Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Noted
Historic 9 Bleecker St. has a new owner
According to public records, the historic building has a new owner — listed only as 9 Noho New York LLC with an Albany, N.Y. address.
No. 9 arrived on the sales market last December with a $6.6 million ask. (The recorded sale price earlier this summer was $5.7 million.)
This past November, after 10 years at No. 9, Overthrow closed its boxing gym on the ground floor. As ownership wrote on Instagram: "Unfortunately, we took on immense debt during and post-Covid, which kept the doors open, but we can no longer afford our current lease, and the building has been listed for sale by the owner, making staying open unsustainable."
This one-time home (41 years) of the Yippies, named and created by Abbie Hoffman and Paul Krassner, ended in January 2014 after a protracted legal battle. (Read this archived story in the Times for all the legal wrangling and history.)
Overthrow was named after one of the countercultural newspapers that the Yippies published here.
New owner, old address — the future of 9 Bleecker St. is TBD. The sales listing for No. 9 stated that it "is primed for transformation into a single-family residence, multi-family with retail, or retained as a prime commercial investment."
Here's hoping whoever moves in has at least some appreciation for the history that has passed through those doors.
Openings: The Re:Shop on 12th Street
This is the newest outpost for the family-owned business that "offers a unique combination of vintage, trade, and upcycled fashion while also promoting sustainability and increasing awareness of the effects of global waste."
The Re:Shop takes over the space from SLCT Stock NYC, whose owner decided to move on after four years here.
Need a hand keeping tabs on all the local thrift shops? Check out the East Village Vintage Clothing Map via the East Village Cintage Collective here.
Openings: KEBABISHQ on 2nd Avenue
The quick-serve spot comes via Chef Vamshi Adi (above left), who opened Ishq at 202 Avenue A last year (and later a Bib Gourmand recipient) and Gazba at 179 Essex St. just below Houston before that.
Here, he's joined by co-owner Neel Mittal. They're keeping the focus tight: freshly made kebabs (with halal meats and vegan options), a few sides, and some classic Indian drinks like mango lassi and chai.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 10:30 p.m. Delivery will also be available via the usual apps. Find the website here.
This is the latest quick-serve concept for the space (RIP Seasoned Vegan Real Quick, among others) since the Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed in March 2016 following an ongoing legal/eviction battle with landlord Icon Realty.
Signage alert: Godunk on the Bowery
The quick-serve establishment will serve Thai street food from this space between Great Jones and Bond.
Per the business Instagram account: "Born from a love of bold flavour, big energy, analog soul. More than just a place to eat, it's a vibe."
Community Board 2 approved a liquor license for Godunk this past December.
Since 2013, the storefront housed retail, including Burkleman, which later relocated, and Intermix.
Previously, it was the well-worn deli-grocery Steve's on the Bowery.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Tonight's fiery sunset
Aug . 5
Reader-submitted photo from 11th Street between First Aveune and Second Avenue.
RIP Oswald 'Ozzie' Rodriguez Jr.
A passionate artist, playwright, actor, and longtime steward of La MaMa's history, Rodriguez dedicated decades to the East Village's legendary experimental theater on Fourth Street.
Here is more from LaMama:
It is with profound sadness that La MaMa announces the passing of our beloved Archive Director Ozzie Rodriguez (2/20/1944 – 7/24/2025). His love of and dedication to La MaMa, his careful stewardship of the Archive and his abiding friendship will be sorely missed by all of us. We send our love and prayers to his family and all those near and dear to him. We mourn with them the monumental loss of this great man. Our hearts are broken.
He joined La MaMa in the early 1970s as a resident director under founder Ellen Stewart. In 1987, he became director of the La MaMa Archive, where he helped preserve and share the history of the Off-Off-Broadway movement. His dedication ensured that generations to come could access the stories, artifacts, and spirit of La MaMa's groundbreaking work.
A bilingual playwright and actor, Rodriguez also founded two experimental theater companies and mentored countless artists. He is remembered not only for his stewardship of La MaMa's legacy, but also for his warmth, generosity, and belief in the power of community theater.
LaMama is inviting friends and colleagues to leave their remembrances at this link. While plans are still underway for an official memorial celebration, an informal gathering will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Community Arts Space, 74A E. Fourth St., between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
For more on the La MaMa Archive, which Rodriguez helped shape into a vital resource, visit this link.
