Monday, April 18, 2016

Retail space at historic 330 Bowery is for rent



Over at 330 Bowery (aka 54 Bond St.), the main retail space is now for rent inside the historic circa-1874 building at Bond Street.

RKF has the listing... no word on the rent for the three levels and 2,300 square feet...


[Click on image to go big]

Last fall, a John Barrett luxury hair salon, which also sold vintage Rolex watches priced to $30,000, opened here at the former Bouwerie Lane Theater.

That didn't work out well for a variety of reasons. This location was supposed be the first of many John Barrett salons across the country, at least according to this piece I found earlier this year at WWD:

Barrett and Jim Hedges, his business partner and chief executive officer of John Barrett Holdings LLC, are out to reinvent the business model of the luxury salon — making it more inviting, more finely curated, more retail-driven — while laying the groundwork for a string of units across the U.S. and beyond.

The Bowery and Bond Street location ... opened in October, as Barrett’s first step onto the New York scene beyond his original base at Bergdorf Goodman. But it was beset by physical disruptions and unexpected delays like street construction outside the windows, 12 days without water and noise from a Con Ed generator, which made it difficult to recruit the high-level hairdressers they needed at the salon along with their clientele.

“It has been a slow start,” Hedges acknowledged. But six new stylists are starting this year and “we have every confidence,” he said.

In February, Barrett reportedly fired Hedges "in the midst of a crowd of 30 or 40 people at the Bergdorf Goodman salon."

Anyway, there isn't a shortage of available storefronts nearby, such as the former Environment Furniture space ... and PYT and SRO Pizza ... and Patricia Field ... and Tatyana Boutique.

Previously on EV Grieve:
330 Bowery wrapped and ready

A look at 330 Bowery, now free of its sidewalk bridge

The storefronts for rent on the Bowery

Rapid progress at Stei town



And along Avenue A, construction continues at a brisk pace at Steiner East Village, the name of developer Douglas Steiner's incoming residential complex between East 11th Street and East 12th Street... the future 6-story (82 unit) building is now even with the neighboring buildings on the corner of 12th Street...



Prices for the condominiums at the site the former Mary Help of Christians property start at $1.1 million. Amenities include a 24-hour lobby concierge, 50-foot long pool, spa, gym, library, playroom, parking, and lush courtyard and rooftop gardens, a horse-drawn carriage and uniformed horseman for rides through Tompkins Square Park, and an underground shooting range.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Developer Douglas Steiner lands $130 million loan for EV condo construction

Douglas Steiner's church-replacing condos emerge from the pit; plus new renderings

Developer Douglas Steiner presents Steiner East Village

[Updated] A look at the rest of tonight's CB3-SLA meeting docket


[45-47 Avenue B]

CB3's SLA committee meeting is tonight 6:30 in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

To date, we've look at several applicants:

98 Favor Taste, 37 St. Mark's Place

Unnamed pizzeria, Avenue C and Eighth Street

Vietnamese restaurant, 119 St. Mark's Place

Desi Galli, 172 Avenue B

And one applicant we looked at is no longer on the agenda. The owners of the Brazen Fox had plans to open another bar-restaurant directly across the street from their current two-level bar-restaurant on Third Avenue and East 13th Street.




We do not know why they are a scratch from the meeting. In any event, this would be a tough sell... a full liquor license with a sidewalk cafe for a space (Gothic Cabinet Craft shop) that was not previously licensed within a saturated area... from applicants who already operate a successful space right across the street. Not sure what the public benefit is here.



And there was neighbor opposition to the application as well... based on the flyers on the block...



Meanwhile, here's a quick look at some of the other East Village applicants on tonight's meeting agenda...

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Fish Market Inc, 45 Ave B (wb)

A venture called Lamia's Fish Market is in the works for the long vacant storefront at 45 Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street. The questionnaire (PDF) on file for public viewing at the CB3 website shows a restaurant with 40 tables seating 160 people. The proposed hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Monday though Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Lamia Funti is the name of the applicant. Media outlets have identified her as the co-owner of Le Souk on La Guardia Place along with her husband Marcus Jacobs. He was reportedly an owner of Le Souk at 47 Avenue B... Le Souk was a years-long thorn in the side of neighbors, as widely reported here ... and here ... and here ... and here. In October 2009, the State Liquor Authority cancelled Le Souk's liquor license. (Read the SLA release here.)

Updated 4/19

The committee voted to deny the application. The Lo-Down has the details about the operators here.

