2nd Avenue gas-explosion defendants due back in court June 21

[Photo of 119 2nd Ave. from Friday]

On Friday, we noted how quickly the 7-story condoplex was rising at 119 Second Ave. at Seventh Street, site of the deadly gas explosion on March 26, 2015.

The work, which started in January, is moving along much more quickly than the legal case against the defendants.

The previous owner of 119 and 121 Second Ave., Maria Hrynenko, was due back in New York County Criminal Court on Friday. As in the previous 25 appearances, the outcome was the same since the first appearance in February 2016 — "adjourned/bail continued."



Hrynenko, her son Michael Hrynenko (now deceased), contractor Dilber Kukic and their plumber Anthanasios Ioannidis illegally tampered with the gas line at 121 Second Ave. then failed to warn those in the building before the blast, according to the Manhattan District Attorney.

Charges against Hrynenko, Kukic and Ioannidis include second-degree manslaughter. All three are due back in court on June 21, according to public records.

In March, the fifth defendant, Andrew Trombettas, was sentenced to probation and community service. Trombettas had previously pleaded guilty for his role in rubber-stamping a modification to 121 Second Ave. prior to the explosion that killed two men and injured 20 others on March 26, 2015. The D.A.'s office charged him with two counts of "Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony."

Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group, Inc., paid $9.15 million in June 2017 for the lots at 119 and 121 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Remembering Nicholas and Moises: the Figueroa family marks the 4-year anniversary of the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

2nd Ave. explosion — landlord, 3 others charged with 2nd degree manslaughter; showed 'a blatant and callous disregard for human life'

Elvis has left Great Jones; 'seafood focused neighborhood restaurant' coming soon

It appears that some renovation work is underway at the former Great Jones Cafe ... at the least, someone has removed the Great Jones signage, papered over the windows and taken away the bust of Elvis that peered out from the behind the window for years...





There aren't any work permits on file yet with the DOB, so this may all be just some more cosmetic moves.

Last we heard, restaurateur Gabriel Stulman was eyeing the space here just west of the Bowery. He was to appear before Community Board 2's SLA committee last month.

According the official minutes of the CB2 full board meeting on March 21, Stulman reps were pitching a "seafood focused neighborhood restaurant" with a raw bar (under the name Marlinspike Hall, LLC d/b/a TBD).

Per the minutes, the premises will have eight tables with 24 seats and one bar with nine seats for total interior seating of 33, with a 75-square-foot sidewalk café with three tables and six seats. Additionally, the approved hours of operation are 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday; until 1 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The full CB2 unanimously approved the application.

Stulman, under his Happy Cooking Hospitality, operates a handful of West Village establishments, including Joseph Leonard, Jeffrey's Grocery, Fedora, Fairfax and Bar Sardine. He's been part of the fauxstalgia wave.

Great Jones Cafe never reopened after Jim Moffett, the longtime owner, died last July at age 59. The Cafe, a popular yet low-key spot, first arrived in 1983.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Jim Moffett, owner of the Great Jones Cafe

New owners vying for the Great Jones Cafe space

[Updated] The future of the former Great Jones Cafe

CB2 SLA committee OKs license for new ownership of Great Jones Cafe

Basics Plus apparently not closing on 3rd Avenue after all

[Photo from Friday]

As previously reported, housewares shop Basics Plus was set to close this spring at 91 Third Ave. and 12th Street. Employees had said that today, April 29, was the last day.

The prominent going-out-of-business signs in the front windows directed future Basics Plus shoppers to the location on University at 13th Street ... along with notices for 20 percent off all items.

However, in the past week, several EVG readers passed along the news that Basics Plus is staying put. Per one reader:

"I went in there a few days ago to ask when their closing date was, and the employee told me they're no longer closing, they're just downsizing. So I asked why everything was still on sale, and she said she didn't know."

In a brief telephone call, an employee confirmed the change of closing plans, saying that they're just moving out the hardware section. When pressed for more details, she hung up. (The phone went to voice-mail on the return call.)

The store closing/sale signs were still up as of Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Be Juice bar connected to the shop has cleared out...



Basics Plus opened here in August 2014.

Surprise! Surprise! — a like-minded housewares shop with, according to readers, better customer service — was the previous tenant, closing in April 2014 after 25 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Basics Plus is closing on 3rd Avenue

Workers still on the clock at 250 E. Houston St.

A quick follow-up to the clock post from April 11.

Workers have been refurbishing the (purposefully) askew clock atop 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The Dermot Company bought the 13-floor building for $100 million in 2016. Since then, they've revamped the lobby and added new retail tenants.

While the 18-foot statue of Vladimir Lenin, which stood atop Red Square for 22 years was removed in 2016 (before eventually returning not too far away), the clock appears to be in the renovated building's plans.

