Another court date for Steve Croman tomorrow morning

Steve Croman, who is charged with 20 felonies and a civil suit accusing him of forcing tenants from their rent-controlled apartments, is due back in court tomorrow morning.

Croman tenants are holding a rally outside Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Centre St. Afterwards, tenants are going to room 1322 on the 13th floor...

Here's the flyer that arrived via the EVG email...



Croman's real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village. As previously noted, Croman owns more buildings in the East Village than any other landlord.

Report: Extortion claims highlight Croman suit vs. former Warhol muse

There's legal drama involving four neighborhood buildings. The Real Deal has the scoop about Croman Real Estate suing socialite and former Warhol muse "Baby Jane" Holzer.

According to the suit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court, Croman reached a deal with Holzer in December 2012 to buy four rental apartment buildings she owns — 60 Avenue B, 159-161 Stanton Street, 193-195 Stanton Street and 343 East 8th Street — for a total of $40.1 million.

But Holzer is now threatening to rent out 18 empty rent-stabilized apartments in the buildings unless the buyers pay her an additional $2.5 million, Croman claims.

Croman claims Holzer is trying to extort millions of dollars from them.

Read the whole article here.

H/T Curbed

Tenant-owner dispute on Seventh Street results in fire, dead dog, possible civil lawsuit

The Post has this story today. A couple who live on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue were out in January celebrating a legal victory against their landlord, Steven Croman, of Croman Realty. When they returned home, someone had broken into their ground-floor apartment and started a fire in their closet. (We wrote about the fire here.)

Their Labradoodle named Foster died eight days later as a result from the fire, the Post reports. (The couple had been asking Croman to to padlock two doors that led to their backyard.)

Police later arrested a 22-year-old "career criminal" for the burglary and arson. Police didn't find any connection between the man arrested and Croman. Meanwhile, the couple are considering filing a civil lawsuit against Croman Realty. They have since moved and have a new dog.

Read the whole story here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Fire on Seventh Street

Tenant advocacy group names the city's worst landlords; Icon and Steve Croman in top 10

[Image from Thursday via @ANHDNYC]

Some familiar names to East Village residents made the list of Stabilizing NYC's "10 worst predatory equity landlords" in NYC, which the housing group announced Thursday on the steps of City Hall:

1) All Year Management
2) Coney Realty Group
3) David David
4) Icon Realty Management
5) INK Property Group
6) Madison Realty Capital/Silverstone Property Group
7) Steven Croman
8) R.A. Cohen & Associates
9) Ved Parkash
10) ZARA Realty Holding Corp

Per a news release:

"All the landlords on the list reportedly force tenants to live in horrendous and, often, dangerous conditions. Their unscrupulous and often illegal practices impact the entire city.

“We will be targeting these landlords to help tenants fight back against the predatory practices that put their homes at risk,” said Keriann Pauls, a staff attorney with the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center. “Predatory equity landlords are jeopardizing tenant safety and housing stability throughout the city.”

And...

Recently, the New York City Council has introduced legislation useful to lawyers and organizers in this struggle against predatory equity, including the Predatory Equity Watch List. With additional resources, Stabilizing NYC is working with the city council to enforce these new laws against predatory equity landlords.

"Landlords who act in bad faith in order to kick out tenants to make a profit and flip buildings should pay attention: we’re developing tools that will protect tenants and their homes, and disallow landlords from beefing up their pockets through illegal actions,” said Councilmember Ritchie Torres. “I’m proud to be working with CAPE and Stabilizing NYC on legislation to confront the problem of predatory equity that seeks to destroy affordable housing and communities."

Residents, tenant-rights organizations and local elected officials have accused Icon Realty, who owns multiple East Village buildings, of displacing rent-regulated tenants with frivolous lawsuits and exposing them to hazardous health and safety threats.

Madison Realty Capital/Silverstone Property Group is now managing Raphael Toledano's East Village portfolio.

Last Tuesday, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the guilty plea of Croman. Under the terms of his plea, Croman would serve one year of jail time on Rikers and pay a $5 million tax settlement. Croman's real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village — more than any other than any other landlord in this neighborhood.

