Pub in the works for longtime corner bar space on Houston and Suffolk

[Photo from Saturday]

Gene Lennon, the proprietor behind Juke Bar on Second Avenue and 12th Street as well as Trinity Pub on the Upper East Side, is applying for a new liquor license for 269 E. Houston St.

Lennon will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Monday evening for the currently vacant space on the corner of Suffolk Street.



According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website (PDF here), the still-unnamed venture has proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, with a noon start time on Saturday and Sunday.

The bar will feature a menu of standard pub fare as well as a jazz brunch.

Lennon has operated a variety of pubs in the city dating to 1995.

He would be taking over a space that been a variety of concepts through the years, most recently as Suffolk Arms, a high-end cocktail lounge from celebrated bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez. That well-appointed bar opened in February 2016 to much acclaim. It went dark in the spring of 2018.

Before Suffolk Arms, this prime corner spot sat empty for several years. The Local 269 never reopened after a flood wiped out the live music venue's equipment in the fall of 2012. Other recent bar tenants included Meow Mix and Vasmay Lounge.

One note about the space: The old neon Bar sign is currently MIA from above the front door.


[Photo from 2016]

Monday's CB3-SLA committee meeting is at the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plywood wraps itself around the incoming Suffolk Arms

Whatever happened to the former Heathers space on 13th Street?

[EVG file photo]

Two retail spaces recently arrived on the market at 506 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...



Per the listing:

Brand new, mint-condition, white-boxed space with floor-to-ceiling windows (full glass front), exposed brick, recessed lighting, new hardwood flooring, partial kitchen (however no food establishments, please), renovated bathroom. Open floor plan with tons of potential. Similarly-finished but smaller second space also available next door (same address).

The rent is $107-$118 a square foot.

The larger of these spaces (the storefront on the west) was home for eight years (under two different owners) to Heathers, a bar-lounge hotspot of sorts that attracted plenty of press during its time here.

Heather Millstone opened Heathers in 2005, and the bar quickly became a lightning rod for noise complaints. (The Times had a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.) There was also plenty of CB3-related drama for Heathers with its liquor license in the fall of 2011.

New owners took over the bar during the summer of 2012 ... and the place abruptly closed in October 2013.

Post Heathers, the space has been on and off the market these past five years. I can't recall any business being in the space during that time.

You have through Sunday to swim in city pools (though not the Tompkins Square Park mini pool)

The Tompkins Square Park mini pool is now closed until next summer. The pool season ended here on Labor Day... and workers have already drained (most of) the water, as these photos via EVG Mini-Pool Correspondent Steven show...



However, because it's still summer (woooooo!), the city's 50-plus outdoor public pools remain open. So you have until Sunday evening (Sept. 8!) to enjoy Hamilton Fish Pool on Pitt and East Houston and the Dry Dock Pool on Avenue D and 10th Street.

Outdoor pools are open daily from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3-4 p.m.

Same rules apply as they did on opening day in June: No urinating or defecating in the pools.

CVS FYI

That 24/7 CVS in the base of the condoplex on the corner of Orchard and Houston opened over the Labor Day weekend (about a week later than advertised).

The drug chain joins Marshalls and an Equinox Fitness center as the retail tenants at this 11-story, 94-unit building.

In July, the developers behind 196 Orchard St., including Ben Shaoul’s Magnum Management, sold the retail portion of the building to the AR Global affiliate New York City REIT for an incredible $88.75 million, according to The Real Deal.

This property on Houston between Ludlow and Orchard previously housed a single row of storefronts, including Ray's Pizza and Bereket.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

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

Report: retail portion of Ben Shaoul's luxury condoplex on Houston and Orchard sells for a whopping $88 million

Tuesday's parting shot (aka Endless Summer!)

Photo on Astor Place today by Derek Berg.

An unsettling find on 5th Street

An EVG reader shares these photos from Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... the reader did a double-take at this note...



At first, the reader thought this might be some kind of sick gag (as we've seen notes on curbside garbage bags in the past). However, upon closer inspection, it looked as if someone took care to wrap the contents inside the double plastic bag.

