Those seashell eyes!
Spotted by Derek Berg...
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Checking in on what's open for takeout and delivery
Updated 4/5: Bobwhite is closing tonight after service.
Recent additions to our list of what's open for takeout and delivery include:
• Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Avenue C at Sixth Street, is open for takeout and delivery from noon to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They have an app for ordering either pick-up or delivery.
And right next door...
• Alphabet City Beer Co., 96 Avenue C. They've expanded their grocery items, adding fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products. Open from noon to 7 p.m.
Despite health crisis, critics persist
[Photo by Steven]
Spotted at the Grafton, 126 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. The Irish pub is temporarily closed during the coronavirus outbreak, as the sign explains in a smaller font size than some would like.
Checking in on Compare Foods
[All photos by Stacie Joy]
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by Compare Foods, 71 Avenue D at Sixth Street, yesterday.
Here's her report:
For those who have been in search of toilet paper, Compare Foods has you covered! A huge supply of all different types of tp. No price gouging either. Also available huge sacks of rice. Store is well stocked with merchandise.
On the downside, the social distancing here was less than ideal... and not on par with what we've seen at other supermarkets.
A message from Russ & Daughters, whose Houston Street shop remains open
[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]
Russ & Daughters posted this on Instagram yesterday:
Save Small Business & Small Business Workers. This past week, we had to lay off almost half of our staff and close our two restaurants. As terrible as this has been, we are consoled in knowing that Russ & Daughters will survive and we will bring our folks back as soon as we can.
We have 106 years of perseverance behind us. Russ & Daughters has weathered the 1918 influenza pandemic, wars, depressions, recessions, terrorist attacks and hurricanes. We are grateful that we can continue to make and ship our food out all over the country, providing the essential service of, literally and figuratively, nourishing our customers while everyone stays at home.
This crisis affects us all, but it does not affect us all equally. We must recognize this and help those who are truly struggling. For those of us who still have jobs, we don’t need a check. It’s the people suddenly left without a job who need a check — not a one-time thing, but an every-week thing. State unemployment funds, not large corporations, are what need the stimulus.
We call on our government to make unemployment programs more accessible, expansive and generous. Bolster payments so that they approximate people’s wages. The maximum unemployment benefit in New York State in $504/week. You cannot shelter in place if you cannot pay for that shelter or feed your family. As a small business, we have made unemployment contributions week after week, year after year. Now is the time for those contributions to be paid out and pay out well.
We call on our government to recognize small business for what we are: the lifeblood of our country’s economy. Small businesses generate almost half of all the economic activity in the U.S. We are #toosmalltofail because we are too important. Money that goes to a small business stays within the local community. The same cannot be said for large corporations or chains. Give us the ability to keep our communities going, because that’s all we want to do.
We urge you to call Congress too. — Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ Tupper, 4th Generation Owners of Russ & Daughters
While Russ & Daughters Cafe, Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum and Russ & Daughters Brooklyn are closed, the original shop on Houston Street is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. They ask that you please call (212-475-4880 x1) 24 hours in advance for pickup, delivery or shipping. For people dropping by: "To prevent crowding, we’ll allow only a few customers in at a time. Once you take your number, please wait outside until just before your number is called."
They are also shipping nationwide.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
[Updated] Union Square Trader Joe's temporarily closed after employee is suspected of having COVID-19
[File photo]
Updated 3/27: This location, as well as the wine shop, reopened today.
The following information comes directly from the Trader Joe's website:
We would like to notify customers of the following locations that a Crew Member recently present in the store has either tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case. Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed the store for thorough cleaning and sanitization:
Trader Joe’s (Grocery Store) on 142 E 14th St & (Wine Store) on 138 E 14th St.
The Crew Member was last present in the store on March 22, 2020. We encourage customers who visited the store over the 14-day period ending on March 22, and have health-related concerns, to contact the New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline: (888) 364-3065.
Stores in Elkridge, Md., and Plainview, N.Y., were also closed.
Back to the TJ's message:
We are working closely with local health officials to take all necessary measures. We are connecting with all Crew Members at the respective locations, encouraging anyone who may have been in contact to follow CDC-recommended self-monitoring guidelines and to call their healthcare providers right away if they develop any symptoms. While the store is closed, Trader Joe’s will be paying all Crew Members for their scheduled shifts. As soon as the store has been fully cleaned and restocked, we plan to reopen.
As we continue to respond to this rapidly evolving situation, our focus remains on doing whatever is necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers and best support our communities.
The store is expected to be closed for several days, according to an internal email seen by BuzzFeed News.
