at age 71.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the new ownership for 105-year-old East Village institution John's of 12th Street

Report: Deal for East Village treasure John's of 12th Street is off

Out and About in the East Village with Nick Sitnycky Part 1 and Part 2

The John's of 12th Street documentary premieres next month

Q-and-A with Vanessa McDonnell, director of the John's of 12th Street documentary

Lanza's remains closed on 1st Avenue

While the future of John's of 12th Street appears to remain secure, the news is less positive over at Lanza's on First Avenue. On July 14, as we first reported, the state's fluorescent SEIZED sticker (for "nonpayment of taxes") arrived at Lanza's here between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Nearly three weeks later, the SEIZED stickers remain on the front. The mail is also piling up. There's a FedEx awaiting pick up. It doesn't appear as if anyone has been inside in recent weeks...


[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]

... the tables remain set... and they're starting to look a little worn...


[Photo by Steven]

The only new sign on the door of late was to alert attendees of the new location for Kasia's baby shower last weekend...



The old-world Italian restaurant reportedly first opened in 1904.

Signage arrives for Greek restaurant opening in the former St. Mark's Ale House

St. Mark's Ale House closed at the beginning of July after 21 years at 2 St. Mark's Place.

At the time, we heard rumors that the owner was converting the space into a Greek restaurant.

And now yesterday, signs arrived outside for Agios Greek Rotisserie. As we heard, there wasn't going to be much downtime between the Ale House and the new venture. So maybe we can expect an opening soon...

Box Kite Coffee has closed on St. Mark's Place

Box Kite Coffee has closed at 115 St. Mark's Place. The cafe between Avenue A and First Avenue shut down after business on Sunday.

Per an EVG reader, who first told us the news:

Pretty big for coffee enthusiasts in the neighborhood. Box Kite has closed! Went the day before for their brunch. Am pretty friendly with the baristas but I don't think they knew it was coming either. Texted one of them the next morning when I was greeted with locked doors and not a soul inside.

A sign on the door — showing a dead unicorn with stitches on its stomach — directs people to the Upper West Side location...



There's more from coffee publication Sprudge, who has this from an unnamed employee:

The location of the shop was never quite able to sustain the super premium coffee experience that it was set up to provide, and the other aspects of the business – the food and alcohol sales – never pulled their weight… The owner [Matt Prete] was always very up front with everyone that it was losing money and that he would be willing to tolerate it as long as it was fun and as long as we could get it reasonably closer to breaking even.

Sprudge also has a comment via Facebook from founder and former owner Cora Lambert.

"While the news wasn’t altogether shocking (and part of the reason I’m no longer part of the project), I’m truly sorry for all the employees that lost their jobs and for all of the customers that went out of their way to give us their business. This was my first stab at owning something, and a great lesson on making better choices about who I will get into business with again."

Chefs Justin Slojkowski and Dave Gulino hosted a critically-acclaimed nightly chef's counter dinner in the space for part of 2014.

Box Kite opened at the end of 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Box Kite Coffee opening at former Tuck Shop space on St. Mark's Place?

2nd annual #EastVillageLoves Party is tomorrow (Thursday!)

Via the EVG inbox...

The East Village Independent Merchants Association (EVIMA) will be hosting its second annual #EastVillageLoves party at Jimmy’s No. 43 (43 E. 7th St.) on Thursday, Aug. 4. The party is a celebration of local, independent businesses, specifically those located in the East Village.

The #EastVillageLoves party was founded in the wake of last year’s Second Avenue explosion that claimed two lives and shuttered dozens of small businesses in the area for months at a time. East Village Loves & EVIMA seeks to unite East Village residents and merchants and to create a stronger neighborhood where small business can thrive.

The party will include prizes, small bites, a meet and greet with the EVIMA board, and a free first drink for all in attendance. RSVP via eastvillageloves.eventbrite.com. A special toast will be made at 7 PM sharp.

Full reveal at 100 Avenue A

On Monday afternoon, workers started removing the construction netting and scaffolding from 100 Avenue A ... eventually offering a full reveal of developer Ben Shaoul's condoplex between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

And by late yesterday afternoon...



Per the marketing copy, "100 Avenue A is a vibrant new style of premium condominium living not yet seen on Tompkins Square Park."

As previously noted, residences (32 in all) at the 6-story 8-story building start at $1.3 million. (A construction worker told EVG correspondent Steven that new residents could likely start moving in as early as next month.) A Blink Fitness Center, with prices starting at $25 a month, will occupy the retail space.