Stabilizing NYC — a coalition of 15 grassroots, neighborhood-based organizations, a citywide legal service provider and a citywide housing advocacy organization — formed in 2014. According to their website, the collation "works to combat tenant harassment and preserve affordable housing for the New Yorkers who need it most."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tenants and local elected officials speak out against Icon Realty

An update on James Panitz

[Photo of James from last year courtesy of Damian Panitz]

Last October, we told you the story of James Panitz in a post titled Despite plea, landlord doubling rent on East Village family with cancer-stricken 2 year old.

Shortly before his 2nd birthday, doctors diagnosed James with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer often found in children. He lives with his parents, Damian Panitz and Kate Perry, on East First Street. (Last September, friends and neighbors held "James Day," a benefit in First Park to help cover medical expenses.)

While James was undergoing intensive chemo and radiation therapy, they learned that their landlord, Steve Croman of Croman Realty/Croman 9300, was doubling their rent from $2,100 to $4,100. At the time, James, a technician with NYU, and Kate, a nurse, could not afford the price bump. Worse, moving James during his extensive treatment could have been detrimental to his recovery.

Last fall, Damian said Croman reps were not receptive to just a 10 percent rent hike while James recovered. They said they'd move out as soon as James was well enough.

-----

That was the last we heard from Damian. This past weekend, he provided an update.

First, the really good news. While doctors will continue to monitor James for a few more years, "so far he is doing great," Damian reported.

"It's been almost eight weeks since my son's final chemotherapy session," Damian said. "We had an entire six weeks without a clinic visit, an emergency room visit."

As for the housing situation, shortly after the story on James appeared, Damian said that they received a six-month extension without the rent hike.

-----

Damian and Kate are making plans to move by the end of May. Unfortunately, they are having challenges finding an apartment in their price range in the East Village.

"We would love to stay in our neighborhood, but everywhere we've looked the prices are [too expensive]. We are looking at Brooklyn. We hope to find something not too crippling. It's funny, you'd think two hard-working people could find a place around here," said Damian, a longtime East Village resident. (His mother's family emigrated to St. Mark's Place in the early 1920s from Bratislava, Slovakia.)

Meanwhile, he said that Croman is letting the current property go on East First Street. Workers removed all of the yard furniture, BBQ and garden buckets out back.

"Since then we've had a rat infestation — these rats are huge. I am afraid to take the trash out at night," Damian said. "As soon as I open the back door, they go running. Scattering all over the place, under your feet and up the walls. At night you can hear the rats fighting over a parcel of trash with trash can lids clinking."

-----

"In summary I have a lot to be grateful for. My son is doing well. It's terrific to have a sense that he will grow up."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Despite plea, landlord doubling rent on East Village family with cancer-stricken 2 year old

Tomorrow in First Park: 'James Day,' benefit for 2 year old with cancer

The clinic that treated James is having a walkathon on May 19 on the Upper West Side to raise funds and spread awareness of children's cancers. People do not have give money — you can simply walk, learn about childhood cancers and gain knowledge that could be passed on to other families. Find more details here.

Ben Shaoul owes Steve Croman some back rent on Avenue B

In recent months, 44 Avenue B was in use as a sales office for Liberty Toye, Ben Shaoul's condo conversion a few blocks away at Fifth Street.

In early May, The Real Deal reported that Shaoul was in contract to sell the former nursing home for $85 million. The Liberty Toye sales office was vacated around that time.

Now, as several EVG readers have pointed out, there are legal documents taped to the empty storefront between Third Street and Fourth Street ... stating that Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate Group owes the rent dating back to March...





The Five Day Notice from the landlord, Steve Croman's 9300 Realty, shows that Shaoul owes the $9,300 base rent for March through June ... for a total of $41,345.91...



Shaoul has until Friday to pay or "surrender up the possession of said premises to the Landlord," the recently-released-from-prison Croman.

Shaoul and Croman are among the downtown landlords that elected officials, tenant advocates and residents often cite as the most aggressive in harassing tenants, as multiple published reports have noted through the years (here ... here ... here ... and here, as examples).

In 2012, Shaoul reportedly paid $25 million for the 240-bed Cabrini Nursing Center — which provided health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village — and eventually closed it down for use as a residential building.

No word on who the new buyer is for 62 Avenue B.

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

[309 E. Eighth St.]

Tenants at 309 E. Eighth St. are suing their landlord, Steve Croman, claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012, according to The Real Deal.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 6 in Manhattan Supreme Court, also alleges that Croman is using former police officer Anthony Falconite to intimidate rent stabilized tenants into leaving the building.