Apparently this is an acceptable way to dispose of a pet in NYC. According to the Department of Sanitation website:

The City accepts reports of dead animals. The City will collect a carcass from a public area or street (or from private property – if the animal may have been rabid, was killed by a family pet or scratched or bit a person or pet.) You may also place a dead animal in a heavy-duty black plastic bag or double plastic bag and put it out on the day of garbage collection with a note taped to the bag stating "dead dog" or "dead cat", for example. Animals that may have been rabid should not be put in the garbage. The City cremates dead pets for a fee, though the ashes are not returned to the animal’s owner.

Jury selection starts for defendants in 2nd Avenue gas explosion that killed 2 men

[Aerial photo of 119-123 2nd Ave. from March 27, 2015]

Jury selection is set to start today for Maria Hrynenko and two others for their role in the gas explosion on March 26, 2015, that killed two men, Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón, and leveled three buildings — 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.

The trial could last as long as three months in Manhattan Supreme Court, the Daily News reports.

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, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and several counts of assault in connection to more than a dozen injured victims.

This past 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. 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."

The News has comments from Kukic’s lawyer:

The defense is expected to argue that tampering was not the root cause of the explosion.

“I think the DA is going to try and show that there were all these irregularities regarding the gas piping,” said Kukic’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo. “None of that is what caused the gas to leak.”

Instead, he said, the gas leak came from the restaurant’s kitchen where workers heard a “hissing.”

“They smelled gas for months prior to the explosion. It was not a one-time thing,” Agnifilo said.

If the fire started in the kitchen, the defendants are expected to argue that couldn’t be blamed because their potential liability would have been isolated to basement operations.

“I don’t think the DA will ever really conclusively pinpoint what the problem was, where the gas came from,” Agnifilo [said].

Hrynenko and the defendants had made 25-plus courtroom appearances since February 2016, which all ended the same — "adjourned/bail continued."

Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group paid $9.15 million for the empty lots at No. 119 and No. 121 that Hrynenko owned. In a previously recorded transaction, Ezra Wibowo paid $6 million for the adjacent property at 123 Second Ave. that was owned by a different landlord who had no role in the explosion. There isn't any development planned there for now, according to previous reports.

Workers have been quickly erecting the Morris Adjmi-designed building at 119 Second Ave. — officially 45 E. Seventh St. — that will feature 21 condo units and ground-floor retail. The new building will include a commemorative plaque that honors Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón.

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

RIP Nicholas Figueroa

RIP Moises Ismael Locón Yac

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Exclusive: 2nd Avenue explosion sites have a new owner

Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza vying for former Nicoletta space on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street

Looks like the Nicoletta space will remain a pizzeria on Second Avenue at 10th Street.

Reps for the ever-expanding Artichoke Basille’s Pizza chain, which started in the East Village, are on this month's CB3-SLA agenda for a liquor license for 201 E. 10th St.

This questionnaire for the Sept. 16 meeting isn't online yet. However, the name of Artichoke co-founder Francis Garcia is on the application posted at the CB3 website.

Renovations are currently underway at the former Nicoletta space, which had a sizable dining room and outdoor cafe. Artichoke's plans for the venue aren't immediately known.

This would mark the second East Village location for Artichoke, which moved from its original East Village home (circa 2008) on 14th to a larger space across the street in June 2017.

Artichoke has been expanding nationwide with multi-unit franchise deals, most recently opening in Oakland, Calif.

As for Nicoletta, the much-heralded pizzeria from Michael White closed last December at this address after six-plus years in business. They are still delivering pizzas from an undisclosed location.

This corner space on 10th Street and Second Avenue had been on the retail market with a nearly $18,000 monthly ask.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Artichoke appears to be moving into a new space on 14th Street

Report of an early-morning fire at 328 E. 14th St., home of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location

FDNY says fire that started at Artichoke was accidental

2nd acts: Sushi counter for the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

The former Amato Opera building at 319 Bowery may finally have its first (full-time) retail business...



Reps for Kissaki Omakase will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Sept. 16 for a full liquor license for the space...



One of the applicants was an executive chef/partner at Gaijin in Astoria. Plans here call for a sushi counter with proposed hours of noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with a 1 a.m. close Friday and Saturday. (Find more details via their online questionnaire.)

In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that was home to the opera since 1964. Amato Opera staged its last performance in May 2009. (Earlier history: The four-story brick building was a cigar factory from 1899 to 1926.)

