Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

It didn't take long for the conspiracy theorists to say what IF yesterday's fire turns out to be suspicious ... after all, 14th Street and Avenue A is prime real estate ... and many of the storefronts along this stretch of single-level businesses have been for rent for months and months...

As I noted last summer: "This area on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is ripe for development. So when when the 'space available' signs went up last summer (2008)...Hello Marc Jacobs! Hello huge Chase branch!'"



Well... according to the Post, the fire started at Pete's-a-Pizza, where a welder was working on a fire-access door. There, his welding torch apparently set some grease on fire. And that was it.

Anyway, Rainbow took over a big space here last July.




The area here also falls outside the East Village/Lower East Side Rezoning ... Noted one reader, "a nice fat dorm here would solve NYU's missing square footage."

Anyway, I'm not suggesting that anything happened here aside from a terrible, accidental fire that destroyed four local businesses... but, it is something to think about... and we've been around long enough to see the unthinkable happen... luxury hotels on the Bowery? An NYU dorm popping up at the site of a venerable pool hall/concert venue//club?

Meanwhile, I've been told that the owners of Stuyvesant Grocery do have insurance. No word just yet on what their plans are. I meant to add that I hope all the businesses will be able to rebuild and reopen here.

[Updating] Report of an early-morning fire at 328 E. 14th St., home of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

A two-alarm fire tore through 328 E. 14th St. early this morning. According to the official FDNY Twitter feed, the fire started just before 6 a.m. in the ground floor, which is home to Artichoke Pizza here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

FDNYalerts MAN 2-ALARM 328 E 14 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON THE 1ST FL,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 26, 2017

A large number of firefighters were congregated outside what is Artichoke's dining room...





The damage extends to the second and third floors of the building...





The FDNY called it under control by 6:30 a.m.

FDNYalerts MAN 2-ALARM 328 E 14 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON THE 1ST FL W/ EXT TO 2ND AND 3RD FLRS, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 26, 2017

No word just yet on cause or injuries or extent of the damage. As of 7 a.m., the NYPD still had 14th Street closed off between First Avenue and Second Avenue.



Artichoke is planning on opening in a new location directly across the street from here. Artichoke debuted at No. 328 in 2008.

Updated 10 a.m.

The Daily News reports that the fire caused "extensive damage" to Artichoke.

Witnesses said that the fire started right around its 5 a.m. closing time.

"I woke up to drunk girls on the street eating pizza and taking Snapchats, saying 'Holy s--t! There's a fire,'" said Morgan Crouse, 25, who lives above the pizzeria.

Updated 2 p.m.

The story in the Post noted this: "One fire source said it did not appear to be intentional."

A round-up of the old-school Chinese restaurants in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The neighborhood has temporarily lost two reasonably priced quick-serve Chinese restaurants this year — A&C Kitchen on Avenue C after a fire in the courtyard and Asian Taste on Third and B due to a gas shutoff in the building. 

In addition, New Double Dragon closed on First Avenue with the pending demolition of a three-building parcel. 

Previously, we saw the closure of New Chinatown Restaurant on Avenue D and China Town Restaurant on Houston. 

So it seems like there aren’t as many options for pork fried rice, sesame chicken and beef with broccoli these days. So, we decided to take inventory. I recruited local Chinese food enthusiast Josh Davis (an EVG contributor under the name jdx) to help me visit the remaining old-school East Village options. 

Here's our list. (Have we left any out? And note: We stayed between Houston and 16th Street, Avenue D to Third Avenue.) 

• Chen's Express Kitchen: 223 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue 

(Menu here)

• Baji Baji: 145 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street

(Instagram account here)

• China Wok: 63 Avenue D between Fifth Street and Sixth Street

(Menu here)

• Fei Ma: 79 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street 

(Menu here)

• M&J Asian: 600 E. 14th St. at Avenue B 

(Website here)

• Mee Noodle: 223 First Ave, between 13th Street and 14th Street

(Yelp info here)

• No 1 Kitchen: 265 First Ave. between 15th Street and 16th Street 

(Website here)

• Red House: 203 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue 

(Website here)

• Yang’s Happy Wok: 175 Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street 

(Website here)

While we miss some mid-2000s casualties like Bamboo House and Jade Mountain, a decent variety of restaurants remain. 

Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite from this list...

