Protection for a tree garden on St. Mark's Place

Photos by Donald Davis

This past weekend, Boyd constructed an elaborate medieval fence on one of the adopted tree garden plots outside 99 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The fence is to help remind dog walkers and people looking for a place to sit that every garden space is precious...

A new pizzeria for the former pizzeria at 36 St. Mark's Place

As the pizzerias turn at 36 St. Mark's Place.

Cellos has been added to the existing Pizzeria signage here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. This development comes as an applicant is on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a beer-wine license for the address. (The applicants have already received administrative approval.) 

The questionnaire isn't online, so we don't know more about the new owners.

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Updated: The questionnaire lists the operator as Larry Kramer, who owns Whitman's on Ninth Street (and Hudson Yards).

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A little pizzeria history here... Funzi's opened late last June and aspired to be an East Village throwback with a 1970s-80s decor modeled after owner Kevin Cox's grandmother's house. 

Cox left the business in November ... taking the Funzi's name with him for a new version of the pizzeria in another EV location. (Funzi's was named after the youngest of Cox's three sons.) We never heard anything more about a new spot for Cox.

After Cox departed, the business pivoted to St. Marks Pizzeria... with a message on its website noting, "Same Pizza. Same Chef's. Same Location. New Name." This post-Funzi's concept went dark in December, and paper went up on the front windows several weeks ago.

You can see where the new operators simply put Cellos over where Funzi's was on the sign... and the post-Funzi's version below (both pics last year by Stacie Joy)...

Cellos marks the ninth food establishment at No. 36 — St. Marks Pizzeria, Funzi's, Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast, Joe's Steam Rice Roll, Cheers Cut, Friterie Belgian Fries, Fasta and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza — since 2015. 

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg)...

• Source: DA's office mulling charges against tow truck driver in the death of longtime East Village resident Merle Ratner (Thursday) 

• 2 weeks left before Gizmo closes and relocates from longtime East Village home (Wednesday) 

• Boris & Horton, NYC's first dog-friendly cafe, announces the 'devastating' decision to close on Feb. 26 (Thursday) 

• On the CB3-SLA docket: Williamsburg’s Win Son Bakery plans East Village outpost (Monday) 

• Peter Jarema Funeral Home ad comes back from the dead on 7th and B (Monday) 

• Joey Bats Café making its Essex Market debut (Saturday)

• A Citi Bike docking station for 3rd and A (Monday) 

• Storm center: Scenes from around the East Village after Nor’easter moves off the coast (Tuesday) ... more flurries! (Saturday) 

• In case you Wonder what's coming to this Stuyvesant Street space (Monday) 

• Signage alert: Dear Rufino on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Closings: Emilia by Nai on 1st Ave. (Wednesday) 

• We are now signage official with the new Bank of America Branch (Thursday) 

• Yummy Hive announces itself on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street (Monday) 

• Signage alert: N25 on St. Mark's Place; YGF Malatang on 3rd Avenue (Monday) 

• Daniel's Bike Shop slated for this 14th Street storefront (Thursday) 

• Now $1.50, 99¢ Fresh Pizza enters a new era (Wednesday)

... hoping this doesn't turn into a copycat crime wave ...  as seen on the Citizen app...

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Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from 7th Street at 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg) ...

• Longtime East Village sewing shop Gizmo will be relocating in early 2024 (Wednesday) 

• 2024 marks the 50th year in business for Ray's Candy Store (Monday) 

 • The remains of the fire-damaged Middle Church structure have been removed (Friday)

• 2 NYPD officers sustain minor injuries after line cutters cause skirmish at reticketing outpost for asylum seekers on 7th Street (Saturday) 

• 2024 development watch: 33-37 1st Ave. (Tuesday) ... 42-46 2nd Ave. (Wednesday) ... 50-64 3rd Ave. (Thursday)... 280 E. Houston St. (Friday) ... 

• Jen the bookseller closes the book on her Avenue A vending days (Thursday) 

• Le Dive owners looking to take over the Boiler Room space on 4th Street (Thursday)

• About those New Year's Eve fireworks (Monday) 

• Glizzy's has left St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• Closings: Milk Burger on Houston (Tuesday) 

• Patis Bakery bringing the bread to Broadway (Tuesday) 

• Yuca Bar closed for renovations on 7th and A (Thursday) 

... and an EVG reader shared this photo from the dog run in Tompkins Square Park yesterday... titled Dogs Frolicking In 1st Snowfall of 2024...

