NatureEs calls: About the organic cafe coming to where Mars Bar 2.0 was in the works

The other day we were admiring the new numbers at 21 E. First St. …



… and wondering when there might be some news about the incoming business — some kind of a two-level cafe-restaurant-lounge-acai-bowl-dispensary combo.

And just like that BoweryBoogie got the scoop on the juice bar part of the space — an organic cafe called NatureEs, serving organic, all-natural, fresh, etc. items …

The NatureEs website offers some rather generic branding for the new venture…



And what of the bar-club portion? Per BB:

Even though the crew still carries a full-blown liquor license, the cellar club isn’t happening. At least not yet. Instead of libations, this space is designated as an in-house spa of sorts. Patrons can take advantage of massages and facials, so we’re told.

A Boogie birdie tells us that Naturees is two weeks from opening...

NatureEs is located in Jupiter 21, the residential building that rose from the grave of the Mars Bar and several other businesses here between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

CB3 OK'd the new liquor license here last May. During that meeting, Mars Bar attorney Frank Palillo said that the new venue will be "a variation of Mars Bar" but will keep the same name, DNAinfo reported at the time. Former Mars Bar owner Hank Penza has a stake in the rebooted business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will the new Mars Bar be another location of The Pink Elephant?

Work starting on Mars Bar 2.0

That's it: The Mars Bar is closed for good

A quick check on the incoming Black Seed bagels on 1st Avenue

[Via the Black Seed website]

We read over at Grub Street yesterday that Black Seed bagels on Elizabeth Street is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week.

Meanwhile, as you probably know, the Black Seed owners are opening a bagel shop/cafe in the former DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe at 176 First Ave. near East 11th Street.

Here's a look inside the under-renovation space from Friday…


[Photo by Ali Smith]

The 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe closed this past Dec. 5 after 110 years in business. Black Seed owners Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman have said that they will keep as much of the original architectural elements intact as they can.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Black Seed bringing bagels to the former DeRobertis space on 1st Avenue (43 comments)

A last look at DeRobertis before its conversion to Black Seed bagels

Starting work to bring Black Seed bagels to the former DeRobertis space on 1st Avenue

Let's just keep talking about bagels on 1st Avenue

[Ess-A-Bagel photo from March 22]

Here's a follow-up to our previous Ess-A-Bagel/Tal Bagels post from March 30...

Ess-A-Bagel closed up their home of nearly 40 years on March 20 at First Avenue and East 21st Street.

There is now a coming soon sign up for Tal Bagels at the former home of Rose, a chicken restaurant, adjacent to Ess-A-Bagel...



... as well as in the former Ess-A-Bagel space...



There was also a Tal Bagels sign up a few storefronts to the north at 365 First Ave. ... next door to where the new Ess-A-Bagels MAY open...


[Photo from March 28]

To make this even more confusing... the Tal Bagels sign is no longer up on the plywood.



Thankfully the Town & Village Blog has it all sorted out for us from a post on Friday...

Tal Bagels, which has three other locations in NYC, will be opening in part of the old Ess-A-Bagel space (along with 350 square feet for a Bank of America branch).

And what about No. 365? To Town & Village:

Tal will be opening a shop/restaurant for smoked fish, similar in style to downtown institution Russ & Daughters. That business will go into the space at the former Beehives & Buzzcuts at 365 First Avenue, which has about 2,000 square feet... It may not be called Tal and there is not yet a planned opening date.

“It’ll be fish and salads, European smoked fish like herring,” said [Tal partner Mohammed] Kamal. He explained that in just the bagel shop space, there wouldn’t have been enough room for bagels as well as “the full line” of fish.

No word yet on a new home for Ess-A-Bagel.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Landlord forcing Ess-a-Bagel from its longtime home (46 comments)

1 week left for Ess-A-Bagel at its current 1st Avenue location

[Updated] Ess-A-Bagel has closed for now on 1st Avenue

Tal Bagels opening soon next to possible new home of Ess-A-Bagel

Fog bound

Tompkins Square Park tonight...



Photos by EVG contributor Michael Sean Edwards ...

First look at Pancake Paradise on Avenue C

Crews have transformed Esperanto on Avenue C and East Ninth Street into the Pancake Paradise for a film shoot (the tipster who sent along these shots didn't catch the name of the project) …



As the sign shows, Esperanto will be back in service Wednesday evening…

Updated: A readers says the shoot is for "How to Be Single" starring Dakota Johnson.