• Baker's Pizza (Baker's Pizza LLC), 201 Ave A (wb)

The pizzeria that opened back in February between East 12th Street and East 13th Street is seeking a beer-wine license.

Sidewalk Cafe Application

• Lionsbeerstore (Beer Factory LLC), 104 2nd Ave

• Biang (Wen Zi Inc), 157 2nd Ave

The previous tenant at this address, Alder, had an eight-table, 16-seat sidewalk cafe.

New Liquor License Applications

• AGN Restaurant LLC, 166 1st Ave (op)

This is the former North River/Nite Owl space near East 10th Street. The owners of the Belfry on East 14th Street are looking to open a bar-restaurant here serving American comfort food, according to the questionnaire (PDF) on file at the CB3 website.

The proposed hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday; until 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

• Proto's Pizza (Fifty East LLC), 50 2nd Ave (wb)

Items not heard at Committee

• Virgola (Virgola 3 LLC), 221 Ave B (wb)

They were denied at the February meeting ... this will be the second Virgola location in the East Village.

• Dumpling Go (Dumpling 2 Avenue Inc), 188 2nd Ave (wb)

The restaurant has been closed for the past week. Looks like a renovation, though there aren't any signs for customers.

Time to get Sugared and Bronzed on 4th Avenue



Back in February, we noted that a branch of the Southern California-based Sugared+Bronzed salon was opening this spring at 114 Fourth Ave. at East 12th Street.

This location, the first in NYC for Sugared+Bronzed, opened on Friday.

For now, they are offering opening deals on airbrush tans and sugaring, which is a process where a technician uses a water-soluble sugar paste to extract unwanted hairs. Sources close to Sugared+Bronzed say that sugaring is much better than waxing. For unwanted hairs.



Previously on EV Grieve:
You will soon be able to get sugared and bronzed on 4th Avenue (16 comments)

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Week in Grieview


[10th and A Friday evening by Grant Shaffer]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Reports: Man shot and killed on East 12th Street outside Campos Plaza on Thursday night (Friday)

Bartender at Villa Cemita on Avenue A accused of sexual assault (Tuesday)

A celebration of Streit's Matzo Factory on Avenue A (Thursday)

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara now looking into deed lift at 45 Rivington St. (Wednesday)

Dempsey's Pub closing after 24 years (Friday)

Mr. Moustache Coffee Shop signage arrives on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

Early-morning wake-up call courtesy of alarms at P.S. 64 (Wednesday)

Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery, coming soon to 440 E. Ninth St. (Wednesday)

Iggy Pop in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)

The Bean apologizes after telling resident with respiratory illness to vacate its outdoor benches (Tuesday)

BP has closed on East Houston; 1 gas station remains below 14th Street in NYC (Friday)

City Council to hear gas safety legislation (Monday)

TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken looks to be closed (Wednesday)

114 E. 10th St. returns for a few million more (Thursday)

Desi Galli asset for long-empty 172 Avenue B (Monday)

First U.S. outpost of Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opening on 10th Street and Fourth Avenue (Thursday)

The Royal closes on Fourth Avenue (Monday)

4Knots Music Festival returns to the South Street Seaport this summer; Guided by Voices headline (Wednesday)

The Crocodile Lounge introduces its new clean, green awning (Monday)

There's finally a listing for the shuttered American Apparel space on East Houston and Orchard (Monday)

Capital One Café opens July 11 on Union Square (Wednesday)

Burglars help themselves to bottle service at Suffolk Arms (Monday)

Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel at 215 Chrystie St. will have plenty of places to drink and eat (Thursday)

Luxurified 55 Third Ave. now on the market for $65 million (Monday)

... and a photo of Adam Sandler from Wednesday on Avenue B at 14th Street ... after filming a scene for Noah Baumbach's new comedy "Yeh Din Ka Kissa," co-starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Ben Stiller..


[Photo by Robert Galinksy]

Noted



Spotted on a broken payphone (and future LinkNYC kiosk) on East 12th Street and First Avenue... there's more Dead Ringer tape on phones along East 11th Street...

Former East Village shop the Upper Rust is now open in Chelsea


[EVG file photo of East 9th Street location]

After 14 years on East Ninth Street at Avenue A, the antiques shop the Upper Rust packed up for a move to Chelsea back in February.

At the time, the owners didn't have a forwarding address... now they do. The new Upper Rust is open (as of Friday) at 120 W. 25th St. between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue...



We do not know the reason why they left the East Village storefront. According to one previous tenant here, landlord Icon Realty either hasn't been renewing leases or offering new terms with unmanageable rent increases.

