A last look at vintage video game retailer 8 Bit and Up

Photos by Stacie Joy

8 Bit and Up is expected to close tomorrow — as first reported here — after 15 years in business... most recently at 86 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (The shop started on the second floor at 37 St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue.)

The owner here is said to be retiring (there's word of an eBay shop ahead).

We stopped by for one more look at this memory-inducing time capsule of video games and consoles from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

As Untapped Cities once said, "The lack of windows, the low ceilings, fluorescent lights and concrete floor seem to recreate our memories of multi-night Counterstrike marathons."

Friday's opening shot

EVG reader Joe shared this photo from last night on 13th Street, noting: "Interesting method to block off drying concrete ..."

Thursday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy

A new mural on the Sixth Street side of Sunny and Annie's at Avenue B courtesy of longtime East Village resident and artist EiLeen Doster...

About Cure Thrift's community-driven new space coming to 3rd Avenue

Cure Thrift is expanding its footprint on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street. (H/T Pinch!)

In the months ahead, the eclectic nonprofit that benefits juvenile diabetes research and advocacy will debut The Market at Cure Thrift in the vacant storefront next door (the former Basics Plus, which closed in the spring).

Cure's ownership told us what to expect: 

We are using the basement for much-needed storage for Cure and will be turning the upstairs into a weekend vendors market that is very affordable for second-hand sellers and artists to sell their goods out of! 

During the week, we'll hold specialty events like dollar sales, stuff-a-bag sales, art and rare book nights, fundraisers, etc. It will be an extension of Cure Thrift, but different. It will be community-driven with a strong focus on small businesses, sustainability and affordability. 

The two storefronts were previously connected when Surprise! Surprise! was here (until 2014) ... Basics Plus downsized the space in 2019, becoming two separate retail spaces. 

However, reverting to that previous layout is not feasible now. 

"Unfortunately, we can't connect them since they're technically different buildings, but it's all us. We're very excited. (But we'd love to go back in time to those Surprise! Surprise! days!)"

Cure, which started in 2008, moved to the larger corner space in September 2021... after years on 12th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

ICYMI: The former P.S. 64/Charas is headed to a bankruptcy sale

As we first reported on Sept. 13, the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center is headed to a bankruptcy sale this fall. 

The auction date for the long-vacant property at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C is Nov. 8... and the qualified bid deadline is Oct. 18.

Yesterday, the Illinois-based Hilco Real Estate, a national real estate disposition services provider, issued a news release about the upcoming sale. 

Most of the information is the same that was on Hilco's website — with an exception (bold ours): 

With an interior that is now down to the studs, the building presents an opportunity for the approved construction of 535 beds for a student/college dormitory or alternatively offers a developer or investor the potential to help mitigate the current homeless and migrant crisis by using the building for that purpose. 

The 135,000-square-foot building is zoned for "community facility use." According to city records, a full stop-work order has been in place via the Department of Buildings since August 2015.

This piece published by THE CITY in March has more background about owner Gregg Singer's efforts here ...

In the 22 years since Singer evicted local activists, he has been unable to get needed approvals to modify the building and garner revenue. In 2006, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission protected the building as historically significant, which prevented any construction of additional floors and protected those elements of the building’s edifice that Singer had not already destroyed. 

Singer’s subsequent plan to turn the building into collegiate dorms were complicated by the arrival of Rule 51, also known as the Dorm Rule, which gives control over the building to the educational institution — rather than the landlord — and mandates 10-year leases. At different times, Adelphi University and Cooper Union tentatively agreed to lease the building before backing out of negotiations, according to court documents. 

Local elected officials have urged all three mayors who have passed through City Hall since the building's purchase to intervene and return the building to the community. None have acted.

East Village Mini Market debuts on Avenue A

Photo by William Klayer 

East Village Mini Market is now open at 153 Avenue A near 10th Street. 

We noted this pending arrival on Sept. 2 — when the new signage went up on the storefront. Then, workers removed the signage, casting doubt on the opening. 

Anyway! 

There's now temp signage up there obscured by the opening balloonage. 

And this is not a smoke shop (there is a small assortment of CBD products) ... but it's mostly snacks, beverages, etc. However, there is no deli counter here for sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., like the business it took over — Tompkins Finest Deli & Grill.

TFDG abruptly closed late last month after 11-plus years.

Buka has closed on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven

A for-rent sign now hangs on the storefront at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... marking the official end of Buka in this space.

This was the second outpost for Buka, the Bed-Stuy-based restaurant serving homestyle Nigerian cuisine.

Buka debuted in the East Village last October... unfortunately, we hadn't seen the space open for business here since late June. 

A photo exhibition of the Italian hardcore punk scene at C-Squat

Over the next few days, you can check out photography documenting the 1980s and 1990s Italian hardcore punk scene at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space/C-Squat on Avenue C.

Here's more about "Collezione di Attimi: A Photography Exhibition, Tribute, and Book Presentation" via the EVG inbox...

This photo show was initially set up in Berlin back in June. It debuted in New York as part of the Anarchist Bookfair, and after this weekend, it will be shipped back to travel across Italy. 

The photo selection is based on the 370-page Negazione photo book by DeeMo. It primarily focuses on the community surrounding the band Negazione, but there are also photos of other iconic Italian hardcore punk bands like Raw Power, Wretched, Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers, and Bedboys. 