Steve Croman bought the building in December 2008 for $3.7 million. The retail space had been on and off the market since at least 2012. It was once pitched like this, circa 2012...



The retail listing had originally asked $34,995. A post on @TradedNY noted the 1,800-square-foot space went for $200 per square foot.

No. 319 also features three luxury residences, with monthly rents between $8,995 and $10,995.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Residential rentals at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery start at $10,995

Frisson Espresso has closed on 3rd Avenue

After 20 months in business, Frisson Espresso has closed on the west side of Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

A sign on the door thanks customers... and notes that Frisson's West 47th Street location remains open...



On one hand, this appears to be a potentially prosperous spot for coffee given the proximity to many college students (NYU and Cooper Union have dorms across the Avenue) ... on the other hand, there is a lot of competition right around here, including (but not limited to!) the Bean and City of Saints Coffee Roasters.

In recent years, we've seen Pushcart Coffee on Third Avenue at 12th Street in NYU's Third North dorm close ... as well as Wayside and Greekito on 12th Street at Third Avenue and Starbucks on Ninth Street and Broadway and Ninth Street and Second Avenue.

One big factor: Frisson opened here in January 2018. And the storefront-obscuring sidewalk bridge that surrounds the residential building (The St. Mark at 115 E. Ninth St.) has been up that entire time.

Now the Basics Plus on University Place is closing

Store closing signs are now in the windows at the Basics Plus on University Place at 13th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Doug for the above photo!)

The signage directs future patrons to visit the East Village BP on Third Avenue at 12th Street (seen below)...


[Photo from this past weekend]

As you'll recall, back in March, the Basics Plus on Third Avenue announced that they were closing. At that time, customers were directed to shop at the University Place outpost...


[Photo from March by Steven]

However, closer to their announced April 29 closing date, the housewares store changed plans, and downsized their square footage at the Third Avenue location.

Who knows what might happen next with Basics Plus, which opened in the East Village in August 2014.

The Basics Plus website lists eight NYC locations.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Basics Plus apparently not closing on 3rd Avenue after all

The Alley now in soft-open bubble tea mode on Cooper Square

The Alley debuted on Sunday at 68 Cooper Square (across from Cooper Union). As previously noted, this is the first NYC location for the growing Taiwanese bubble tea chain.

After a few days of a soft opening, the Alley will be full time starting on Saturday.



As Eater previously reported on the Alley:

With the aid of social media, Alley’s Instagrammable sweet drinks and decor have attracted fervent milk tea lovers to line up for hours for a sip of tea whenever a new store opens. Chinese people coin tea shops like the Alley as the “internet celebrity tea,” meaning the tea goes viral overnight on social media, like internet celebrities.

In the upcoming New York Alley, customers can pick a drink from a menu of two dozens teas that range from bubble tea to fruit tea. “Brown sugar deerioca” — the brand’s logo is a deer head — is a signature milk-based sweet drink with no tea in it. Alley’s other popular drinks are made of fresh milk and local black or green tea. The tapioca pearls, or what the Alley calls deerioca, are made by the restaurant.

Speaking of lines, EVG reader Sheila shared this photo from Sunday... she counted about 40 people waiting to enter...

Report: Man arrested for attempting to kidnap 5-year-old boy outside Katz's

The Post is reporting that a man was arrested after allegedly grabbing a 5-year-old boy on the sidewalk outside Katz's early yesterday morning.

There aren't many details at the moment. Per the Post:

Eric Visa, 46, approached the child as he was walking outside the famous Lower East Side eatery with his family shortly after midnight, according to law enforcement sources.

The creep, who was wearing a top hat, grabbed the boy and walked away before the mother noticed and chased him down, the sources said.

Visa was tracked down by police and arrested at about 3 a.m. He was charged with attempted kidnapping.

The Citizen app listed the address as 164 Ludlow St., which is near Stanton Street...

Feast your eyes on this

That time of year already... the Feast of San Gennaro signage arrived back on Friday on Houston at Mulberry... the Feast takes place Sept. 12-22 this year.

