Pour one out for the champagne of East Village storefront signs

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The days are numbered for one of the neighborhood's great signs featuring an unnecessary apostrophe. 

On the NE corner of Avenue A and Fourth Street, the decades-spanning Nizga Liquors is under new ownership. 

You may have noticed that workers spruced up the previously cluttered front window and interior — even removing that awkward turnstile at the entrance.

We're told that the new owners will start hosting wine tastings and other related events. (It looks like they will continue on with the sale of lottery tickets and more mini bottles than an airline.)

Nizga was always convenient, though, despite the "Discount" on the sign, the last-minute items we picked up on the way somewhere always seemed to be about $5 more than other local shops.

Then there is Fine Wine & Champagne's portion of the sign... which, through the years, perplexed copywriters and grammarians for the misuse of the apostrophe to indicate a plural...

Unfortunately, that sign will be coming down in the days ahead... and we understand that the tentative new name is LES Liquors.

We're also told that the sale of the shop, which saw the departure of the longtime manager, is also unrelated to the new landlords who bought the block-long residential building last fall for a reported $64 million.  

At Ray's Candy Store, you can now pay for those beignets and deep-fried Oreos via Venmo

Photo by Peter Brownscombe 

There's a new era here at Ray's Candy Store ... customers can now use Venmo to pay for purchases at the 49-year-old shop at 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street...

More details about the new home for Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse on the Lower East Side

Updated 5/17: Sammy's received the OK from Community Board 3.

As we first reported on April 27, NYC classic Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse is looking to reopen in a new location.

Next Monday, ownership will appear before CB3's SLA committee for a new liquor license for 191 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton — space that has been vacant for nine years.

The questionnaire (PDF here) is now online at the CB3 website before that meeting.

According to the public document, Sammy's 2.0 would feature 58 tables for 118 guests. They're also looking for seating in the outdoor garden behind the restaurant.

The paperwork notes that there will be two seatings per evening .... and that an estimated 90% of the seating will be by reservation only. Other highlights: The sale of Sammy's merch (T-shirts are mentioned) and the entertainment will feature "a lounge singer on keyboard." (The application says they'll hire a sound engineer "for comprehensive sound mitigation.")

The proposed hours are Monday-Wednesday from 4-11 p.m., with a midnight close on Thursday and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The outdoor space would shut down at 10 p.m. all days.

Sammy's closed in early January 2021 after 45-plus years of serving up ice-encased vodka, smeared pitchers of schmaltz and enormous platters of meat from the lower level at 151 Chrystie St.

The restaurant had been shuttered since the PAUSE of March 2020, and this wasn't a business ready-made for delivery or outdoor dining.

In an Instagram post at the time, owner David Zimmerman left the door open for a return. 

Signage alert: Village Works on St. Mark's Place

Village Works, the gallery, bookstore and artist space, continues to shape up at 12 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

The new sign went up late last week. 

And per an Instagram post on Friday: "Slowly making it happen at Village Works ... opening show happening soon!" While prepping for the grand opening this past month, Village Works has held a sidewalk sale every day.

The new space will also eventually feature a cafe. Read more about it via this EVG post from March 29.

Founder Joseph Sheridan was previously set up at 90 E. Third St., just west of First Avenue. However, he needed to find a new storefront after he lost the lease with a rent increase.

Gorin Ramen has closed on 14th Street

Gorin Ramen has shut down after three-plus years at 351 E. 14th St. just west of First Avenue.

However, Gorin fans can still travel to their Gotham West outpost on 11th Avenue for the Kitakata ramen.

There isn't any mention of this closure on Gorin's social media or website. Google lists them as "permanently closed" and someone removed the signage and menus from the restaurant's exterior fence.

The ramen shop opened here in January 2020 and only had three months of uninterrupted service before the start of the pandemic in March 2020.  

Openings: Offside Tavern on Avenue A

Signage arrived late last week for Offside Tavern, which opened in mid-April in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs here at 94 Avenue A.

As previously noted, this is a new iteration of Offside, which had a three-year run at 137 W. 14th St. until the pandemic-related PAUSE of March 2020. 

