Gem Spa will not reopen

[Photo by Steven]

After a turbulent 12 months (and weeks of rumors), Gem Spa has officially announced that it will not reopen on the corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

Parul Patel, who has been running the store that her father Ray has owned since 1986, made a gallant effort in recent months to save the iconic corner shop that dates to the 1930s. However, whatever financial progress she was able to make was not enough to overcome a global pandemic.

Gem Spa released this statement this afternoon:

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce Gem Spa has poured it’s last legendary egg cream and closed its doors forever.

This has been an extremely difficult decision, and one we are heartbroken to make. Forced to close the store due to New York City & State Covid restrictions implemented six weeks ago in the interest of safety to our customers and staff, we had hoped to reopen once things stabilized. Prior to the crisis, it had become increasingly apparent that the evolving character of the area was no longer able to sustain a corner creation like ours.

Coronavirus concerns closed our city, cratered businesses, and ultimately sealed the fate of our (close to) 100-year-old shop.

After careful review and assessment of our options, we have made the heartbreaking but necessary decision to close permanently.

We have enjoyed the most incredible love, support, loyalty and friendship from our neighbors, city, and visitors from around the world. We are, and always will be, eternally grateful to the historical artists, musicians, designers and dedicated denizen’s who saw us as much more than a beloved bodega but an iconic East Village institution.

Although our physical doors are closing, we will live on through our website where we will be highlighting more of our rich history and the iconic figures that have made us who we are. We will also continue to sell Gem Spa branded merchandise as well as art, books and photographs inspired by our store.

The Patel family would like to thank everyone for all the beautiful memories and for the opportunity to serve you. We hope that all of you are staying safe and in good health. Lots of love from all of us to all of you."

The combination of troubles started late last spring, when Gem Spa lost their license to sell cigarettes and tobacco products — a large source of revenue. (A now-former employee reportedly sold cigarettes to an undercover minor.) In addition, their lottery license was suspended last spring for an outstanding debt.

Gem Spa also stopped selling newspapers and magazines, a dwindling revenue source and a marked shift in consumer behavior.

Patel, who launched an Instagram account that emphasized the corner shop's long East Village history and well-liked egg creams, also saw success with the introduction of branded Gem Spa streetwear.

Supporters came together last September for a successful cash mob, which also helped raise awareness of the shop and the ongoing plight of the mom-and-pop business surviving in today's corporatized NYC.

In early March, Patel began to put in a small lunch counter with retro stools as a way to expand Gem Spa's coffee and tea service. However, before the counter could be utilized, Gem Spa closed amid the COVID-19 crisis — this after introducing a delivery service for egg creams.


[Photo from April 2019 by Stacie Joy]

At the time of the closure, Gem Spa was trying to raise $35,000:

"...to make up for the $12,000 we were short for rent that was due March 15 and another $20,500 (combination of rent, taxes, monthly payment plan from a recent lawsuit settlement) due in 3 weeks (April 15th). And the other $2500 is needed for taxes. The lawsuit that we recently settled basically stipulates that the landlord can evict us if we are late twice on rent. We are already late for last week’s rent and if we are late one more time, we will be legally evicted when the moratorium is lifted."

Previously on EV Grieve:
• At the Gem Spa Cash Mob (Sept. 16)

• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)

• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)

• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)

• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)

• A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)

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.

Making beautiful music: The pandemic-era arias coming from 4th Street

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

It all started here. Like so many of us, I’d had a rough day (week, month) dealing with pandemic-related issues. I was grumpy because I’d waited in line at Key Food desperately hoping to buy toilet paper and paper towels and, of course, none were to be found.

As I was leaving, I heard live music coming from the front entrance to the Gusto House at 197 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, a lovely classical piano and a soaring soprano soloist and found my dark and heavy mood lifting.

The music was beautiful and hopeful and I knew I wanted to learn more. I took a short video, and thanks to the magic of social media, a few minutes after I posted the clip, I had the names of the artists and we’d set a date to do an interview and photoshoot.



I met up with East Village resident Colin Huggins and Shaina Martinez to watch and hear them perform, learn more about their livestreams during the COVID-19 crisis and even lie down under Colin’s piano to experience the sound vibrations.

How did the idea for this project get started? And how did you come to be performing out of the East Village’s famed Gusto House?

Colin: I’ve been dreaming for years of having a unique performance space that I could manage to enable artists to more freely present their work and find an immediate impact on audiences.

