Campaign launched to raise money for gravely injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker

[The flowers outside East Village Farm and Grocery this spring. Photo via Creature]

CB3 member Chad Marlow has organized the following crowdsourcing campaign...

Help raise money to help pay the medical and other costs of flower shop operator Akkas Ali, who was mowed down by a speeding driver on 6/19.

On June 19, 2013, a speeding, intoxicated driver racing down Second Avenue slammed into the flower stand outside East Village Farms & Grocery on 2nd Avenue and 4th Street. The driver struck and greviously injured Akkas Ali, the 62-year-old flower shop operator who had been working at that location for 22 years. Mr. Ali has a wife and three sons, and they all need our support in this time of terrible tragedy.

Whatever money we can raise will help defray Mr. Ali's medical cost and lost income while he attempts to recover from his injuries. Raising money for Mr. Ali will also help give him piece of mind that his family is being taken care of. Please, let our caring East Village community, the City of New York and all others with generous hearts show our love and support for Mr. Ali and his family by rallying around them during this incredibly diffcult time.

Said Marlow in an email announcing the launch: "I went through this same thing with my father when he was just 4 years younger than Mr. Ali, and one of Mr. Ali's sons is the same age as I was when my father was stuck and seriously and permanently injured by a speeding, intoxicated driver. So I know how much this kind of support would help him and his family."

You may find the GiveForward site here.

As for Ali ... Matt at neighborhoodr! spoke with the East Village Farm and Grocery folks yesterday.

Ali’s son stopped in earlier with an update on his father:

He had two broken bones in his leg, femur and shin. He also had internal bleeding inside his skull. He underwent surgery yesterday. He’s still on a respirator and isn’t communicating.

Read the rest of his post here. WABC has a report here.



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Car smashes into East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue; 6 reported injured (60 comments)

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

As we've been reporting, East Village Farms is closing on Avenue A on Jan. 31. One worker said the building's owner will be demolishing the structure for lord knows what...

Anyway, as you know, the space was originally a theater in operation from 1926-1959.

[Via Cinema Treasures]

We've seen a few tantalizing bits and pieces of the theater's remains... as far as we know, the auditorium is still intact.

EV Grieve reader Lambert Jack was one of the many curious about what's behind and above the grocery... He took a look the other night...

Per Lambert Jack: "We went into the main theater room, and poked around the offices and other abandoned rooms. There were some amazing painted tin roof parts. I hope someone strips the cool stuff ... before the place is razed."

His opinion on the space? "I'm not sure the building is worth saving — the cool parts of it seem really run down and unusable — but the ornate period works need to be preserved as best as they can. I would love to have a theater there, but I suspect it's headed for new housing."

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

[Cinema Treasures]

Here's one that we didn't see coming: A tipster tells us that East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A between Seventh Street and Sixth Street will be closing soon. The florists out front are already in the process of leaving.

Per our tipster, the building's owner is going to start "renovations" as early as February. (Monica, who owns the grocery business with her husband, apparently already has a new location scouted at 48th Street and Eighth Avenue.)

So far, though, there aren't any permits pending with the Department of Buildings. We only just heard about this. So we don't know just yet what the plans are for the future. Suh Yon Pak Associates are listed as the owners.

This is an enormous space, as you can see.

The building served as a theater from 1926 to 1959. Here's what the place looked like in 1949 when it was known as the Hollywood (this is looking north toward Seventh Street) ...

[Via Cinema Treasures]

It has been some type of grocery or another since 1959. Here's the first certificate of occupancy from the city for use as a grocery.

The upstairs of East Village Farms has always been rather mysterious... One Cinema Treasures reader got a look several years ago, and took these photos...





Nostalgia aside... this is a huge loss in the heart of the neighborhood...

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Week in Grieview

[St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue this morning]

A death in the Grassroots family (Monday)

Schwimmer confirmed as owner and destructor of 331 E. Sixth St. (Monday)

Celebrating a Giants Super Bowl victory on Third Avenue in Speedos (Tuesday)

The eighth Subway opens in the East Village (Wednesday)

East Village Farms (and EVG) on WABC-7 (Thursday)

Neighborhood schoolkids express themselves about Starbucks (Friday)

Interpol (not the band) gets involved in East 13th Street short-term rental (Friday)

The Pink Dorms of East 14th Street (Thursday)

First mention of the East Village in The New York Times (Tuesday)

No more East Village Farms (Wednesday)

316 E. Third St. prepped for the end (Tuesday)

New beginnings for Obscura Antiques (Tuesday)

East Village stories to watch in 2013 (Part 1)

• The reopening of St. Brigid's on Avenue B

[From October]

The restoration/renovation of the historic Avenue B church is winding down after several years... last we heard from a St. Brigid's watcher, the church is expected to reopen in the first few months of this year... and we can't wait to see the inside... Bonus question: Will neighbors ever get used to the bells?

-----

• Filling in the Mystery Lot

Ah, our old friend the Mystery Lot...

[Some time ago]

...will soon look like this on East 14th Street/13th Street east of Third Avenue...

-----

• The end (and new beginning) of Astor Place

Workers are quickly erecting the 430,000-square-foot office complex at 51 Astor Place ... which will shape up this year to look like...



Building aside, the city is also expected to dramatically reconfigure streets, parks and traffic islands around Astor Place and Cooper Union ... leaving us with that Midtown feeling...

-----

• 84 Third Ave. grows taller

We learned last month that the Karl Fischer-designed building rising at 84 Third Avenue at East 12th Street will be 12 stories, not nine as originally expected. Of any of the area's new development, this just may look like the most out-of-place project. And that's saying something.

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• A dorm for 35 Cooper Square

The former 35 Cooper Square was demolished 18 months ago here at East Sixth Street. Perhaps soon in the New Year we will learn more about developer Arun Bhatia's plans for a 9-story dorm, which are currently on file with the DOB.

-----

• Something for 100 Avenue A

[A scene outside 100 Avenue A yesterday by Bobby Williams]

Not much seems to be happening at 100 Avenue A, where East Village Farms closed in February 2012. The city disapproved the first round of plans to renovate the space, including adding a "dwelling unit" and roof garden on the upper floors.

The sidewalk outside the storefront has mostly been used to accommodate some people in need of a place to sleep this past year.

However, in one small bit of progress, the DOB did approve the foundation work here back on Nov. 9, per city records. Will we finally see work start on the renovations in 2013?

-----

• Development for the former Mary Help of Christians school, church and lot

Staying on Avenue A ... the saga of the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church enters its fifth year... The Catholic Archdiocese sold the church property, which includes the Don Bosco Salesians rectory adjacent to the church and the church's former school on East 11th Street, for a reported $41 million. Douglas Steiner, owner of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Steiner Studios, is the new owner, and he has plans for in the works for an 80/20 residential development.

...and this promises to be an enormous development ...

[Via Off the Grid]

Will the church be demolished to make way for the new housing? (The Landmarks Preservation Commission has already turned down requests to landmark the circa-1917 church.) Or will at least part of the church be incorporated into the design of the new building, much like NYU did by sort of including the façade of St. Ann's into the entrance of the 12th Street dorm?

Meanwhile, nothing will likely happen with the new development until workers have shored up the eastern wall at the East Side Community School on East 12th Street.

Tomorrow: East Village stories to watch in 2013 (Part 2)

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

[Yesterday morning on Avenue A]

On Friday, our friend Doug Quint at the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop stopped by the Village Farms on Avenue A ... workers there told him that the grocery is closing Jan. 31.

Meanwhile, in far more disturbing developments, a tipster passed along the following this past weekend. A Village Farms employee told the tipster that the landlord is "wrecking the building.' Not a good sign."

Indeed. Not surprising, though if this is true.

Still, as of now, there still aren't any permits on file with the DOB.

Finally, last night, we received the following message:

This is a message written on behalf of the current business tenants, Monica and her husband, written by their daughter: "We are so thankful to have gotten to know many of you and to have been a part of this neighborhood. We are sorry for not always doing a great job and being responsible for any bad shopping experiences some of you may have had. We are indebted to our loyal customers and their friendships. The new location is a friend's store, who we will be working alongside. As we are in the process of scouting a store ourselves, we hope to maybe meet in the future if we come back to Avenue A. God Bless, everyone! As the store closes, we will be having a special clearance sale sometime in the last week of January. Hope to see many of you there! With Love, the Songs"

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

[Updated] Another East Village corner market closes; 13 and counting for the last year or so

The Fuji Apple deli on First Avenue at 12th Street is the latest corner market to close.

The deli shuttered on Monday. (The space has been on the market — "perfect for any use.")

So many deli/markets have either closed or gone upscale in the last year or so in the East Village that I've lost track...Some of the replacements are just too bland and even more expensive with the ambiance of an airport terminal...

Anyway, let's try to piece this together.

Olympic on First Avenue at 13th Street closed and will become an upscale market...



Roger's Garden on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street closed for renovations back in early January... and is now a new food courty-looking place ...



The market on the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C closed and reopened as a Wholesome Foods...


[Photo by Bob Arihood]

On Avenue C near Eighth Street, the market/deli just off the corner closed and reopened as a Yankees Deli 2...

Christine's on 10th and C moved and reopened with more upscale items...

Jay's on Avenue C and 11th Street closed and reopened as the Yankees Deli...

The market on 12th Street and Avenue C remains closed...

The East Side Gourmet Deli on the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street closed and reopened under new ownership...



Across the street, Finest Pizza and Deli closed last June.... and reopened as the East Village Finest Deli......



The Houston Deli & Grocery on Avenue A and Houston closed to make room for the new fancy Union Market...

The market that took over half of the Dunkin Donuts space on Second Avenue closed and is now part of the liquor store.

And how could I have forgotten this... Graceland on the corner of Avenue A and Second Street...



I'm sure there are more just from the last year (not including the fire-stricken Stuyvesant Grocery on A and 14th Street or East Village Farms on Second Avenue and Fourth Street.) Let me know what I'm forgetting...

98-100 Avenue A used to be here

Ben Shaoul's demo gang pretty much has the former 98-100 Avenue A wiped out now between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street...



Coming one day: a 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

[Cinema Treasures]

Condos at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A will start at $1.3 million; high-end gym eyed for retail space

[EVG photo of 98-100 Avenue A from yesterday]

Turns out that Ben Shaoul's incoming residential building on Avenue A will house condos and not rentals as previously thought.

According to The Real Deal, one-bedroom units will start at just under $1.3 million while penthouses will go for $2.3 million. Per broker Ryan Serhant, prices will range from the high $1,000s per square foot to north of $2,000 per square foot.

Amenities for the 33-unit (we originally heard 29 units) building will include a — ding! ding! — roof deck as well as some private outdoor spaces for several of the residences here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street.

Meanwhile, The Real Deal also hears that the ground-floor retail space will house a high-end gym. Equinox already reportedly inked a deal to lease two floors of Shaoul's incoming development on East Houston and Orchard. So maybe look for a high-end gym other than Equinox for the space that last housed East Village Farms. (And this might just finally dash those hopes for a Trader Joe's.)

The residences here are expected to be ready by the late spring or early summer of 2074 2016.

Updated 6:22 p.m.

An EVG reader shared a view from behind the building...



Per the reader: "Here is the backside of the construction. No idea why they left that large area open. Gads."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

New Facebook group is advocating for a Trader Joe's on Avenue A

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

Rest assured, there isn't a fire in the hole at 98-100 Avenue A

Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A emerging from the dewatering hole

Life next to 98-100 Avenue A

Take a look at the inside of Ben Shaoul's condos at 100 Avenue A

Rendering Reveal Week continues... as a new website for Ben Shaoul's condoplex at 100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street has been unleashed (h/t Curbed!).

As previously reported, the residences at the 6-story 8-story building start at $1.3 million.



Let's enter the lobby...



... and head on up to one of the residences...









Per the 100 Avenue A website:

100 Avenue A has 32 units, ranging from one to three Bedroom residences with four Penthouse units. Whichever you choose, your home will have stunning floor plans, light-filled layouts, and expansive windows for taking in the view outside. When your friends and family come over, they might even ask to move in.

• Bianco Dolimiti Honed Marble Bathroom Tile

• Waterworks Polished Nickel Bathroom Fixtures

• Kitchen Design by Effeti

• Sabia White Oak Herringbone Kitchen Floors

• Statuary White Marble Kitchen Countertops

• Calacatta Honed Marble Herringbone Backsplash

• Miele Refrigerator, Oven and Cooktop, Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer in all units

And what else can new residents expect in the building? Back to the website!

100 Avenue A has a private landscaped roof deck.

Things that it’s good for:

• Sunbathing and picnic-ing
• Looking up at the night sky
• Thinking happy thoughts about your apartment below
• Lounging and laughing with friends

Things that it’s not good for:

• Being inside

The building also has another roof garden on the second floor, so you can experience all these benefits twice over

And if you are still breathing, the newly launched site also offers insights into its naked-person marketing motif ...

When we began building 100 Avenue A, we wanted to create a place for people who strive to make their mark on the city. Working with the gifted architect Ramy Issac of Issac and Stern, we believe that we’ve realized that vision. The building stands proudly in the center of the East Village, a neighborhood with a storied past of iconoclasts.

Today, a new generation of residents are reanimating and updating the area’s transgressive traditions with their creativity and vitality. 100 Avenue A is the embodiment of the East Village’s ever-evolving identity. It’s for the brave and the bold: people who want the finest that New York has to offer, and who aren’t afraid to break conventions.

Developer Ben Shaoul bought the former theater-turned market at 100 Avenue A in the spring of 2013 for $15.5 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

New Facebook group is advocating for a Trader Joe's on Avenue A

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

Rest assured, there isn't a fire in the hole at 98-100 Avenue A

Continued dewatering at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A prompts visit by the FDNY

Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A emerging from the dewatering hole

Life next to 98-100 Avenue A

Condos at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A will start at $1.3 million; high-end gym eyed for retail space

The retail space at Ben Shaoul's 100 Avenue A is available for $24.5 million; plus, naked model marketing clarification!

Trying to figure out what is going on at 98-100 Avenue A

Someone threw black paint bombs at the naked women condo ad along 100 Avenue A