Virginia's is closing on 11th Street; owners will look for a new location

Virginia's, the bistro on 11th Street just west of Avenue C, is closing after service on New Year's Eve. 

Per an email to patrons (thanks to the EVG readers who shared this): 

We have battled through a pandemic and a fire, either of which would have been reason enough to give up. Instead, we persevered — mostly because of the support of our loyal guests and hardworking team. 

With our lease expiring, we have made the very difficult decision to leave our current location in the New Year. Hopefully, this is only goodbye for now as we search for a new home for Virginia's. 

Please stay tuned as we search for a larger location with a longer lease. Thank you all so much for all of your support. We hope to see you once more on New Year's Eve for an unforgettable farewell party!

The restaurant opened here in May 2015.

Image via Instagram

Renovations underway at the long-vacant retail space at 123 Avenue A

Work is underway inside the vacant storefront at 123 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

A worker on the scene told EVG correspondent that the space would eventually house a deli. (There isn't any sign of work permits on file online with the DOB just yet.)

The storefront has been vacant since Tony (aka Abdul) died in the fall of 2018. Tony, who owned the building, ran the deli, which operated under various names in this spot for 25 years.

Meanwhile, a block or so to the south, another deli is in the works for another long-vacant spot on the corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A — the former Benny's Burritos.

Brownout at the former St. Brigid School

Work continues at the former St. Brigid School on the NE corner of Avenue B and Seventh Street.

EVG reader Robert Miner reports that workers painted the former school's green strip brown on Sunday.

And yesterday...

... workers removed the St. Brigid's banners from out front...

In February 2019, the Archdiocese of New York announced that St. Brigid School would cease operations at the end of that academic year, a move that blindsided students, parents and faculty alike. Founded in 1856, the Saint Brigid School was one of seven Catholic schools marked for closure by the Archdiocese in 2019. 

Given its A-plus EV location with Tompkins Square Park views, some residents have figured this property would end up a high-end condoplex much like the former Mary Help of Christians on Avenue A and 12th Street. 

However, as Dave on 7th pointed out, the work here suggests that the Archdiocese is prepping the two-level building for rental for another school (perhaps a charter school?). 

A corner to watch in 2022!

Closing time: 1 month remains for Dress Shoppe II

Photo by Derek Berg

The closing sale sign went up late this afternoon at Dress Shoppe II at 83 2nd Ave between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

As previously reported, the Indian boutique’s last day is Jan. 31. 

Saroj Goyal has been doing her best to keep the shop going since her husband of 50 years, Purushottam Goyal, died in September 2019. There have been financial challenges, and thanks to the efforts of Humans of New York and New York Nico, there was an outpouring of support to help Saroj make arrangements on the back rent and to take care of herself as she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

In the previous post, you can read more about the closing and the financial arrangements with the landlord, the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association II.

You can find the Dress Shoppe II Etsy account here. The shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with 1-6 p.m. hours on Sunday.

Signs of life at East Village Social

Updated 12/30: EVS is back open, as Eden reports!

We noted the other day that East Village Social (EVS) has not been open since early November. A reader notes the signs of life here this evening...

The bar-restaurant is NOT open at the moment. But! Per the reader: "That's the beauty of it. It's not open. But they're telling us that they're alive. It's a signal from…somewhere."

In the comments, another reader commented that there is a gas issue in the building at 126 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue that may be to blame for this temp closure.

The EVS Instagram account posted a video on Christmas Eve featuring EVS and the Saint Mark's Saints doing a covering "Fairytale of New York" from inside the space... with a see you in 2022 message. 

Citi Bike docking stations arrive on 5th Street, 7th Street

As a follow-up to our post yesterday... a reader shares that workers have installed the new Citi Bike docking stations on Fifth Street at Avenue A (48 docks) and Seventh Street west of Avenue B (47 docks) ...

According to a DOT presentation last month, "demand shows 1,804 docks [are] still needed in CB3." For now, though, the proposal calls for an installation of 683 docks ... with more capacity coming by extending existing stations.