In any event, the former Upper Rust space has been on the rental market. According to the listing at Icon Realty's website, the asking rent is $16,500 per month for the roughly 900 square feet of space.


[Image via the Icon website]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Upper Rust is moving away from East 9th Street and the East Village

The latest issue of The Shadow is now available



Look for NYC's only underground newspaper at the following locations:

• The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS): 155 Avenue C
• Gem Spa: St. Mark's Place/Second Avenue
• East Village Books: 99 St. Mark's Place (Avenue A-First Avenue)
• Bluestockings: 172 Allen St. (Stanton Street)
• INK: 66 Avenue A (East Fourth - Fifth Streets)
• Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books: 34 Carmine St.
• McNally Jackson: 52 Prince St.
• The Source: 331 East Ninth St.

The issue's cover art is by Danny Hellman.

This table is not a bike



An EVG reader shared these photos of a bike rack on East Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square...



Per the reader: "I suspect cyclists looking for a place to park are not amused."



Earlier, I saw this table riding the wrong way on Sixth Street. And the cops didn't do a thing!

Avenue C tag sale

Today and tomorrow 12 to 7 🛍 #woohoo #chloelizziehaley

A photo posted by Chloe Sevigny (@chloessevigny) on



An EVG reader shared this... Day 2 of a tag sale at 89 Avenue C between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street (in the Doctor Cellphone space). The sale stuff belongs to three friends — Lizzi Bougatsos, ChloĂ« Sevigny and Haley Wollens.

No word if this outfit is for sale.

From noon to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

A mural to commemorate Polish history in the East Village



There's a ceremony tomorrow (Sunday!) afternoon at 1 at 104 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue to officially unveil a new mural... here are details from the media advisory sent our way via the Polish Cultural Institute New York...

On April 17 at 1:00 PM in New York’s East Village the ceremonial unveiling of a mural commemorating the 1,050 years of Polish Statehood will take place. The mural will be located on the wall of a building belonging to the Parish of St. Stanislaus The Bishop and Martyr at 104 St. Marks Place. Along with commemorating Poland's impressive history, placing the mural in the East Village honors Polish immigrants' footprint in the area.

We would like to highlight the Polish presence in the neighborhood by introducing a mural marking the 966 baptism of Duke Mieszko I, which was not only an act of faith, but one with significant political and social consequences.

Throughout the years there has been a strong Polish presence in the East Village. The neighborhood has witnessed many important events such as 1909's final tribute to Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska) at the Parish Church of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr established by Polish immigrants in 1872; Tadeusz Kantor's plays at La MaMa and events at the famous Polish National Home "The Dom" (which was known as one of the hippest hangouts of the 1960s). The East Village was also portrayed by Janusz Glowacki, and has inspired many contemporary artists, including those who have visited Ms. Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius in her famous Polish bar.

The mural's artist Janusz Gilewicz, was born in Poland and has lived in the East Village for years.

The celebration of the 1,050th Anniversary of the Baptism of Poland is taking place under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

How to decode the mural:

Polska
* A country of nearly 40 million people located in the center of Europe
* Polish Constitution of May 3rd 1791 was the oldest in Europe, and the second-oldest in the world (after the United States)
* 10 million Americans are of Polish descent
* In the New York City metropolitan area alone, nearly 135,000 people speak Polish


The Ichthys (“fish”) is a symbol of Christianity
* Much older than the cross, and still in use today
* In his novel Quo Vadis, Polish Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz showed early Christians using the ichthys as a secret sign to identify one another

966
* The year of the baptism of Duke Mieszko I, ruler of Poland, bringing the country into Western civilization
* Marks the beginning of the Polish state
* The Baptism of Poland strengthened the country’s position among its neighbors

The Flag of Poland
* In heraldry, white represents spiritual values and purity, and red, bravery and valor
*Both serves the compositional beauty of the piece and serves as a symbol of the multicultural heritage of this neighborhood.

Friday, April 15, 2016

The tax man's taken all my dough



Celebrating Tax Day (Monday) with the Kinks.

Time again to take a Load OUT!



FABnyc's biannual recycling and repurposing event returns tomorrow (Saturday), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 11 E. Third St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Per the FABnyc website:

Started in 2010, FABnyc noticed that materials, props, costumes and the like were being thrown out after each theater shows load out. In response, we organized Load OUT! as a way to divert what would otherwise be sent to the waste stream, and instead, brought to the hands of other artists and the public to reuse and repurpose materials for their next project.