Shaina: I met Colin about a year and a half ago when I had sung with him under the arch in Washington Square Park. I reconnected with him in the summer, back when I was working as a doorman/porter on the Upper East Side — taking out trash and doing double shifts — and I joined him on weekends when I had free time.

I was lucky to get a contract as a young artist with an opera company in Florida starting in October so I collaborated with him until I moved to Miami.

When I saw other opera companies cutting their seasons short in response to the coronavirus, I reached out to him. When I returned home because the remaining performances were postponed, we kind of just picked up right where we left off. I was so grateful that he let me join him regularly to perform some opera arias.

Colin told me he had acquired a space and along with one of his friends, I helped him to move the piano in the space and we just started making some music. Honestly, it’s all Colin’s genius idea to open up the space for people to listen when they pass by.





What has the response been like for you? Do you notice a difference in responses now, during this global pandemic, vs previous performances?

Colin: Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, most performance artists in New York City have been forced to find methods of performing that adhere to social distancing. This isn’t an easy task.

New York City has suffered more than any other city in the United States due to this pandemic. It’s a very extreme era people here must reckon with. I think everyone is doing their best to stay positive but there is definitely a sullenness and quiet that wasn’t there before.

Shaina: I’m not a big social media person and I’m terrible at self-promotion when it comes to opera, so I’ve had to get better at being more extroverted when it comes to performing for people who haven’t walked up with the agenda of hearing opera.

Usually, my performances are planned and rehearsed over months — any recitals or operas I was a part of took months of coaching and lessons and practicing. And they were held in theaters or recital halls. I was really lucky to perform for small gatherings of people back in Miami, which is a whole different feeling than being on a stage portraying a character. It’s like apples and oranges, I’m so used to this by now: as long as there is a piano and a pianist, and people who will take time to listen, I’m good to go! And I think people are definitely more appreciative of hearing live music or available live performances because we’ve been quarantining for weeks.





How do you decide what to perform? Are there special challenges involved using a mask and gloves when creating your music?

Colin: I perform mostly classical music. It’s generally very difficult for people to jeer at beautiful classical music played on a high-quality piano. Being that there are so many residential buildings on that block and a women’s and children’s shelter directly across the street, I want to make sure they all can enjoy it and not be annoyed or kept awake. It’s a very difficult task to create art that has some kind of universal appeal, especially while wearing a mask and gloves.



Shaina: A lot of the repertoire I sing as full-lyric soprano is a lot of people’s cup of tea. The famous tunes that you hear in commercials are usually from operas where my type of voice is desired. Colin can play these arias and he enjoys playing them.

In regards to the mask and gloves — I had read some articles about how singing actually spreads more germ particles in the air so I figured I should keep my germs to myself, and the gloves, well I really don’t want to sanitize every five seconds.

The only challenges I find when singing with the mask are when I’m breathing in quickly and I end up sucking my mask to my mouth, and the loss of visual communication. Nobody can see if I’m smiling or frowning when I’m singing and trying to emote. But that gives me a better chance to emote with my eyes and try to communicate better with my audience, so it’s actually a very helpful challenge for me.

How can people find out when the next live event will be? Additionally, how can people support you during this crisis?

Colin: To find out when I’ll be playing next, the best thing to do is follow me on Instagram. Social media has become way more important during the lockdown. To support me the best is Venmo. I don’t see paper money often these days. It’s probably best. It’s covered in germs. My Venmo handle is: @Everythingwillbeok.



Shaina: If people want to support, I would say to tune into Colin’s livestreams and give him donations but also to donate to the company that has taken me in as one of their own: Florida Grand Opera. They gave me so many amazing opportunities to perform and to grow. I even had the chance to perform my dream role, Cio-Cio-san, in Madama Butterfly with them!

RIP George Eshareturi

The St. Dymphna's family is mourning the loss of George Eshareturi, a longtime friend and doorman of the bar here on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

He died suddenly on Saturday night. Eshareturi, who grew up in the Bronx and played college football at Rutgers, was 36.

Several people have left flowers and candles in a makeshift memorial on the bar's step...





The bar's ownership also established a GoFundMe campaign for George's family. Earlier this week, George's father died from complications due to Alzheimer's.

Per the GoFundMe page: "George will forever be remembered for the kind, charismatic person he was — and the positive energy he brought to every personal interaction."


[Image via]

Demolition watch: 535 E. 12th St.

There's not much left of 535 E. 12th St., the former five-story residential building between Avenue A and Avenue B. (H/T Dave on 7th!)

As previously reported, this city-owned property, along with the one at 204 Avenue A, is being demolished to make way for affordable housing. (No. 204 is still standing.)

No. 204 between 12th Street and 13th Street will be seven stories (up from four), yielding 10 co-operative units for fixed-income housing. Meanwhile, there are 11 one-bedroom rental units planned for the all-new No. 535, which will rise to six stories.

Both buildings, part of the HPD’s Tenant Interim Lease Program, have been vacant since 2008. "Due to deteriorating structural conditions," tenants from both buildings were relocated at that time.

The former tenants of each building will be able to purchase the co-op units in the newly constructed building at No. 204, which will include ground-floor retail. Meanwhile, the all-new No. 535's one-bedroom rentals "will be a middle-income rental building with an income restriction at 130 percent AMI."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Affordable housing planned for city-owned buildings at 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St.

Christo, on the lawn with lunch to-go

From a little earlier today... right after Christo, the male red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, snatched something in a mid-air strike (pigeon?)... Steven spotted him right after on the lawn... as he looks to be pondering his next move...





Christo has more hunting to do with the extra mouths to feed now in the nest.

Reopenings: Mayamezcal, Barcade

Mayamezcal reopened yesterday here at 304 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue... they'll be open for takeout and delivery this week from 2-9 p.m.



Also back open for take-home food and drinks ... Barcade at 6 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... the Barcade website lists their hours as noon to 7 p.m. ...


[Photo by @ERSBand]

A visit to Juicy Lucy on Avenue A

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Rene Henricks, owner for the past 23 years of Juicy Lucy’s Juice Bar, appears slightly frazzled but still happy to see me when I show up to take some pictures and ask questions about the business.

She’s concerned about her employees and when she can bring them back to work at her two outposts — 72 E. First St. at First Avenue and 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

For now, just the Avenue A location is open, where Henricks is every day making juices, smoothies, acai bowls and coffee drinks. There are also prepared and healthy snacks to go. I quickly try to get my questions and photos in, mindful of any patrons — spaced 6 feet apart outside — waiting to order.



What changes have you had to make since the new COVID-19 regulations went into place?

Besides not having a staff, you mean? For their protection and because they have families, it’s not safe for them. I had to close one location and now only have the Avenue A store open. God forbid, I can’t expose my staff to this virus.

Other changes? People are being a lot more patient, they are more polite. The masks, the plastics and the shields. And all that. The produce prices have also gone way up, I have seen that, and I am hoping they are going to level out soon.



What are the most popular items people are ordering now? How, if at all, has that changed from before this health crisis?

Watermelon juice, which is now in season. Celery juice. Wheatgrass shots, ginger shots, and green juices. I can’t make enough cold-pressed juices to fill demand. As soon as I fill the fridge it’s empty. People are buying in bulk. Some people come and buy a week’s worth of juice at a time. Because my store is so small, I don’t have room for things to sit, so everything is fresh.

Do you have any recommendations for what folks can eat or drink to help boost immunity and remain healthy?

Wheatgrass. The chlorophyll is healing — it’s really a miracle juice. Also, fresh-squeeze orange juice, plenty of Vitamin C. I sell that by the quart and you can get a dollar off if you bring the bottle back.

I know the neighborhood is grateful Juicy Lucy’s is open during this stressful time. How are you holding up?

Well, most days are good, but toward the end of the day I tend to snap. But I also bounce back a lot quicker. I am trying not to hold on to things. The business is very labor-intensive, and you need to provide good customer service. And when I am tired it’s harder. I love the neighborhood. I feel like I am established, that people want me to be here.

This is good, and I am lucky to have a job! If I were home, worried about how I was going to pay my bills, I’d be a lot more stressed out. At least now, I am working every day, making some money to put into the business and that gives me some security.





The storefront is open from approximately 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily, although hours are flexible. She recommends calling ahead at 212.777.LUCY.

Construction watch: 799 Broadway

In case you haven't been over by the southwest corner of Broadway and 11th Street of late... it appears that workers have nearly reached the top of this 12-story zig-zagging office complex (this development made the cut for essential construction during the COVID-19 PAUSE)...



According to a news release about the address: "799 Broadway will feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private terraces, and 15 foot high ceilings. This combination of highly desirable location and state-of-the-art design will appeal to New York’s most progressive and creative companies."

And (previously revealed) renderings of the new building via architects Perkins and Will ...





The official site for 799 Broadway is at this link.

EVG reader Gojira shared these views of the new building from 11th Street and Fourth Avenue from over the weekend...





Per Gojira: "Saw this monstrosity looming over the Grace Church Rectory, and competing with that beautiful spire for air space. What a fucking travesty."

No. 799 was the former home of the historic St. Denis building, which opened as a hotel in 1853. Normandy Real Estate Partners bought the property for somewhere in the $100 million ballpark back in 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Report: Former St. Denis Hotel selling for $100 million


[Image via Wikipedia Commons]

Temakase Hand Roll Bar coming soon to 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

Signage arrived this past weekend for Temakase Hand Roll Bar, the next tenant for 157 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Don't know anything about the proprietors at the moment.

As noted in previous posts on No. 157, this has been a challenging space to make work for any length of time. Previous restaurants here in the past five years include Savor Por Favor ... Yuan ... Biang! ... and Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder.

Tuesday's parting shot

Earlier today on Avenue A and Sixth Street.

And on this Cinco de Mayo, a reminder that this corner space has sat vacant since Benny's Burritos closed here in November 2014...

A Cool collab

This arrived on Sunday evening... a collaboration between Cool and Stargirl in the long empty lot along First Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street...

A sky-high salute

EVG reader Kate shared this photo from First Avenue and St. Mark's Place this morning... when a message thanking front-line workers serving during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the sky... The full writing said "we salute essential workers."

Members of the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team reportedly flew a fleet of vintage World War II airplanes to create the messages over the five boroughs and parts of Westchester County and Long Island.

RIP Ali Yasin

We heard the sad news that Ali Yasin, the pharmacist and proprietor at New York City Pharmacy on First Avenue, has died. According to a text to customers from his family, Ali died Sunday night from COVID-19-related complications.


[Ali Yasin, left, from 2013]

Several East Village residents and patrons of the shop, located between 12th Street and 13th Street, shared their thoughts about Ali and his family-run business:

I knew Ali for over 30 years — before the last three of his four sons had been born, beginning with his tenure working at the old McKay’s (pre-CVS). He was so very special to me and my family. The neighborhood has lost a real gentleman, fighter and treasure. — Nancy Arons

He and his family are an integral part of our community. The loss of Ali — whose life story represents the best of America— is simply devastating: He was beyond kind, compassionate and generous. He had a huge impact on our East Village world... and we mourn him like a close family member. Our neighborhood will never be the same. — Brian Katz

He always made sure to say hello with a smile and took the time to accommodate each customer. I've been on new and expensive medications and he always went out of his way to find me coupons online or whatever he could do do bring the prices down for me. If an order didn't come in on time he always tried to give me what he could to hold me over. He was a special man and loved by his customers. He will be missed. — Julie Farol

We'll update this post when more information becomes available about his passing.

Updated: Someone has started a modest crowdfunding campaign for his family. Details here.

Photo by Mario Tama for Getty Images

In aftermath of Avenue D arrests, pols want answers from city on how social distancing is being enforced

Local elected officials are calling on the city to report on why and how social distancing is being enforced.

The demand comes following a violent arrest on Avenue D and Ninth Street late Saturday afternoon that was captured on video via a bystander.

An NYPD officer, identified as Francisco Garcia who's stationed at PS4 on Avenue C, was stripped of his gun and put on modified duty following the ugly confrontation when an attempt to enforce social distancing rules escalated.

Per Gothamist:

" ... a plainclothes officer can be seen punching and tackling Donni Wright, a groundskeeper with NYCHA, while shouting the n-word, brandishing a taser, and subsequently kneeling on Wright's head. The confrontation began after officers, some of whom were not wearing face coverings, spotted "a number of people not wearing masks" at the corner of Avenue D and 9th Street, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Monday.

Shea told Pat Kiernan yesterday that he was not happy with some of the tactics that he saw used in the video. Mayor de Blasio had this to say...

Saw the video from the Lower East Side and was really disturbed by it. The officer involved has been placed on modified duty and an investigation has begun. The behavior I saw in that video is simply not acceptable.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 3, 2020

And yesterday, a handful of elected officials, led by local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, sent Shea and de Blasio a letter asking for "transparency and accountability" in the way the NYPD is enforcing social distancing.


