Unlicensed East Village cannabis shops raided again

A story that made headlines this past week: As of Monday, a new city law is now in effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

The legislation followed a Council oversight hearing on the growing problem of unlicensed smoke shops across the city. 

Meanwhile, there were more multi-agency raids on Friday... local targets included, again, LA Convenience (formerly LES Convenience) at 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... (photos by Stacie Joy)...

... and the Saint Marks Convenience & Smoke Shop, 103 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... (photos by Steven)...

Both shops have been targeted in the past, and they both are always able to reopen... not sure how any business can continue to sustain the raids, confiscations, legal fees, etc. 

Sunday's opening shot

Keeping with the sunflower theme this weekend... First Avenue at Seventh Street...

Night falls on 'Manhattan'

 

A Saturday night Friday-at-5 special edition... former East Village resident Cat Power (aka Charlyn Marie "Chan" Marshal) released this track, "Manhattan," on her 2012 record Sun ... an instantly great song that some saw as "a celebration and elegy at once." 

Cat Power is the special guest on the Modest Mouse-Pixies bill this summer ... which includes two sold-out nights this Monday and Tuesday at the Rooftop at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport.

Noted

Updated 9/2: The shop is back open.

A few readers have noted that the J.Crew Men's Shop is currently — and temporarily! — closed for unspecified reasons on the Bowery at Bleecker...

This comes about 11 months after the brand made its debut in this long-vacant retail space.

Saturday's opening shot

The sunflowers of Cooper Square...

Burning the 'Midnight' oil

 

The B-52s, the new wave icons out of Athens, Ga., are wrapping up a farewell tour.

Meanwhile, the group's singer and co-founder, Cindy Wilson, is releasing her second solo album, Realms, on Aug 25 via Kill Rock Stars. 

All early tracks sound solid, like this dance-floor groove "Midnight."

Back on the street with Mscady1965

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

The most recognizable car in the East Village is back on the streets.

The 1965 Cadillac Eldorado convertible can usually be spotted around Il Posto Accanto, the rustic, 28-year-old Italian restaurant at 190 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

It belongs to husband-wife owners Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta and Julio Pena. (Julio bought the Caddy in 1992, around the time the two met and fell in love.)

The car was in the shop for a new paint job and some work on a sticky window earlier this summer.

The other day, Bea and Julio met me for a quick ride around the neighborhood. The show-stopping vehicle always draws a happy response from passersby (and without the aid of any Phil Collins!). 

Julio has set up an Instagram account for the car — @mscady1965 along with a hashtag, #mscady.

You can also contact him to rent the car for photoshoots. 

On 7th Street, neighboring businesses 75 Degrees Cafe & Bakery and Baonanas have closed

Photos by Steven 

Two side-by-side businesses have closed at 93 E. Seventh St. just east of First Avenue. 

Door signage states that Baonanas, which offers its take on banana pudding and other desserts, "is closed until TBD."

Their neighbor to the west, 7th Street Burger, is selling half-pints of their desserts. 

Real-life couple Trisha Villanueva and Lloyd Ortuoste started Baonanas in Jersey City in 2014... and debuted here in the spring of 2022.

Meanwhile, in the storefront to the east, 75 Degrees Cafe & Bakery has officially closed...

A note on the door states, "Unfortunately, our time in the East Village has come to an end..."

The business, described as a "modern Japanese-inspired cafe," opened in November 2021. 

Friday's opening shot

Photo by Michael Kramer 

The view before the downpour at 6:46 this morning. 

Per Weather Channel sources, the showers should taper off by 8 7:25... with a good chance of some sun this afternoon. Expected cooler, dryer conditions in the great East Village metropolitan area into tomorrow.

I know what you did last summer

Photo by Steven 

Yes, not the right movie reference in the headlines for the masks. 

First Avenue at Second Street this afternoon.

Openings: Cafe Chrystie and Chrystie NYC on 7th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Earlier this month, East Village resident Pep Kim (above) debuted a new café-boutique concept at 184 E. Seventh St. at Avenue B (SE corner).

The small retail space houses Café Chrystie and his Chrystie NYC clothing brand.

The space also features a curated selection of photo books, records and ceramic collections...

Kim, who has worked as a filmmaker and photographer, envisions this space as a community center and plans to host photo shows and other art events here.

For now, the café is just serving coffee drinks as well as a (non-alcoholic) specialty — Yuja-Ade, made from the citrus fruit cultivated in East Asia. Kim plans to offer pastries in the weeks ahead as well.

The summer business hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

You can follow the café on Instagram here ... and Chrystie NYC here. 

Report: How 1 East Village landlord stopped a mega-development from rising next door

News of the pending demolition of six buildings — 50-64 Third Ave. — on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street prompted some reader questions about the stalled development at 42-46 Second Ave.

