Alphabet Pizza and Deli setting up shop at 20 Avenue A

Alphabet Pizza and Deli is a new tenant for 20 Avenue A at Second Street. The coming-soon signage arrived late last week.

We noted back in July that workers were "TO INSTALL PIZZA OVEN AND DELI EQUIPMENT IN EXISTING STORE" (per the ALL-CAP DOB style) in this space.

This quick-serve business only accounts for part of the former Chase branch. There's still roughly three-fourths of the storefront available for another tenant.

Alphabet Pizza and Deli is a little more pedestrian (not a criticism or complaint!) than what had been envisioned for the address. In early 2016, the broker — one of many — for 20 Avenue A showed the potential here for more-upscale wine-bar and retail tenant action...


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Of course with the remaining parcel of space, there's still the potential for rendering reality (though, honestly, probably not).

Chase vacated this storefront in November 2015. There were six or seven different brokers for the space in these past three years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The retail-wine bar possibilities for the former Chase space on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

The retail space at 20 Avenue A no longer looks like a bank branch

Another broker for the former Chase branch on Avenue A

Pizza for 20 Avenue A

Mahalo New York Bakery is closing on 9th Street; space will be for custom orders

[Photos Friday by Steven]

Mahalo New York Bakery, which serves Hawaiian-inspired desserts, has closed its outpost at 443 E. Ninth St. at Avenue A.

A note to customers on the front door explains... the owners will use the spot for appointment-only custom orders on weekends ... and will continue on at their flagship location on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale ...


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The bakery opened this past March 10.

In other baked-good news on this block, Westville Bakery had its soft opening yesterday a few storefronts away toward First Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Queens-based bakery bringing Hawaiian-inspired desserts to 9th Street

Mahalo New York Bakery debuts on 9th Street

Sammy's Halal is now open

Last we checked, things weren't looking promising for Sammy's Halal at 109 First Ave. ... we hadn't detected too much going on inside the space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ... however, after a flurry of recent activity, Sammy's debuted this past Friday.

Sammy's offers a variety of lamb, beef and chicken shawarma platters (all are under $10) ... other menu items include the lamb gyro ($4.99) and appetizer order of hummus ($4.99). They are open 24/7, and have several egg dishes (the "New York Style" egg and cheese is $2.99).

The Sammy's menu notes a 10-percent discount for police officers, students, hospital employees and cab drivers. (The menu notes with ID, so in case you were going as a cop or doctor for Halloween ...)

This makes the third Sammy's location, joining the one on Sixth Avenue and Fourth Street and the one in Jackson Heights.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sammy's Halal signage arrives at the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen

Here is your new Violet awning on 5th Street

On Friday afternoon, workers hoisted the Violet awning here at 511 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... another step toward the November grand opening of the grilled pizzeria from the Emmy Squared owners.



These links below have more background details...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Emmy Squared's owners are bringing grilled pizza to the former GG's space on 5th Street

Getting 511 E. 5th St. ready for new grilled pizza venture from Emmy Squared's owners

Countdown to grilled pizza on 5th Street

Name reveal: Emmy Squared's grilled-pizza sibling will be called Violet on 5th Street

Spinners adding pizza to its spin chicken and Texas BBQ arsenal

After two months in business at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, Spinner's, billed as a chicken boutique, has closed... and is revamping the menu lineup to include pizza.

Paper-plate signage in the front window notes the pizza addition and reopening...



The new awning also shows that medium pies will be $5 while medium self-serve coffee will go for $1.

Given that this corridor is pretty much the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction, Spinners could become a go-to spot for workers.

Also, did anyone try Spinners during its first two months?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Spinner's bringing chicken and Texas BBQ to 14th Street

Sunday's parting shot

A scene from this afternoon's Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in East River Park... we'll post more photos from the dog parade via EVG contributor Stacie Joy tomorrow...