April 19

Someone yesterday along East 14th Street decided that it was time to toss the xmas tree and the hammock. Two unwanted seasonal items taken care of at one time.

Spotted by James and Karla Murray.

Report: 190 Bowery's new tenant will keep things the way they are, graffiti included

[Via Wikipedia Commons]

Apparently the happy new tenant of 190 Bowery — the former Germania Bank here at Spring Street — "will keep all of the building’s historic touches from its marble wash basins to the graffiti covering the lower part of the facade," The Wall Street Journal reports today. (Subscription required for article.)

Per the Journal:

A company made up of agencies representing creative professionals in the industry of luxury and fashion image-making has signed an 11-year lease for almost 30,000 square feet of office space on floors two through six at 190 Bowery.

“We’re a very visual company and all the employees are very visual people,” said Matthew Moneypenny, the chief executive of the yet-to-be-named limited liability company that includes agencies such as image-licensing firm Trunk Archive as well as CLM and Streeters, which represent photographers, hair and makeup artists and set designers. “Companies like ours tend to thrive in places that have a soul and a history.”

Photographer Jay Maisel bought 190 Bowery in 1966 for $102,000. He recently sold it for a reported $55 million.

As for the current state of the building's exterior, we haven't walked by in awhile. How much graffiti and what not is left?

From September 2014...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Take a last look inside the mysterious 190 Bowery

Rumor: Tompkins Square Bagels possibly opening a 2nd East Village location on 2nd Avenue

[EVG photo from January]

Open Pantry, the 45-year-old coffee shop/grocery at 184 Second Ave., closed for good at the end of January. The proprietors, who also own the building here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street, have had the storefront on the rental market these past few months.

Now comes word, via the rumor mill, that Tompkins Square Bagels is looking to open a second East Village shop at this location.

We'll update when/if we hear back from TSB owner Christopher Pugliese.

Tompkins Square Bagels opened on Avenue A near East 10th Street in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 40-plus years, Open Pantry looks to be closing on 2nd Avenue

T-swirl crêpes for where Subway's 6-inch subs once roamed

A T-swirl crêpe shop is opening in June at 247 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue … inside the recently shuttered Subway (sandwich shop).

This will be the second location for the Flushing-based business, who is also opening a shop in Philadelphia this summer.

Here's their description: "T-swirl crêpe makes Japanese style sweet and salad crêpes by hand using our secret recipes and tasty fillings



And the signage displays some of T-swirl's combos…





Thanks to EVG regular Pinch for the tip!

2nd and 2nd coming up Rosie's

The transformation of the former Boukiés space on Second Avenue and East Second Street continues... with the signage for the former Greek restaurant coming down late last week... most of it anyway...



As previously noted, the folks who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points are converting the corner space into Rosie's, a Mexican restaurant. Here's a quick preview from New York magazine:

Rosie's "plans to showcase traditional dishes, from tacos to Veracruz-style whole roasted fish. At a 12-seat comal bar, cooks will fashion masa-based snacks, or antojitos, from corn dough made in-house."

Not sure on an opening date... this is how the place is shaping up on the inside...



The well-liked Boukiés closed in March 2014 after a two-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

For sale: Everything must go at the former Boukiés space on 2nd Avenue

From pudding to macaroni at 102 St. Mark's Place

The coming soon sign is up for the new food shop at 102 St. Mark's Place — New York Macaroni Co.



We didn't spot anything online just yet about New York Macaroni Co.

The previous tenant here between Avenue A and First Avenue, Puddin', never reopened after the city found them operating with an expired food service establishment permit late last November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Oh fudge, Puddin' popped for incomplete paperwork

Bittersweet: Puddin' NYC won't be reopening after all on St Mark's Place

Hey, the T-Mobile has opened on 14th and 1st

[Photo Saturday by EVG 14th Street correspondent Pinch]

On the southeast corner of 14th Street and First Avenue… and you'd think that T-Mobile could afford more than three grand-opening balloons. Unless they are saving $$$ for rent, which one tipster told us was $56,000 a month.

The previous tenant, The Pizza Bagel Cafe, closed for good this past Nov. 3.