As the Daily News reported on July 26, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a probe into Croman's potentially illegal tactics. On July 25, the Daily News reported that Schneiderman slapped a cease-and-desist order on Falconite, who "tenants say has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation to force them out."

Steve Croman case adjourned until Feb. 7

Landlord Seve Croman was back in criminal court today... and the case was adjourned until Feb. 7, which is also the date for his civil trial.

A handful of Croman's tenant's braved the rain to attend...





Those in attendance were not aware of today's legal proceedings that led to the adjournment.

In May, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced 20 felony charges and civil suit against Croman, who owns 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village.

Photos today via Steven

Steve Croman gift ideas for everyone on your list

An EVG reader shared the following... over at Redbubble, the online marketplace for print on-demand products, seller SansComicSans has created a series of gift items that feature landlord Steve Croman's mugshot.

There are throw pillows (above) ... as well as hoodies...



... iPhone cases...



... and travel mugs...



Find the whole gift gallery here.

Steve Croman, who's always in the discussion for NYC Landlord of the Year, was hit in May with a 20-count indictment on charges including grand larceny and filing false documents.

Croman, whose real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village, is reportedly due back in court next month.

New Steve Croman warning flyer makes the scene

Last week, an EVG reader noted a lone flyer on East 11th Street at Avenue B warning potential residents of living in a property owned by Steve Croman, aka 9300 Realty, named one of the top-10 worst landlords in NYC last year by The Village Voice.

This past weekend another flyer arrived … affixed to a city trash can on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street…



In this flyer, Croman is pictured with his wife Harriet … and the flyer's creator points out that Croman "is now the subject of an investigation into potentially illegal tactics used to force rent-stabilized tenants out of their apartments, the Daily News has learned."

That Daily News piece is from last July.

Photos by Derek Berg

New state legislation aims to combat predatory equity

Local elected officials introduced joint legislation on Sunday targeting the practice of predatory equity.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and various tenants and advocates were present at a press conference outside the office of Westminster Management, a Kushner Companies subsidiary, on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. There, they discussed the legislation, which directs the New York State Department of Finanical Services (DFS) to collect data on financial institutions that lend to property owners with the intent to displace current tenants.

Per the announcement:

Specifically, the bill requires DFS to investigate the role financial institutions play in encouraging anti-tenant practices by notorious landlords like Jared Kushner, Steve Croman and Raphael Toledano.

Similar to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, lax underwriting standards and a general lack of transparency have allowed speculators and real estate agents to secure outsized mortgages with very little discretion and oversight. Owners use these loans to make purchases based on unrealistic projections of rising rents, and in turn have difficulty paying the mortgages.

Building owners — anxious to recoup on their hefty investments — often resort to abusive and exploitative tactics to drive rent-regulated tenants out. These abusive practices, known as predatory equity, are best-exemplified by figures like Steve Croman and Jared Kushner.

In the fall of 2015, after the Daily News reported that the state was investigating Toledano for tenant harassment at 444 E. 13th St., he received two loans totaling $124 million from private equity firm Madison Realty Capital to buy and renovate a 16-building East Village portfolio.

Per The Real Deal in an article last July:

The leverage on the deal — which clocked in at 128 percent compared to the typical 50 to 65 percent on a New York City multifamily deal — raises questions about how culpable lenders are in perpetuating harassment. In short, are they turning a blind eye when their borrowers too-aggressively push to turn rent-stabilized apartments into luxury units?

Pressured to generate income from the buildings to pay off his loans, Toledano reportedly attempted widespread buyouts. And many of the tenants at the buildings accused him of harassment.

"No longer can we allow landlords like Kushner, Croman and Toledano to force our neighbors out of their homes in order to make a quick buck," Hoylman said in a statement. "We demand that New York State investigate the practice of predatory equity so we can take the necessary steps to protect rent regulated tenants from harassment and eviction."



Said the recently elected Epstein: "This legislation will bring us closer to stopping the practice of predatory equity before it starts the cycle of tenant harassment and displacement that has become all too familiar in our city. Bad actor landlords and scheming financiers should take note: your days of destabilizing our neighborhoods with your shady business practices are numbered."

