MAD Toast House has gone out of business

MAD Toast House is, well, toast here at 332 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

A tipster noted that paper arrived on the door and window yesterday, officially bringing an end to the shop that served a variety of bubble tea, sparkling water and toast-related creations. Yelp and Google both list MAD as permanently closed.

MAD opened early last June, and lasted 43 (and a third) years less than the previous tenant, Clayworks Pottery, which was forced to close in the fall of 2017 thanks to predatory landlord Raphael Toledano.

The Whale Tea beaches itself on 14th Street

The Whale Tea has set up shop at 209 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... we're told it's part of an international chain establishing its first NYC outpost.

They took over the space from another international bubble tea chain — Gong Cha.

It's a crowded bubble tea market on this stretch — PaTea and ViVi are less than a half block away.

Thanks to Shiv for the photo!

Mi Tea currently closed for renovations on St. Mark's Place

The Mi Tea location on 19-23 St. Mark's Place has been dark in recent days.

Someone told us the sign basically says "closed for renovations" ...



Mi Tea opened here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue in October 2018. This was the fifth U.S. branch (there's one in Flushing) for the Hangzhou, China-based chain with 1,000 locations worldwide. Their speciality: Himalayan pink salted cheese tea drinks.

No word on when or if they will reopen. There's a lot of bubble tea competition in the area.

The space is also adjacent to St. Mark's Market, which closed back in the fall. These businesses have been under the doom and gloom of a sidewalk bridge for two to three years now.

Thanks to EVG Bubble Tea District Correspondent Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
More bubble tea for the Bubble Tea District (aka St. Mark's Place)

Dog-gone: Kimomi Pet opening on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Signage arrived yesterday for Kimomi Pet at 22 St. Mark's Place. This is said to be an actual pet store (and not, say, a bubble tea shop) opening soon on the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The Kimomi Pet owners also ran the previous business here — Chi Snack Shop, which moved to a larger retail space a few storefronts away at 4 St. Mark's Place, as reported here.

We'll post more details about Kimomi Pet once we have them.

Lastly, dog signage on St. Mark's Place has gotten more subtle since the glory days of Spots' Cafe in 2009...


[From the bowels of the EVG archives!]

Week in Grieview

[On the Bowery yesterday via Derek Berg]

Posts this past week included...

Bushwick-based pizzeria Roberta's coming to Avenue A (Tuesday)

At the march and rally to save East River Park (Monday)

Report of a slashing on Seventh and B (Saturday)

Southern Cross Coffee has closed on 5th Street (Wednesday)

First work permits issued for the former Hells Angels HQ (Tuesday)

M15 Select Bus Service routes will soon carry surveillance camera to bust lane blockers (Thursday)

Is Facebook leaving Astor Place? (Thursday)

Reader mailbag: Is this a new dog run in Tompkins Square Park? (Friday)

Helping celebrate 125 years of Veniero's (Tuesday)

This week's NY See (Thursday)

What's new below 14th and B? (Monday)

Report: Associated expected to close by the end of November (Thursday)

Soothr, a Thai noodle bar, coming to the former Bruno Pizza space on 13th Street (Monday)

October CB3-SLA docket: An applicant for 99 Avenue B, former home of Manitoba's (Thursday)

Strings Ramen signage arrives at 188 2nd Ave. (Monday)

Plywood tumor marks the future home of Sanpoutei Ramen on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

May the "Four Force" be with you at the Ninth Street Community Garden & Park dioramas (Tuesday)

A reinterpretation of "The Jazz Singer" on the Lower East Side (Monday)

A garden party to help rebuild the East Side Outside Community Garden (Friday)

Hanoi House expansion in-progress on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Another bubble tea chain setting up shop in the East Village (Monday)

Squish reopens on St. Mark's Place after summer hiatus (Tuesday)

... and a quick nut run in Tompkins Square Park this morning via Vinny & O...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

[Updated] Another bubble tea chain setting up shop in the East Village

One Zo, a bubble tea brand from Taiwan, is opening an outpost here on Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street...



And what might set One Zo apart from the other recent bubble-tea establishments to arrive in the East Village of late (here and here and here and here and here, for starters)?

Per the One Zo website:

Since the invention of bubble tea in the 1980s, it spread all over the world and became the most popular Taiwanese drink. Before One Zo was established, every bubble tea shop would only serve one type of tapioca pearl, the honey black boba, a prepackaged tapioca that can store for 8 months or longer. We wanted to break this tradition and show our creativity and passion in boba, and that was when One Zo was found.

