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.

Gotham Pizza now open on 3rd Avenue

[Photo by Harry Weiner]

The pizzeria opened this past Friday on Third Avenue and 12th Street... here's a look at their menu... a regular slice starts at $2.75... with pepperoni $3.50...



Will definitely stop back for a slice... and a taste-test post (#pizzagram)

Previously

Scott Stringer's audit blasts City Hall for inaction in Rivington House deed lift

Here's a look at part of the report via the EVG inbox...

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released a report today detailing the findings of a five-month investigation into actions taken by the City of New York that allowed Rivington House – a nursing home on the Lower East Side of Manhattan – to be sold for a $72 million profit in February 2016.

The Comptroller’s Office found that multiple City agencies and dozens of City officials were involved in deliberations about the removal of two deed restrictions that previously limited the property’s use to a not-for-profit residential health care facility.

The Comptroller’s investigation found the Rivington House property was allowed to slip away because of poor execution of City processes that were intended to elicit public opinion and protect the City’s best interests. This deal resulted in patients losing their homes, healthcare workers losing their jobs at the site, a neighborhood losing a vital community asset, and the City losing its power to ensure that the property was used for a public purpose “in perpetuity.”

Over the course of the investigation, the Comptroller’s Office reviewed more than 80,000 documents, including communications among the Rivington House sellers and buyers and City officials and interviewed Administration officials who were engaged over a two-year period with issues related to this deal.

Investigators found that, despite 48 City staff meetings and hundreds of emails and phone calls, lapses in the oversight of the deed removal process allowed Joel Landau, principal of the Allure Group, to secure the removal of the Rivington House deed restrictions at the same time that he was working to “flip” the property into luxury condominiums.

“No individual should be allowed to profit off the loss of vital community resources,” Comptroller Stringer said, “But what’s worse is that the checks and balances in place to avoid this kind of outcome were mismanaged. We have to make sure our government operates with the highest level of accountability to guarantee this never happens again.”

You can find a PDF of the full report here.

U.S. Attorney General Preet Bharara and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman are also investigating the removal of the deed restriction.

Previously

Another day at the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

Last Monday, Logan Hicks started work an intricate stencil project on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall.

Unfortunately, though, the heavy rains and stifling heat early last week caused the wall to shift... and Hicks and Co. were forced to stop, remove their work to date and wait for repairs.

The wall looks as if it has been buffed ... and ready for Hicks to return ... Meanwhile, there's a tempting blank canvas ...


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

More on Target, and a look at its incoming home on 14th Street and Avenue A

In case you missed this news from late Friday afternoon, Target has reportedly signed a lease for the retail space at 500 E. 14th St., Extell's new development between Avenue A and Avenue B. (The Real Deal had the scoop.)

First, a look at how the development is developing... Extell is putting up two 7-floor retail-residential buildings ... 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A will have 106 residential units … while, further to the east, 524 E. 14th St. will house 44 residential units. (It's still unclear whether these will be rentals or condos.)







As previously noted, construction has been slow going here. The excavating started in June 2015.

Meanwhile, not sure what all this is about... the pipe has been attached to 220 Avenue A for several months... now there's also a protective rooftop shed ...







As for Target, this will be a small-format store, like the one opening in Tribeca. The marketing copy at RKF says the retail space at No. 500 totals 42,367 square feet, including 24,735 square feet on the street level with 17,632 square feet down below. The corner space has some 250 feet of frontage on East 14th Street and another 52 feet on Avenue A.

The Tribeca location is 45,000 square feet — a third of the size of a regular Target, according to Fortune.


[255 Greenwich St. rendering via Target/Fortune]

Here's more about what we can expect from the small-format stores, via Fortune...

Much like the stores it has opened near Fenway Park in Boston and downtown San Francisco, the Manhattan location will have an assortment of products aimed at catering to local needs. For instance, at the Fenway store, Target offers locally brewed Samuel Adams beer. While Target is still refining its plans, the TriBeCa store will proportionally offer more grab-and-go food options for harried office workers, more organic foods for those finicky TriBeCans, and a lot of apparel. Target will adjust its home goods selection to fit smaller New York City homes.

Seeking to capitalize on what is a major hassle for the many New Yorkers whose buildings don’t have doormen to receive packages, the TriBeCa Target will be equipped for in-store pick-up of orders placed on target.com, allowing it to offer customers the same assortment they’d get in a big-box location (except for grocery items).

This Target, rather development at No. 500, replaced a row of single-level buildings that housed, starting at Avenue A: Stuyvesant Grocery, Pete's-A-Place, a hair salon and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (before they were destroyed by fire on May 12, 2010), Rainbow, the Blarney Cove, a jewelry shop, a laundromat (which relocated closer to Avenue B) and Rite Aid.



It was also reported last week that Extell received a $140 million construction loan for the development.

And there is no timeline on when all this will be complete. The retail listing for No. 500 states possession will be available "Fourth Quarter 2016." As you can see on the progress to date, that isn't a realistic timeline any longer.

Updated 9:45 a.m.