New for the 2019 edition: a zeppole-eating contest. Per The Wall Street Journal (my go-to source for competitive-eating articles!):

The stuff-your-face affair, which is set for Sept. 18 at the midway point of the 11-day festival, is a natural fit for San Gennaro, said Danny Fratta, a longtime zeppole vendor who is organizing the event. In fact, the zeppole contest joins meatball and cannoli eating competitions already established at the festival.

A warning about sitting on these tree guard railings on 5th Street

An update on the ongoing campaign to keep people and squirrels from upsetting the eco-system of this planter on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The Urban Tree Guard Etiquette Sign asks that people refrain from sitting on the tree guard railings ... because the tree guards are coated with grease to keep squirrels from digging in the planters.

In response, someone placed a "More Humanity Towards [sic] Animals" sticker on the sign...



It's not immediately clear if the sticker is in direct response to the sign... or perhaps just randomly placed. (A "More Humanity Toward Pants" sticker might be appropriate. Grease stains are tough, though not impossible, to remove.)

As previously reported, this tree guard is within the East Fifth St. Tree Committee boundaries.

Week in Grieview

[A view of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place]

Posts this past week included...

Welcoming baby Luna (Thursday)

No winners yet in Tompkins Square Park synthetic turf battle (Tuesday)

Book Club makes it official on 3rd Street (Monday)

Another driver wedges car on the bike lane adjacent to the FDR (Thursday)

This week's NY See (Saturday)

The Marshal has seized Savor Por Favor on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

The McDonald's on 1st Avenue is back in McAction (Monday)

The former DeRobertis building on 1st Avenue is now the Slater, where the penthouse is $15k (Thursday)

Niconeco Zakkaya debuts on 10th Street (Thursday)

Check in: Moxy East Village closer to opening (Monday)

Brasserie Saint Marc — still coming soon to 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)

The disappearing northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Brooklyn's the Modern Chemist opening an outpost on East Houston (Wednesday)

The former Bruno Pizza space is for rent on 13th Street (Tuesday)

Boticarios has apparently closed on 1st Street (Monday)

The totem of Broadway (Tuesday)

Broadway Apothecary coming to the old Milk and Hops spot on Broadway (Monday)

First Lamb Shabu is (finally) open on 14th Street (Monday)

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea signage arrives on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

An LES coffee casualty (Wednesday)

... early Monday morning, someone spray painted DB (a David Berman tribute?) along the Con Ed substation on Avenue A from Sixth Street to Fifth Street...





Also on Avenue A: the cowboy is back (again) here between Third Street and Fourth Street...



Last weekend, the artist removed her "Call Me By Your Name" Braille mural that went up for Pride Month...


[Photo by Vinny & O]

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Sunday outside the former Sidewalk

Here's a look today at part of the former Sidewalk space on Avenue A at Sixth Street.

Interior work continues for a new bar-restaurant, as we've been reporting.

The Sidewalk, with a long-standing open-mic night, closed in February after 32-plus years in business. The owner was ready to retire and move on.

A live music element was expected to continue when the next place opens, but most details haven't been made public. Laura Saniuk-Heinig, one of the restaurant space's new co-owners, did not respond to our previous email seeking more information about the new venture.

Meanwhile, as the top photo shows, the corner space continues to attract a variety of tags and wheatpaste art ... including one of Sally Long Dog...

View this post on Instagram

A new Sally and Harry mural by @earlyrisernyc is up! Check it out, just don’t pee on it! #myblock #calledit #peerightsreserved Location: 6th Street and Avenue A

A post shared by Sally Long Dog 🐾 (@sallylongdog) on Aug 25, 2019 at 2:01pm PDT

Updated 9/2

Some company for Sally Long Dog (via @earlyrisernyc) ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The building housing the former Sidewalk sells on Avenue A

New owners set to take over the 33-year-old Sidewalk Bar & Restaurant on Avenue A

1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk

Saturday's parting shot

Moving day on St. Mark's Place... photo by Vinny & O

6 posts from August

[A hug for the Hare Krishna tree via Steven]

A mini month in review...

Welcoming baby Luna (Aug. 29)

I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Aug. 14)

Car making U-turn strikes woman on Avenue B sidewalk (Aug. 12)

Time capsules: The Gap of St. Mark's Place (Aug. 8)

The Sunshine is gone, and an empty lot awaits a 9-story office building (Aug. 7)

The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black in Tompkins Square Park (Aug. 5)

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.