Monday, August 4, 2025
Aug. 4
Unsure if the trash bag atop the tree is a disguise or a hat. (Or, possibly, both.)
Sunday in Tompkins Square Park
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Yesterday marked day 2 of the free shows commemorating the 37th anniversary of the Tompkins Square Park police riot of Aug. 6, 1988.
Although there was a good-sized crowd, it wasn't quite the stage-diving free-for-all we saw during parts of Saturday's shows.
The afternoon also served as the Rock Against Racism concert, originally scheduled for May 4 in Washington Square Park but postponed due to rain.
Getting asked to play Tompkins is a huge honor for the band. Half our band grew up going to the free shows in Tompkins — and being asked to come and play feels very full circle. The Tompkins Square punk community is such an important part of the East Village’s history and continuing to have excellent shows that are free and accessible to everyone is crucial — especially right now.
At the opening of Lidl on the Lower East Side
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Lidl opened its long-anticipated Lower East Side location on Friday, drawing lines as early as 6:30 a.m. for the official 8 a.m. opening.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at 7:40 a.m., marked the German supermarket chain's continued expansion into Manhattan (there's an outpost in Harlem that opened in 2022 with one planned for Chelsea), bringing its global store count to over 12,000, with more than 185 in the eastern part of the U.S.
The 23,000-square-foot space — formerly a Rite Aid — is located at the corner of Grand and Clinton streets, in a building owned by the affordable housing nonprofit Grand Street Guild. Lidl signed a lease for the property last summer.
Opening day was as busy as you'd expect, with long lines at the entrance, free coffee and donuts for departing shoppers, and a DJ playing music near a union protest with an array of large inflatable rats outside the store.
A union representative said the demonstration — limited to the morning hours — was meant to raise awareness about labor concerns, stating, "We don't want [people] to go without food, but we do want them to think about fair labor practices."
Other offerings include a private-label meat line under the "Butcher's Specialty" brand, with items such as USDA Choice beef, organic and grass-fed options, and antibiotic-free chicken. The seafood section looked solid as well.
The eggs and dairy aisle drew a crowd as well. Eggs start at $3.75 a dozen, while a gallon of milk is $2.97.
La Fleur Café has moved on from 9th Street
The Café's Instagram account states they are relocating, though it doesn't mention yet where.
The woman-owned space offered "wellness, thrifting and community." By day, La Fleur provided a café service and coworking space... with alcohol-free specialty drinks (like the CBD-infused turmeric latte) in the evening. There were also open mics, artisan pop-ups, art shows and tarot readings.
The DOH closed La Fleur for several months this spring and early summer, per a GoFundMe about the situation, "over a few minor but unresolved maintenance issues — including, unbelievably, a fine for not having plastic straws."
Per the owner, Dee:
This comes after nearly three years of personal sacrifice, rebuilding, and growth. I started La Fleur with my own savings, family support, and a deep belief in the power of community. We've hosted hundreds of events, championed small businesses, supported creatives of all backgrounds, and built something truly unique...all while bootstrapping and scraping by.
Signage alert: Boongs Grab & Go on 3rd Avenue
The owners of Boongs Café are opening a 24/7 grab-and-go market on Third Avenue at 11th Street.
The aptly named Boongs Grab & Go will offer prepared meals, snacks, drinks and desserts from a retail space of NYU's Third Avenue North Dorm.
No word on an opening date. (Boongs Grab & Go has an Instragram placeholder account here.)
Boongs Café opened in January at 327 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The family-run business offers a variety of egg waffles, bubble tea and handmade Korean dumplings.
The owners also operate Boongs Korean Fried Chicken on First Avenue in Midtown East.
As for previous tenants on Third and 11th, Heavenly Market & Deli closed last September after 10 years in business ... taking over the storefront that housed Fern Cliff Deli, whose old sign was uncovered earlier this year.
Thanks to EVG readers Seth Treiman and Sung for photos and tips!
Tiki Tiki closes East Village space
Ownership told us via an Instagram message that they are relocating to Astoria.
The business — A TikTok-friendly "sweet tooth's paradise featuring churros, skillet cookies, waffle sticks, and more" — also has outposts in Kew Gardens and West New York, N.J.
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Weekend's parting shots
Photos by Susan Schiffman
From Saturday night, more open hydrant action along Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place (previously) ...
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