Previously on EV Grieve:
That recognizable warm, pink glow of the new business coming to 14th Street and 1st Avenue

Reader report: Pizza Bagel Cafe yielding to a T-Mobil store on 14th and 1st

Week in Grieview

[Tompkins Square Park yesterday]

Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice (Tuesday, 54 comments)

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas (Thursday)

Man sentenced to 14 years in prison for rape of East 7th Street resident (Wednesday)

First look at the revamped East Village Radio studio on First Avenue (Friday)

A No Catcall Zone on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday, 54 comments)

Teaser site arrives for the Altes House, 11 boutique condos for East 4th Street (Monday)

Full Stop Work Order issued for 117 Second Ave. for 'testing and taking apart gas lines' without permits (Saturday)

Joey Ramone: May 19, 1951 – April 15, 2001 (Wednesday)

The Black Rose opening in the former Odessa Cafe and Bar space (Tuesday, 70 comments)

[Photos] At Sunday night's Second Avenue benefit concert at Theatre 80 (Tuesday)

Out and About with Diane McLean (Wednesday)

Long-stalled 16-story residential building still stalled on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday)

Long Bay now serving Vietnamese cuisine on East Sixth Street (Tuesday)

Two weeks left to enjoy Lan Cafe (Thursday)

Reader report: Pit bull attack on Avenue A (Sunday, 58 comments)

Agavi Juice opens on East Seventh Street (Wednesday)

Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. coming to Avenue A (Monday)

Ellie & Jack's Bar & Kitchen looking for lodging in the former Kabin (Thursday)

After midnight, workers remove the Moishe's Bake Shop sign (Saturday)

Looking at 67 Avenue C, where the condo views are spectacular and surreal (Tuesday)

Marcha Cocina announces itself on Avenue C (Wednesday)

The Dunkin' Donuts space on East 14th Street is for rent (Monday)

Have you tried Makki Deli & Grocery?

We have not… the small deli at 440 E. Ninth St. just west of Avenue A has been open for several weeks now… one reader said that he got a large portion of rice, chickpeas and spinach, and roasted okra (as well as two of the $1 vegetarian samosas) for $8.

Live from A-1 Records...

Starting today (Record Store Day!) you can now tune into A-1 Records' live feed of the great vinyl that they play in the store ...



You may listen here.

The shop is at 439 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Giant green baby alert: All American Temper Tot arrives on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

Here's a look at the all-new Houston/Bowery Mural Wall, where Ron English began work yesterday on what's he's calling All American Temper Tot…



And here is some of the official news release on the mural via wall curators Goldman Properties:

Jessica Goldman Srebnick, CEO of Goldman Properties, creators of the international outdoor street art museum, the Wynwood Walls, in Miami, has announced that Ron English will be the next artist whose work will adorn their famed Houston Bowery Wall in lower Manhattan. English joins an elite group of artists Goldman Properties has personally curated to paint one of the most sought after mural walls in the United States.

Describing his work as “Popaganda” – a mash-up of high and low cultural touchstones, from superhero mythology to totems of art history and his own original characters, English has enjoyed a successful career as a street artist as well as a fine artist. He will begin working on the Wall on Friday April 17 and the mural, entitled All American Temper Tot, is expected to be completed by Wednesday, April 22.

… and here's a photo from late yesterday afternoon via EVG contributor James Maher…



Animal NY, BoweryBoogie and Gothamist have more pics.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall has been boarded up

The mural wall will remain on the Bowery and East Houston

Os Gêmeos: (Almost) day by day

5 years later, Os Gêmeos returning to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

Peeling off the layers through the years of the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

After midnight, workers remove the Moishe's Bake Shop sign

[Photo by Paul Kostabi via Instagram]

Multiple EVG readers let us now that in the late night/early morning hours, workers took down the familiar Moishe's Bake Shop letters at 115 Second Ave. (EVG reader Ryan spotted the work happening at 1:30 a.m.)

So sad to see the Moishe's letters come down tonight. @evgrieve #EastVillage pic.twitter.com/cgVV7XeNJR

— Nicholas Evans (@nicholasevans) April 18, 2015

While this retail space has been for lease since last summer, there hasn't been any mention of a closure from the owners of Moishe's. (The only sign in the window states that they are closed on Saturdays and open on Sundays.)

There is a complaint on file with the Department of Buildings dated April 11 (in the DOB's ALL-CAP style):

FROM THE RT. SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE NEW BUILDING HAS "SHIFTED" & THE WALLS HAVE MANY HOLES. THE BENDED CANOPY IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE WALL & IS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE WALL, AT LEAST BY 4 INCHES.