During the NHL season, OT is a hockey bar — specifically for fans of the New York Islanders. (The Hurricanes knocked the Islanders out of the playoffs with a 2-1 OT loss on April 28.) The place made enough of an impression that when the Islanders opened UBS Arena in late 2021, the new venue included an Offside Tavern tribute bar located in Section 217.

August Laura had a brief run at the address, opening in October 2019 ... then a haphazard schedule during the pandemic before finally shutting down in December 2021. They took over the space at Sixth Street from what some people considered an East Village institution — Sidewalk, the restaurant bar and live music venue (home of the Antifolk Festival) that closed in February 2019 after 34 years.

Pini Milstein, who retired, was the principal owner of the building and the operator of Sidewalk. According to public records, 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.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A scene from a procession today for St. Martin de Porres on Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C via the Parish of Saint Brigid-Saint Emeric ...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from earlier in the week in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• The homicide of Jordan Neely (Thursday) 

• Heady psychedelia: A conversation with East Village musician Franzi Szymkowiak of Lukka (Thursday) 

• After deadly collapse, city issues vacate order at the Little Man Parking garage on 9th Street (Tuesday)

• Coming attractions: Prep work underway for the renovation of the Tompkins Square Park field house (Friday)

• RIP Bill Brady (Friday)

• The Pinky's Space storefront is for rent on 1st Street (Monday)

• Grass acts: Main lawn in Tompkins Square Park has been reseeded (Thursday) 

• Basics Plus has closed on 3rd Avenue (Monday)

• Officials: Developer had permission to remove trees from new building site at 1 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

• This 2nd-level retail space is for rent on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Local elected officials speak out to landmark Theatre 80 ahead of auction (Tuesday) 

• Signage alert: Don Ceviche on 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

• Sunday C&C Eatery announces itself at The Bowery Market (Monday) 

• The stand-up MRI place closes on Avenue A (Monday)

• The Mermaid Inn won't be returning to its original East Village home (Wednesday) 

• Nest Ball: Amelia and Christo's 2023 chicks make first appearance (Thursday)

• Ichibantei Japanese Soul Food and Steak debuts on 3rd Avenue; closes on 13th Street (Wednesday) 

... and keeping with the dog theme in Tompkins Square Park... a dog vs. car moment (photos by Steven) ...

-----

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

Saturday's parting shot

As seen on Avenue B this afternoon (thanks to Vinny & O for the photo). 

And learn more about Lower East Side History Month at this link.

The return of Godzilla

On Wednesday, EVG reader Maite Castillo shared the above photo from 13th Street at Second Avenue showing Godzilla possibly reaching the end of the line.

However, after 30 live-action movies, you figured we hadn't seen the last of Godzilla... and today EVG reader Joem spotted the King of the Monsters alive and well outside the Wingstop on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Noting

Here's a look this morning at the construction trailer that arrived in Tompkins Square Park yesterday ahead of the 18-month field house renovation. 

One note for anyone concerned that the trailer would take the ping-pong table out of commission... there looks to be enough room ... just go easy with the sidespin on the ball... 

Saturday's opening shot

At the ever-changing Bowery Mural Wall ... on Houston at the Bowery... Style Wars via Optimo. 

It has nearly been a year since the wall has been on "pause" for commissioned work. Background here.

Friday's parting shot

A photogenic part of Tompkins Square Park not filled with a trailer...

Hellbound

 

We had a chance to see local trio TDA (Tits Dick Ass) last night at the Mercury Lounge opening for Crocodiles (and on a bill with Licks).

The video is for "GF From Hell." Read more about the band here. 

And this Friday-at-5 video post includes two photos from last night via Stacie Joy...

On this 5th of May

To your Cinco de Mayo... thanks to William Klayer for this photo outside Paquito's, 143 First Ave. near Ninth Street, today...

Coming attractions: Prep work underway for the renovation of the Tompkins Square Park field house

The EVG inbox lit up this morning... as workers arrived in Tompkins Square Park to set up a construction office outside the field house... as renovations onsite are set to begin... (thanks to Steven and others for the pics)...

While this 18-month work project was expected to start this spring, the early word is that some residents-Parkgoers were surprised by how large the trailer is ... not to mention some temporary fencing.

