The last days of Raul’s Barber Shop

Photos by Stacie Joy 

After 60-plus years on Avenue B, Raul's Barber Shop has closed its doors. 

First, a quick bit of positive news: Raul's already secured a new location nearby and will be up and running very soon. As for 11 Avenue B between Houston and Second Street ... Steve Croman took over as landlord in 2020, and that's all you need to know. 

Raul Velez Sr. has been at the head of his eponymous barber shop for 61 years...he and his son Junior still run the business. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for a last look at the space, which includes murals created by Antonio "Chico" Garcia...

We will have more about Raul's new outpost in the days ahead... when it's going as Jay Joe's Classic Cuts at 256 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C...

To no surprise, 'emergency work' is necessary at the long-empty 6 Avenue B

After reading yesterday's post about workers removing the sidewalk bridge from around the Mariana Bracetti Plaza ... several readers brought up everyone's fave abandoned building — 6 Avenue B at Houston.

Yes, the sidewalk bridge remains up here — as it has been dating to 2015-16. 

And who knows how much longer it will be up here outside the long-empty 6-floor residential building.

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently pointed out, there are DOB notices dated Aug. 31 by the entrance... per the notice, "emergency work" is necessary "due to the disrepair of the building facade on all exposures." The repair evaluation/plan by the licensed professional the landlord hires is due by Oct. 1, 2022.     

Given that there has been 0 work done here of late... that deadline will zip on by.

As previously noted here, the liquor store in the retail space has been closed since the owner passed away in the fall of 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her on the gate in February 2010.)

In January 2013, workers were spotted hauling out some junk from the building...  in December 2014, bricks fell from the building, breaking the foot of a passerby, as the Lo-Down reported at the time. And an SUV took out part of the sidewalk bridge in November 2018. And that's about it.

And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased. 

Previously on EVG:

• Because you've always wanted to know what the inside of the long-empty 6 Avenue B looks like

• Let's take another look at the eerie remains of the long-abandoned 6 Avenue B 

The Loisaida Festival is TOMORROW

The 35th edition of the Loisaida Festival returns tomorrow (Sunday!) on Avenue C... (the event was virtual the past two years).  

Most of the activities will be taking place between Fifth Street and 12th Street, the site of the main stage with a slate of live bands and DJs throughout the afternoon. 

The Festival is from noon to 5 p.m. ... with an opening parade starting at 11 a.m. featuring Batalá New York, the all-women, Black-led percussion ensemble. 

You can find the full list of performers and other events at this link.

By the way, Chico created this year's festival poster.

Let's take another look at the eerie remains of the long-abandoned 6 Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Back on Dec. 23, we shared photos from inside the long-abandoned 6 Avenue B, the 6-story building on the NW corner at Houston. 

Recapping some of what we know (and have reported) about 6 Avenue B. The liquor store in the retail space closed when the owner passed away in 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her in February 2010.) 

And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased. 

Otherwise, there's some sporadic activity inside related to the cell towers on the roof. Otherwise, there don't appear to be any plans for this space. 

In the previous trip inside the building, EVG contributor Stacie Joy saw only a few units on the lower floors. She returned the other day and got a more complete look ...

Here's a look at some of the individual apartments... (there are two units on each floor). Each apartment is painted a different color: Green! Blue! Yellow! There was some wallpaper too. See for yourself...

... and paying the rent here — the T-Mobile cell towers...

... and the views from the top...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

Because you've always wanted to know what the inside of the long-empty 6 Avenue B looks like

Because you've always wanted to know what the inside of the long-empty 6 Avenue B looks like

Photos by Stacie Joy

The 6-story building on the NW corner of Avenue B and Houston has been empty/abandoned for years.

Recapping some of what we know (and have reported) about 6 Avenue B. The liquor store in the retail space closed when the owner passed away in 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her in February 2010.) 

And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased. 

In January 2013, workers were spotted hauling out some junk from the building...  in December 2014, bricks fell from the building, breaking the foot of a passerby, as the Lo-Down reported at the time. And an SUV took out part of the sidewalk bridge in November 2018.

And that sidewalk bridge has been up for YEARS. (Six? Seven?) 

However, there are newish work permits on file for the address, some related to the (AT&T?) antennas on the roof. Workers have been inside the building lately.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy looked inside the other day. In the photos below, you'll see the state of the place. 

"The old parquet wood floors are beautiful and the tile work is amazing," Stacie said. "Doubtful it will be preserved but it was something to see."

6 Avenue B doesn't appear to be part of a new (and rumored) Houston Street development

We've been talking about the RUMORED new development coming to the now-empty single row of businesses at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

There was some speculation that the long-vacant 6 Avenue B on the NW corner might be part of a new residential project.

A little digging in public records (courtesy of Upper West Sider — thank you!) reveals that work has been filed in recent months to upgrade antennas and add new FDNY access signs at No. 6. Seems doubtful, as Upper West Side noted, that AT&T would spend the money to upgrade the equipment if the building was about to be demolished.

As for No. 6 ...  the liquor store in the retail space has been closed since the owner passed away in the fall of 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her on the gate in February 2010.)

In January 2013, workers were spotted hauling out some junk from the building...  in December 2014, bricks fell from the building, breaking the foot of a passerby, as the Lo-Down reported at the time. And an SUV took out part of the sidewalk bridge in November 2018. And that's about it.

And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased. 

Updated 10:30 a.m.

Thanks to the commenter who did a little digging in the archives. There was a question about the windowless lot line at 6 Avenue B. Here's a tax photo dated 1939-1941 showing a building identified as 2-4 Avenue B (with a Circulating Library storefront!) ... that corner structure was likely demolished when the city widened East Houston... and No. 6 became the new corner building...

... and the old NW corner... you can see No. 6 in the background...

6 posts from August

[Outside the former Gem Spa via Steven]

A mini month in review...

• Friends and neighbors come together to help Chef Lek at Lui's Thai Food (Aug. 18)

• A visit to East Village Acupuncture & Massage (Aug. 14)

• Checking in with Chico (Aug. 10)

• East Village Loves Queens expands: Meet East Village Loves NYC (Aug. 10)

• New 5th Street coffee shop closes in less than 2 months; owner says the 9th Precinct's barricades 'greatly restricted' his foot traffic (Aug. 5)

• East Village bar owner petitioning against Cuomo’s COVID-19 menu mandate has liquor license suspended for not serving food (Aug. 5)

Week in Grieview

[Avenue A at 9th Street]

Posts this past week included...

• Checking in with Chico (Monday)

• East Village Loves Queens expands: Meet East Village Loves NYC (Monday)

• GrowNYC opens a new greenmarket at Astor Place on Tuesdays through November (Tuesday)

• Masking the East Village (Wednesday)

• A visit to East Village Acupuncture & Massage (Friday)

• A visit to East Side Ink (Thursday)

• A hopeful sign at the future (and former) ABC No Rio on Rivington Street (Monday)

• Lhasa, the celebrated Tibetan restaurant in Queens, opens an East Village outpost (Monday)

• Renovations at the former Provident Loan Society building (Wednesday)

• Bleecker Street Bar closing on Aug. 30 (Friday)

• Man randomly damages front window at Azaleas on 2nd Avenue; 'Might be the last straw for me' (Wednesday)

• SLA suspends the liquor licenses at the Hairy Lemon, Cloister Cafe and the Wayland (Wednesday) SLA suspends Maiden Lane's liquor license (Monday)

• 'Public Art as Protest' debuts at Howl! Happening (Thursday ... Saturday)

• New barricade placement along the Open Streets of Avenue B (Wednesday)

• Petit Chou opens on 1st Avenue (Monday)

• This week's NY See (Thursday)

• Zero Irving getting closer to the top; first sign of the glassy exterior (Monday)

• The Athenian will not be reopening on 10th Street (Tuesday)

• ATM swiped from outside Yankee Deli on Avenue C at 11th Street (Friday)

• Good news if you're done with summer (Tuesday)

• Workers removing damaged Elm tree in Tompkins Square Park (Friday)


[Avenue B at 9th Street]

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