Croman was released from jail on Friday after serving eight months of a year-long sentence for fraud.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Raphael Toledano files for Chapter 11; $145 million deal for EV portfolio is off the table

Raphael Toledano tenants take to Midtown streets to speak out against their landlord and his lenders

9 Avenue B is for rent for the first time in eons

Eons! You may have noticed the recent arrival of the for lease signs outside 9 Avenue B between Houston and Second Street.

No. 9 watchers think that this storefront hasn't been in use for retail in more than 30-plus years. It was an office/storage space for Michael Chang, the previous landlord, according to one source.

Here's how the space was looking on the inside yesterday, courtesy of Stacie Joy...

The new era coincides with the sale of the building this past summer. Centennial Properties — aka the new 9300 Realty owned by convicted felon Steve Croman — is now the landlord. (You can read about Croman's post-prison dealings here.)

The retail space at 9 Avenue B — 1,000 square feet — has a monthly ask of $7,495.

No. 11 next door, also now owned by Croman, has been home for 40-plus years to Raul's Barber Shop. More on them in another post.

East Fifth Street residents discover they are now part of the 9300 Realty family

Speaking of well-known landlords... a resident passes along this information... notices that arrived late last week at 325 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Click image to enlarge]

The notice posted in the building mentions there's a "new managing agent" for the building... the letter to individual residents in the building states that there is a new owner ... and the "lease and security deposit" have been assigned to "the new owner."

In both cases, the new landlord is 9300 Realty (owned by the notorious Croman Realty). The Village Voice put Steve Croman on their 10 Worst Landlords List a few years back, and the paper outlined his usual tactics: "badgering phone calls, endless lawsuits, and leaning on already hard-pressed tenants."

This article on tenant-landlord issues from the Times a few years ago specially addresses a tenant trying to get a security deposit back from Croman Realty.

In any event, we'll see what transpires here...

A return of the East Village Tavern?

[Photos by Shawn Chittle]

Signage arrived yesterday at the former East Village Tavern space on 10th Street and Avenue C for – East Village Tavern.

The signage notes that someone is "bringing it back" along with "Cocina Mexicana." The sign also features branding for Pilsner Urquell ...



A quick recap of what has happened with this space in the past 18 months...

East Village Tavern closed here in November 2016 after eight years in business. Bar management blamed a disagreement with landlord Steve Croman for the closure. A Croman rep reportedly said that the Tavern owners were behind on rent to the sum of $78,000.

Over the course of eight months, starting in April 2017, three applicants went before CB3 for a new liquor license for the space .... and the Board issued denials in all three cases. The operators of a Miami-based restaurant called the Irish Times Pub and Eatery looked at opening an outpost here. Those plans never materialized.

Last December, CB3 didn't approve a license for the Snow Leopard, a jazz club whose applicants didn't have any ownership experience. And in January, an applicant wanted to open the place to serve "Classic and New American cuisine" with a menu featuring a variety of sandwiches.

In any event, we don't know yet who is behind the new East Village Tavern. It's difficult to imagine that the former Tavern ownership would want to deal with Croman again — and vice versa.

H/T Shawn Chittle!

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village. James had another commitment for this week. East Village photographer Stacie Joy compiled today's post.



Name: Wasim Lone
Occupation: Director of Housing Services, GOLES (Good Old Lower East Side)
Location: 171 Avenue B
Date: Oct. 10, 2 p.m.

Editor's note: We changed up from our usual Out and About format this week to highlight this critical neighborhood resource.

How has the neighborhood changed in the 30-plus years you’ve been at GOLES?

Working-class people, the poor, elderly, artists and writers are all struggling to find or keep affordable rents and are being replaced by corporate tenants paying high-dollar rents. There is a visible and tangible difference in the area. Stores and restaurants that used to serve the community have closed and big box and chain stores are replacing them. Now shops serve upper-income people.

After the 1997 vacancy decontrol legislation things changed rapidly in the area. A cultural shift changed the neighborhood. No longer is it the LES that used to exist. The flavor, the taste of the area has changed. There has been a tenant cleansing and the new order of the day is maximizing rents. We need to protect the tenants who are left, specifically the Section 8 housing members, public housing tenants, those with rent stabilization.

What does GOLES do for the neighborhood?

GOLES informs, educates, protects and counsels tenants on their rights. It offers legal representation in court, helps tenants form tenant associations and coalitions; for example, the Croman Coalition, which is very strong, and the newly forming Icon Realty Coalition, which is still in progress. People should contact GOLES if interested.