We came up with the idea of making boba in our own store so everyone could experience how fresh boba tastes. Although it took countless trials and failure to create different boba flavors, we became the world's first bubble tea brand to make fresh boba in-store. While our boba does not have the typical long shelf life, we hope you will feel our passion and enjoy our boba.

---

Updated!

The shop is now open...



---

So much bubble tea! The Wall Street Journal recently explored the ongoing bubble-tea bonanza:

Bubble tea is hardly a new phenomenon. The drink traces its roots back to Taiwan in the ‘80s, according to those in the industry, and made its way to New York City at least a decade ago.

The current growth in bubble-tea shops reflects the increasing interest in Asian food and beverages, observers of the culinary scene said. As for why so many chains are coming up with new twists on the drink, it speaks to the need to differentiate in a more crowded market, said observers.

“It’s looking for that competitive edge,” said Stephen Zagor, an instructor and former dean at the Institute of Culinary Education and an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School.

But some wonder if the bubble will burst, so to speak, and the interest in the drink will diminish. Then again, Danielle Chang, founder of LuckyRice, a lifestyle brand that promotes Asian food events, said the same could have been said of Starbucks Corp. and the gourmet-coffee trend of decades ago.

Ms. Chang is convinced that bubble tea, in all its variety, is here to stay. “It’s a sign of Asian cuisine going mainstream,” she said.

Week in Grieview

[Tropical paradise on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

Posts this past week included...

Jury selection starts for defendants in 2nd Avenue gas explosion that killed 2 men (Tuesday)

Parks officials say they will NOT be putting down a synthetic turf in Tompkins Square Park; skateboarders rejoice (Friday)

On Avenue A, Coney Island Baby transforms into Lola; live music to share stage with club nights (Thursday)

Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen is back open for the fall (and winter and spring) (Wednesday)

2nd acts: Sushi counter for the former Amato Opera on the Bowery (Tuesday)

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza vying for former Nicoletta space on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street (Tuesday)

This week's NY See (Friday)


[At the 6 & B Garden via riachung00]

L train work moves to the entrance of the future Trader Joe's on 14th Street (Wednesday)

Report: Stabbing on Avenue A sends police on chase through Tompkins Square Park (Friday)

At Gallery 72, everything that John Holmstrom did with the Ramones (Thursday)

Frisson Espresso has closed on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday)

Reader report: A dog-kicking incident on 10th Street (Wednesday)

A new-look storefront emerges on 7th and B (Friday)

An unsettling find on 5th Street (Tuesday)

Now the Basics Plus on University Place is closing (Tuesday)

Report: Man arrested for attempting to kidnap 5-year-old boy outside Katz's (Monday)

Openings (Night Music) and reopenings (Sauce Restaurant) (Friday)

The return of "yuppie scum" at the former home of the Sunshine Cinema (Thursday)

Pub in the works for longtime corner bar space on Houston and Suffolk (Wednesday)

A warning about sitting on these tree guard railings on 5th Street (Monday)

Whatever happened to the former Heathers space on 13th Street? (Wednesday)

The Alley now in soft-open bubble tea mode on Cooper Square (Tuesday)

...and a photo via Eden from the women's restroom in Tompkins Square Park — "keep out crackheads" ...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

The Alley now in soft-open bubble tea mode on Cooper Square

The Alley debuted on Sunday at 68 Cooper Square (across from Cooper Union). As previously noted, this is the first NYC location for the growing Taiwanese bubble tea chain.

After a few days of a soft opening, the Alley will be full time starting on Saturday.



As Eater previously reported on the Alley:

With the aid of social media, Alley’s Instagrammable sweet drinks and decor have attracted fervent milk tea lovers to line up for hours for a sip of tea whenever a new store opens. Chinese people coin tea shops like the Alley as the “internet celebrity tea,” meaning the tea goes viral overnight on social media, like internet celebrities.

In the upcoming New York Alley, customers can pick a drink from a menu of two dozens teas that range from bubble tea to fruit tea. “Brown sugar deerioca” — the brand’s logo is a deer head — is a signature milk-based sweet drink with no tea in it. Alley’s other popular drinks are made of fresh milk and local black or green tea. The tapioca pearls, or what the Alley calls deerioca, are made by the restaurant.

Speaking of lines, EVG reader Sheila shared this photo from Sunday... she counted about 40 people waiting to enter...

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea signage arrives on St. Mark's Place

The Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea signage is now up 33 St. Mark's Place.