Find out more details about the day here.

EV Grieve Etc.: Peace Pentagon exit; Mariella's Pizza closure


[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams]

Details on where tenants of the Peace Pentagon on Lafayette and Bleecker are moving (The New York Times)

Mariella's Pizza on 16th Street and Third Avenue has closed (DNAinfo ... Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Documents from the U.S. Attorney claim that former Assemblyman Sheldon Silver was involved in two extramarital affairs (The Lo-Down)

Drop The Mic Ice Cream Factory opening a pop-up shop inside ChikaLicious Dessert Bar on East 10th Street (amNY)

Red-tailed hawk updates from Tompkins Square Park and Chinatown (Laura Goggin Photography)

Drunken fight at Katz's (DNAinfo)

African and French film in conversation, including "Alphaville" (Anthology Film Archives)

The Nuclear Family exhibition, featuring work by Marguerite Van Cook, James Romberger and ClockWork Cros continues through May 1 (Howl! Happening)

Lower East Side man arrested for having sex with his girlfriend’s pet Maltese (Daily News)

Will LinkNYC's new Wi-Fi system help police watch you? (The Atlantic)

Panel convened by Cuomo recommends creating a permit system for pre-noon sales of alcohol on Sundays (Eater)

Another rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments this year? (Curbed)

A look at "Rock and Rule" from 1983, an animated film with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Chris Stein and Debbie Harry of Blondie (Dangerous Minds)

The Metrograph Theater enjoying early success on Ludlow Street (IndieWire)

Mickey Leigh's Ramones tour of Queens (The New York Times)

About Rolling Stone's Best Punk Records list (The Observer)

And today, Zachary Zamsky, 18, a student now at Boston University, makes his professional film debut as the lead in David Shane's short film "The Board," which is competing at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows a socially challenged high school kid who tests his ultimate system for making a successful first-time call to his crush.

Zamsky, who was born and bred on East Fifth Street, is the son of two former actors and active East Village residents. He has been acting since he was a kid, taking after-school classes at the former Children’s Aid Society on Sullivan Street. He attended the drama studio at the famed LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, graduating last June, and shot the movie over the summer and into the fall.


[Photo courtesy of Stuart Zamsky]

BP has closed on East Houston; 1 gas station remains below 14th Street in NYC



As we first reported, the BP station on East Houston and Lafayette was set to close yesterday to make way for a new office-retail building.

Workers were on the scene early this morning, as these photos via an EVG reader show, to start erecting a sidewalk bridge before the demolition. (The demo permits were filed in December 2014.)



The demolition includes the former Puck Fair space... the pub closed last month...



As for 300 Lafayette, once completed, the new building will encompass 80,000 square feet of "flagship retail and boutique office" ...


[Rendering by Cookfox]

As for gas, there's a BP on 23rd Street at the FDR. With this closure, there'll be just one gas station in the city below 14th Street — a Mobil on Eighth Avenue near East 13th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations

Report: Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14

Report: Lack of gas stations downtown a concern

Reports: Man shot and killed on East 12th Street outside Campos Plaza last night


[Photo from last night by DR]

A man was shot and killed last night in front of Pedro Albizu Campos Plaza I on East 12th Street near Avenue C, according to published reports.

As PIX 11 reported, police received a 911 call around 10:44 pm. Elliot Caldwell, 23, had been shot in the back, polices sources said. He died later at Bellevue.

A neighbor told the Daily News that Caldwell grew up in Campos Plaza, and would return to visit.

Police haven't made any arrests and the investigation is ongoing, per PIX 11. CBS New York reported that a witness reported seeing a man in a red hoodie running from the scene.

Back in January, according to a report in the Post, an unnamed 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

An NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) arrived on the scene shortly after the January shooting. The NYPD had recently removed the tower.


[EVG photo from February]

Updated 11:30 a.m.
DNAinfo reports that Caldwell, who lived nearby on 12th Street, had a 3-year-old son. "He was a great father. He changed his life for his son. He just got caught up in a bad situation," his aunt told DANinfo.

This is what's happening around here for Record Store Day 2016



The action starts tomorrow morning...

Academy LPs, 415 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A



Good Records NYC, 218 E. Fifth St. between the Bowery and Second Avenue

Saturday is Record Store Day but we are putting out incredible stuff all week for our core customers so don't snooze!