[Click on image for more detail]

The letter reads in part:

This incident highlights our concerns that social-distancing enforcement may not be applied equally in all communities. Social media accounts portray scenes of people congregating in parks across New York City’s more affluent parks and neighborhoods, yet the enforcement actions that come to light are those like the May 2 event on East 9th Street and Avenue D, predominantly a community of color.

We, therefore, request that NYPD release a report on social-distancing enforcement statistics by neighborhood and demographic. The report should include all citations including warnings and fines, along with 311 complaint data on the matter so that we and the public can compare application of the law.

Communities of color have been particularly burdened by the COVID-19 outbreak, and it is imperative that, especially now, they see that New York City government is in their corner. In the interest of transparency and accountability – and to help repair the mistrust fostered by the May 2 incident and others like it in the past – please release this data immediately.

The letter is signed by Rivera, State Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller Scott Stringer and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, the city has paid out nearly $200,000 to settle lawsuits involving Garcia, an eight-year veteran.

Gothamist had more details on some of these incidents yesterday.

According to a complaint filed in 2013, Garcia allegedly told a woman eating with her partner inside a Harlem restaurant that she "dressed like a man." When the woman attempted to get his badge number, Garcia allegedly pushed her, then replied: "Take a fucking picture of it, fucking dyke." The city settled that suit for $8,500.

A year later, Garcia was accused of wrongfully arresting a man trying to visit his girlfriend inside a Washington Heights NYCHA building. According to a federal lawsuit, which the city settled for $27,500, Garcia "forced [the man] to the floor face-first," then punched, kicked, and clubbed him.

The letter also states that the officials "expect a full investigation of Officer Francisco Garcia. All disciplinary actions should be on the table, including dismissal."

For further reading:
Mother of man beaten in East Village social distancing melee rips NYPD

Checking in on East Village Meat Market

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

I stopped by East Village Meat Market, 139 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, over the weekend to pick up some flax seeded rye bread.

The bread, made by Moonrise Bakehouse, is available by prepay/preorder. Deliveries to the market occur on Fridays, with pickup between noon and 3:45 p.m.

While I'm there, manager Andrew Ilnicki shows off some of the available meat provisions (brisket, T-bone, short ribs, prime rib and porterhouse)...



The longtime meat market, which dates to 1970, has plenty of supplies, including Eastern European standbys like pierogies, sour cherry syrup, blintzes, borscht, and poppy seed rolls as well as dairy products like cheese, butter, eggs and milk. For now, they're open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Help Limited to One stay on their feet with these limited-edition Vans

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Limited to One (@limitedtoonenyc) on May 1, 2020 at 2:19pm PDT

Limited to One, the record shop specializing in rare and limited vinyl releases on 10th Street, has teamed up with Vans for a special edition Classic Slip-On.

It's part of the Vans Foot the Bill effort that launched last month to help small businesses nationwide during the COVID-19 crisis.

Owner Kristian Sorge explains how it works via an Instagram post:

"We designed a shoe for Vans and all of the net proceeds go to our small business. Being a mom-and-pop record shop, we order a lot of items for our shop locally or directly from other small businesses such as record labels, t-shirt screen printers ... So when you support us, you support our vinyl community!"

You can customize your own pair via this link.

The temporarily closed shop, located at 221 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, is also selling vinyl via Instagram these days.

And earlier this year, I interview Kristian for a podcast on JasonCharles.net. You can listen to this show on Spotify here.

Ruffian Wine Bar now selling bottles of wine to go

[Image via Instagram]

Ruffian Wine Bar on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue is now open as Ruffian Wine Shop.

You can order online here at any time for pickup from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays. They're also delivering within a two-mile radius.

Management says that they'll be expanding days/hours/delivery zones in the days ahead.

In addition, their other local establishments — Kindred on Sixth Street and the pop-up kitchen inside Black Emperor on Second Avenue — will be re-opening soon for pickup and delivery.

A sign of things to come?

A for rent sign arrived yesterday in the front window at T-swirl Crêpe, the dessert shop on 14th Street that has been closed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Pinch, who took this photo, added: "Hopefully not too much of an indication for what’s to come for other businesses."

T-swirl Crêpe, part of a small chain with multiple NYC locations, opened here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue in July 2015.