The DOB issued an Environmental Control Board (ECB) violation for "failure to maintain front facade." So perhaps this is the first step in renovating the storefront to meet the DOB's standards.

The bakery, which opened in 1978 (or maybe 1972), returned last Sunday after being off for the Passover holiday. Moishe's is one of the many merchants whose business tailed off in the days after the Second Avenue explosion.

In a widely circulated Associated Press photo from March 27, owner Moishe Perlmutter was seen offering the FDNY some of his baked goods...

This man is handing out cookies to firefighters clearing rubble from yesterday's explosion in the East Village (@AP) pic.twitter.com/MpZ0Xuc6TQ

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 27, 2015

Updated 9:13 a.m.



Updated 4/20

Several readers spoke with Moishe at the shop yesterday... he reported that the sign will return after the facade repair... and that they are not going anywhere.

Full Stop Work Order issued for 117 2nd Ave. for 'testing and taking apart gas lines' without permits

The DOB yesterday served a full Stop Work Order at 117 Second Ave. ... right across Seventh Street from the site of the deadly gas explosion on March 26.

The building is owned by Maria Hrynenko, who is also the landlord at 121 Second Ave., the site of the blast.

According to DOB records:

WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT - TESTING & TAKING APART GAS LINES

Here's more detail from documents on file with the DOB:

FULL STOP WORK ORDER - WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT; INSPECTION TIME 11:07AM
AT TIME OF INSPECTION I OBSERVED GAS PIPING IN THE RESTAURANT IN GROUND FLOOR AND CELLAR DISCONNECTED, CAPED AND BEING PRESSURE TESTED BY THE PLUMBERS NO PERMITS WITH DOB

As a result, San Marzano, the restaurant here, had to close yesterday after reopening on April 10...



San Marzano's owners left a note for patrons saying they will be closed until further notice…


[Image via @anoop]

San Marzano was closed from March 26 through April 9. No. 117 was under a full vacate order from the DOB.

The Times looks into the real-estate holdings of the Hrynenko family

[2nd Avenue photo yesterday by EVG reader Daniel]

The New York Times dispatches three reporters to dig into the real-estate holdings of the Hrynenko family.

Maria Hrynenko is the landlord who owned 121 Second Ave., where a gas explosion on March 26 killed two men and injured more than 20 other people.

Per the Times:

Officials are investigating the cause, which they believe may have been a gas line being improperly tapped to supply newly renovated apartments on the floors above a sushi restaurant in the building, and an effort to cover up the misuse.

Hrynenko owns 121 and 119 Second Ave., which was also destroyed. According to the Times, she also owns 117 Second Ave., 46 E. Seventh St. and 96 Second Ave.

Here are a few passages from the article:

Ms. Hrynenko’s husband, Michael Hrynenko Sr., who died in 2004, went into real estate in the 1970s, long before the East Village was chic. The buildings he bought remain a family enterprise. But as the investigation into what went wrong has unfolded, the Hrynenkos have not spoken publicly, and few on Second Avenue seem to have known them well.

Each real estate company of which Ms. Hrynenko is now the principal seems to bear a form of her children’s names — Crystal Apartments L.L.C. for her daughter Crystal, 31; Nasher Realty Corporation may be for two daughters, Natasha, 21, and Sherry, 22. One, M.A.H. Realty L.L.C., may refer to her son, Michael A. Hrynenko, known as Mischou. Another company’s name consists of the initials of all four children’s first names.

And:

In the East Village, Ms. Hrynenko built personal relationships with some tenants. [117 Second Ave. tenant Billy] Calanca said she doled out hugs when they passed her on the street. Her office was across the street from Sushi Park, the restaurant on the ground floor of 121 Second Avenue.

Hyeonil Kim, who owned Sushi Park, recalled swapping details with Ms. Hrynenko about their personal lives, particularly the loss of her husband. “If you hear her life story in the past, you will know it is a tearful story,” he said.

But Mr. Kim also said Ms. Hrynenko was out of touch with what went on her buildings. He described her as in over her head.

You can find the article, which will appear in tomorrow's paper, here.

7th Street reopens west of 2nd Avenue

Workers removed the barricades early this evening... opening up Seventh Street west of Second Avenue to traffic again for the first time since the deadly gas explosion on March 26...



Updated 4-18