As previously noted, the chainlet, with an outpost in Flushing, takes over the space from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, the Taiwan-based chain that closed in late May after nearly five and a half years in business.

This space here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was Rockit Scientist Records until the spring of 2012. There was also, for a sec, Iris Cafe.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rockit Scientist Records to become a bubble tea shop on St. Mark's Place

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea coming to former CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice space on St. Mark's Place

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea is the next tenant for 33 St. Mark's Place. Signage is up now at the storefront between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The chainlet, with an outpost in Flushing, takes over the space from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, the Taiwan-based chain that closed in late May after nearly five and a half years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rockit Scientist Records to become a bubble tea shop on St. Mark's Place

Ghost signage plywood on 7th Street

A recent item to note. EVG reader Paul Gale spotted this on the Seventh Street side of 113 First Ave., where workers are apparently ripping out the wall for more windows at the E Smoke & Convenience shop.

Next to the MCA mural (which we hear is staying put) are pieces of an old wooden sign...



As Paul points out, it's upside down, but it reads:

H. WOLLIN
Surgeon Dentist
Crown

This was, of course, from the era in which "surgeons" pedaling jacket crowns were as prevalent as today's bubble-tea shops. As I reported at the time, these crowns were effective, but didn’t last long because of microcracking that occurred during the cooling phase of fabrication and caused issues to the crown and underlying tooth or gum. The later introduction of dicor crowns, which were cemented with zinc phosphate, were more effective.

Anyway, another reader suggested that this plywood may be remnants of some period piece that filmed in the neighborhood. ("Mrs Maisel"?)

CoCo Fresh Tea and Juice shutters on St. Mark's

The CoCo Fresh Tea and Juice branch at 33 St. Mark's Place has closed.

This wasn't really a surprise given the recent arrival of for-rent signs outside the cafe here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

No word on why this location of the Taiwan-based chain shut down...



Increased rent? Five hundred other places around selling the same things?

CoCo debuted here in September 2013, taking over the space from the short-lived (ONE MONTH) Iris Cafe.

Before that we had Rockit Scientist Records here.

The spot won't be vacant long: The broker posted on Instagram that she had leased this to an unnamed new tenant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
CoCo Fresh Juice & Tea now open on St. Mark's Place; also, mascot alert

Rockit Scientist Records to become a bubble tea shop on St. Mark's Place

Week in Grieview

[Tompkins Square Park on Saturday]

Posts from this past week included...

Say hi to Sam, your new Ottendorfer librarian (Wednesday)

Resurfaced roadways on 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue to have offset crossings (Tuesday)

A visit to City Fun on 1st Avenue (Thursday)

Report: One of the red-tailed hawk chicks dies (Saturday)

[Updated] Reader report: Police SUV strikes cyclist on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Metropolis Vintage has left 3rd Avenue; new Broadway space opens (Tuesday)

Photos: At the 32nd annual Loisaida Festival (Sunday)

Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

The Donut Pub outpost on Astor Place debuts (Wednesday)

Il Mattone's East Houston outpost is now open (Tuesday)

Final demolition phase for 1 St. Mark's Place; more questions about lobbyists attached to project (Wednesday)

I don't see you over there — yes, you!: Zoltar is MIA outside Gem Spa (Friday)

Noting the arrival of the Poppy Seed Bagel Sparrow's Nest in Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

Happy returns: Anna's new East Village storefront debuts (Friday)

Nobletree Coffee abruptly shuts down on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Friday)

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop (Thursday)

Films on the Green coming to Tompkins Square Park for two Friday nights this July (Friday)

Rafael's Barber Shop on the move around the corner (Thursday)

Joe’s Steam Rice Roll puts up the signage on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

MAD Toast House bringing bubble tea and toast to 9th Street (Friday)

7th Street townhouse with rooftop pizza oven and basketball hoop sells for $15.75 million (Tuesday)

Demolition watch: 99-101 E. 2nd St. (Stop Work Order edition) (Friday)

Piccolo Cafe closes on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday)

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter, where you'll find tweets like this...

Saturday night live on 2nd Avenue pic.twitter.com/je9J47BzSx

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) June 2, 2019

MAD Toast House bringing bubble tea and toast to 9th Street

[Photo on May 16 by Steven]

A new cafe called MAD Toast House is coming to 332 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The Toast House, which serves a variety of bubble tea, sparkling water and toast-related creations, is having a soft-opening today ahead of a grand opening on June 10, per the shop's Instagram account.

Speaking of Instagram, a look at some of their offerings...

