Noted

As seen on the front door of a building on Ninth Street... a "Notice to all Residents" about new legislation "that mandates that every resident of the Upper West Side born before July 23, 1996 is now required to listen to a minimum of 200 hours of Fiona Apple before the end of 2020 and every year afterwards."

And the photo is of Emmy Rossum, who used to play a character named Fiona Gallagher on Showtime's "Shameless."

🤔

Photo by William Klayer.

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 NYC ... and, more recently, observations on current events...

City committee says no to air-rights transfer for 3 St. Mark's Place

It appears that the 10-story office building going in at 3 St. Mark's Place at Third Avenue will be 20-percent smaller than the developers had hoped. 

Yesterday, the City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee voted down the application by developer Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) seeking to transfer air rights from the landmarked 4 St. Marks Place to the new building across the street.

With the air-rights transfer, REEC would have been allowed to build 8,386 square feet larger than the current zoning allows on the northeast corner.

The Village Preservation, who had rallied support against the transfer, noted this denial via an enewsletter:

This more or less guarantees that the air rights transfer, which requires City Council approval, will not happen. Local Councilmember Carlina Rivera voted against the air rights transfer and urged her fellow Councilmembers to do the same. State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Deborah Glick had joined us in testifying against the application and urging its rejection, and Borough President Brewer had recommended its rejection earlier in the year.  

As we've been reporting in recents months, work has already commenced on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place, where the building has a February 2022 completion date. 

Regardless of an extra 8,000 square feet, construction will still happen. The project's architect, Morris Adjmi, has said a building of a similar height size would be built as of right.

REEC picked up the 99-year leasehold for the properties here for nearly $150 million in November 2017. 

Previously on EV Grieve:
• 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 

Openings: A10 Kitchen on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A10 Kitchen debuted on Tuesday at 162 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street... (we mentioned the restaurant seeking a liquor license back in February.)

Owner Enkeleda Kelmendi (below left) was all set for a March 15 grand opening... 

You can find the menu, featuring bistro fare — salads, sandwiches and main dishes such as steak frites and halibut — at the A10 website. You can find their Instagram account here. A10 is open daily from noon to 10 p.m.

Flinders Lane closed here in August 2018 after five-plus years in service. Before the Australian restaurant, this space was The Beagle ... and Orologio before that.

The Bronx Brewery makes it official on 2nd Avenue

Signage went up yesterday at 64 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street — the future home of a Bronx Brewery outpost.

We first reported on this back on March 12 a few days before the COVID-19 PAUSE. At the time, the Brewery was looking at a possible fall opening. Now we're told the opening status is TBD.

As this photo by Steven shows, the space has a ways to go... it will eventually house a pilot brewery and taphouse...

Reps for Bronx Brewery will (virtually) appear before CB3's SLA committee on Oct. 19 for a new liquor license for the address. (Questionnaire here.) 

No. 64's retail space has been vacant since NYC Velo moved next door to No. 66 in the spring of 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Bronx Brewery opening an East Village outpost on 2nd Avenue this fall

Best Price Deli & Grocery is closing on 1st Avenue

The Best Price Deli & Grocery has started its store-closing sale here on the southeast corner of First Avenue at 12th Street... preparing to shut down at month's end...

We hear that the rent is $22,000, and business has been down in recent months.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the top photo ... and Vici Shaweddy for the night shot.

92 2nd Ave. vacant again as Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen won't be reopening

Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen apparently won't be reopening at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

The restaurant, which just debuted on Jan. 23, has been closed since the PAUSE went into effect in mid-March. 

And now, a retail listing for the space has arrived on the market. (H/T Steven!) There's no word on the rent for what the broker describes as a "brand-new, multimillion-dollar, fully-constructed restaurant space."

A lot of time, money and effort went into the restaurant that was only able to be in service for less than three months. As we've pointed out, this launch was a long time in the making. In the fall of 2018, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license  for the Sanpou Group, which operates 30 restaurants worldwide, including Sanpoutei Ramen, which started in Niigata, Japan, in 1967.

Kabin Bar & Lounge closed in March 2015 at this address. While there were a few potential suitors, the storefront remained empty until the build-out for Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen began in early 2019.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• The first sign of Japanese ramen shop Sanpoutei arrives at former Kabin space on 2nd Avenue

Wednesday's parting shot

Claudi of Pinc Louds busking today outside the former Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place... (and later at Tompkins Square Park without incident) ... she'll be performing near B-Side tomorrow from 5-7 p.m. along Avenue B between 12th Street and 13th Street to celebrate the release of a new video-single for "Spellbound."