Anyway, the 7-days-a-week work paid off... this is 100 Avenue A in July 2015...



... and a look back to 2009, when the one-time movie theater was East Village Farms...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Police searching for perpetrator who took this flower pot from St. Mark' s Place

These WANTED FOR PETIT LARCENY flyers are along First Avenue (and likely elsewhere...) as the NYPD searches for a suspect accused of stealing a flower pot from outside 44 St. Mark's Place this past May.

The posters look legit... so, what do you suppose was inside that flower pot?

Thanks to EVG reader Lori Kohn for the photo!

Coming soon signage arrives for new deli on Avenue A and 12th Street

Was just talking about this place yesterday. The sign is up now for NY Grill & Deli ... which is going in the under-renovation corner space on the southwest corner of Avenue A and 12th Street.

Poppy's Gourmet Corner, the previous tenant here, closed at the end of January.

Noted

It was laundry day today in the small dog area in Tompkins Square Park as a dog-less traveler removed his pants to hose them down before rejoining his friends elsewhere in the Park.

Photo by Derek Berg

September opening expected for the 2nd Avenue location of Tompkins Square Bagels

An opening date is within sight for the Second Avenue location of Tompkins Square Bagels.

As I reported late last year, owner Christopher Pugliese's build out got bogged down, in part, by city bureaucracy. As he said in December:

"The killer is, the DOB approved all of our major alterations very quickly," he said. "They came back to us with a list of about 12 minor objections and asked us to make adjustments. Little things like 'move this staircase six inches to the right,' or 'put the skylight here instead of there.' That has been dragging on for months."

However, Pugliese told me on the phone the other day that the brunt of the work is complete. Workers installed the oven last week. Most of the equipment is in. Con Ed has turned on the gas service.


[The oven at 184 2nd Ave. last week]

"All the big stuff is done. All the plumbing is done. All the electric is done. We're bringing in coffee equipment now. We getting to the end," he said.

Considering how long the renovations have taken for the former Open Pantry space at 184 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street, does he even want to offer up a possible opening date?

"We're getting really close. I feel like it won't be any later than Sept. 10-15," Pugliese said. "At this point now I can do the fun stuff, like I'm talking to local artists. I'm thinking about where all the seats will go."

Tompkins Square Bagels opened on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street in December 2011.

"I love my store. I love my customers. I've gotten to know so many great people. I was trying to create the kind of place that I grew up with," said Pugliese, a Brooklyn native.

Nine years remain on the Avenue A lease. However, he has doubts that landlord Jared Kushner will offer him a lease renewal at that time. Which is one reason he scouted for another location.

"I want to be like Veniero's, Russo's or East Village Meat Market," he said. "I want to be 70 and still in there working. I want to stay in the East Village."

And he has a good feeling about Second Avenue.

"There's something about that block and the surrounding blocks that feels good — really cozy and comfortable," he said. "And St Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery is there. We lost a church on A, so I'm back even again."

Pugliese also said that there will be fewer menu options on Second Avenue than at Avenue A. "The place is a bit smaller, so that has to be. And we want to speed things up a bit. That's hard when you have such a giant menu."

There will be a few items only available at the Second Avenue TSB, such as bialys ... as well as knishes from Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery.

"It's the biggest project that I've ever done in my life," he said. "But it will be totally worth it."

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 40-plus years, Open Pantry looks to be closing on 2nd Avenue

Rumor: Tompkins Square Bagels possibly opening a 2nd East Village location on 2nd Avenue

A 2nd Tompkins Square Bagels confirmed for former Open Pantry space on 2nd Avenue

Tompkins Square Bagels makes it official on 2nd Avenue

The new Tompkins Square Bagels will arrive before the 2nd Avenue subway

Espresso bar-barber shop in the works for 137 Avenue A

A tipster told us last month that a coffee shop will open in the former Top A Nails space going under renovations now at 137 Avenue A between Ninth Street and St. Mark's Place.

That is partially correct. There is a CB3 SLA notice now on the storefront noting applicants are opening Three Seat Espresso and Barber in this space...



The applicants are seeking a beer-wine license for the business. This item will not be heard during this month's meeting, which is Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

There isn't any other information about the cafe-barber shop combo just yet. (There is a website that appears still under construction.)

As for Top A Nails, they moved next door to No. 139 in May.