We fight for rules, regulations and laws, policy changes in city, state, and federal levels to protect tenants from predatory landlord behavior. The current mechanics to fight harassment are weak, very weak. In tenant harassment cases nine out of every 10 cases are not signed by judges. That’s 90 percent! Other courts are slow, like civil court or state Supreme Court, and most tenants do not have the resources to fight, especially against frivolous litigation and cases with no merit. They burn out the tenants.

How do you feel the new mayor and administration will affect East Village residents?

The new mayor’s changes remain to be seen. With the new administration there has been a climate change from the Bloomberg years. City Council is more progressive, and the new Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Public Advocate Letitia James are in the process of getting legislation, and calling out violators, like the new list of worst landlords...GOLES is pleased with its access to City Hall and the mayor.

But there haven't been any on-the-ground landlord changes.

What do you like best about the neighborhood? What do you like least?

I like the fact that what we provide is much needed. In fact it’s critical, so critical, to be there to help. Vestiges of the ’hood are still here: Section 8, public housing, rent-regulated tenants. And we are pleased to be here to help them.

Worst, I guess, are the challenges. We can put out fires but overall we are losing the war. Especially with state laws to decontrol rent, and the lack of enforcement at the local level. We see families and individuals getting evicted. Consistently.

GOLES facilitates processes to have tenants take leadership, like with the Croman Coalition, and coalitions regarding Marolda Properties and Icon Realty (forthcoming). The level of harassment the 9300 Realty Corp./Croman bring to bear on their tenants is shocking.

Despite having been doing this work for more than three decades, I am still saddened by the blatant disregard for tenants and their rights. It’s mind-blowing. The deprivation of services, frivolous lawsuits, lack of respect, and the greed of landlords to maximize profits at the expense of the people who make up the neighborhood is horrible.

Want to get involved? Visit GOLES for more information.

A sign switcheroo yesterday at the Amato opera

Yesterday, we reported that the Amato Opera building on the Bowery is now for sale for $6.95 million. The space was previously available as a rental for $22,500 a month.



And workers quickly changed over the sign yesterday to reflect the sale.

Curbed reminded us yesterday that the building was sold back in December 2008 for $3.7 million. Will be a tidy little profit for the owner once the building sells. Per Curbed, "319 Bowery NY, LLC" closed on the property in 2008, and that LLC shares an address with Croman Real Estate, also known as 9300 Realty. Steve Croman has been named to the Voice’s 10 Worst Landlords List.

[Updated] Applicants looking to bring live jazz to the former East Village Tavern

There's a proposal to open a bar featuring live jazz in the former East Village Tavern space on Avenue C and 10th Street.

The applicants are applying for a new liquor license for a venture called the Snow Leopard, according to the questionnaire on file (PDF here) ahead of tonight's CB3-SLA committee meeting.

The Snow Leopard "will have live jazz to accompany their service" with a cover fee for certain acts, per the questionnaire. The menu posted with the materials at the CB3 website features "Italian Style Tapas" (A cheese plate, a dried meat plate, etc.)

Paperwork shows a configuration of seven tables (38 total seats) plus a 13-seat bar along with proposed hours of 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The principal in the venture is a former pharmaceutical sales rep who doesn't appear to have any history of running/owning a bar/club. A partner in the venture is a jazz drummer/booking agent, according to the résumé with the application.

East Village Tavern closed in November 2016 after eight years in business. Bar management blamed a disagreement with landlord Steve Croman for the closure. (A Croman rep reportedly said that the owners were behind on rent.)

Back in the spring, the operators of a Miami-based restaurant called the Irish Times Pub and Eatery looked at opening an outpost here. Those plans never materialized.

The December CB3-SLA committee meeting is tonight at 6:30 at the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Updated 8:30 p.m.

According to attendees at tonight's meeting, the committee issued a denial for this application. Consensus was that it's not the right building for a jazz club.

East Village represented on this list of the city's worst landlords

[EVG file photo of 149 First Ave.]

The Village Voice released its list of the worst NYC landlords yesterday.

Coming in at No. 10: 149 Associates LLC. As we first reported in August, the landlord sent notices telling residents that they were losing their lease because the owners probably needed to tear down the building.

The only violation on file with the Department of Buildings was a failure to file an annual boiler inspection report from 2012. Probably not worth tearing the building down for... Meanwhile, the residents of the building between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street banded together and worked with various housing advocates to fight the evictions.

