Tuesday, February 28, 2023
6 posts from February
• Hold it now: No porta potties for Tompkins Square Park during the 18-month field-house renovation (Feb. 21)
• RIP Travis "Grim" Durkin (Feb. 14)
• On 2nd Avenue, historic Isaac T. Hopper House hits the market for the first time in 149 years (Feb. 13)
• City's fight against unlicensed cannabis shops now targets landlords; 4 East Village shops busted (Feb. 9)
• An appeal to help a longtime East Village resident (Feb. 8)
• Early morning assault outside Ray's Candy Store leaves Ray with a black eye and facial wounds (Feb. 2)
On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Multiple tipsters have told us that the New Double Dragon, 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street, will be closing in the weeks ahead.
And it's a rather complicated situation. An employee confirmed that "we're closing, and we don't know exactly when and we're not sure for how long but we hope to come back."
According to the employee, ConEd is going to cut off the gas and power to the building — for unspecified reasons — at some point. The landlord has promised a one-week notice for the business before it happened. (The building also appears vacant on the upper floors.)
Meanwhile, two storefronts to the south, the First Avenue Laundry Center remains closed for renovations at 33 First Ave. at Second Street. Nearly three months in, we still haven't seen any sign of work here...
As previously mentioned, there has been speculation that this corner is ripe for development... a parcel that includes the long-vacant single-level storefront next door (last occupied in 2015)...
Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave., home of the New Double Dragon.
The New Double Dragon employee said they have this phone number — 212-598-0730 — for people to call for updates once the closure occurs.
Virginia's eyes a March debut in new 3rd Street home
Virginia's is expected to open in mid-March ("give or take a few days") in the restaurant's new outpost at 200 E. Third St., just west of Avenue B.
According to the Virginia's Instagram account, they are hiring waitstaff and bussers. (Contact info is on the post.)
Virginia's closed on 11th Street at Avenue C on New Year's Eve 2021. Their lease was up, and ownership decided to look elsewhere for a new space for the bistro that opened in May 2015.
The last tenant here, Root & Bone, closed last April after eight years in business.
Hello Dolly: Incoming dessert shop on 1st Avenue has a memorable name
Photo by Steven
The Dolly Llama, a growing Los Angeles-based company specializing in waffles and ice cream, debuts next month at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
According to the DL Instagram account, the EV outpost will open at noon on March 11.
Davey's Ice Cream was the previous tenant here before relocating to Ninth Street last fall.
Monday, February 27, 2023
Monday's parting shot
Report of a fire at 136 Avenue C
Updated 9:57 a.m.: The FDNY issued an "under control" roughly 38 minutes after the first report.
Updated 3/1: A look at the storefronts here.
---
A reader on the scene shared these photos from the east side of Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ... we'll keep updating when more information is available...Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0450, 136 AVE C, MULTIPLE DWELLING A
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) February 27, 2023
Anyway Cafe is closing tonight; staff hopes to open new establishment
Photos Friday by Stacie Joy
Rumors have been circulating recently that Anyway Cafe, the wholly unique Russian restaurant-vodka-bar-live music venue at 34 E. Second St. near Second Avenue, is closing.
This is true, though a new like-minded establishment from the Anyway staff is in the works.
Management at Anyway addressed the situation in a Facebook post last evening... noting that tonight will be the official last night...
Most of you already know that we are in the midst of negotiations for a new lease. Wish us good luck!! This Monday, February 27, is our official last night as Anyway Cafe.Hey, as in life, when one door is closing, the other one is opening. It's just in our case we want it to be the same door!
So, this Monday we are all gathering together — staff, musicians, neighbors, and if you'll be in our area, please stop by after 7 p.m.And guys, we don't have enough words to express how much we love and appreciate you!!!!!!! YOU are the ones who make our precious place fun, inclusive, family-like and simply one-of-a-kind. More to come; stay tuned!! We LOVE you!! The tightest hugs!!Truly and always yours, Anyway staff.
Anyway Cafe first opened here in 1995.
[Updated] Avenue C Laundromat now closing on March 31
Photos by Stacie Joy
Updated: The closing date was extended to March 31
-----
Avenue C Laundromat closes after service tomorrow.
The official reason: the landlord (listed as D&K Plaza, Inc. in Rego Park) is selling (or has sold) the two-level building here at 69 Avenue C at Fifth Street. There isn't any listing of a sale in public records just yet.
A notice to remove the sidewalk dining room at the now-closed Bait & Hook
Google lists Bait & Hook as "permanently closed." However, there hasn't been an official notice from the restaurant or its social media properties. (Someone did remove the Philadelphia Eagles flag above the front door.)
Meanwhile, this past Thursday, the Department of Transportation posted a removal notice about Bait & Hook's outdoor dining area...
The large sidewalk structure, which looked like a converted mobile home, was one of the more egregious violations of the outdoor dining concepts in the pandemic era...
The place has shuttered before. In January 2020, a "closed for renovation" sign arrived a week before a for lease sign. Then they reopened.
Bait & Hook debuted in 2012.
Before Bait & Hook, the space was the Meatball Factory, then Hole Foods ... and before that! The Pizza Hut-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's combo, which vanished in 2010.
From Brix to Brick on Clinton
At the time, we figured it might be from the folks running Brix Wine Shop on Avenue B. However, owner Beatriz Gutierrez told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that she was not behind this Brix.
Perhaps other people had the same thought. There's new signage now for Brick Wine Bar. (Thanks to EVG reader Fiona for the pic!)
Brick Wine Bar owner George Mercardo previously operated Barbarrio (2017-2019) on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem.
Brix/Brick takes the space from Oh La La Cafe, which closed last summer... and, previously, Cocoa Bar.
A recent post from the Brick Instagram account notes that they are opening "real soon."
Noted (again)
Top photo by Concerned Citizen; 2nd pic by Stacie Joy
Over the weekend, a smoke shop debuted at 199 E. Third St. just west of Avenue B... (not sure of the name, maybe Grand Opening? JK!)
So this block now has a place for the usual variety of edibles, exotic snacks, etc. Not to mention festive balloonage for the debut...
This space was New Swan Cleaners until March 2022 ... the lease was up, and the owner decided to retire.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)