As previously reported (first here), there were approved work permits for an 11-floor mixed-use building on the site of a former three-building parcel between Second Street and Third Street.

Gemini Rosemont Development was behind this 100,568-square-foot new building ... the development, using 42 E. Second St. for its address, included 88 residential units and 9,600 square feet for retail.

However, those plans are officially dead as the city moved to revoke the permits.

Earlier this month, The Real Deal took a deep dive into what happened:

All that stood in Gemini's way was a small-time landlord next door. Robert Proto, however, proved to be a big-time problem.

Proto made unceasing calls to officials for weeks, triggering an audit by the Department of Buildings that found code and zoning issues that had initially slipped past the agency.

Proto owns the building on the SE corner of Third Street — the last one standing on this Second Avenue block, not to mention the home of Proto's Pizza. 

Here are a few more details:

Proto's landmarked building was built in 1899 with brick with wood joist construction and rubble stone foundation walls, making it "fragile and highly susceptible to settlement and cracking," according to court records.

Gemini Rosemont brought in a hydraulic hammer to break up the foundation of the former church, shaking Proto's building violently, bursting heat pipes and water lines and flooding a retail tenant, he said. He filed a lawsuit last year alleging that Gemini Rosemont broke its construction agreement with him. The suit is pending.

Gemini Rosemont is reportedly moving on from the project. A rep told us previously, "The project is frozen, and we are currently evaluating options for the site." 

In 2020, Gemini Rosemont bought the former La Salle annex at 38 Second Ave. and Second Street. The $14.5 million purchase of the four-story building was the third of three contiguous plots they acquired. The Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment company closed on 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave. (the former Church of the Nativity) in March 2020 for $40 million. 

So they're out $55 million just for the properties, not including any other associated costs for the design and preliminary work on the lot. 

Still waiting for word on what might be next for the space. Whoever the new owner turns out to be, they must be made aware of the past development crisis here — and maybe even work with Proto on the project.

Speaking out which... back to The Real Deal:

Proto stopped the firm's project but says he's out $500,000 from legal expenses, engineering fees and damages to his building. He hopes to recover some of that with his lawsuit.

Yet he considers himself fortunate to have had the time and resources to defend his building.

When Loves Save[d] the Day

Photo by Steven

On Second Avenue at Seventh Street, there's tile art showing a former tenant of the corner space ... the one-time home of the vintage shop Love Saves the Day ... made famous, in part, by its appearance in the 1985 film “Desperately Seeking Susan.”

The East Village Love Saves the Day closed on Jan. 18, 2009. Word was their rent tripled. 

Their location remains open in New Hope, Pa.

The deadly Second Avenue gas explosion in March 2015 destroyed three buildings here, including the space (119 Second Ave.) that housed the shop for 43 years.

We've seen other tile art for some longtime businesses that are no longer with us, such as outside the former Stage across Second Avenue.

Despite being surrounded by plywood, this East Village Japanese restaurant is very much open

Photos by Stacie Joy 

For the past six weeks, a section of sidewalk and two storefronts have been behind plywood on First Avenue just south of Fourth Street.

There are posted DOT notices, though it isn't immediately clear what workers are doing here.

And a plywood tunnel leads into the residential entrance at 59 First Ave.

At first glance, you'd assume the two businesses at the address are shuttered. Well, Giggles Convenience, an unlicensed cannabis shop, is closed — complete with NYPD stickers on the rolldown gate. 

However, Cho-Ko, a homey Japanese restaurant serving a variety of ramen and gyoza, is very much open... and they could use some business while obscured behind the sheets of plywood...

The employee on duty was grateful that we stopped by and expressed frustration over the construction out front that they have no control over ...

You can find the Cho-Ko website here. They offer delivery via the usual platforms. Phone: (212) 388-0885.

Their listed hours are noon to 2 a.m. daily, with an 11 p.m. Sunday close. 

Mochinut is looking closed

Photos by Steven 

Several readers have noted that the Mochinut outpost at 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place is looking like a permanent shutter.

The space has been cleared out... which corresponded with a hand-delivered legal notice on the front door...

There isn't any mention of a temporary or permanent closure on the brand's website or social media properties. (We sent them a message via their Instagram account.)

The shop was closed for nearly two months this past spring with a DOH notice stating "operating without a permit."

The quickly expanding California-born chain known for its mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs opened here in August 2021. 

After 90 anxious minutes, East Village man jumps from 4th Street building

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Warning: Images in this post may be upsetting to some readers 

Editor's note: We chose not to publish any photos 

that might reveal the man's identity

Updated 8/16

Law-enforcement sources have told us that the man died from his injuries. We'll update if more information becomes available.