Renderings of the new-look No. 250 include the clock with the numbers still out of sequence...





The original Red Square developers, Michael Rosen and Michael Shaoul, reportedly put the clock in this spot to cover the water tower and elevator shaft. The distinctive clock is a take on MoMA’s "Askew" watch that features a random sequence of numbers. (Hungarian graphic designer Tibor Kalman created this version.)



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Red Square has been sold

New ownership makes it official at the former Red Square on East Houston

Apartment listings at 250 E. Houston look to offer glimpse of former Red Square's future

Long-vacant retail space hits the rental market at 250 E. Houston St.

Former Red Square lobby gets the plywood treatment on East Houston

Avenue A Copy Center & Shipping Outlet has closed

After three-plus years, the Avenue A Copy Center & Shipping Outlet has closed at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street (in one of the retail spaces of the Ageloff Towers).

As you can see, workers have started clearing out the space...



The Copy Center was an annex run by the owners of Essex Card Shop at 39 Avenue A. You can now head there a block to the south for your copy and shipping needs in this part of the neighborhood...

New restaurant alert for the former Kambi Ramen House on 14th Street

A quick note about an incoming restaurant... there's a taker for the former Kambi Ramen House on 14th Street just west of First Avenue... EVG regular Pinch pointed out this Community Board notice on the front door last week...



This is in the jurisdiction of CB6 (and not CB3 per our usual coverage)... and their website doesn't appear to have a detailed account of the applicants. So all we know is this: New Wine, Beer & Cider License for Trad Japan Co LTD.

We'll keep an eye on this for further developments here.

Kambi Ramen House closed in July 2018 after 10 years in service. The Kambi family also operates the popular Minca Ramen Factory on Fifth Street near Avenue B.

April 28

Spring Cleaning continues... and more people apparently feel as if it's time to toss the Christmas tree... EVG reader Melissa spotted this one today on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Week in Grieview

[Spring in Tompkins Square Park]

Posts on EVG this past week included...

A visit with Steven Antonelli, director of Bank Street Head Start on 5th Street (Friday)

More about the return of the 14th Street busway; 12th and 13th street bike lanes now permanent (Thursday) ... M14 mystery abounds as SBS ticket vending machines arrive (Wednesday)

A CVS is coming to the corner of Houston and Orchard in Ben Shaoul's luxury condoplex (Monday)

This week's NY See strip (Monday)

It looks as if 264 E. 7th St. won't be demolished after all (Thursday)

The SUNSHINE leaves the marquee at the former Sunshine Cinema (Tuesday)

About the NYPD cracking down on bikes without bells in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Report: First red-tailed hawk egg hatches this year in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

San Loco plotting an East Village comeback? (Friday)

Explosion-site condoplex rising quickly (Friday)

An Earth Day message from East River Park (Monday)

On 9th Street, Cha-an Bonbon to serve as a to-go outpost for Cha-an Teahouse (Tuesday)

In sight: Block's Vision Care relocates inside Block Drugs next door (Tuesday)

The Tribeca Film Festival arrives in the East Village (Wednesday)

2 down, 98 to go: Work starts on the 100 Gates Project at East Village shops (Thursday)

Bright Horizons bringing child care to EVGB (Wednesday)

Reader report: About East Village Acupuncture & Massage on 2nd Street (Wednesday)

East Side Gourmet Deli has closed on 4th and B (Monday ... and Thursday)

When the door is open at the incoming H Mart (Monday)

Green days: How to become a member of the 6BC Botanical Garden (Saturday)

The line for the Jay-Z show on the first night of the Webster Hall reopening (Friday) Union Rat makes first appearance outside Webster Hall (Wednesday)

Cocoa Grinder is closed for now on 1st Street (Monday)

What the F? New subway stop arrives on 4th Street courtesy of 'Mr. Robot' (Wednesday)

And as noted on Thursday, the Wisteria vine on Stuyvesant at 10th Street is in bloom... here are more photos from yesterday...





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Today's mackerel sky sunrise

Thanks to EVG reader Jeanne Krier for sharing this photo taken today at 6:30 a.m. ...

Saturday's parting shot

It was quite pleasant out today, though it was still sweater weather for some ... photo from the Tompkins Square Dog Run this afternoon via Bobby Williams.

Lil' Kim Evil on the Bowery

On the side of the Bowery Mural Wall at Houston... art by SacSix...

'A Great Day on 9th Street' this Sunday

Via the EVG inbox...

On Sunday (April 28), the merchants of East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue are gathering on a local stoop for "A Great Day on 9th Street," a quasi recreation of the famous Art Kane photo "A Great Day In Harlem."

Afterwards, stroll down both sides of the street and check out the various specials the stores are offering.

Come celebrate our community of small businesses.

#shopthe921