View this post on Instagram

Kumquat lemon spritzer🍋#kumquatlemonjuice##kumquat##lemon##tea##teatime##spritzer##金桔柠檬##金桔柠檬汁#juice#

A post shared by MADtoasthouse (@madtoasthouse) on May 23, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Creme brulee toast#toast##honeytoast##hightea##afternoontea##teatime#

A post shared by MADtoasthouse (@madtoasthouse) on May 22, 2019 at 11:26am PDT

This space was home for 44 years to Clayworks Pottery, which was forced to close in the fall of 2017 thanks to predatory landlord Raphael Toledano.

Week in Grieview

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park yesterday by Derek Berg]

Posts from this past week included...

Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

It's official: San Loco is returning to the East Village (Thursday)

Parents, students ride together in bid for 2-way protected bike lane on Avenue B (Tuesday)

At the first WPA Arts exhibition (Thursday)

The latest I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Thursday)

H Mart won't open now until June 3 (Friday)

Happy 1-month anniversary, red-tailed hawklets of Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Looks like a Flamingos Vintage Pound is coming to 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

No Dollface for the former Bar Virage space on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

The former Thaimee Table space is for rent (Monday)


[A Fleet Week Moment outside McSorely's via Adrian Wilson]

A new sign for Casey Rubber Stamps (Thursday)

Call me by your...: Gallery-cafe combo By Name opening on the Bowery (Monday)

A moment with the Party Bus Express on Avenue A this morning (Wednesday)

1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk (Wednesday)

Sugar Sketch has closed on 2nd Street (Monday)

250 E. Houston St. is changing colors (Friday)

Former UCBeast space for rent on Avenue A (Wednesday)

Spiritea debuts on 2nd Avenue (Friday)

Reader report: Martial arts for the empty storefront on 11th and C (Wednesday)

Spring scenes from Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

The Blind Pig wraps up 13 years on 14th Street (Monday)

Empty Avenue B storefront yields psychic adviser (Tuesday)

The Alley signage arrives on Cooper Square; more bubble tea on the way (Monday)

The FryGuys space is for rent on 2nd Street (Friday)

... and a Keith Haring wheatpaste on Second Street by the Postman...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

The Alley signage arrives on Cooper Square; more bubble tea on the way

Signage is up at 68 Cooper Square (across from Cooper Union) for The Alley, marking the first NYC location for the growing Taiwanese bubble tea chain.

Cutting and pasting this next section via Eater, who first reported on the Alley's June arrival:

With the aid of social media, Alley’s Instagrammable sweet drinks and decor have attracted fervent milk tea lovers to line up for hours for a sip of tea whenever a new store opens. Chinese people coin tea shops like the Alley as the “internet celebrity tea,” meaning the tea goes viral overnight on social media, like internet celebrities.

In the upcoming New York Alley, customers can pick a drink from a menu of two dozens teas that range from bubble tea to fruit tea. “Brown sugar deerioca” — the brand’s logo is a deer head — is a signature milk-based sweet drink with no tea in it. Alley’s other popular drinks are made of fresh milk and local black or green tea. The tapioca pearls, or what the Alley calls deerioca, are made by the restaurant.

The Alley abandons artificial syrup, instead using a syrup it makes from Taiwanese brown cane sugar. All the ingredients, save for fresh fruits, will be imported from Taiwan.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Alley Tea (@thealley.usa) on May 17, 2019 at 11:00am PDT

Shiina closes on 3rd Avenue

Shiina, a women's boutique selling clothing, accessories and makeup, has closed at 83 Third Ave. at 12th Street.

The shop opened in June 2017 here in the base of NYU's Third North dorm.

Until Shiina arrived, the storefront had been empty for nearly two years after Pushcart Coffee vacated the space. The address was previously home to Just Sweet, which sold bubble tea and desserts.

In more positive retail news for the NYU dorm retail space, H Mart is opening soon in the long-vacant shops along the base of Alumni Hall on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

EVG Etc.: Fishing in the East River; Celebrating the Acker Awards

[Moishe's Bake Shop this a.m. — coming back this spring?]