The presentation showed 11 new stations, with an "equipment swap" on 10th Street between A and B and an expansion of the existing station on 13th Street at Avenue A. This EVG post has a map of where the docking stations are due.

Let us know if you spot any other new docking stations in the neighborhood. 

A Visit to Made Up There Farms

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

I’m carrying an EpiPen to visit beekeeper Idan Cohen on East Third Street near Second Avenue. I’m hoping the bees won’t be able to tell I’m allergic. However, it’s all worth it to see the hives, bees and honey Idan tends on the rooftop of his building. 

After some “getting to know you time” with the bees and rooftop garden, I head downstairs to watch Idan’s wife and kids sell the fall 2021 harvested honey to passersby and neighbors and learn more from the apiarist about the process of local honey-making.

How did you come to tend bees on the rooftop of your building?

I love cooking. It’s a passion that always leads me in search of local and fresh produce. That search brought me to build a rooftop farm on our building in the East Village eight years ago, producing most of the vegetables and herbs we consume in the summer. 

A natural addition to the farm was beehives. I wanted to not only produce honey but also have my daughters learn about bees and how to care for them. Nothing would make me happier than to watch them gardening and beekeeping as adults. 

What’s the beekeeping process like? How did you start, and how is this season’s harvest going? 

The season starts in the spring when temperatures rise over 60 degrees, and the bees become more active. A lot of our work as beekeepers has to do with making sure the bees are happy and thriving and free of disease. That requires opening the hive every two weeks and making sure the queen is laying eggs, the workers are producing honey, and that the bees are pest and disease-free. If you help them stay healthy, they will do the rest. 

You, your wife and your kids sell the honey on Third Street near Second Avenue from time to time. Aside from that, where can neighbors go to purchase the honey? 

My daughters, Ellie (age 7) and Eve (4), wanted to share the honey with our neighborhood, so they decided to open a farmstand on sunny days and call it Made Up There Farms. 

For those who missed us, you can reach out through my Instagram account or through my wine and cider project at wipwines.com, and we can set up a pickup. 

Any expansion plans? 

We plan to add a third hive next spring and make natural mead — honey wine. I like the idea of drinking a hyperlocal wine made in the East Village from East Village flowers.

Happy 10th anniversary to Tompkins Square Bagels

Tompkins Square Bagels is celebrating its 10th anniversary late this month at 165 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

The shop had its soft opening here on Dec. 16, 2011. (The outpost at 184 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street debuted in November 2016.)

Congratulations to owner Christopher Pugliese and the staff at both locations.

It hasn't been easy these past two years. In November 2020, ConEd shut off the gas at the Avenue A location. (Service returned on Dec. 31.) At the time, a carbon monoxide sensor went off related to the storefront's hot water heater, and workers discovered a hole in the flue that brings in replacement air. 

Because of the hole, replacement air wasn't getting into the basement, thus the high carbon monoxide reading, Pugliese said at the time. However, despite identifying the problem and quickly repairing it, ConEd shut off the gas to the business.

To keep the shop running, Pugliese, who helped feed unhoused residents and essential front-line workers during the pandemic's worst days in the spring of 2020, spent $7,000 to buy three electric grills and have three 220-volt power lines installed so his team could cook. 

You can read more about how TSB overcame all this here.

Tuesday's parting shot

Weather-proofing work continues at the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue at Seventh Street... photo today by Derek Berg...

That's a wrap on the first round of the holidays

As seen on Second Street ... and as a reminder, please use clear, untinted bags for your recyclables. 

Thanks to the reader for this pic!

New Citi Bike docking stations on the way in this week

Looks like the Citi Bike expansion in the East Village is happening sooner than later. 

A few No Parking notices have gone up on several side streets where new docking stations are arriving... we've seen announcements for today and tomorrow on Seventh Street west of Avenue B (thanks, Dave on 7th!) as well as on Fifth Street at Avenue A (thanks JG!) for tomorrow and Thursday ...