Run's house

EVG regular Pinch shares today's in-progress look at the Run DMC mural going up on 12th Street and Avenue A... the work is via the very busy Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Walk This Way on 12th and A

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 7th Street by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

This is the story of how Geoffrey Weglarz died on 12th Street, and why it took a week to find him (Wednesday)

Boys' Club fast tracks sale of East Village clubhouse as final bids are due Oct. 30 (Tuesday)

Local elected officials continue to press city for alternatives to parking garbage trucks on 10th Street; muggings now a concern (Monday)

An all-new I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Thursday)

Preliminary demolition work at 99-101 E. 2nd St. is — surprise — in the asbestos-removal phase (Monday)

Nobletree Coffee is the next tenant for 37 St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue (Thursday)

Run DMC mural on the way at 12th Street and Avenue A (Friday)

Demolishing the fire-damaged back extension at Uogashi, which appears to be permanently closed (Monday)

Goodbye Dojo (Friday)

Nai Tapas Bar now open in new East Village location (Thursday)

This week's special NY See panel (Thursday)

News roundup: At the SBJSA hearing Monday (Wednesday)

So long St. Dymphna's (Tuesday)

The new Donut Pub on Broadway is now HIRING (Friday)

Mexican restaurant opening on 2nd Avenue called Savor Por Favor (Monday)

Cocoa Grinder bringing coffee and all-day breakfast to 1st Street (Tuesday)

NYPD light tower back in illuminating action on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street (Tuesday)

Mi Tea now serving up the cheese tea on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

210 1st Ave. is for sale; and a visit to Gena's Grill (Wednesday)

Pado in soft-open sushi mode on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Gym moves: IG-Fit replaces Synergy on 14th Street (Monday)

And as Eden carefully documented Friday, someone on Fifth Street discarded a well-curated scrapbook of Leif Garrett clippings from the late 1970s when the actor-singer ruled the covers of teen-focused magazines (along with his contemporaries such as Shaun Cassidy, Willie Aames, Robby Benson, Rex Smith, Scott Baio and the Bay City Rollers)...



In any event, this is all Leif, all the time, showcasing his life and career to this point in seven parts...



Sadly though, Leif, who turns 57 on Nov. 8, has struggled with drug abuse as an adult.

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A vigil on Union Square for the Tree of Life synagogue

Hundreds of people gathered last evening in Union Square to mourn those killed earlier in the day at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Organizers, including Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and IfNotNow, said that the vigil was held in part "to commit to loving and defending each other against hatred."

Attendees participated in the Havdalah ceremony, lighting braided candles and reciting additional prayers to commemorate the end of the Sabbath, as Gothamist reported.

EVG contributor Dan Efram shared these photos...

















A gunman stormed the synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people before he was arrested.

11

On Friday, the Paris-based artist JR unveiled "The Gun Chronicles," artwork featuring images of 245 Americans who represent various viewpoints on the gun debate.

This was done in collaboration with Time magazine's interactive special report on gun violence in America...



This link has more about the cover and how JR got involved in its creation.

Overnight, someone added an 11 — representing the number of victims in yesterday's Pittsburgh synagogue massacre — in red paint...



Updated:

There are now flowers at the scene, as the mural is becoming a memorial following yesterday's hate crime.

Free sample alert: Westville Bakery softly opens today on 9th Street

Updated 10/29 — the bakery is now open...

Westville Bakery debuts today — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — at 433 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Avenue A, EVG contributor Steven reports. (These photos are from Friday.)



They'll be expanding on what you can find at the various Westville locations, including on Avenue A and 11th Street. Eater had more details last month on what to expect:

Westville’s longtime pastry chef Meital Cohen will be in charge of the food, focusing on sweets such as carrot cake, apple and blueberry pies, assorted cookies, and seasonal specials like a dragon fruit smoothie bowl with berries, almond butter, and granola. But there will also be a savory menu featuring sandwiches, tartines, quiches, and salads. Specific tartines include ones with smoked trout, crème fraîche, and chives or marinated fennel and chickpea salad with whipped feta, while quiches may have roasted vegetables and herb goat cheese or grilled onions and mixed mushrooms. Expect vegan and gluten-free options too.

This space was Zucker Bakery for the past seven years. Zucker's owner decided to retire from the business on July 1.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Baking news: Westville Bakery coming to 9th Street

Saturday's parting shot

A view of the Sock Man at 99 St Mark's Place...