13 fires in the East Village since May 2010

After hearing about the two fires yesterday in the neighborhood, many people remarked — seems as if there have been a lot of fires here of late.

Indeed, I've covered 13 since May. (I included the manhole explosion on First Avenue... though not the car that caught on fire on East Fourth Street in September.)

Thankfully, in each of these fires, there weren't any serious injuries... and as far as what has been reported, none of the fires have been deemed suspicious by authorities....

Jan. 4, East Sixth Street near Avenue A

[Photo by EV Grieve reader Jamie]

Jan. 4, Second Avenue at East Fourth Street


[Photo by Special Monkey]

Dec. 22, First Avenue near Third Street



Nov. 29, East 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue



Nov. 14, NYU's Barney Building on East Ninth Street



Nov. 13, St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue



Nov. 11, Ageloff Towers, Avenue A and East Fourth Street...


[Photo by Cluglife]

Oct. 26, First Avenue at East Ninth Street


[By EV Grieve reader Jason]

Oct. 24, Otto's Shrunken Head, East 14th Street



July 8, 240 East Houston at Avenue A



July 12, 628 Broadway between East Houston and Bleecker Street


[Photo via Twitpic]

June 8, Second Avenue near Seventh Street


[Via Fairfax Wright]

May 12, East 14th Street at Avenue A


[Photo via Sergey]

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Cooper Square Friday evening by Carol from East 5th Street) ... 

• Help for Chino Garcia (Friday) 

• The Trader Joe's Wine Shop on Union Square has permanently shuttered (Thursday) ... Here's the midnight email that employees of the Trader Joe's Wine Shop received about the closing on Union Square (Friday) 

• A visit to Aliens of Brooklyn on 9th Street (Thursday)

• On 5th Street, some residents say they want green space and not senior housing (Monday, 84 comments) 

• Cafe Mocha, destroyed by fire in 2020, is reopening in a new East Village location (Monday) 

• East Village cafe AO Bowl closes, owner blames Sen. Schumer (Monday) 

• A memorial for Jack the cat on 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• A look at the remaining red-tailed hawk fledgling in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• TabeTomo owners have new venture planned for St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• El Primo Red Tacos primed for 151 Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• Here's info about a Virtual Rat Academy for East Village business owners, gardeners and residents (Tuesday)

• Signage alerts: Hi-Note on Avenue B; Le Burger on 5th Street (Wednesday) 

• iSouvlaki has closed on 12th Street (Thursday) 

• Today in iconic hotel awning sightings (Monday)

• Manhattan Marketplace coming soon to 1st Avenue and 12th Street (Monday) 

• [solidcore] bringing the pilates to 14th Street (Monday) 

• 5 years later, signs of progress at 180 2nd Ave. (Wednesday) 

• Seeing (Empanada Mama) red on 14th Street and 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

 ... and earlier this summer, a Janovic Paint & Decorating Center opened at the former Duane Reade on Third Avenue and 18th Street... we missed that the company closed the outpost on Fourth Avenue near 10th Street... 

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Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location

[Photo by Pinch]

Back on Friday, workers hoisted the new Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage at 321 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue — across the way from their current location that has been closed since the fire on May 26.


[Photo by KT]

We first spotted plans for the new location this past November.

Team Artichoke hasn't offered up much about the new 14th Street Artichoke. Co-owner Francis Garcia told Eater in April that the lease is up at No. 328, "so they took that as an opportunity for bigger and better. The new location will allow for expanded offerings, like cauliflower fritters, broccoli rabe sandwiches, and more."

There also hasn't been much more on the fire, which started as the pizzeria was closing up for the night/morning. An FDNY source told the Post that the fire didn't appear to be suspicious.

The Department of Buildings issued a partial vacate order on the building:

DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE 2 STORES AT LEFT AND RIGHT OF 1ST FLOOR, 10 FRONT APTS AT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FROM 2ND STORY TO 6TH STORY, 4 APTS AT MIDDLE OF RIGHT SIDE OF BUILDING FROM 2ND STORY TO 5TH STORY

It's not clear how many residents are currently in the building.

Artichoke's first location opened on 14th Street in 2008. There are now eight other locations, in Brooklyn, Queens and Berkeley, Calif.

In addition, the Artichoke website is featuring information about franchising...



Thank you to EVG readers Pinch, KT and Tyler for sending photos!