One reader believes this setup will also render the ping-pong table useless [Updated: there looks to be enough room between the trailer and the table for matches]  ...

As previously reported, the field house and the space behind it — dubbed the Slocum area as it includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain — will be closed during this time. In addition, the Tompkins Square mini pool will be out of commission for two consecutive summers. 

The Parks Department website lists a September 2024 competition date for the $5.6-million project (PDF here), which will:

• Upgrade existing restrooms to code

• Upgrade Parks and maintenance and operations space

• Add first aid and lifeguard locker room spaces in the building

• Reconstruct interiors

• Clean and partially repoint exterior brick

Porta potties are expected on the scene at some point... as the Park bathrooms will be closed. (Get your stall selfies quickly!). 

To be continued for sure...

RIP Bill Brady

Bill Brady, an art dealer and gallerist who had lived in the East Village, died on Sunday. According to published reports, he went into cardiac arrest following an asthma attack. He was 55. 

He opened the ATM Gallery on Avenue B in 2001... before relocating to Chelsea. Brady and William Leung launched another ATM Galley on Henry Street in 2020. 

The gallery released this statement: 

Bill Brady was a gallerist for over 25 years. During that time, he made a profound impact on the art world with his ability to bring new artists to the forefront of the art scene. He believed in young talent and devoted much of his career to identifying and nurturing that talent. Whether he was working with emerging artists or established masters, Bill had a knack for identifying work that was fresh, exciting, and thought-provoking. His support and guidance helped many of them achieve great success. 

His contributions to the art world were numerous and far-reaching, and his impact on the careers of many artists cannot be overstated. As we mourn the loss of Bill Brady, it is important that we also celebrate his life and legacy. We can honor his memory by continuing to support the artists he championed. 

You can find more tributes to Brady at ARTnews ... artnet ... and Whitehot Magazine. 

A memorial is in the works. 

Photo courtesy of ATM Gallery

Friday's opening shot

Photo by Lola Sáenz 

New at the Bean on Third Street at Second Avenue...

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Jose Garcia 

In Tompkins Square Park, remembering food writer Josh Ozersky who died on this day in 2015. He was 47.

The homicide of Jordan Neely

Photo from the Broadway-Lafayette station by Jeremiah Moss 

On Monday afternoon around 2:30, Jordan Neely boarded the uptown F train at the Second Avenue station. [Early reports mentioned that he entered the train on Second Avenue. That narrative has seemed to change.]

According to the Associated Press, "he was yelling and pacing back and forth on an F train ... witnesses and police said, when he was restrained by at least three people, including a U.S. Marine veteran who pulled one arm tightly around his neck." 

Video taken by a passenger shows the unnamed 24-year-old former Marine holding Neely in a chokehold while other riders restrained him on the floor of a train. The former Marine was taken into police custody but later released later Monday without being charged. 

Neely, who was 30, died from compression to his neck as a result of the chokehold, the medical examiner ruled yesterday.

Per the Times: "The episode, filmed on a nearly four-minute video that shows other riders helping to pin down Mr. Neely while others looked on, has led to a police investigation and spurred advocates for the homeless, city officials and others to call for an arrest." 

And from The Guardian: "Advocates argued that the circumstances surrounding Neely’s life and death — his struggles with homelessness, food insecurity and mental health struggles — reflected longstanding failures to provide social services to impoverished New Yorkers."

Here are some of the headlines about the death of Jordan Neely and the aftermath... 

• NYC subway chokehold death ruled a homicide, as groups demand justice for Jordan Neely (NBC News)

• Possible charges against Marine in chokehold death of Jordan Neely as NYPD and Manhattan DA confer (Daily News) 

• Who killed Jordan Neely? (Hell Gate)

• Mayor Adams and police criticized for lack of action over Jordan Neely's death (The Guardian) 

• Outrage grows after Jordan Neely was choked to death on the subway (New York) 

• Jordan Neely NYC subway chokehold death sparks outcry: 'We've got a deep problem' (USA Today)

• Who was Jordan Neely? Friends recall 'sweet kid,' talented performer killed in subway chokehold (Gothamist) 

• Eyewitnesses react to subway killing of Jordan Neely (Gothamist)