---------

After nearly 90 emotionally charged minutes early this afternoon, a man who witnesses described as incoherent jumped from the roof of a building on the north side of Fourth Street near Avenue B. 

The man, who police say turned 50 today and lives nearby, survived the fall. His current condition is not known. Police did not reveal his name. 

According to the Citizen app, a caller reported the man at 12:05 p.m. atop the five-story building at 229 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy arrived at the scene at 12:55 after police had cordoned off the immediate area.

During this time, a crowd gathered behind the police tape on Avenue B at Fourth Street. (The NYPD also closed Fourth at Avenue A.)

From the street, onlookers saw the man, dressed in an olive-colored shirt, khakis and blue sneakers, pace back and forth along the edge of the building. He didn't seem to pay any attention to the people below, where several bystanders shouted disgraceful comments and urged him to jump.

At some point, the man received a cigarette from the police and walked to the rooftop's edge, balanced on the precipice, and then resumed pacing. He did this several times.

When several ESU officers tried approaching him on the roof, he turned and ran, leaping off the building. He appeared to aim away from the inflatable that the NYPD deployed for him on Fourth Street.

Police officials say the man was badly injured though still alive when EMTs transported him to the hospital.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. 

This morning in photos of stuffed animal heads on 7th Street

Photo by Derek Berg 

As seen on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Morning!

P.S.

This was a prop for some kind of photo shoot... 

The city can now fine landlords for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops

Photo from June by Stacie Joy 

As of yesterday, a new city law is now in effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

The legislation followed a Council oversight hearing on the growing problem of unlicensed smoke shops operating across the city. The bill was passed on June 22. 

In a statement by Queens Councilmember Lynn Schulman, chair of the Council's Health Committee and prime sponsor of the unlawful cannabis shop enforcement legislation: 

"My recently enacted legislation ... will help shut down the illegal cannabis and smoke shops that have proliferated our city and created public health and safety hazards in our communities. This legislation is a game changer and adds another tool to the enforcement toolbox against these harmful businesses." 

Per a media advisory about the newly enacted law: 

... agencies that conduct inspections for unlicensed marijuana or tobacco sales and find such activity may provide written notice to the property owner requiring they ensure such unlicensed activity is ceased, serving as the basis of the violation. Any subsequent inspection that finds continued violation would make the landlord subject to a $5,000 civil penalty at first, and a $10,000 penalty for each subsequent violation. The commencement of an eviction proceeding shall be considered an affirmative defense for a landlord.

It is estimated that New York City is home to approximately 8,000 illegal, unlicensed smoke shops [ed note: half of which seem to be in the East Village]. Consequently, sales by illicit stores undermine the licensed recreational marijuana market, depriving New Yorkers of the tax revenues and community reinvestment funds generated from the 13% tax on legal sales. The products sold in unlawful stores are unregulated and therefore can pose health risks to consumers.

As we've seen in previous months, shops that have been raided-fined have eventually resumed operations, new shops have risen from the ashes of shuttered venues, or new businesses with increasingly cutesy names arrive down the block.

Meanwhile, to avoid detection, several readers have noted at least two shops have removed their signage and only open in the evenings when a coordinated raid is less likely. 

Another look at the SW corner of 7th Street and Avenue B

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Late last week, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from outside 108 Avenue B, the 5-story building on the SW corner of Seventh Street that houses longstanding tenant Vazac's/the Horseshoe Bar/7B. 

As we noted in early June, workers took down the scaffolding and construction netting ... revealing a restored exterior — and some notably absent previous features...

The faded ad for the Peter Jarema Funeral Home on the next block of Seventh Street with the allure of "Air Conditioned Chapels" and a smaller sign for "Vazac Hall Catering" (and "Fine Food")  a nod to the business before the current iteration of the bar...

According to work permits on file with the Department of Buildings, the landlord had approved plans to remove the "deteriorated metal cornice" and "build up and maintain existing brick parapet." 

Since the June reveal, we've heard from many readers and residents who were sad to see the ghost signage go. (And as we said, the bar's interior retains its timeless charm.)

Read our previous post here for more background on the building and its history. 

Confirming that Buffalo Wild Wings for 1st Avenue

The other week we spotted opening soon signage on the plywood outside 225 First Ave. for Buffalo Wild Wings here between 13th Street and 14th Street.

This location isn't on the chain's website... and corporate didn't respond to our request for info.

However! We can confirm that this address will be home to a Buffalo Wild Wings. EVG correspondent Steven got a look inside the space the other day ... Wings! Fries! Drinks!

The BWW will make for the fourth wings joint on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and 14th Street (Dan and John's, Atomic Wings, Koko Wings) ... plus, there's Wingstop around the corner on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

This retail space was most recently, for a year, Crab Du Jour.