A look at the fire-damaged 328 E. 14th St.

Here's a look this morning at 328 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Early yesterday, the FDNY responded to a two-alarm fire that reportedly started inside Artichoke shortly after the pizzeria closed at 5 a.m.

Here's more via the Post:

The fire spread from the ground level to second- and third-floor apartments through walls in the six-story building, according to the FDNY.

A manager said he called 911 after a neighbor texted him a photo of the burning building.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 6:27 a.m. There were no injuries, and it is not clear how the fire started, officials said.

One fire source said the blaze did not appear to have been intentionally set.

The city posted vacate notices on Artichoke ... and the newish Alibaba Smoke Shop next door (which does not look to have sustained any damage)...



Artichoke has yet to comment on the fire, at least via their website or social media properties.

As you can see, most of the windows facing 14th Street have been boarded up. One 328 resident left this comment on yesterday's post: "Few of us have been displaced and need to find a new home because of the extensive damage to our apartments."



The 14th Street Y down the block opened its doors for residents ... and the Red Cross was on the scene to provide immediate assistance.

Week in Grieview

[Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Sen. Hoylman calls for immediate stay on all Steve Croman-initiated tenant cases (Wednesday)

Report: Sunshine Cinema on East Houston to close in January (Friday)

Arson at historic Lower East Side synagogue (Sunday)

Empellón Cocina closes after 5 years (Friday) Ditto for L'Apico (Friday)

Demolition watch: 112-120 E. 11th St., future home of a Moxy hotel (Monday)

An ode to Cafe Orlin (Thursday)

Out and About with designer Gustavo Roldan (Thursday)

Fire-damaged Caracas Arepa Bar now for rent (Wednesday)

A look at the incoming Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth on 13th Street (Tuesday)

Post office-replacing residential building reaches ground level on 14th Street (Monday)

Fat Cat Kitchen opens on 14th Street (Tuesday)

Report: Body found in John V. Lindsay East River Park (Thursday)

Tailors Atelier expanding next door on 9th Street (Monday)

LES landlord hit with $1.2 million Airbnb lawsuit; 536 E. 14th St. among the properties (Thursday)

The 'commanding retail presence' of Extell's new 14th Street development (Wednesday)

Report: Drama on 13th Street as family of actress Rosario Dawson looks to buy affordable housing (Tuesday)

The Village Pourhouse still looks like the Village Pourhouse outside, but E.Vil is on the way (Monday)

Elite New York Sports Club now open on Astor Place (Wednesday)

Chinese restaurant in the works for former funeral parlor on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Flagpole Day in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Dance Parade and DanceFest photos galore (Saturday ... Sunday)

...and thanks to Thrillist for naming EVG one of the city's best neighborhood blogs. (Read article here.)

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Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week include (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• First sign of the B Bar & Grill-replacing 21-story office building on the Bowery (Monday)

• Construction hell is consuming the intersection of 1st Avenue at 7th Street (Tuesday) 

• About Hi Noona, serving up unique Korean-influenced juices and smoothies on 12th Street (Wednesday) 

• La Plaza Cultural debuts two free lending libraries (Tuesday) 

• The two-story dining structure that almost was on 4th Street (Monday)

• Indoor masking recommend for vaccinated New Yorkers; local businesses change entry policies (Tuesday) 

• I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Thursday) 

• Ravi DeRossi is doubling down on Ladybird and Cadence on 7th Street (Thursday) 

• A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Friday) 

• A farewell, for now, as Pinc Louds hit the road (Tuesday) 

• Late night with Hello Mary (Thursday)

• Remembering Biz Markie (Monday) • Space jam: Planet Taco remains temporarily closed (Thursday) 

• Gutting the former Food Emporium on Union Square (Wednesday) 

• Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival (Monday) 

• Here's what's coming to the former Brindle Room space on 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• Mug & Cup bringing coffee and juice to Avenue C (Wednesday) 

• Report of a fire at 94 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) ... and a trash can fire at Nublu (Wednesday)

• Art+Ray debuts salon and gallery space on 9th Street (Friday) 

• Bagel Boss opens on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Gorillas will be in the mix at this 14th Street retail space (Monday) 

• Lucky Star signage arrives on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• New signage day for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

And thanks to Lola Sáenz (and a few other folks!) who pointed out this towering sunflower on the SW corner of 11th Street and First Avenue...

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