And there is a landlord who needs no introduction at No. 8: Steve Croman.

Per the Voice:

Over the years, tenants claim, he's initiated pointless lawsuits, ignored requests for repairs, and flat-out refused to renew leases, all in an effort to drive them out of their rent-stabilized units. If Croman had a mustache, he would have twirled it throughout – but what he lacks in diabolical facial hair, he makes up for in henchmen.

However, neither of these East Village property owners made the Public Advocate's list of the worst landlords in New York City.

EV Grieve Etc.: Ex-super sues Steve Croman; Black Flag gets the $265 T-shirt treatment

[Photo at the First Street Green Art Park by Derek Berg]

Pols: The de Blasio administration is completely mishandling the homeless crisis (Daily News)

Former Croman superintendent claims he’s owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime (The Real Deal)

How did Black Flag t-shirts end up at Barney’s for $265? (The Wall Street Journal)

Met Foodmarket for rent on Prince and Mulberry (BoweryBoogie)

The U.S. theatrical premiere of "Homeland," which captures everyday life in Iraq leading up to war in 2002 (Anthology Film Archives)

Booker & Dax closing Oct. 15 for an indefinite amount of time (Eater)

Video: The band Science live in Tompkins Square Park in 1981 (Flaming Pablum)

Queer 90s film series underway (Metrograph)

Christo and Dora on the hunt for dinner in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

Protesting the eviction of Beyond Martial Arts on the LES (The Lo-Down)

Best doughnuts in NYC listicle includes Dun-Well on St. Mark's Place (Gothamist ...previously)

Landmarks Preservation Commission launches the NYC Archaeological Repository (NY Yimby)

Ramones Way for Queens (Gothamist)

BBC documentary on NYC in 1971 featuring Patti Smith (Dangerous Minds)

...and tomorrow is the 31st annual Harvest Festival at the 6th & B Community Garden (rain date is Sunday)...

[Updated] East Village Tavern is now going by DayTripper on Avenue C

Vinny & O shared this photo from yesterday, showing workers removing the East Village Tavern sign from this southeast corner of Avenue C and 10th Street.

Last month, the bar changed ownership, and the space became DayTripper (Updated: multiple readers and sources have indicated the same owners are behind the new venture) ...

View this post on Instagram

HEY GUYS!! In case you haven’t heard, East Village Tavern recently closed it’s doors. New management has taken over and opened DayTripper at the same address, and we suggest you check it out! DayTripper has beer pong, darts, foosball, a great happy hour and more! Follow @daytrippernyc SEE YOU THERE!! -your friends from EVT

A post shared by East Village Tavern (@eastvillagetavernnyc) on Aug 28, 2019 at 12:43pm PDT

East Village Tavern 2.0 opened as a Mexican restaurant and sports bar in July 2018.

The previous East Village Tavern closed in November 2016 after eight years in business. Bar management blamed a disagreement with landlord Steve Croman for the closure. (A Croman rep reportedly said that the owners were behind on rent.)

Updated:

The name change coincides with CB3's denial of East Village Tavern's application to extend their hours to 4 a.m. and add karaoke, live music and DJs.

CB3 issued a nearly three-page denial, noting ...:

WHEREAS, given that Community Board 3 recommended the denial of this application in part because of the inexperience of the applicant and the concern that the business would not be operated as a tavern with a family-friendly menu as originally proposed by the applicant and given that, after six (6) months of operation, there is evidence that the business is being operated inconsistent from its stipulations by hosting events, unlimited drink specials and having its façade open past 9:00 P.M., inconsistent from its application in that has had five (5) televisions and a giant projection screen, inconsistent from its initial characterization of its business by having regular drink specials, unlimited drink specials and hosting beer pong, has sought alteration of its license without notice to Community Board 3 and has already generated complaints regarding noise from the business and from patrons in front of the business, Community Board 3 cannot now endorse the removal of the stipulations imposed upon the applicant by the SLA; now THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Community Board 3 recommends the denial of the application for an alteration of the full on-premises liquor license of St Vince Group LLC, doing business as East Village Tavern, in the premises located at 158 Avenue C, at the corner of East 10th Street and Avenue C, New York, New York, to wit removing all of the stipulations imposed by the SLA.

CB3 also noted that "the Facebook page of the business advertises regular drink specials which are so low in price that they may be illegal."