In November, DOT reps gave Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee an update about Citi Bike's expansion in the East Village and Lower East Side. 

That presentation is online now right here. (The DOT made presentations to other Community Boards, and find those via this link.)

According to the presentation, "demand shows 1,804 docks [are] still needed in CB3." For now, though, the proposal calls for an installation of 683 docks ... with more capacity coming by extending existing stations.

The presentation showed 11 new stations, with an "equipment swap" on 10th Street between A and B and an expansion of the existing station on 13th Street at Avenue A. At the moment, we don't know how many of the 11 new stations will be installed this week.

Openings on 14th Street: Mad for Chicken, The Tree Shop NYC

Mad for Chicken is now open at 230 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Thanks to Steven for the shot and to Nick Solares and Pinch for sending photos as well.)

MFC, which got its starts in Flushing in 2005, serves "soy garlic fried chicken and unique Korean inspired dishes," per its website. You can find a menu here.

The expanding company now has 10 NYC locations and four in Texas. 

The address was previously home to the Nugget Spot, which closed after a seven-year nugs run during the pandemic. 

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Meanwhile, The Tree Shop NYC recently opened at 313 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, selling vape products, smoke accessories, snacks, etc., etc., etc.

The Tree Shop takes over the storefront with ample signage opportunities from the optical shop Eyes on 14... (H/T Pinch here too)...

'Very Expensive' Flordel Florist is leaving 3rd Street for new LES home

Flordel Florist is leaving its small retail space at 226 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C for a new, larger storefront at 78 Clinton St. ... yesterday marked the last day here... (thanks to Stacie Joy for the photos!) ...

According to an Instagram post from the florist, the new space between Rivington and Delancey is three times larger than its current outpost. The grand opening is expected early in January.

In May, ownership changed the signage out front from "Florist Flowers" to the tongue-in-cheek "Very Expensive Flowers." 

Updated:

The temp signage up now on Clinton Street...

ICYMI: Zero Irving signs up first tenant

An announcement from earlier this month... Melio, a "B2B payments platform for small businesses," is the first tenant for Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) on 14th Street. 

According to various published reports and a news release, Melio leased 25,000 square feet of office space across the 15th and 16th floors for use as its global HQ. The company, said to be valued at $4 billion, is relocating here from a WeWorks property on West 18th Street.

The building, developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving website. Urbanspace will operate a food hall on the ground level.

Long contested by local preservationists and community groups, the new building sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously

Monday's opening shot

Thanks for EVG reader Tina Li for this shot of the spectacular sunrise this morning... as seen from East River Park (the sectiion that's still open to the public) ...

Cornerstone Cafe postscript

Last week, the Cornerstone Cafe on the NE corner of Avenue B and Second Street announced its closure after 10-plus years in business. 

In an Instagram post, the Cornerstone cited the ongoing pandemic and the city's related mandates and restrictions for the closure.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy later ran into owner Rocco Opramolla. Aside from the reasons stated above, he said that the landlord raised his rent this year. He was previously paying $4,000 a month, which allowed him to offer specials such as the $4 breakfast. 

Rocco said that he just couldn't pay the new rent, which he didn't disclose, with all the NYC COVID-19 restrictions. Before owning his own restaurant, Rocco spent nearly 25 years working as a meat cutter, a profession he may revisit. He's nearing 60 and not too far from retirement age, and he plans to visit his kids in San Diego and then take "a little vacation" and relax after 10-plus years of running the restaurant.

He'll decide what to do when he gets back early next year. Rocco says he might open a new place if things are different going forward, but he couldn't do it during COVID time.

He is very thankful for the neighborhood support. Stacie asked if there was anything that could be done to assist him, and he said no; his mind was made up. He seems at peace with his decision.

The new Urban Wine & Spirits is now open

Urban Wine & Spirits — going now as Urban Artisan Wine & Craft Spirits — has debuted on the SW corner of First Avenue and Third Street ... steps away from the shop's previous location... (thanks to Marjorie Ingall for the photos!)