Follow EVG on Instagram or X for more frequent updates and pics.

Glizzy's has left St. Mark's Place

Photos by Steven 

After a Nov. 1 opening, Glizzy's has already vacated 34 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Workers were spotted removing contents from the space last week. We're told that Glizzy's will reopen in Soho.

In an Instagram message, the Glizzy's team cited "partner and landlord" issues behind the EV vacate. 

The brand started in Williamsburg in 2022, billing itself as "Brooklyn's best hot dogs." (That Metropolitan Avenue outpost recently closed.)

Meanwhile, Crif Dogs remains the top dog on St. Mark's Place.

Openings: Glizzy's on St. Mark's Place

Photo by Steven

Glizzy's — billed as "Brooklyn's Best Hot Dogs" — opened last week at 34 Saint Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (We first mentioned this pending arrival on May 30.)

This will be the second outpost for the brand that started last year in Williamsburg.

Johnny Huynh, the founder and co-owner of Glizzy's, grew up in Bushwick and operates Lucy's Vietnamese restaurants in Brooklyn.

Some background via Greenpointers:

Glizzy's menu kicks off with the "N.Y. Classic" that includes onions in red sauce, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard. Next, there's a dog called "Houston, We Have A Problem" with smoked brisket chili, chopped and fried onions, and a cheddar cheese sauce. 

The "OG Lucy's" is a nod to Huynh's Vietnamese restaurant and has cucumber, cilantro, basil, mayo, pickled carrots, hoisin, and sriracha. Next up is the "Mr. Lee" with kimchi, scallions, furikake, fried garlic, Korean BBQ sauce, and sesame oil. 

"The Ocky" is halal and includes chopped onions, tomatoes, harissa, and yogurt sauce, while the "Phil Me Up" contains potato salad, scallions, furikake, and curry ranch dressing. 

You can find the menu here. 

Hours: Noon to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, with a 3 a.m. close Thursday through Sunday.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a waiting room photo at East Village Smiles on Avenue B by Edmund John Dunn)... 

• City using the former St. Brigid School to help asylum seekers with transportation (Tuesday) 

• Honest Chops Butchery has left 9th Street (Friday) 

• A round-up of the old-school Chinese restaurants in the East Village (Wedensday) 

• Checking in on Superiority Burger 6+ months in; weekend breakfast & lunch and Chrissy's Pizza coming soon (Thursday) 

• A "boutique micro hotel" is in the works for this former Bowery flophouse (Monday)

• Openings: Ayat on Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Report: LLC pays $44 million for the loan to the former P.S. 64 (Wednesday) 

• You will be able to hone your comedy skills at a former 7-Eleven with the Upright Citizens Brigade (Monday) 

• 1 week in on the reconstruction of the Tompkins Square Park multipurpose courts (Monday) 

• At the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade (Sunday) 

• 14th Street wishes you an early happy holiday season (Saturday) 

• A bust at LA Convenience on Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Montauk's Memory Motel is popping up on 3rd Avenue and 13th Street (Thursday) 

• This East Village building is now Untitled (Monday) 

• A quick look at Manhattan Pawffice, opening next week at 20 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Momofuku Ko is closing in Extra Place (Wednesday) 

... and St. Mark's Place lives thanks to the ongoing events at Village Works at 12 St. Mark's Place... Eden shared this clip from Friday night...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eden Brower (@edenbrower)

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A quick look at Manhattan Pawffice, opening next week at 20 St. Mark's Place

Photos by Derek Berg 

Back on Oct. 3, we reported that a doggy daycare was the new tenant for the long-empty retail space at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

More specifically, this will be Manhattan Pawffice, a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg. 

Per their NYC website: "Welcome to our dog daycare and boarding facility located in the heart of the East Village. With spacious play areas and a vast backyard, your furry friend will have plenty of room to run, play and rest." For anyone curious, there is outdoor space behind the building. 

The building does have outdoor space in the back. (The previous tenant, the Grassroots Tavern, never used it.) 

The Manhattan Pawffice website lists a grand opening on Monday.

The Grassroots Tavern, the last tenant in this lower level of the landmarked building, closed after 42 years in service following New Year's Eve 2017.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from the Loisaida Fall Festival on 3rd Street yesterday by Stacie Joy)...

• Tenants crowdfund to aid East Village super critically injured in high-speed car collision (Tuesday) 

• Why the benches were removed from across the street from the 9th Precinct (Monday) 

• The reconstruction of the multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park begins on Oct. 16 (Saturday) 

• So the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade will take place this year after all (Wednesday) 

• Thinking about Dennis Edge (Thursday) 

• Tenants and businesses are now without gas at 199 E. 3rd St. (Monday) 

• Here are J. Kathleen White's 2023 dioramas at the 9th Street Community Garden & Park (Friday) 

• Here's the next business for the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• The Hard Swallow is now closed (Thursday) 

• Posse officially in Effect now with the Beastie Boys on 14th Street and Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Behold this amazing miniature of Mars Bar (Tuesday) 

• Spellbound! It's the return of Hitchcocktober (Tuesday) 

• A Bank of America is checking into the corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• Retail spaces at the historic 4 St. Mark's Place are now for rent (Monday)

• In case you felt like seeing this exhibit featuring a classic Lower East Side bagel shop (Tuesday)

• Look at 6 Avenue B now! (Wednesday) 

• The Avenue Cafe bringing pastries and coffee to St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Must be the season of the pop-up Halloween shop on Avenue A (Friday)

• 231 1st Ave. up to its 4th business in the past year (Wednesday) 

• 2 bad signs at Luzzo's on Avenue B (Thursday) 

• House of Munchies debuts on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

...and thank you to everyone for keeping tabs on the tire clamp story... the contraption is now outside the construction office in Tompkins... (photo by Steven)

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Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg)... 

• East Village Loves NYC aids asylum seekers in Midtown during Saturday's heatwave (Tuesday) 

• RIP Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Thursday) 

• The chaotic scene at Union Square (Friday) 

• City Council votes on a permanent outdoor dining program (Thursday)

• Raising awareness of Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s proposed merger with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (Sunday) 

• Baker Falls shapes up (Friday) 

• Report: The historic 137 2nd Ave. — the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic — has a new owner (Wednesday) 

• Theater for the New City ready to take to the streets (Saturday)

• Butter Lane leaves 7th Street for a new home in the American Dream Mall (Wednesday)

• From crabs to wings on 1st Avenue? (Friday) • The Summer Streets days of summer are upon us (Friday) 

• CineKink is back with its 20th-anniversary film festival (Monday) 

• Openings: Dora's Restaurant on Avenue B; Rynn's on 5th Street (Monday)

• Signage alert: Anjelly on St. Mark's Place; Rice Bird NYC on 9th Street (Wednesday)

• Local 92 has closed on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Like a breath of fresh Urban Air on 1st Avenue (Friday)

• Something to frown about at Smileys (Monday) 

... and six years after our last podcaster paparazzi photo of the week ... a return engagement with Marc Maron, here on 2nd Avenue (photo by Derek Berg) ...

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Your Funzi's Pizzeria signage on St. Mark's Place

Photo by Steven

Some classic-looking signage is up now at 36 St. Mark's Place, where Funzi's Pizzeria is set to open soonish here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (They are currently hiring.)

We're told that it will be an old-school slice joint with a few Italian dishes as well. 

And we're betting that Funzi's will break the curse of one-and-done quick-serve concepts at this address. (Reminder: Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast, Joe's Steam Rice Roll, Cheers Cut, Friterie Belgian Fries, Fasta and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza — all since 2015.)

Previously

Glizzy's bringing hot dogs to this block of St. Mark's Place

Signage for Glizzy's is up now at 34 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

This will be the second outpost for the brand that got its start last year in Williamsburg, and boasting "Brooklyn's Best Hot Dogs." (Current signage is missing the 's on Brooklyn for now.)

Johnny Huynh, the founder and co-owner of Glizzy's grew up in Bushwick and operates Lucy's Vietnamese restaurants in Brooklyn.

Some background via Greenpointers:

Glizzy's menu kicks off with the "N.Y. Classic" that includes onions in red sauce, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard. Next, there's a dog called "Houston, We Have A Problem" with smoked brisket chili, chopped and fried onions, and a cheddar cheese sauce. 

The "OG Lucy's" is a nod to Huynh's Vietnamese restaurant and has cucumber, cilantro, basil, mayo, pickled carrots, hoisin, and sriracha. Next up is the "Mr. Lee" with kimchi, scallions, furikake, fried garlic, Korean BBQ sauce, and sesame oil. 

"The Ocky" is halal and includes chopped onions, tomatoes, harissa, and yogurt sauce, while the "Phil Me Up" contains potato salad, scallions, furikake, and curry ranch dressing. 

No word on an opening date for Glizzy's, which is nestled among other quick-serve options on the block. The storefront was previously the ice cream shop Lucky Star.  

Near-miss in Tompkins Square Park as branch falls

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park, a large branch from a majestic American Elm came crashing down to the ground inside the Avenue A-St. Mark's Place entrance...

Witnesses said it came very close to hitting a man in a wheelchair (thanks to Janie Heath for the clip)...

   

This is the second branch to fall in the Park in recent weeks... on May 16, a young parkgoer escaped injuries after being hit by a limb that fell in the dog run — also on a calm, sunny day.

Updated:

CS on B shared this panoramic shot...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a construction shot of 1 St. Mark's Place at Third Avenue)... 

• With Community Board approval, Sammy's Roumanian Steak House takes another step to returning to the Lower East Side (Tuesday) 

• This East Village resident is bringing a classic 82-year-old radio back to broadcasting life (Thursday) 

• Mayor Adams visits Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• RIP Andy Rourke (Friday) 

 • Report: 8 months after fire, residents want their landlord to repair their Avenue D building (Monday)

• Workers demolish the south ramp to East River Park at Houston Street (Wednesday)

• Parkgoer escapes injury after a branch falls in the Tompkins Square Park dog run (Wednesday)

• The Cube will return to Astor Place this summer — but not before a spin to the Hamptons (Thursday) 

• A winning bid for Theatre 80; a vow to keep fighting for the building (Friday) 

• Openings: Saint Pizza on Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• Checking in at Jazba, a new Indian restaurant opening this summer on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• A necessary 'eVil' (Tuesday) 

• Packing up the Urban Umbrella scaffolding around Cooper Union (Tuesday) 

• 8 new trees on a truck in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

• Out and about with Rhett the Rhino (Friday)

• The all-new Bleecker Street Bar debuts (Monday) 

• City issues curbside dining structure removal to the shuttered Compilation Coffee (Thursday)

• Scenes from a rain-soaked Dance Parade (Sunday) 

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Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from earlier in the week in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• The homicide of Jordan Neely (Thursday) 

• Heady psychedelia: A conversation with East Village musician Franzi Szymkowiak of Lukka (Thursday) 

• After deadly collapse, city issues vacate order at the Little Man Parking garage on 9th Street (Tuesday)

• Coming attractions: Prep work underway for the renovation of the Tompkins Square Park field house (Friday)

• RIP Bill Brady (Friday)

• The Pinky's Space storefront is for rent on 1st Street (Monday)

• Grass acts: Main lawn in Tompkins Square Park has been reseeded (Thursday) 

• Basics Plus has closed on 3rd Avenue (Monday)

• Officials: Developer had permission to remove trees from new building site at 1 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

• This 2nd-level retail space is for rent on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Local elected officials speak out to landmark Theatre 80 ahead of auction (Tuesday) 

• Signage alert: Don Ceviche on 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

• Sunday C&C Eatery announces itself at The Bowery Market (Monday) 

• The stand-up MRI place closes on Avenue A (Monday)

• The Mermaid Inn won't be returning to its original East Village home (Wednesday) 

• Nest Ball: Amelia and Christo's 2023 chicks make first appearance (Thursday)

• Ichibantei Japanese Soul Food and Steak debuts on 3rd Avenue; closes on 13th Street (Wednesday) 

... and keeping with the dog theme in Tompkins Square Park... a dog vs. car moment (photos by Steven) ...

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Funzi's Pizzeria next for 36 St. Mark's Place

Signage is up at 36 St. Mark's Place for the next quick-serve tenant — Funzi's Pizzeria.

We need to find out who the operators are...  as well as the opening date. The signage simply states, "Funzi Hath Arrived."