Photo by Derek Berg 

In breaking news this afternoon: The Popeyes signage has arrived on 1st Avenue

The Popeyes sign is in here at 39 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street... (and what font is that???) Steven took these photos of the sign hot off the truck...

The quick-serve chicken emporium is expected to open here on Saturday. You can check out our previous post for a look inside.

P.S.

I do not know what's going on next door with d.b.a., which has not reopened since the PAUSE.

Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

As we reported last week, someone broke into Cafe Himalaya at 78 First St. and stole the restaurant's cash register. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the other day and talked with owner Karma Dolma (top photo and on the right below) ... and met her family, who all work here at the 18-year-old Tibetan/Nepalese restaurant between Avenue A and First Avenue...

She and her husband Tashi (second from the left above) showed her the cash register that was stolen — it was found discarded a few blocks away, cash missing but all parts still working. The police returned the cash register to them and even found the key to it nearby ...

She wanted the residents of the East Village to know how much support they've received and how grateful they are during the pandemic, where at one point early on business was down by 90 percent.

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-10 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160.

Factory Tamal reopens today on 4th Street after a short break

After being closed for nearly a month (making a few people nervous), Factory Tamal reopens this morning at at 63 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

EVG regular Lola Sáenz spotted owner Fernando Lopez inside the shop getting everything ready for serving his delicious tamales, egg sandwiches and panini.

They'd been busy at the lower Ludlow Street location ... as well as prepping an entry in the 14th annual Food Film Festival taking place in March. Lopez is featured in the short "Food of Love: Tamale Man," one of the festival's official selections.

The EV outpost of Factory Tamal opened in early February, and is an excellent inexpensive eats spot to consider. You can find their website and menu here. 

9 Avenue B is for rent for the first time in eons

Eons! You may have noticed the recent arrival of the for lease signs outside 9 Avenue B between Houston and Second Street.

No. 9 watchers think that this storefront hasn't been in use for retail in more than 30-plus years. It was an office/storage space for Michael Chang, the previous landlord, according to one source.

Here's how the space was looking on the inside yesterday, courtesy of Stacie Joy...

The new era coincides with the sale of the building this past summer. Centennial Properties — aka the new 9300 Realty owned by convicted felon Steve Croman — is now the landlord. (You can read about Croman's post-prison dealings here.)

The retail space at 9 Avenue B — 1,000 square feet — has a monthly ask of $7,495.

No. 11 next door, also now owned by Croman, has been home for 40-plus years to Raul's Barber Shop. More on them in another post.

At long last, a partial reveal at 619 E. 6th St.

Last week workers finally removed the scaffolding and construction netting from 619 E. Sixth St., where a 6-story residence has been in the works these past four-plus years here between Avenue B and Avenue C.

As a reminder of what's in the works via DXA Studio Architecture, the architects of record:

The facade is clad in a Danish handmade brick and includes a full width mural along a sidewall that links the building in character with its East Village neighbors where street art abounds. The five residential units, from a small studio up to a dramatic three bedroom with office and double height duplex on the top floors, incorporate a simple and timeless palette of materials throughout.

And...

We first heard about this project in January 2016. It has seemingly taken a long time to knock down the previous one-level structure on the property and get to this point. 

Residents on the block had previously expressed their annoyance by the roadway dividers and temporary walkway, which became a popular spot to use as a toilet. 

Previously on EV Grieve:
• 6-story condoplex, complete with Danish handmade brick, coming to East 6th Street

Zoku Sushi apparently gives up the ghost on St. Mark's Place

A for rent sign recently arrived outside 42 1/2 St. Mark's Place, which marks the end here of Zoku Sushi, a delivery-only service.

Just last fall Zoku was getting press for being among the trendsetters of so-called ghost kitchens, a way for restaurateurs to combat increasing rents and employee wages as well as fees charged by food-delivery apps.

Per the Post:

Charlie Yi, founder and CEO of Zoku Sushi in the East Village, has tapped a team of Nobu-trained chefs to prepare top-quality sushi — and thrown them into a 500-square-foot kitchen that’s behind an unmarked door at 42 St. Mark’s Pl.

No, you can’t sit down and eat there, and no, you can’t even pick up your order there. Instead, a team of delivery guys employed by Zoku are circulating in and out to bring sackfuls of sashimi, nagiri and miso to your door.