As previously noted, a wine bar is also in the works for the storefront... ownership says that the wine bar, set to debut in the spring, will have a separate entrance on the Third Street size. 

Meanwhile, the shop will be hosting tastings and events once it's safer to do so.

Jorge Arias, a partner in The Sampler in Bushwick, opened Urban Wine & Spirits here in March 2014. 

Wine store hours: Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday hours: noon to 9 p.m.

City posts notice of a clean up in the abandoned curbside dining structure on 6th Street

Reps for the Department of Homeless Services have posted notices on that abandoned curbside dining structure on the NE corner of Sixth Street at Avenue A.

Per the notices, city crews will clean up this space beginning today...

As previously mentioned, several readers-residents have complained about the lengthy structure on the Sixth Street side. The bar-restaurant August Laura closed in the corner space here in early December. Up to 10 people were said to move into the structure the night workers cleared out the restaurant. Another reader said that it has become "a 24-hour shooting gallery."

August Laura's small structure on Avenue A has been boarded up to prevent people from entering...

While the retail space is for lease, 94-96 Avenue A is also set for auction on Jan. 31 with an opening bid of $4.8 million. Penn South Capital paid $9.6 million for the property in March 2019. The building's new owners added a one-floor extension here in 2020.

Given that the building is for sale, it's likely that there won't be a retail tenant in the space for some time. 

In October, Mayor de Blasio ordered the Department of Transportation to remove unused dining structures erected as part of the Open Restaurants program. City workers have reportedly taken down dozens to date, including the curbside dining structure outside the shuttered Auriga Cafe at 198 Avenue A at the time.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is working to make the Open Restaurants program permanent. Gothamist has a recap of some of the issues here. A previously undisclosed survey shows support for the program, per Streetsblog. 

The Department of City Planning and DOT launched a public survey to improve the designs and rules regarding permanent outdoor dining setups. You have until the end of the year to share your thoughts on the program with the city. Find the survey at this link.

Updated 6 p.m. 

It appears that city did clean out the Sixth Street structure ... photo this evening by Steven...

Previously on EVG:

• Reports from CB3's public review of the Open Restaurants program

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (featuring Smoking Santas in Union Square by Derek Berg)... 

 • These East Village businesses are temporarily closing as COVID cases continue to climb (Monday)

• The Community Holiday Feast fed more than 600 people in Tompkins Square Park yesterday (Monday) 

• Reports: Did SantaCon contribute to NYC's current COVID-19 surge? (Tuesday) 

• RIP Robert J. Giurdanella (Wednesday) 

• Driver fleeing police charged in the hit-and-run death of delivery worker on Houston Street (Wednesday) 

• Because you've always wanted to know what the inside of the long-empty 6 Avenue B looks like (Thursday) 

• Another visit to the home of Frankie Christmas (Friday) 

• The end of the East River amphitheater (Friday) 

• Letter perfect: City makes the MPH right on 2nd attempt (Monday) 

• Cornerstone Cafe calls it quits (Tuesday) 

• Signage arrives for the new Urban Wine & Spirits (Monday) 

• Former August Laura space is on the rental market; building on the auction block (Thursday) • Arthur’s Barber Shop has closed (Tuesday) 

• Activity at the former St. Brigid School on Avenue B and 7th Street (Thursday)

• 1st sign of Raíz Modern Mexican on 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

• 7-Eleven shutters on 14th Street (Monday)

• Bubbleology Tea has gone out of business on 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

• East Village Social has not been open in awhile (Monday) 

• EVG turns 14 (Tuesday — thank you for all the kind words about the site! ❤️) 

... and thanks to Goggla for this festive holiday shot from Seventh Street and Avenue B...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics. 

Early arrivals

It's Dec. 26, and time to get on with Easter preparations.

Here's the first post-Christmas Day drop-off at the MulchFest drop-off location on Avenue A at Ninth Street, as EVG Drop-off correspondent Steven notes this morning.

As a reminder: The two-day MulchFest extravaganza in Tompkins Square Park is set for Jan. 8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.