A photo posted by Good Records NYC (@goodrecordsnyc) on



Other Music, 15 E. Fourth St. between Broadway and Lafayette

We're burning the midnight oil in order to get ready for Record Store Day. See you Saturday at 10AM!

A photo posted by Other Music (@other_music) on



Turntable Lab, 120 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue



A-1 Records, 439 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

I think I'm buying this.

A photo posted by A-1 Record Shop (@a1recordshop) on



There are also some Record Store Day happenings at In Living Stereo on Great Jones at Broadway. Details here.

Find the official Record Store Day website here ... and the list of special Record Store Day releases here...

Dempsey's Pub on 2nd Avenue closes for good on Sunday

After 24 years in business, Dempsey's Pub on Second Avenue between East Third Street and East Fourth Street is closing its doors for good on Sunday night.

Reps for Dempsey's issued a press announcement yesterday. Per the news release:

Opening in 1992 as Jack Dempsey’s Pub, [the bar] quickly became the go to spot for locals and NYU students alike. The sports bar transitioned to Dempsey’s Pub in 1998 after being acquired solely by Tom O’Byrne.

Ask any NYU student or neighborhood local and they will be sure to have had a fond memory at this East Village institution. Since opening their doors they have cultivated a crowd that has depended upon their various programming from sports nights, to showcasing local Celtic bands on Tuesday nights, to their famous Wednesday trivia nights.

These popular events will be moving just around the corner to their sister pub, Slainte, located on 304 Bowery.

O’Byrne also owns Cooper’s Craft and Kitchen on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street. He told Bedford + Bowery yesterday that Dempsey's "reached the end of its cycle."

He also added that the changing nature of the neighborhood had played a part in his decision to close up shop. "Obviously part of it is related to costs, and the demand for the type of place like Dempsey's is not there anymore in the way it was before."

According to the closing announcement, Dempey's will run happy hour specials "such as $5 beer, wine and well drinks" through the weekend, "ending on Sunday with can-bottle beer specials all night."

Image via Facebook

A celebration of community gardens tomorrow (Saturday!)



Via the EVG inbox...

Wear your best springtime and garden themed costumes, bring posters, musical instruments, and join us in our parade through the gardens of the East Village

Parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at 6B Garden [West Side Ave B (E 5th & E 6th) making stops at:
• Tompkins Square Park [West side Ave B (E 7th & 10th)]
• Children’s Garden [West side Ave B (SW corner E 12th)]
• Campos Community Garden [South side E 12th (Aves B & C)]
• 9th Street Garden [NE Corner Ave C & 9th)]
• La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez [SW corner Ave C & E 9th]
• The Secret Garden [NW corner Ave C & E 4th]
• Parque de Tranquilidad [South side E 4th (Aves C & D)]
• Orchard Alley [South side E 4th St (Aves C & D)]

Ending at El Jardin around 3 p.m. [North side E 4th St (Aves C & D)]

From 3-5 pm at EL Jardin there will be:
• Seed Swap (get some seeds to grow stuff!)
• Garden Membership Drive
• Gardens Rising Walkabout (gardensrising.org)
• Bicycle Check Up
Solar 1 Educational program
LES Ready
• Poetry, Music, Food

On the topic of community gardens... the 6BC Community Garden (East Sixth Street between Avenue B and C) Orientation is Sunday ... details are on the flyer below are at the garden's website here.

Burgers will be popping up this weekend at the former Northern Spy space on East 12th Street



After six years, Northern Spy's owners decided to call it quits this past February. However, the space at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will be put to use again this weekend.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

Fleishers Craft Butchery is running a pop-up burger joint for one weekend ONLY, at the former Northern Spy Food Co. space today through Sunday. (Northern Spy Food Co. partner Christophe Hille is also CFO and an owner of Fleishers — hence the utilization of the NSFCo space for one last time.)

Menu

• Classic American Burger $12
Classic blend of NY State pasture-raised beef with American cheese, special sauce, red onion and lettuce

• 100% Grass-fed Burger $13
NY State grass-fed beef with lettuce, tomato and onion

• The Bacon Egg & Cheeseburger $15
Made from NY State pasture-raised beef & bacon blend, sunny fried egg, American cheese

• Beef Fat Fries $6

• Northern Spy's Famous Kale Salad $12

•Beer, Wine and Brunch Cocktails will be available

And, these burgers are for a good cause: for every burger Fleishers sells at the pop-up, it is donating 6 oz of NY State pasture-raised beef to Trinity Lower East Side's “Service and Food for the Homeless” kitchen on East Ninth Street and Avenue B.