Assessing the fire damage at Essex Card Shop

Photos by Stacie Joy

A fire destroyed the Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A late Monday afternoon. Thankfully there weren't any injuries.

And we're starting to get an idea how badly the fire damaged the storefront here between Third Street and Fourth Street.

FDNY officials returned to inspect the space yesterday. EVG contributor Stacie Joy was also there...

Owner Muhammad Aslam and his oldest daughter Mehnaz Noreen, the shop's retail sales manager, were on hand.

The two are awaiting the fire marshal's report to submit to the insurance company to begin the process of reopening. (Longtime manager Jayant "Jay" Patel previously said that he smelled smoke coming from the bathroom in the rear of the store and immediately called the FDNY.) 

The father and daughter wished to express their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community. (The GoFundMe launched Monday night has exceeded $50,000 to help the family pay for additional expenses and lost income.)

They were particularly heartened by the handmade signs that students from room 205 at the Neighborhood School left for them on the storefront's rolldown gate...

Aslam then inspected the remains of the shop, which opened here in June 2020 after more than 20 years at 39 Avenue A.

A few items, such as a ledger, somehow survived the fire...

And in case you were wondering about the ATM here... a technician arrived to remove the cash...

While Stacie was there, multiple residents stopped by to wish Aslam and his family well ... including the owners of the adjacent businesses, Leti Ruiz of Downtown Yarns and Charles Branstool of Exit9...

We'll keep you posted as Essex Card Shop starts the challenging reopening process. You'll likely see Aslam around. He told Stacie that he "doesn't wish to stay at home."

For further reading on EVG: 

 • Exit9 reopens on Avenue A after fire next door 

• Downtown Yarns hopes to reopen in a week

Solving the Great Santa Claus Mystery of Tompkins Square Park

Late last night, the rando Santa Claus looked all aglow in an upright position under the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park, as these photos by EVG reader Jake Bowling show...

As we've been noting this week (here and here), someone brought this Santa figure to the tree in the park sometime Sunday night or Monday morning. 

At one point, Santa was standing proudly... other times, he was flat on his back, per hijinks. 

And through some detective work (our fee: $200 per day plus expenses) and some reader comments, we learned how Santa came to town to the park. (Early reports that Santa was nabbed from a lobby turned out to be incorrect.) 

This Santa had been holding forth outside East Village Social on St. Mark's Place this past holiday season. 

On Sunday night, someone from the bar transported SC to his new resting place... here's a video via Instagram showing Santa on the move (to the gentle strains of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by East Village Social aka EVS (@eastvillagesocial)

Sadly, the trail ends here. Steven, our secret Santa correspondent, reports that there's no sign of the Claus in the Park today...

Hopefully, he'll be back again some day (or is that Frosty?).

Lights out: Bulb Concepts has closed on 7th Street

Bulb Concepts has closed at 13 E. Seventh St., just east of Cooper Square.

EVG regular Salim shared these photos... showing that the small shop's exterior has been cleaned out.

There wasn't any mention of a closure on their lightly used social media properties.

Jessie Lee and Anthony Wong opened Bulb Concepts in October 2013 (read our feature here), offering a nice variety of light bulbs, commercial and residential light fixtures, lamp parts and more. They also had many hard-to-find items and always provided friendly and attentive service.

The couple sold the business at some point, though the service remained the same.

Bulb Concepts was one of those little specialty shops we'd love to see more of in the neighborhood. They will be missed.

Key Food is no longer open 24/7

You will now need to rethink your spontaneous 3 a.m. excursions to Key Food on Avenue A at Fourth Street.

ICYMI: Key Food is now closing overnight from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (Thanks to the reader for the photo!) 

We heard rumblings from employees about a late-night shoplifting problem. Plus, unrelated or not, as we understand it, the self-service kiosks stop working for system updates at 1 a.m., so all the people trying to buy, say, beer and chips at that hour have to wait in a solitary line at the only available checkout with the cashier who looks stressed out. 

In other gossipy Key news, we're told that those updates to the aisles (detailed here and here) are on hold for the time being due to the uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in NYC.

H/T Stacie Joy!

A call to revamp ABC Playground at P.S. 20 on Houston and Essex

District 1, an area covering the Lower East Side, NoHo, Chinatown, and more, is currently gathering feedback in the city's Participatory Budget (PBNYC) program. (Christopher Marte is the new City Council representative for District 1. District 2, which includes the East Village and is led by Carlina Rivera, is not in this PBNYC cycle.) 

As you may know, PBNYC enables NYC residents to propose, evaluate and vote on projects in their districts. Successful projects will be funded by Council Member discretionary funds. 