The Bowery Film Festival kicks off its second year (Official site)

How to get involved with Ecological City, a cultural and climate action project on the LES (Official site)

Justin Davison on Essex Crossing: "In a development largely without Instagrammable architecture, it’s the unlikely Rubik’s cube of uses that gives cause for thanks. Instead of treating the area as a blank slate for a developer’s dream, planners stitched together institutions, homes, entertainment, offices, non-deluxe shopping, cheap food, sidewalks, wide avenues, and narrow streets." (New York)

Mixed emotions in leaving the Essex Market (The Lo-Down)

The fish you'll find in the East River (Gothamist)

Bathing with Amelia! (Laura Goggin Photography)

Exploring the Tibetan speciality shop DöKham on First Avenue (Off the Grid ... previously)

Celebrating the Acker Awards (The Villager)

Remembering former Parks commish Henry Stern (City & State)

City Acupuncture East Village is opening a new outpost at 52 E. Seventh St. There's an open house/grand opening party today (April 4) from 5 - 9 p.m. (Facebook)

MORE BUBBLE TEA: Modern Taiwanese chain the Alley coming to Astor Place (Eater)

The city missed a federal deadline to appoint a permanent chair to oversee the NYCHA, but was given 45 days to fill the position (CBS New York)

One view on what New Yorkers think of congestion pricing (Daily News ... more on congestion pricing at Streetsblog ... )

More on the the MetroCard replacement plan (amNY ... previously)

Keep on truckin' — a series featuring 18-wheelers on film, including "Duel," "White Line Fever" and "Convoy" (Anthology Film Archives)

A look at the city's new “progressive mansion tax” (Bloomberg)

A mystery mosaic on University Place (Ephemeral New York)

ICYMI: You have until April 14 to watch images of Earth from Ludlow Street (Untapped Cities)

This figurine of Iggy Pop (Dangerous Minds)

... speaking of rock star poses... a squirrel in Tompkins Square Park strikes one...


[Photo by Steven]

Bubbleology Tea debuts tomorrow with an Instagram Boomerang photo booth

The London-based Bubbleology Tea chain opens its EV outpost tomorrow at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As the Times noted last spring, this outpost "will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni." Not to mention concoctions like bubble waffles and gelato.

Here's what is in store for tomorrow...

View this post on Instagram

GRAND OPENING: East Village, New York 🥳 Come join us between 4pm - 6pm on Saturday 2nd Feb for FREE bubble tea, an Instagram Boomerang photo booth, Bubbleology vouchers and the chance to win Beats headphones when you post your Boomerang on Instagram by 10pm the next day. Don’t miss out on being one of the first to explore our incredible new store in the heart of East Village 🤩 Join the party at: 120 ½ First Avenue New York NY 10009. See you there!

A post shared by BubbleologyUSA (@bubbleologyusa) on Jan 26, 2019 at 12:56pm PST

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed in this now-sanitized space in November 2017. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, down the block.

Week in Grieview

[Courtside in Tompkins Square Park this weekend]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

New owners set to take over the 33-year-old Sidewalk Bar & Restaurant on Avenue A (Monday)

At the 27th Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lightning (Monday)

Here's the new facility for Barrier Free Living on 2nd Street (Monday)

L-pocalypse now: Recap of Tuesday's rally outside the MTA offices (Friday)

When in rehab: Meet Winston, the new red-tailed hawk in Dora's life (Wednesday)

Tamam now open on 5th Street (Thursday)

Plywood watch: 238 E. 3rd St. (Tuesday)

This week's NY See (Saturday)

On Lafayette Street, former shelter for homeless women is now Showfields, 'the Most Interesting Store In The World' (Wednesday)

Harassed by Steve Croman? Checks in the mail (Friday)

About the New Colossus Festival, bringing new bands to the LES/East Village this March (Wednesday)

The China Star returns to service (Thursday)

Dallas BBQ is here to stay (Thursday)

Yes, China Wok has closed (Wednesday)

On 1st Avenue, Paquito's is closed for renovations until Dec. 28 (Tuesday)

Another disappearing diner (Thursday)

Autre Kyo Ya has not been open lately (Monday)

Marking the arrival of the Alphabet 99-cent Fresh Pizza awning (Wednesday)

On 2nd Avenue, new owners for 12th Street Ale House, Durden (Monday)

Tea time for new cafe on 11th Street (Tuesday)

The incoming Bubbleology Tea now with Bubbleology Tea signage (Monday)

Short Stories shapes up on the Bowery (Tuesday)

ViVi back in bubble tea action on Allen after 2-month DOH-related closure (Wednesday)

... and there is some vigorous debate in the tree-tossing community about the discarded item on Sixth Street at Second Avenue (spotted by Derek Berg and Russell K.)...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Was this someone's Christmas tree last year? Maybe, but it's in a pot, making it more likely that it served a purpose not related to the holiday.

... and hopefully this doesn't become a copycat crime wave...

Oh yeah. pic.twitter.com/NXJ45JYmwG

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) December 16, 2018

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter