7-Eleven fallout: East Village groups propose resolution 'to restrict corporate formula stores'

There's a proposed resolution on the docket for tonight's CB3 Economic Development Committee meeting to restrict corporate formula stores in the neighborhood through a zoning amendment. The resolution comes from members of the No 7-Eleven group and the 11th Street A-B-C Block Association.

The groups are seeking CB3's support for the resolution.

The block association has held two meetings now (read recaps here ... and here) to discuss the incoming 7-Eleven on East 11th Street and Avenue A.

Per an invite from the last Black Association meeting:

7-Eleven is coming to Avenue A at 11th Street. The residents of 11th Street won't sit for it. We're drawing the line of suburbanization here.

We have had about enough of chain stores and suburban franchises, Duane Reades, Walgreens and Chase Banks on every corner. We've chosen to fight. Join with us and let's start a city-wide resistance. Let's not sit for it any more.

Below you'll find the resolution. (Find the PDF via the CB3 website here.)


[Click on image to enlarge]

The full Board meets on Feb. 19, 6:30 pm, PS 20, 166 Essex St.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report

There is a 'No 7-Eleven' rally tomorrow

Avenue A and East 11th Street at 1 p.m. ... site of the pending convenience store.

For more details and updates:

The No 7-Eleven blog ... Facebook ... Twitter...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report

7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

First sign of the incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

There is a boycott 7-Eleven rally today

Via the EVG inbox...

Now that 7-Eleven has opened their East Village location, the community will be out in full force protesting 7-Eleven’s presence!

BOYCOTT 7-ELEVEN RALLY
THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1-2PM
CORNER OF 11TH STREET / AVENUE A
Why Boycott NYC 7-Elevens? The No 7-Eleven blog lays out the reasons here.

Image via the No 7-Eleven blog

An anti-7-Eleven sticker campaign

We've already seen some anti-7-Eleven sentiment outside where the convenience store will set up shop on Avenue A and East 11th Street...

Now there are these stickers... like the ones spotted alongside on Avenue B (on CVS stickers too — nice touch!)

Have you seen this stickers? Wasn't sure how widespread they are...

Meanwhile, nearby neighbors have said that they are already opposed to the new 7-Eleven.

Updated:

Wanted to note this painting that V.H. McKenzie created back in February in collaboration with Tompkins Square Bagels too...

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

First sign of the incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

Reviving those 7-Eleven + another chain rumors for Avenue A

A quick East Village 7-Eleven inventory

Yesterday we took a look inside the 7-Eleven coming soon to St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue... in the former J.A.S. Mart space...

A recap of what's in store.

As we reported on Feb. 24, there's a 7-Eleven in the works for 813 Broadway near 12th Street ... the cheap-o DVD shop recently packed up and moved across the street...

And as we first reported on Jan. 18, a 7-Eleven will open next to IHOP on East 14th Street ... at the site of the shuttered Exquisite DVD Video store ...

Anyway, to the diagram map ... into the 7-Eleven zone...

Soon, you won't have to walk down to the Bowery 7-Eleven for your Cheeseburger Bites...

[Photo by EV Grieve reader William Klayer]

Report: Another Stop Work Order for incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

Early last month, the arrival of three AC units adjacent to the incoming 7-Eleven at 500 E. 11th St. (aka 170 Avenue A) prompted the city to serve a partial Stop Work Order. The units, installed an estimated 14 inches from residential windows, "shake the back of the neighboring building," according to the DOB.

Yesterday, the No 7-Eleven blog reported that the city served another Stop Work Order on the site, this time for blocking fire escapes.



As far as we know, this is the second time the site was hit with a Stop Work Order for blocking exits... on Sept. 21, 2012, the city served a Stop Work Order for "BLDG CONSTRUCTION WORK BLOCKING SECONDARY MEANS OF EXIT."

Despite the Stop Work Order, residents saw the workers continue to go about their business yesterday.

Construction of the convenience store is now in its 13th month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

A Stop Work order at Avenue A's incoming 7-Eleven

7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

CB3 committee takes no action for now on proposed restriction of 'corporate formula stores'

On Wednesday night, members of of the No 7-Eleven group and the 11th Street A-B-C Block Association presented a proposed resolution to CB3's Economic Development Committee to restrict corporate formula stores in the neighborhood through a zoning amendment.

It turns out that Wednesday night was the first time that a community group had brought a resolution to this relatively new committee. Its procedure for this was not entirely in place, and the committee declined to take any action — for now.

Rob Hollander, representing the Block Association and No 7-Eleven group, submitted the resolution and supporting documents several weeks ago. However, the background and documents hadn't been distributed to the committee members.

As Hollander noted, "So members may not have read it in its submitted form and they didn't have any documents to look at during the meeting. As a result, some concerns were raised and discussed that were not contained in the resolution itself."

He said that the resolution is just a way to give all community boards more say in local land use. "It doesn't prescribe what any community board should do about land use, it just allows them to exercise choice," Hollander said.

And for the time spent Wednesday night?

"I don't begrudge the lost time — I enjoyed meeting the members who I didn't already know, it was a pleasure to see again the members that already knew, and presenting is fun," Hollander said. "But we did lose a month. At the very end an important and relevant concern was raised: On what criteria would the Community Board decide up or down on a given corporate store? It seems to me it raises serious legal liabilities of discrimination. So the meeting was not a waste by any means."

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report

7-Eleven fallout: East Village groups propose resolution 'to restrict corporate formula stores'

'No 7-Eleven' comes to Tompkins Square Park on Saturday

From the EV Grieve inbox...

NO 7-ELEVEN COMES TO TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK

Saturday, April 6, 1 pm (7th St. between A&B)

FEATURING

• The NO 7-Eleven Players
• The Community Wheel of Fortune w/prizes!
• The 7-Eleven Dance Competition (for YouTube)
• Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping

AND

Two new plays especially written for this very special event!

"NO 7-ELEVEN!!"
A tawdry tragedy by Sugar Di Abetes

AND

"NO 7-ELEVEN!!!!"
A dour comedy by Dewey, Cheatem & Howe

*
COME ONE COME ALL!!
-nO tOmAToEs-

Rain date is Sunday.

3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order

Last week, workers installed three AC units adjacent to the incoming 7-Eleven at 500 E. 11th St. (aka 170 Avenue A). A tipster sent in the above photo to show the apparently really annoying new units.

The No 7-Eleven blog first reported on this development Friday.

We'll go there for more:

Between 500 and 502 East 11th Street there is a narrow alley originally created to allow air circulation between the two buildings which were built sometime in the late 1800s/early 1900s. 7-Eleven has dug down into the alley and installed cement pillars and i-beams to hold three massive AC units which go off at 15 minute intervals.

Writes a neighbor:
“The units make a loud “WHOOSHING” noise every 15 minutes and since all the bedrooms are located off the alley, there has not been much sleeping going on in either building. The units are also blocking light and part of a window on the first floor of 502 East 11th Street.”

The city has investigated the complaints from neighbors and issued a Partial Stop Work Order.



As the No 7-Eleven blog noted: "Thank heaven!"

Work on this space is now in the 12th month.

The latest from the 7-Eleven franchise site — updated Sept. 3 — shows that the store has a September 2-013 opening date.

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

Well, it's becoming clear(er) that some residents aren't interested in having a big 7-Eleven on the corner of Avenue A and East 11th Street.

We received the following missive yesterday:

Attached is an image of stickers (20,000) that just came in and will be distributed throughout the East Village as part of a sticker campaign for when the 7-11 on Avenue A opens up. Basically people will be constantly stickering the door of 7-11 with these ... delicately placed next to the usual MasterCard Accepted stickers by the handle of the door entrance. The idea is to a) constantly remind consumers to turn around and shop elsewhere before going in and also to b) be a nuisance to the 7-11 store itself...

The email was signed,
@PoliticoNympho

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

First sign of the incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

Reminder tonight: Meeting to discuss incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A and East 11th Street

We first posted this last Tuesday... here's a reminder...

7-Eleven is coming to Avenue A at 11th Street. The residents of 11th Street won't sit for it. We're drawing the line of suburbanization here.

We have had about enough of chain stores and suburban franchises, Duane Reades, Walgreens and Chase Banks on every corner. We've chosen to fight. Join with us and let's start a city-wide resistance. Let's not sit for it any more.

MEETING: NO 7-11
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 6:30PM
545 EAST 11TH STREET
(Father's Heart Ministries, btwn A&B)

San Francisco has laws to restrict chain stores. NYC zoning laws don't prevent big box commercialism and the current mayor's planning department won't change those regulations. But a local election is coming.

Next year, this mayor will be gone — now's our opportunity to tell the coming administration that this does matter to us. If we don't raise the cry loud and clear, the new administration won't address it either.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the wholesale suburbanization and selling of New York lies in the hands of the people of New York. We've got to create the political will to fight against the death of this city. We've got to be visible and loud and persistent. New Yorkers have been sitting for it for a long time. We mustn't sit for it any longer.

There's likely a 7-Eleven near you, and if not, there will be. The 7-Eleven corporation has targeted the city for many more openings, intending to displace local commerce especially local bodegas. Don't sit for that.

Join the 11th Street resistance. Let's turn it into a Lower East Side resistance and a Manhattan resistance a Harlem and the Heights resistance and a Village and Chinatown resistance. Complacency=Suburbanization.

We're meeting on the 16th. Tell your friends. Bring your inventive ideas and your righteous indignation.

There's an addition to the meeting to note. Bowery Poetry Club founder Bob Holman will be there to tell to discuss "the No 7-11 campaign of No Chains on the Bowery," per the meeting invite. (Though there already is a 7-Eleven on the Bowery.)

Holman wrote this yesterday on Facebook:

You know my feelings about the architecture of my cross the street neighbors — that the Avalon Buildings are bland, tired, socialist post-modernism, while the Bowery is and always has been about life and art jazzed to extremes. But to be invaded by mall culture, the US's lowest common denominator, citizen as consumer —no! No Chains on the Bowery! They do it in San Francisco — let's go!

So how many new 7-Eleven stores does this mean for the East Village?

You may have seen this in Crain's yesterday ... Basically, 7-Eleven is taking over the place. There will be 14 new 7-Elevens in the city this year. Then!

Beginning next year, 7-Eleven plans to ramp things up, adding 20 locations —ranging in size from 1,500 square feet to 3,000 square feet — every year until 2017.

They aren't ramped up already?

One more thing!

The company, which boasts 7,200 locations across the U.S. and a whopping 44,000 worldwide, is working toward converting many of its corporate-owned outposts to franchised outlets. In New York that also means working with existing bodega owners to persuade them to transform their businesses into 7-Elevens. Three such conversions will open here this year, Mr. Porter said. Typically it costs between $200,000 and $1 million to open a 7-Eleven franchise.

No! Don't fall for the 7-Eleven Mind Warp!

So... we have the new one on the Bowery... then, as we first reported, there's the one coming to St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue.

Given the number of new locations spawning ... expect more hereabouts. We're still speculating that one will open in the Red Square strip mall... And how about at a newly renovated 100 Avenue A?

First sign of the incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

For a few months now, people have been talking about the 7-Eleven coming to the corner of Avenue A and East 11th Street... in the space previously occupied by Bar on A and Angels & Kings... workers even told residents as much.

Still, despite plenty of evidence, nothing at the DOB actually said 7-Eleven. (There was mention of a "convenience store.")

Anyway, paperwork went through today to "ERECT NON-ILLUMINATED NON-ADVERTISING AWNING ON WALL. 12 SQ FT COPY TO READ STRIPE 7-ELEVEN."

On this topic... a reminder about tonight's meeting where the supersize 7-Eleven is sure to be discussed...

Block Association Meeting
Wednesday, November 14, 7 pm
@ Father's Heart Ministries
545 E 11th St

Anyone living on 11th Street is a member of the 11th Street A-B-C Block Association.

Work picks up at incoming 7-Eleven; more 'No 7-Eleven' skull posters adorn neighborhood

On the topic of the incoming 7-Eleven at Avenue A and East 11th Street... work has picked up here this week... there has been more activity than we've seen since September...


[Bobby Williams]

(And these trucks have nothing to do with the mashed potatoes vending machine found at a few 7-Elevens.)


[Crazy Eddie]

Meanwhile, we've spotted several of the No 7-Eleven Skull Posters in nearby windows... (Courtesy, presumably, of the No 7-Eleven group...)


