Showing posts sorted by date for query 319 E. 10th street. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query 319 E. 10th street. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Friday, March 1, 2024

That's all for now for Gizmo

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

For the first time in 32 years, the storefront at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street is no longer home to Gizmo. 

As we've been reporting (here and here), the sewing supply shop was not offered a lease renewal by their landlord (this on top of rent increases that made it increasingly difficult to stay here anyway). 

Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid were ready to sign a lease at 319 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. However, at the 11th hour, they learned that the building had been sold and no lease would be granted to them. 

So, over the past few days, they packed up their full-to-the-brim shop and placed everything in storage.
Rosa thanked everyone who called and messaged... and stopped by the shop. She and Hossein haven't found a space yet, but they hope to start looking again after taking a few days to breathe and destress from putting everything in storage.
Hossein will continue to make house calls for sewing machine repairs.

As we've reported, the couple wants to continue in the neighborhood: "A small storefront, with easy accessibility for differently-abled patrons."

Contact info for them: (212) 477-2773 or email: gizmocorp@aol.com.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Longtime East Village sewing business Gizmo needs a new home

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid were set to begin a new chapter for Gizmo by officially signing a new lease today for their longtime sewing supply shop. 

Instead, the heartbroken wife-and-husband owners are now forced to move their ample merchandise and supplies into storage as they continue a search for a storefront.
In recent months, the shopkeepers had been preparing to leave their home of 32 years at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street at the end of this month. They were eyeing two East Village storefronts. 

They had all but inked the deal and received their keys at their new shop location at 319 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue when they were alerted by the agent that the building had been sold and no lease would be granted to them.
They had a written agreement, a three-month deposit, and a breakdown of costs (real estate taxes, water, rent, etc.) They were due to sign the new lease and pick up the keys today. 

"The East 14th Street location was smaller, but we thought it would be perfect for Gizmo's next step. We toured the location, spoke to the broker, submitted the pertinent paperwork, and were approved for a lease," Rosa said. "The lease was drafted and reviewed by both parties. We set a date for the lease signing, which would give us less than a week to vacate our current location and move in, a tight timeline but something we thought would work." 

The two will now move everything to a storage unit on Second Avenue and hunt for a suitable space to continue their business. 

Thursday is the last day here.
We previously reported that the rent at 160 First Ave. had increased to the point that Gizmo could no longer afford to stay here. 

Hossein also said it wasn't just rent; the landlord (Baumrind & Baumrind) wanted them out. They were not offered a new lease. 

In addition, after a recent leak, which caused damage to fabrics and sewing machines, they were not offered any assistance from the landlord.
When I asked Hossein what would become of the space after Gizmo leaves, he said, "I don't know, a smoke and vape shop?"

During our conversation, Rosa teared up several times about Gizmo, which they opened because she needed more room for her alterations business.
"For over 30 years, it has been an absolute joy operating our small business. This neighborhood welcomes Gizmo and our family with open arms," she said. "We have enjoyed every second of being part of the fabric of the Lower East Side. Above all, we want to thank the neighborhood and our patrons for an amazing tenure, and we hope to see you all again as we evolve to a new location."

While the merchandise will go into storage, Hossein plans to keep offering sewing machine repairs.

"Hossein has made house calls and will continue to do so," she said. "That will not change. Hossein will do his best to continue servicing the machines."
Rosa asked community members if they knew of any space in the neighborhood that might work for Gizmo, specifically: "A small storefront, with easy accessibility for differently-abled patrons. We would love to stay on the Lower East Side!" 

Contact info for them: (212) 477-2773 or email: gizmocorp@aol.com.

And here are some scenes from Gizmo during its closing days...   

Friday, June 2, 2023

Why 787 Coffee decided to close its 14th Street outpost

Deteriorating quality-of-life issues along 14th Street have prompted 787 Coffee to shut its doors here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
In an Instagram message, 787 management called the move "very sad." At the same time, the shop has suffered five break-ins in the past four weeks, and they also cited an increasing number of unhoused people along the corridor, a longtime area of concern for residents (here and here).

In addition, management said some customers sitting outside were assaulted last week. 

"We make coffee as an excuse to connect, to collaborate, to create… but when we are afraid to even go to work, it defeats our values, our DNA," they said.
The shop opened at 319 E. 14th St. in late February 2021 and brought some welcome daytime activity to this north side of the block. 

The growing coffee brand has three other EV locations — 131 E. Seventh St. near Avenue A, 101 Second Ave. at Sixth Street and 159 E. 10th St. at Second Avenue.

Top photo is by Pinch, and the other two are by Joe

Thursday, July 29, 2021

787 Coffee debuts on 10th Street

787 Coffee debuted yesterday on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 10th Street (officially 159 Second Ave.) ... a nice retail spot right across the street from St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.
As we first noted on June 2, 787 signed a lease for both storefronts — the one on the left (in the top pic) is serving as an office for the coffee shop 

With this opening, 787 has four East Village locations, joining 131 E. Seventh St., 101 Second Ave. and 319. E. 14th St. 

The Seventh Street store, which opened in October 2018, was the first for co-owners Brandon Pena and Sam Sepulveda, who wanted to bring Puerto Rican coffee to NYC. Their coffee is grown and roasted from a mountain-top farm in Maricao. (And 787 takes its names from Puerto Rico's area code.)

No. 159 was previously home to Third Rail Coffee, which did not reopen here following the PAUSE of March 2020. Next door, Danny's Cleaners merged their business with Lois Cleaners on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue.

Photos by Steven!

Monday, June 7, 2021

787 Coffee makes it official at 159 2nd Ave.

A quick follow-up to our post last Wednesday about 787 Coffee signing a lease for two storefronts on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 10th Street (officially 159 Second Ave.). 

The 787 signage is now up on the space to the west ... the former Third Rail Coffee will serve as 787's retail space, while the former dry cleaners next door will be an office for the company. 

With this opening later this summer, 787 will have four East Village locations, joining 131 E. Seventh St., 101 Second Ave. and 319. E. 14th St. (The company currently has eight coffee shops citywide.) 

The Seventh Street store, which opened in October 2018, was the first for co-owners Brandon Pena and Sam Sepulveda, who wanted to bring Puerto Rican coffee to NYC. (And 787 takes its names from Puerto Rico's area code.)

Third Rail Coffee did not reopen here following the PAUSE of March 2020. Next door, Danny's Cleaners merged their business with Lois Cleaners on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

787 Coffee is opening a new location (and office) on 10th Street at 2nd Avenue

787 Coffee is continuing its East Village expansion, having signed a lease for two storefronts on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 10th Street (officially 159 Second Ave.). 

A tipster told us about this pending arrival, and 787 Coffee confirmed the news. 

The space that was previously Third Rail Coffee (on the right in the above photo) will serve as 787's retail space, while the former dry cleaners next door will be an office for the company. 

With this opening, 787 will have four East Village locations, joining 131 E. Seventh St., 101 Second Ave. and 319. E. 14th St. (The company currently has eight coffee shops citywide.) 

The Seventh Street store, which opened in October 2018, was the first for co-owners Brandon Pena and Sam Sepulveda, who wanted to bring Puerto Rican coffee to NYC. Their coffee is grown and roasted from a mountain-top farm in Maricao. (And 787 takes its names from Puerto Rico's area code.)

Third Rail Coffee did not reopen here following the PAUSE of March 2020. Next door, Danny's Cleaners merged their business with Lois Cleaners on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Champion Coffee taking over the Madman Espresso space on 14th Street



Madman Espresso has closed its location on 14th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (H/T to EVG regular Pinch for the tip!)

There's now a sign hanging on the door titled Good Bye & Good Luck:

Madman Espresso adventure in the East Village/Gramercy area comes to an end. A nice lady bought our shop. They will renovate and reopen in a couple of weeks.

If you really can't live without us, please come see us at University Place and 10th Street or in one of our Midtown locations.

That "nice lady" is apparently Talitha Whidbee, who founded Champion Coffee in 2006 in Greenpoint.

Champion announced their new location(s) on Instagram back in December...


Madman Espresso opened on 14th Street, its first location, in January 2013. The University Place outpost arrived in 2015.

Champion Coffee was one of the first vendors at the Bowery Market, the year-round open-air food market at 348 Bowery and Great Jones, but they eventually pulled out for undisclosed reasons.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Week in Grieview


[The skateboard phone on St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

"Concrete blowout" at Broadway condo project damages neighboring building (Wednesday)

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14 (Tuesday)

Out and About with Brother Rasheim (Wednesday)

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer (Thursday)

Comptroller Scott Stringer looking at city's decision to lift deed at the former Rivington House (Wednesday)

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night) (Thursday)

319 E. Sixth St. is for sale; conversion to single-family residence a possibility (Monday)

Confessional closes on East Sixth Street ahead of a relocation (Monday)

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Fake cops rob man on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place (Friday)

Report: An interest in keeping the Associated on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

The morning bread dump in Tompkins Square Park (Monday, 32 comments)

The former Contrada space remains on the market, though now with less key money (Tuesday)

Top Nails is moving next door on Avenue A (Monday)

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on First Avenue (Friday)

LinkNYC privacy concerns (Thursday)

The First Avenue Ricky's is now empty (Monday)

Media coverage of Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan getting the OK from City Council (Wednesday)

Report: M9 stop on Avenue C gets light after seven years in the dark (Tuesday)

Space at 249 E. Houston is for rent, and an update on the proposed 13-floor building on the block (Monday)

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978 (Friday)

Former Bollywood rental shop becoming a hair salon on East Sixth Street (Thursday)

Laundromat-replacing laundromat closing on East 10th Street (Wednesday)

... and, this past week, this David Bowie stencil arrived outside the F stop on Second Avenue... courtesy of @zimad_art...





Previously

Monday, January 5, 2015

Madman Espresso opening new location on University Place


[Photo via Madman Espresso]

Madman Espresso opened two years ago to the date at 319 E. 14th St. near Second Avenue.

Now the folks there tell us that they are opening a new location at 54 University Place (at 10th Street) next month. This will be their third location … in addition to one at West 35th Street that opened back in May.

Monday, December 31, 2012

2 new coffee shops in the works for the East Village

EVG reader Tony shares this tip... an espresso bar is ready to open at 319 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... in space that previously housed a Verizon store... It will be called Madman Espresso.

Meanwhile, EV resident Bill the libertarian anarchist gets word of a new coffee shop opening in the former Stogo space on East 10th Street just west of Second Avenue. This will mark the second NYC location for Third Rail Coffee, which currently has a shop on Sullivan Street.

[Verizon image via Google]