Show curator and former Negazione band member Michele Barox will be doing a discussion on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 6:15 p.m.

Photo exhibit gallery hours: 

• Thursday: 5-7 p.m.
• Friday: 4-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.
• Sunday: Noon-3:30 p.m. 

You can access the free show via MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

Today in grand opening alerts: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on 14th Street

Photo by Edmund John Dunn 

The Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now open at 442 E. 14th St. near Avenue A.

This location of the fast-food chain combined two storefronts — the Lower East Side Coffee Shop, which closed here after 13 years in February 2021 ... and New Herbal World, which left in September 2019. 

We first heard about this pending arrival in August 2022.

FTC Skateboarding pops up on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

FTC Skateboarding — a San Francisco-based brand that dates to 1986 — has opened a pop-up shop at 216 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

I recently met store manager Chris Gurinsky (right) and creative consultant Ando...

Merch, from T-shirts to decks, at the East Village location is created specifically for this pop-up store ... and is not available at other sites (aside from San Francisco, there are three locations in Japan) ...

The pop-up shop is a magnet for skaters, like Drake (below), who was working with a new FTC deck...

... and from the left: Cotto, Ando, Dazz, Drake and Chris ...

The shop is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. 

Ownership is currently talking to the landlord about extending this lease.

Reaching the top at 1 St. Mark's Place

Workers have apparently reached the top of the 9-story 1 St. Mark's Place at Third Avenue at this entry point into the East Village ... an American flag marks the completion and highpoint of the steel structure.

As previously noted (and noted), Real Estate Equities Corp. plans on 53,000 square feet of office space and some 7,700 square feet for retail here at 1 St. Mark's Place. 

Work has moved quickly since the steel frame made its first street-level appearance back in early July. 

The rendering shows a June 2024 completion date.

Signage alert: Curry Flavor on 6th Street

An EVG reader notes that the new Indian restaurant (first mentioned here) is looking ready to open here at 324 E. Sixth St. 

The signage recently went up for ... Curry Flavor.

As previously noted, before this arrival, the block was down to one Indian restaurant, Malai Marke, when there were more than 25 at one point in its Little India heyday.

Koo'k closed at No. 324 in August after eight years in service. And Curry Flavor kept the same phone number.

On 2nd Avenue, Moko temporarily relocates during renovation

Photos by Steven 

Moko, an omakase restaurant that opened in the fall of 2021 at 138 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, is now closed for renovations. 

According to a sign on the door for patrons, Moko has "relocated temporarily for renovations" ... and can now be found at Moko's unnamed sister restaurant at 214 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

In July, Moko's ownership was to appear before Community Board 3 for a new liquor license for 214 E. Ninth St. The restaurant, Shiso, was said to offer a Japanese and French tasting menu. (Questionnaire here.)

It's not immediately clear how long Shiso may have been in service. We spotted two nearly identical TikToks about the opening (here and here) from July. 

According to minutes from the July meeting (PDF here), CB3 SLA committee members recommended denying Shiso's application for a liquor license. 

Per the minutes: "Three people spoke in opposition, including a representative of the condominium board, primarily due to noise, safety, and quality of life issues as well as DOB violations for the construction, liens against the building for unpaid contractors and that they have already held events with velvet ropes, doormen and large crowds outside without a license." 

In addition, "there were 2 residents who wrote an email in opposition, and 2 residents who said their signatures were forged on the petitions."

According to the State Liquor Authority, this address has no active liquor license. Public records show that the license expired at the end of August for the previous tenant, Dumpling Lab, which closed last fall shortly after making the 2022 Michelin Guide's list of 18 new Bib Gourmands.

Moko's Second Avenue outpost also did not have an active liquor license, per the State Liquor Authority. 

Tuesday's parting shots

William Klayer (above) and Steven both noted that the pumpkins have landed at Lime Tree Market on First Avenue at Ninth Street... which always seems to get them in first (for corner markets)...

That's a wrap! Counting coins to benefit Social Tees at Mary O's

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

All those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters really add up!

On Sunday evening, Mary O's hosted a coin-wrapping fundraiser for the East Village-based Social Tees Animal Rescue. Participants could drop off and wrap loose change ... with the proceeds going to the nonprofit on Ninth Street near Avenue A.

Mary O'Halloran (middle below), proprietor of the Irish pub and soda bread shop at 32 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street, also provided a special menu...

... and live music featuring Soul Cake...

And by the night's end, they had collected a little more than $2,000. 

"We were so honored when Mary offered to host a fundraiser for us — Mary O's is our favorite bar in the neighborhood. We've long admired how Mary has made her place feel like home for so many people, and we're always desperate for donations for veterinary care," said Samantha Brody, executive director of Social Tees. "It was really touching to see so many regulars and animal lovers show up to roll pennies and enjoy each other's company."

Ben's Deli is temporarily closed for renovations

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Ben's Deli is now temporarily closed for renovations here at 32 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

This was expected after longtime owner Ben Gibran sold the business earlier this year to a cousin, Sammy Ksem. 

The shop, expected to be closed for two to three months, will still go by Ben's Deli. 

Here's a look at the last night... as the shelves were thinned out ...

You can also expect the return of the excellent in-store vendor Los Tacos Poca Madre...

On the last night, Haas was behind the counter...

... as well as Ben, making a rare return to this spot where he greeted generations of customers...

We still hope to see Ben on the block from time to time...