Several EVG readers are championing a revamp of the ABC Playground at Houston and Essex outside P.S. 20 Anna Silver.

Here's what is proposed:

ABC Playground, an expansive 0.45-acre space at the prime Lower East Side intersection of Houston and Essex streets, has outstanding, untapped potential to better serve its diverse, multi-generational public. Built in 1934 and last renovated in 1998, the severely under-resourced park has unresolved violations. 

The two outdated metal play structures are often in disrepair, and the large fields of cracked, uneven pavement are hazardous. All materials are dilapidated or structurally deteriorating. Drainage issues and failing plumbing infrastructure frequently create large puddles that render the center of the park unusable. ABC Playground requires significant upgrades to improve safety, satisfy building code, and realize its mission as a recreational space for education and community building. 

Requested upgrades include: two new play structures with rubber safety surfacing for ages 1-4 and 5-12; a water element for all ages; one set of adult and child drinking fountains; an asphalt track; a multi-purpose asphalt field with markings for baseball, hopscotch, and other games; a basketball court with new hoops; 15 concrete park benches to enhance accessibility and create inviting meeting areas; and 8 trash receptacles.

You can leave comments and endorse this project here. 

There are dozens of proposed projects for District 1, and find those at this link.

Another day, another smoke shop reveal in the East Village

In 2022, no one will be able to say the neighborhood is lacking in places to buy smokes and snacks.

Pinch shares this recent reveal at 223 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... where signage is up for Smokers Zone 1. The signage promises a smoke shop, snacks and drinks, and vaporizers.

This marks what seems like the 87th* smoke shop to open here in the last year.

This storefront has been vacant since Fat Cat Kitchen closed in late 2019 after 2.5 years in business.

* not an accurate number!

Tuesday's parting shot

A message of support on the burned-out Essex Card Shop gate at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. (Read our fire coverage here and here.) 

The note is for the shop's longtime manager, Jayant "Jay" Patel ... seen below in this photo by Stacie Joy from June 2020 when the business relocated here from 39 Avenue A. 

Jay and everyone at the shop are fine. The storefront has been destroyed, though. The fundraiser to help to rebuild and cover expenses is here.

Chip, chip hooray! Video highlights from MulchFest 2022

EVG reader 4paul shares a rather sublime highlights video from this past Chipping Weekend, which (sob) marks the conclusion of the always-festive MulchFest season... highlights are from our own Tompkins Square Park as well as Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick. 

H/T Goggla!

Meanwhile, in Tompkins Square Park ...

An update on the decorative Santa figure that found its way underneath the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park early yesterday — or overnight Sunday. (First post here.) 

As EVG decorative Santa correspondent Steven noted, there was a moment of joy yesterday afternoon when good samaritans propped up the Santa for a more traditional and dignified Santa stance...

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end on a happy note.

No, at some point, TBD, Santa ended up flat on his back once again... as seen this morning...

Oh, dear.

DOUBLE OH DEAR!

Thankfully, the dog did NOT weewee on Santa. 

And to be continued, probably...

Information about a crowdfunding campaign to help the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop

Photo by Steven 

A two-alarm fire destroyed the Essex Card Shop late yesterday afternoon at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. (The cause is under investigation.) 

Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam, launched a crowdfunding campaign for the family-owned business. (Her uncle Jay Patel is the manager and her sister Mehnaz Noreen is retail sales manager.) 

Per the campaign:

This fundraiser can really help this small business pick themselves up again and recover from this. Every single corner of this store is burned, damaged, and destroyed. I am 27 years old now, and I have seen this store as a part of my family ever since I was a little girl. Let us all please come together as a loving community, and help this small business rise from its ashes!

Find the campaign here. 

Here's a look inside the storefront last night before workers board it up... photos by Stacie Joy...

Scenes from the fire today at 47 Avenue A

More than 100 members of the FDNY responded late this afternoon to a two-alarm fire at the Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

The FDNY had the fire under control in less than an hour. Two firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, there weren't any other injuries reported. 

The popular Card Shop, which relocated here in June 2020 from a block to the south, was destroyed. Next-door neighbor Exit9 received some smoke and water damage but remains structurally intact. (Read our previous post for more details.) 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

EVG contirbutor Stacie Joy was quickly on the scene after the fire was reported around 4:45 and shared these photos...

As you can see, the Card Shop is in ruins...

 

Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam at Essex Card Shop, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the business. Find the link here.

[Updated] Fire destroys Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Updated: Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam at Essex Card Shop, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild the business. Find the link here.

