[Updated] Café Social 68 revamps its space and is ready to debut as Viva! Cafe

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After several weeks of renovations, a new-look cafe is ready to debut at 68 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

Owner Angel Ramirez has revamped Café Social 68, expanding the menu to offer more options throughout the day. Along with the new menu comes a new name: Viva! Café. 

The counter has been relocated from the left side to the center of the storefront, and a larger kitchen takes up the are where the few tabletops used to be. Viva! Cafe will now be an order-and-go operation with a new delivery (Seamless, et al) service. 

Aside from a variety of coffee drinks (still offering Devoción), they'll have special sandwiches, salads and soups... and a focus on breakfast foods such as egg sandwiches and French toast.

Last evening, Ramirez, who owns adjacent clothing businesses Angels on A and Angels Boutique, was busy finishing up the space for today's expected grand opening.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. 

Café Social 68 opened in August 2019.

On Avenue A, TabeTomo sets an Oct. 16 reopening date

Photo by Steven 

Yesterday, TabeTomo announced they would return to service next Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

The tsukemen specialty shop has been closed since an early morning fire upstairs from the restaurant at 131 Avenue A on April 24. According to ABC 7, five residents sustained minor injuries while fleeing the six-floor building on the NW corner of St. Mark's Place. Firefighters recovered a lithium-ion battery from a unit, per ABC 7.

During a tour of the gutted space on May 17, owner Tomo Kubo told EVG's Stacie Joy the space needed a complete gut renovation, with workers stripping the walls down to the studs. 

"There was no fire damage — all the damage was water," he said in May. "Between the ceiling and the second floor, there was much damage to the wood, which could warp." 

TabeTomo also announced some opening specials on Instagram...

 

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What's next for the former smoke shop next to Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A?

Green World Convenience has been closed in recent months next to Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

We got some closure, so to speak, last week: The Marshal paid a visit on Oct. 1, and the landlord is now in legal possession of the space.

The unlicensed shop opened last fall, and was pretty promotional with sidewalk boards advertising flowers, edibles and pre-rolls. 

The business was, until May 2023, known as East Village New Deli. Then, in June 2023, it returned without the deli counter... only to close again and reopen as another exotic snack shop/weed shop. 

We have no idea what might be next... how about: Bring back Alphabets!

Noted

As seen on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

(And NOT a prop, or set dressing.)

Here's when 2nd Avenue is expected to be repaved this week

After milling Second Avenue from 14th Street to Houston during the week of Sept. 16, the DOT has scheduled the roadway to be repaved on Friday night...

In June, the city announced that Second Avenue — one of the city's busiest bus and bike corridors — was getting significant enhancements to improve commuting. 

In a June 4 statement, the DOT announced that..: 

The new design, expected to be completed later this year, will bring a wider bike lane, an enhanced bus lane, and additional pedestrian space for 59 blocks of Second Avenue, stretching 2.9 miles, from East 59 Street to Houston Street, improving commutes for 57,000 daily bus riders and 6,000 daily cyclists. The redesign is one of dozens of projects highlighted in the city's Connecting to the Core action plan to complement the launch of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's forthcoming congestion pricing program. 

On June 5, Gov. Hochul announced the pause on congestion pricing. However, as we understand it, these commuting improvements are still moving forward on Second Avenue. A DOT rep said the markings would arrive a few weeks after the repaving. 

The new-look Second Avenue will include shifting the curbside bus lane to an offset bus lane to help speed up travel times.

As Streetsblog reported in June, bus speeds in lower Manhattan "have cratered to under 7 miles per hour on 81 percent of buses that run during the afternoon rush." 

In other roadway news, the city milled Houston from the Bowery to Broadway this past Thursday... and, amazingly, did not decide to do this during the Feast of San Gennaro.

No date yet for repaving Third Avenue between 12th Street and Fourth Street. 

P.S. 

As several readers have noted, this is why there's a lag time between milling and paving... to give crews time to do any underground repairs... yesterday, workers were digging up where the roadway had been sinking between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

Prop or not?: Looking at Avenue A during the 'Caught Stealing' shoot

Crews yesterday continued to undress parts of Avenue A after standing in for a late-1990s version of itself for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing."