[Crazy Eddie]


[Facebook]


[Facebook]

Previously.

Incoming 7-Eleven franchise on Avenue A still in need of an owner

There has been a lot of discussion about the 7-Eleven being carved out of the former Bar on A and Angels & Kings on Avenue A and East 11th Street.

Current home of that remarkable plywood structure...



As for the construction, there hasn't been a whole lot of activity here in recent months. (Perhaps the building changing hands had something to do with this slowdown...?) Workers gutted and plywooded the space back in September. Work picked up again in December. Bobby Williams took a look inside the space last week...

Meanwhile, a reader the other day pointed out that this location was still on the market for an owner, per the 7-Eleven Franchising site. According to the site, the estimated opening date is May 2013.



Related:
The organizers behind the East Village No 7-Eleven movement were guests Tuesday night on "Let’s Get Real With Chef Erica Wides" on the Heritage Radio Network. You can listen to the archived program here. The show is #56 and titled "7-Eleven Is To The East Village What Pringles Are To Potatoes."

Your chance to stand in line outside a 7-Eleven to meet Shaun White today

So Gold-Medal-winning snowboarder Shaun White will be at the 7-Eleven today at noon on IHOP Way as part of a promotion for his new flavor of gum — Mintacular ...

According to the flyer the gum dude handed me this morning... "Shaun White and Stride will ... completely take over this 7-Eleven" which "will be transformed into a Stride super store, carrying only Stride's two Shaun White flavors ..." According to the Times, 7-Eleven will also serve a batch of Mintacular-flavored Slurpees. (Read Andrew Adam Newman's article here.)

Be kind of cool if the left the 7-Eleven this way permanently. We need a good two-flavor gum store around here.

A few more details about renting the former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

The "for lease" sign went up on the former 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place last Thursday, as we first noted. At the time, the listing wasn't yet online.

Now it is.



Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of details (such as asking rent!) ... but we have a better idea how the Winick reps are marketing the space...

Some of the specifics:

•Incredible East Village retail opportunity with ventilation in place

•Tremendous visibility with 70’ of frontage AT GRADE and soaring ceiling heights

•One block from the new 400,000 SF office tower at 51 Astor Place

NEIGHBORS: Chipotle, DF Mavens Desserts (coming soon), Verizon, Pinkberry, Dallas BBQ, Otto’s Tacos

Looks as if the parcel includes what used to be Baoguette Cafe.

Anyone for reviving BAMN!, the garish automat that somehow managed to stay open for 2.5 years?

No? OK!

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: The 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place has closed (48 comments)

There goes the 7-Eleven awning on St. Mark's Place (23 comments)

Looking again at St. Mark's and 2nd Ave., and more photos of the former St. Marks Cinema

You can now rent the former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

Photos of yesterday's East Village Bodega Walk

Yesterday, , as part of the ongoing No 7-Eleven movement, a handful of residents gathered on Avenue A and East 11th Street for a walking tour of nearby delis.

A chain-wearing Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club, led the walk... Shawn Chittle was along to take these photos.

For more information about the No 7-Eleven campaign, you can follow them on Twitter at @No7ElevenNYC ... and on Facebook here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report

Behold the new 7-Eleven on the Bowery at night. (Or not)

On Wednesday afternoon, workers put up the new 7-Eleven sign on the Bowery... And we didn't get to see if for ourselves until last night... A worker told a reader the place would open "some time next week."

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] And the Bowery dies a little more: Here comes 7-Eleven

Exclusive first look inside the Bowery 7-Eleven

7-Eleven is now hiring on the Bowery

[Updated] Claim: Employees restyle 'No 7-Eleven' sign for new Avenue A storefront

We've heard from several readers who claim that an employee of the new, much-maligned 7-Eleven on Avenue A and East 11th Street was spotted removing a "Stop 7-Eleven" flyer from a storefront across the street... (the flyers are up in several businesses along Avenue A and East 11th Street and elsewhere.... courtesy of the No 7-Eleven blog.)

As you can see, someone then repurposed the flyer, which is now in the new 7-Eleven's front window...


[Image via @matteominasi]

And another photo courtesy of Anton van Dalen...



Updated 1 a.m.

Shawn Chittle notes that someone has ripped down the sign...