For some perspective on the size of this incoming Target with the Kmart on Astor Place... let's go to this article from The New York Times, dated Oct. 1, 1996:

In a major push, Kmart is opening two huge new stores, one on 34th Street adjoining Pennsylvania Station, which opens tomorrow, the other on Broadway between Eighth and Ninth Streets, which will open next month. The company, swallowing the high operating costs, is going for volume. Each store will be expected to contribute more than $50 million in sales.

A kind of cultural exchange has begun as well.

"People don't realize how normal New Yorkers are," said Myles Johns, who was appointed general manager of the 34th Street store two months ago. "They're just like everybody else."

The new stores, each with more than 140,000 square feet, are not flagships in the usual sense -- Kmart has larger stores elsewhere in its 2,144-store chain -- nor are they even the first in New York City. Kmart opened stores in Queens and the Bronx in the early 90's, not to mention in the 60's on Staten Island.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

Those ongoing rumors about the future of East 14th Street between Avenue A and B

Petland is moving away from East 14th Street, fueling more new development rumors

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Breaking (pretty much!): Target is coming to 14th Street and Avenue A (40 comments)

Mono + Mono coming soon — again!

[Photo from last week]

Last week a reader tipped us off to the fact that a flower shop was in bloom operating out of the former Mono + Mono space at 116 E. Fourth St.

A recap of what happened to the restaurant that specialized in Korean fried chicken (and with a collection of jazz records): In April 2013, a two-alarm fire swept through the single-level building. Through the years the owners provided multiple updates that they'd return to the space between First Avenue and Second Avenue. That never happened. And then when the signs arrived for the florist, it seemed as if the Mono + Mono return plans were kaput.

But! There is an amendment to the signage... that Mono + Mono is still in the works...



The last update of the M+M Facebook page is from October 2014 (and it's for the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival). The M+M website site is currently down. The GoDaddy notice says it expired on July 15, and is "pending renewal or deletion." The M+M phone number is no longer in service.

Meanwhile, we have yet to see anyone inside the shop. And the number goes to a generic voice-mail box.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

(Kind of) An update on Mono + Mono

What is happening with the Mono + Mono space?

Report: Mono + Mono plans fall reopening

With new building OK'd, corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street finally ready for razing

Workers prepped the southeast corner of 10th Street and Fourth Avenue late last week for demolition. (H/T to a reader for alerting us to this on Friday.) This comes about nine months after the permits were filed.

The parcel includes the four-story, turn-of-the-century townhouse at 82 E. 10th St.



Last Monday, the city OK'd the plans for a 10-story building here. The approved permit shows retail on the ground floor and 12 dwelling units above. The residential portion encompasses more than 24,000 square feet, so those units will presumably be condos. Floors 2-5 will each have two units while 6-8 will each have one unit while a two-level duplex to top things off.

The plans also show a rooftop "recreation space" ... with more outdoor space on the ground level. Residential perks include a media room, an exercise room and storage for seven bikes, according to the permits.

SBLM Architects are listed as the architects of record. We didn't spot a rendering at their website ... but there is this diagram on file with the DOB...



It has been a long time coming for this — or any — development here. The previous tenants, including the Green East deli and St. Marx Music (and previously the Atlas Barber School), were cleared out in early 2007. There were once plans to build a 13-story hotel, though the city never OK'd that proposal, Curbed reported in 2009.

The plans for the 10-story building were filed last summer, as New York Yimby first reported. The layout has been amended somewhat. The plans from last summer showed just eight residences. Folks living here will just have to make due with a little less space.

82 E. 10th St. was thought to have housed the Hilda Carmel Gallery in the late 1950s and early 1960s, where the likes of Pollock, Rothko and de Kooning showed their work.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Demo permits filed to raze southeast corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street

The 'tremendous retail potential' of East 10th Street and 4th Avenue

10 stories of condos in the works for the long-vacant corner of 4th Avenue and East 10th Street

[Updated] Another deli/market looks to be replacing Poppy's on 12th and A

In the shadows of Steiner East Village, the renovations continue at the former Poppy's Gourmet Corner on Avenue A and 12th Street.

There are detailed plans on the plywood... helpfully pointing out where the various items will be inside the incoming deli/market...



Among other things, the plans show a counter, a back counter, coffee, ice cream, a fryer, grill and juice bar.

And now, courtesy of EVG regular Greg Masters, an exclusive look at the market's new refrigeration units...







Poppy's closed at the end of January. Owner Mike Attal told Poppy's regular Shawn Chittle that a rent increase made it too challenging (Kushnered) to stay in business.

Updated 8/2

The coming-soon sign is now up for NY Grill & Deli...

Drunken Dumpling coming soon to 1st Avenue

We have a signage reveal at 137 First Ave., where Drunken Dumpling is opening soon between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...



The Drunken Dumpling proprietors are seeking a beer-wine license, and are on this month's CB3 SLA docket (that meeting notice has not been posted at the CB3 website as of this morning)...



This space was last home to Le Marécage, a nice little place that could only hang on for 10 months.