“Since we don’t have a restaurant or service staff, we can deliver that value to our customer and spend money on top chefs,” Yi says.

There isn't any word of a closure on the Zoku website or social media properties, which haven't been updated since march 17.

This space between First Avenue and Second Avenue was previously 10Below Ice Cream.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Tuesday's parting shot

A sign of fall on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... thanks to Goggla for the photo today!

A look back at Saturday's Avenue B flea

On Saturday afternoon, residents and vendors alike showed up for the Avenue B Flea, featuring sidewalk sales and socially distant acoustic musicians between 10th Street and 14th Street.

It went well enough that a sequel is already in the works.

"It really brought a lot of business down to our friends on Avenue B," said organizer Lisa Lush. "I was told numerous times by locals — this is exactly what the community needs and it’s been a long time since they’ve seen something like it. That old-school EV vibe was back and the energy was electric."

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos of shoppers and vendors...

Halloween at Economy Candy

Hard to believe that Halloween is less than three weeks away ... and it's traditionally a busy season for LES/NYC institution Economy Candy, which opened in 1937.

Skye and Mitchell Cohen, the third generation of husband-wife owners of Economy Candy, told me that they've "done a fraction of the business" they would normally do had they been operating as normal over these last six-plus months.

"October is typically our busiest month of the year, with Halloween being our busiest day, but with trick or treating in hot water this year our forecast isn’t ideal," Skye says.

Back in March, when the PAUSE went into effect, they launched the CandyCare Pack.

"We were overwhelmed by the 'pay it forward' nature of orders that came in," Skye says. "We started recognizing names as we were printing out shipping labels and thought something had gone wrong. While looking into it we realized we were recognizing names because people who had received CandyCare Packs were ordering and sending CandyCare Packs to their friends and family and so forth ... in lieu of regular social visits, which were made impossible by social distancing measures."

So this fall, they've introduced a variety of Halloween CandyCare Packs, which are currently available on their website for curbside pick up or to ship nationwide.

Economy Candy is at 108 Rivington St. between Essex and Ludlow. While the shop is closed for in-person shopping, they are open for curbside service. Find their website here for more details.

Images via Economy Candy

Outdoor comedy fundraisers continue for the Sixth Street Community Center

The outdoor comedy series, held in a private backyard in the East Village, continues on to help raise funds for the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The next shows for Sixth Street Comedy, produced by EV resident Ali Fischbein, are coming up this week (Wednesday and Thursday evenings). 

You can follow @sixthstreetcomedy for details on the guests and hosts. Or visit this site for ticket info. Keep in mind there is very limited capacity. And masks are required.

The series kicked off in early September, as we reported here.

Image via @sixthstreetcomedy

Beard Papa's bringing the cream puffs to St. Mark's Place

For the first time in more than 50 years, 16 St. Mark's Place won't be housing a barber shop.

Public records show that Beard Papa's — a 2000s-era chain that sells cream puffs — will be the new tenant. (H/T Upper West Sider!)

The company got its start in Japan in 1999, and now has 400 locations in 15 countries... and there are already several outposts in NYC.

St. Marks Barbershop moved away from 16 St. Mark's Place to a new spot around the corner in early October.

The long history of Sun's Laundry on 14th Street

Sun's Laundry closed at the end of August at 626 E. 14th St. ... marking the end of the decades-spanning business that Robert Lee opened with his father in this storefront between Avenue B and Avenue C in 1959.

NBC News has a lengthy feature on Lee and his shop — one of the city's last Chinese hand laundries — that's worth your time.

An excerpt: 

By clocking in 12 hours a day, six days a week, to support his family, Lee was able to put his children, Jane and Edward, through city colleges. During the golden years in the 1980s to the 1990s, Gee said, his uncle earned roughly $2,000 to $3,000 a month.

Lee claims to have maintained the lowest prices, starting at 19 cents to clean a shirt in 1959 and $1.20 in 2020, while competitors usually charged $1.80 to $2.50.

However, the shifts in consumer habits to automated drying machines in the 1970s to polyesters and wrinkle-free products in the 1980s to casual wear in the 20th century had slowly caused hand laundry businesses to falter. But Lee never considered automating his business model.   

Still, Lee and his family were able to buy a two-story house in Elmhurst, Queens, with their added savings from selling their laundry business in Boston. They had purchased Sun's Laundry for $4,300 and secured a 99-year lease, with rent starting at $100 a month in 1959, which steadily rose to $800 from 2008 onward.