H/T Gojira
RIP Nashom Wooden
According to published reports, Nashom Wooden, a legend in the drag community who lived on the Bowery, has died. Friends say that Wooden died from COVID-19. (Update: According to the Times, he was 50.)
A NYC former drag star, Nashom Wooden (who was Mona Foot), has died of covid-19. Nashom was a treasure.
— michael musto (@mikeymusto) March 23, 2020
Here's more via Paper:
Wooden's life looks like a history lesson in fabulous downtown culture. He worked as a salesboy at Charivari, the groundbreaking designer fashion chain of stores where Marc Jacobs folded t-shirts as a teen. He later also worked at Pat Field, the eponymous boutique of "Sex & the City" stylist Patricia Field. He first performed in drag at Boy Bar, a gay bar and drag spot on St. Mark's Place famed for their gorgeous Boy Bar Beauties like Miss Guy, Connie Girl, Princess Diandra and Raven O. He did an off-Broadway show, "My Pet Homo," with RuPaul. He was cast in Joel Schumacher's 1999 film, "Flawless," and co-wrote the title song with his group, The Ones. It was a worldwide dance hit.
Since 1997, he had been working as bartender, doorman and DJ at the Cock on Second Avenue.
You can read about Wooden's drag past in this interview with Michael Musto from 2017.
L.A.-based investor pays $40 million for former Church of the Nativity property on 2nd Avenue
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York has sold the former Church of the Nativity property on Second Avenue for $40 million, according to public records. (H/T Upper West Sider!)
The buyer is Gemini Rosemont, an L.A.-based real-estate investor. The LLCs that purchased 42-46 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street are based out of the company’s Santa Fe office, as The Real Deal noted.
According to their website, they look to rent to "tenants in high growth and tech centric industries."
There were rumors dating to January about this deal. Now it's official.
The Church closed after a service on July 31, 2015, merging with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street.
As previously reported, the Cooper Square Community Land Trust had explored buying the former Church of the Nativity to use as low-income housing.
However, the Archdiocese of New York reportedly didn't seem too keen on that idea, perhaps intent on garnering top dollar for the prime real estate for luxury housing.
[Photo at Nativity from Jan. 10 by Felton Davis]
In April 2019, Catholic Homes New York, the affordable housing unit of Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of New York, announced plans to redevelop several existing properties to provide 2,000 affordable units in NYC over the next 10 years. Not on the affordable-housing list: Church of the Nativity and the Church of Saint Emeric on 13th Street near Avenue D.
This wouldn't be the first time that a former Catholic church was demolished for upscale housing in this neighborhood. Developer Douglas Steiner bought the former Mary Help of Christians property in 2012 from the Archdiocese of New York for $41 million.
During the summer of 2013, workers demolished the church, school and rectory to make way for Steiner East Village, the block-long condoplex where a penthouse unit is currently renting for $19,000 per month.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Educator: Turning the former Church of the Nativity into luxury housing would be a 'sordid use' of the property
• The fight to keep Church of the Nativity from becoming luxury housing
• Report: Archdiocese of New York announces affordable-housing projects; fate of 2 East Village churches unknown
Checking in on TabeTome
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Traditional Japanese ramen and tsukemen restaurant TabeTomo has set up a to-go station here at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark’s Place and Ninth Street that has proven to be a popular spot.
Here, you'll find omusubi (filled rice triangles wrapped in seaweed), donburi rice bowls, croquettes, hot sake and cold beer in addition to its signature ramen and tsukemen.
Manager Roka Kishimoto, owner Tomotsugu Kubo and chef Julio Roche welcome me when I show up to pick up my order — from a safe distance and allow me to watch and photograph as they prep other meals to go.
There is a well-stocked customer cleaning/sanitizing station, and customers can also call in and order ahead of time and grab their order through the open accordion doors. Several people on bicycles did just that while I was there.
Best-selling items include the salmon omusubi for $2.50 and the brewed-for-60-hour pork-broth-based ramen for $13 (a vegan version is also available).
It’s cash only and current hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily. You can follow TabeTomo on Instagram here.
CheLi signage up at 19-23 St. Mark's Place
Signage went up Friday for the new restaurant coming to a space at 19-23 St. Mark's Place...
A tipster had previously told us that CheLi was affiliated with Szechuan Mountain House on the other side of the upper level here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
CheLi is taking over from Chipotle, who vacated the premises in August 2018.
Meanwhile, in the lower portion of this complex, Teso Life, a Japanese variety store with several NYC locations, is the new tenant for the former St. Mark's Market. Next door, Mi Tea is in its third month of dormancy due to "renovations."