The FDNY is responding to a two-alarm fire that started inside the Essex Card Shop shortly after 4:30 p.m. at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street.

It was a frightening scene as thick black smoke hugged the east-facing wall of the Ageloff Towers.

The early word is that the shop has been destroyed.

No word just yet to damage other businesses here or the apartments above in the Ageloff Towers.

Shot this video clip at 4:52 p.m.

We'll continue to update...

Updated 6:45 p.m. (photo below by Steven)

Everyone is reported to be safe. EVG contributor Stacie Joy spoke with Muhammed and Jayant at the Essex Card Shop. Unfortunately, the shop is in ruins. Jayant said that he smelled smoke coming from the bathroom in the rear of the store and immediately called the FDNY. Both of them said they were grateful that no one was hurt.

In addition, they both said that they would come back from this.

Next door at 51 Avenue A, everyone is safe at Exit9, which sustained minor water and smoke damage. Downtown Yarns appears to be OK as well.

A fire official told Stacie that the cement ceiling and brick walls in the storefronts served as a firebreak and prevented further damage to the building.

We've heard reports of residents who had to evacuate the 13-floor Ageloff Towers above the shops. The resident reports say that this was done safely, and there weren't any reports of injuries. No word on damage to the residential units above the shops. 

EVG reader Eric FG shared this photo of Jayant shortly after the report of the fire...

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus...oh

As seen this morning under the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park... (thanks to Steven for the photos)...

At first glimpse, there were some SantaCon flashbacks. Then, concern for a possibly injured or inebriated individual dressed as Santa on this frigid Jan. 10. 

However, it is a life-size Santa figure. 

As we understand it, a resident left this in his lobby yesterday for the super to stow for the season. Someone ended up dragging Santa here instead. Update! This was the Santa out front at East Village Social on St. Mark's Place. They made a special delivery. God Bless us, everyone!

Mondays!

Not in bloom: Sunny's Florist closed until early March

If Sunny's Florist is your go-to spot for Valentine's Day, then you'll need a plan B this year. 

The sliver of a storefront on the SE corner of Sixth Street and Second Avenue will be closed through February.

EVG regular Lola Sáenz ran into owner Sun "Sunny" Ja Hwang and her son Edward late Friday. They explained that business has been slower (and generally so in these colder-weather months) ... and combined with the spread of the omicron variant in recent weeks, the two decided to shut down until March 1. 

Unfortunately, the closure includes Feb. 14, a day when the popular shop sees lines around the corner for the tasteful arrangements wrapped to perfection with a flourish (especially when Eddie is doing it).

The business dates here to 1988.

Irving Farm New York is opening an outpost on 10th Street

Irving Farm New York is coming soon to 79 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. 

This will be the sixth cafe/coffee shop in NYC (plus one upstate in Millerton, where they also operate a roastery) for the company that started on Irving Place in 1996. (There was an outpost on Orchard Street, though the owners sold it to a manager, who now runs Sunday to Sunday in the space.) 

And we're assuming that the 10th Street location will offer breakfast and lunch items like at the other outposts. 

No. 79 was previously City of Saints Coffee Roasters, which debuted in June 2014 and never reopened after the PAUSE of March 2020.

LES Convenience is coming soon for your convenience on Avenue A

The proliferation of smoke-snack shops continues. 

Signage for LES Convenience arrived late last week at 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. The signage promises an ATM, snacks, drinks, hookah and more. 

No. 105 was previously home to Hub Thai, which moved to 50 Avenue A this past March. 

LES Convenience will mark the third deli-snack-smoke establishment to open on the west side of Avenue A within three blocks. A more-upscale looking deli-market is coming to 93 Avenue A ... while a mystery deli-market is said to be in the works for 123 Avenue A. 

Meanwhile, I would have been happy if East Village Farms had never vanished at 100 Avenue A.

Abandoned curbside dining structures attracting more attention on the NE corner of 6th and A

The abandoned curbside dining structures on the NE corner of Sixth Street at Avenue A continue to attract attention... both from residents who want to see them removed and from people looking for a space to shelter...

Several handmade signs noting "Waiting on DOT for removal" now adorn the exterior walls ...

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, and 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."

In late December, reps for the Department of Homeless Services posted notices for a cleanup on the Sixth Street structure. According to a resident who lives nearby, that action saw the removal of some mattresses and several abandoned household items.

In October, then-Mayor de Blasio ordered the Department of Transportation to remove unused dining sheds erected as part of the Open Restaurants program. City workers have reportedly taken down dozens to date.

We're told that residents have contacted 311, the DOT and local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office about these structures.

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.