The Benny's Burritos signage was removed from its one-time home (RIP 2014) on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A, a main hub during the several evenings of filming.

At times, it was hard to distinguish between the props for the shoot and the everyday randomness you'd expect to find along Avenue A.

Here's a quick guide to help determine what was a prop or not.

Bikes in a bunch: PROP

Michigan football flag outside Offside on the NE corner of A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Burgeoning sewer collapse on A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Pigeons devouring the 50 pounds of bread someone dumps in the once-mucky tree pit: NOT a prop, obviously

Obey Giant wheat pastes on the side of Amor Y Amargo: PROPS

Canopy left atop the M14 stop between Fifth Street and Sixth Street: NOT a prop

A sketchy-looking casting notice for a Young Zendaya: NOT a prop (and actually legit) 

Stop Warehousing Apartments Flyers: PROPS

Stack of school desks of the SE corner of A and Sixth: PROPS (sadly)

Phone booth: PROP

Bikes locked up outside the Cherry Tavern: NOT SURE!

Unhoused encampment on Sixth near A: PROP

Building-wide tags on the NW corner of Avenue A and Second Street: NOT props

REVS COST tags on Sixth Street plus other tags: PROPS

Jesus Loves You ("Think About That") flyer: NOT a prop

Rather hunky-looking guy dressed as if he could either be the building's porter or a serial entrepreneur who incubates and invests in breakthrough fintech companies: Guy, NOT a prop (though an actor); Car, PROP

Sidewalk message: NOT a prop 

The Hairy Balls signage outside Key Food: NOT a prop

We haven't heard anything official... but we're guessing that we haven't seen the last of the "Caught Stealing" shoot. We've heard rumors (and seen evidence of) a Pyramid Club and Mars Bar redux.

As we've been reporting, "Caught Stealing," based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, features a cast that includes Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.

Monday's parting shot

A Halloween scene on Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C....

Checking in on the new East Village home of Gizmo, opening this month

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated: They are OPEN as of Oct. 15!

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It's starting to look like Gizmo in here. 

When we last checked in with Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid, the husband-and-wife owners of Gizmo, they had just picked up the keys for their new storefront at 626 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C... ending a months-long search. 

They've been busy these recent weeks putting together the space for their sewing supply and repair business...

Their opening-day goal is Oct. 15, though it could be a few days earlier. (As we reported, Hossein loves Halloween and wants to be open before then.) 

The hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday, although Rosa admits they may be open additional hours if needed. The phone number remains (212) 477-2773.

Until the end of February, Gizmo spent 32 years at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. Their landlord did not offer them a lease renewal. (No. 160 remains tenant-free, BTW.)

Paul's Bar no more for the movies, Double Down Saloon returns to service

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Top photo and text by EVG

After serving as a set for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed 1990s-based crime thriller "Caught Stealing" in recent weeks, the Double Down Saloon reopened on Oct. 2 here at 14 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street.

During the week of Sept. 9, we noticed a Pauls Bar marquee behind a temp-looking Double Down Saloon banner.

We thought someone uncovered ghost signage. (We recalled previous tenants like Julep and Mekka.) 

Then, an EVG reader told us this was for a set, and Zendaya would be filming here. Made some sense, as Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus shot a music video here in October 2020. 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by the (suspiciously clean) bar on Sept. 14 and was told the DD would be closing for a few weeks for renovations and a refresh. A staffer told us, "We'll be back and better than ever," saying not to expect "big changes; most of the work will be in the basement and with the taps." And fear not, as the adult films would be back on the TVs, and the DD's infamous Ass Juice would still flow from wherever it flows from. Multiple DD staff at the time said they knew nothing about filming. 

Later, after the film notices arrived up and down Avenue A, DD management confirmed the movie part but wouldn't disclose any details. (We heard that locations had to sign a strict NDA. And DD didn't tell us that as it would break said NDA.) 

Anyway, these are photos from Sept. 14... the day before the bar temporarily closed on Sept. 15 so crews could set up for the interior filming ...

Here's how the place looked during late-night filming on Sept. 20...

Based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, "Caught Stealing" stars Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Will Brill, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson. 

This outpost of the 24/7 Las Vegas fixture opened in 2006.

2 normal and useful businesses opening side by side on 14th Street

Signage arrived last week for Adonis Barbershop at 329 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Thanks to Pinch for the photo!) 

The barber shop is next door to the coming-soon Stuytown Pharmacy, which we mentioned in July. 

The Adonis space was most recently the smoke shop K&H Convenience, which had taken over the lease from the previous tenant, Marc's Barber Shop. 

So, we may be out of the era of every vacant storefront becoming a smoke shop.

The members-only Flyfish Club debuts at the former site of the Sunshine Cinema

The Flyfish Club, a "curated members club offering elevated dining and social experiences," debuted at 141 E. Houston St. between Eldridge and Forsyth on Sept. 17.

The club anchors the newish 9-story office building. 

When first announced in November 2022, the Flyfish Club was to be the city's first NFT restaurant. However, ownership (including Resy co-founder Gary Vaynerchuk) pivoted to a more traditional membership model. 

The pricing follows: a standard individual membership costs $3,500 annually (with a $1,500 initiation fee). 

And here's what you get: 

Nestled in the bustling heart of Manhattan's Lower East Side, Flyfish Club extends over three expansive levels, covering more than 11,000 square feet of meticulously designed space. Members enjoy private access to a variety of curated areas, rooted in elevated dining and social experiences. 

The club boasts a restaurant, a lounge, a private dining room, and for select members, an exclusive omakase counter. 

The club's interiors are the creation of Garrett Singer Design, a distinguished leader in the design industry. 

Eater has more on the place here. 

Previously at this address: The five-screen Sunshine Cinema closed in January 2018 after 17 years in service. Landmark reportedly had the opportunity to buy the property but decided against it after CB3 voted down a proposal for a full liquor license for a cafe in the theater in 2012 for pre- and post-movie drinks and dinner. 

As The Lo-Down reported then, "residents in attendance ... expressed serious concerns about the application in an area already teeming with nightlife activity." Moviegoers out to see the latest from, say, Jim Jarmusch are well-known to get cranked on the craft beer.

Today, alcohol sales at multiplexes are as common as soda and popcorn, including at the AMC Village 7, Village East by Angelika, Regal Union Square, and Regal Essex Crossing. 

Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house. After sitting abandoned for many years, it was renovated, and the Sunshine opened on Dec. 21, 2001.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at Le Petit Versailles Community Garden today on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C for the "succulent sale" that we mentioned yesterday...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on Fourth Street by Derek Berg) 

 

• Celebrating the life and work of longtime East Village artist Anton van Dalen (Tuesday) 

• Why Dan Perino has been plastering the East Village with his 'perfect woman' flyers (Wednesday) 

• Caravan of Dreams launches crowdfunding campaign to secure future (Monday) 

• No last rites for the Rite Aid on 1st Avenue (Friday) 

• The return of Hitchcocktober at the Village East by Angelika (Wednesday) 

• Cyber Cafe joins Kim's Video and Benny's Burritos in 1990s throwback for 'Caught Stealing' (Tuesday) ... And now, Austin Butler (in character) carrying a bag of laundry (Wednesday)

• Monsieur Vo has closed on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• The silence of the lamb chops: Key Food's sound system takes another break (Saturday)

• Excavator spotted at 1st Avenue site as plans for 7-story residential building await city approval (Monday)

• At the Ukrainian Museum, conversation and connections about borders (Friday)

• Lights, camera, nostalgia: Orchard Street goes back to the 1950s for Timothée Chalamet film (Tuesday) 

• A 'Succulent Sale' to raise funds for Le Petit Versailles Community Garden on 2nd Street (Saturday)

• That's Mr. KEKE Ramen to you on Cooper Square (Monday) 

• Openings: Yawning Cobra, Potbelly, Love Mi (Monday) ... Nosh Up on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Signage alert: Halal Bites Pizza on 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

• Are you Ready for a 24/7 self-service, autonomous golf simulator studio? (Wednesday)