Monday, March 23, 2020
Monday's parting shot
Given today's crappy weather... here's a flashback to yesterday in Tompkins Square Park, where the Eric Paulin Quartet played for a social-distancing crowd.
Thanks to Walter Wlodarczyk for the photo! (Check out his work here.)
S'MAC's curbside service
Sarita and Caesar Ekya, owners of S'MAC on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 12th Street, have reorganized the storesfront to make curbside ordering and pickup easier. (They are delivering as well.)
Meanwhile, we're continuing to try to update our list of East Village cafes-restaurants that are currently open for takeout and delivery. The list remains incomplete for now.
An East Village stay-at-home shopping list
EVG reader Krikor Daglian spotted this discarded paper on Avenue A yesterday... a shopping list with essentials such as milk, butter, white wine, whiskey, pot and bong cleaner.
Monday morning rush
The scene at Union Square this morning at 8:40 ... the first day of Gov. Cuomo's PAUSE on nonessential workers reporting to work.
Photo by Pinch...
Local business resources via EVIMA
The East Village Independent Merchants Association is gathering resources for local business during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Per their Instagram message:
The impacts of this unique emergency are substantial and will be ongoing. We have compiled a variety of resources that provide relief to East Village merchants at eastvillage.info.
We will continue to update this information as new programs become available in an ever-changing environment.
They are also posting concerns from local business owners on the EVIMA Instagram account...
Soil testing underway at the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place
[Photos by Steven]
Late last week, we spotted a Davey Drill in the empty lot on the northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue... where workers were taking soil samples ahead of the controversial new office building planned for the space...
Where we left off: On March 4, the City Planning Commission held a public meeting to discuss the air-rights transfer for the 10-floor building ... at which time local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera submitted joint testimony with Assemblymember Deborah Glick and State Sen. Brad Hoylman opposing the plan. Rivera holds the key vote when the proposal eventually comes before City Council.
This item won't likely advance any further for the time being. As the Village Preservation pointed out, the city approval processes have shut down for the time being during the coronavirus outbreak. The City Planning Commission still needs to cast its vote (all expect an approval) before it heads to City Council.
With the air-rights transfer, developer Real Estate Equities Corporation would be allowed to build 8,386 square feet larger than the current zoning allows.
Regardless of an extra 8,000 square feet, the project will continue.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place
• End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place
• New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place
• Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop setting up shop on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place
[Photos by Steven]
Signage for Brooklyn Dumpling Shop arrived back on Friday at 131 First Ave. (aka 82 St. Mark's Place) ...
This will be the first storefront for Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, a food truck business affiliated with Brooklyn Chop House.
They plan to sell 32 varieties of dumplings 24/7. Here's a look at their exterior plans, via Facebook...
For now, you can visit the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop website for details and updates. (They were planning on a June opening.)
Workers divided this former single-occupant storefront into three spaces. Eiyo Bowl, a vegan quick-serve restaurant specializing in acai and rice bowls, was the first tenant to sign a lease here, as previously reported.
The previous tenant, Foot Gear Plus, closed in July 2018 after nearly 40 years in business.
Gem Spa is closed for now
[Photo by Lola Saénz]
Gem Spa is now closed indefinitely on the corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. Owner Parul Patel had launched a delivery service for the shop's egg creams and other items during the COVID-19 crisis.
For now, Gem Spa's online store is up and running. If it's of interest, then you can support them here too.
Report: Gregg Singer offers former P.S. 64 for use as a medical facility during COVID-19 crisis
ICYMI: Controversial landlord Gregg Singer has offered to donate the former P.S. 64 on Ninth Street to the city for use to potentially treat patients infected with the coronavirus.
As Crain's first reported, Singer conveyed his offer in a letter to Mayor de Blasio as well as to the offices of Gov. Cuomo and President Trump.
According to published reports, the city is seeking potential medical surge facilities, such as hotels, dorms and even the Javits Convention Center.
The city dismissed the offer to use the derelict building that has been vacant for more than 20 years between Avenue B and Avenue C.
“We’re not interested,” the spokeswoman told Crain’s “It doesn’t meet our needs.”
The building looks to be in disrepair, with broken windows and a crack in the facade on the western corner of the landmarked building.
However:
“We have an engineer’s report stating the building is safe,” Singer said. “It’s like when you build a makeshift hospital or triage center in an open field. This would be the same thing here, but indoors.”
Singer bought the property — the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center — from the city during an auction in 1998. You can read the archives for more on the long history here.
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