This was a quick turnover at the address between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast just closed here at the end of February.

Funzi's marks the seventh food concept at No. 36 — Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast, Joe's Steam Rice Roll, Cheers Cut, Friterie Belgian Fries, Fasta and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza — since 2015. 

What's up with Two Hands?

Photos by Steven

The Two Hands outpost on Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street has been closed for the past week-plus.

A sign on the front window of the Korean corn dog specialists states "a technical issue" is behind the closure.. and go to the location on Mott Street...

The windows were later papered up... and it appears the interior has mostly been packed up...

Google lists the business as permanently closed. We reached out to learn more about the status of the Avenue A shop, which opened here in April 2021 as part of the L.A.-based chain's U.S. expansion. 

Tough times for Korean-style street food here. Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast closed its doors earlier this month at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park Friday by Derek Berg)... 

• RIP Tim Lomas (Tuesday) 

• The owner of A&C Kitchen on Avenue C would like to reopen his business now (Friday) 

• A rally at City Hall for the former Charas/El Bohio Community Center (Thursday) 

• About Radhika & Saman, a pop-up shop featuring handmade clothing from India and Pakistan (Wednesday) 

• News flush: The Tompkins Square Park restrooms, open once more (Thursday)

• Get ready to say so long to the Stomp sign (Wednesday) 

• City and state officials continue cracking down on illegal smoke shops (Monday) 

• For sale: 171 1st Ave., home of Momofuku and the only cast-iron building in the East Village (Tuesday) 

• A corner lot awaits new development on 5th Street and Avenue D (Wednesday) 

• Avant Garden is on the move (Monday) 

• CJ Tattoo relocates from St. Mark's Place to Avenue C (Monday) 

• Openings: Burgers on B (Thursday) ... Döner Haus on 14th Street (Wednesday) 

• Stump town no more in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• Oh my: Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast the latest concept to close at 36 St. Mark's Place (Monday) 

• Renovations underway at the former Dallas BBQ (Thursday) 

• The historic 137 2nd Ave. — the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic — is now for sale (Monday) 

• First sign of the new Ichibantei outpost on 3rd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Shinn East expands on 7th Street (Friday)

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Oh my: Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast the latest concept to close at 36 St. Mark's Place

After less than a year on the block, Oh K-Dog & Egg Toast has closed its doors at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Workers cleared out the storefront late last week, and an employee confirmed the closure to EVG correspondent Steven.

The quick-serve establishment sold Korean-style snacks such as stuffed hot dogs and egg toast ... the space included a K-pop shop, selling music, books, calendars, stickers, etc., for a variety of South Korean bands. 

The Texas-based chain still has locations in the NYC metropolitan area, including on Ludlow Street.

This address has seen several concepts come and go without much success... the last business was Joe's Steam Rice Roll ... others included Cheers Cut, the Taiwanese mini-chain of fried foods ... Friterie Belgian Fries ... Fasta ("Pasta Your Way") ... and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza. 

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with an ad for "Halloween Ends" at the 2nd Avenue F stop) ... 

• RIP Peter Schjeldahl (Wednesday) 

• Deadly shooting reported at Campos Plaza (Thursday) 

• El Rinconcito closer to opening on Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• A look at Thayer, a new cafe-bookstore opening soon on Avenue B (Thursday) 

• At the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival (Monday) 

• An early morning robbery at Desi Galli (Friday) 

• The city removes the curbside structure from outside Pinky's Space on 1st Street (Friday)

• The East Village Mermaid Inn is now closed until the spring (Friday)

• Pruning day for the great wisteria of Stuyvesant Street (Monday) 

• After nearly 30 years, Meg has left the East Village (Monday)

• Memphis Seoul coming to 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Looking at the past, present and future of curbside dining (Wednesday)

• Village Grannies is closing on 9th Street (Thursday)

• Plywood arrives ahead of Gen Korean BBQ House on 14th Street and 3rd Avenue (Monday)

• Kōbo by Nai watch on Avenue A (Thursday)

• Mealz debuts on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Openings: Sushi Mumi on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• About Brix Wine Bar, coming soon to Clinton Street (Wednesday) 

... and thanks to Richard Megna for sharing this photo from Sara D. Roosevelt Park... where the bench is either very uncomfortable or someone has really tight hamstrings...

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