Report: Dahlia's busted after cops find 43 minors drinking inside locked restaurant

[EVG photo from 2014]

The State Liquor Authority (SLA) has yanked the liquor license from Dahlia's on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street after the NYPD found more than 40 teens drinking inside the Mexican restaurant on Jan. 30, the Post reports.

After reportedly serving teens, the SLA served up an emergency liquor license suspension. The restaurant, known as Mary Ann's until 2014, can still sell food, but not alcohol.

Here's some passages from the Post:

[C]ops found the exits locked and more than 40 well-heeled teens — one only 15 years old — quaffing “monster margaritas” and mojitos.

And!

Cops from the 9th Precinct arrived at Dahlia’s after receiving a 911 call reporting underage drinking. At the crowded bar, they documented that 43 patrons were younger than 18, including five 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old.

Most of the teenage drinkers were from monied Westchester suburbs like Scarsdale and Larchmont, officials said. None had been asked for ID.

SLA officials also said that the holder of the liquor license, Huascar Then, and five servers were arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, unlawfully dealing with a child and criminal nuisance.

SLA Chair Vincent Bradley issued this statement: "In addition to demonstrating a total disregard for the law by blatantly catering to minors, this licensee further jeopardized the health and safety of these young patrons by crowding them into a locked bar to avoid detection by law enforcement."

As you probably know, the 9th Precinct is a 1/2 block from the restaurant.

Updated 10:45 a.m.

I walked by Dahlia's this morning... you wouldn't know that the restaurant isn't serving liquor... see next update below...








Updated noon:

The gates are up now at the restaurant... and the suspended license legalese is posted...





Thanks to EVG correspondent Steven for the photos.

Updated 3:30 p.m.

Several readers (including Vinny & O) mentioned that Dahlia's is not open today. Also, maybe randomly, one of the Dahlia's signs was lying on Second Avenue in front of the restaurant ...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Updated 7 p.m.

The restaurant is open this evening. An EVG reader who looked inside said there were three patrons...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Slowly but surely the exterior of the former Mary Ann's is becoming Dahlia's

Moons dreams

Last night via Grant Shaffer

Baker's Pizza in soft-open mode on Avenue A

The pizzeria at 201 Avenue A between East 12th Street and East 13th Street is now serving... as you can see, the hours for now are noon to 10 p.m., Monday-Saturday...



One EVG reader chimed in with an early review in the comments: "I had a slice at Baker's Pizza: a white slice with caramelized onions and a little sausage — very unique. It was delicious. Bravo to the baker!"

At the beginning of the year, East Village resident Jordan Baker bought the business from the folks who ran Nonna's Pizza here.

1 month (or so) after the Blizzard of Jan. 23, this snow refuses to leave East 1st Street

Oh... sorry. This snow...



At least I think it's snow... Didn't taste like any snow that I recall tasting... (likely just the tar crust...)

East Village Smoke Shop & Grocery now open on Avenue A

The small shop is up and running at 89 Avenue A near East Sixth Street... aside from the smoking-related supplies, they sell the usual deli fare (sodas, gum, snacks, etc.)

The former tenant here, D-Lish Pita, closed last summer.

H/T EVG reader Perri Silver

An evolution in yarn at La Plaza Cultural

[Photo by Bill LoSasso]

This yarnbomb collaboration between @madebylondon and Frank Ape on East Ninth Street at Avenue C arrived outside La Plaza Cultural on Thursday...


[Photo by William Klayer]

...replacing the dinosaur that had been here. In terms of evolution, we're progressing — dinosaur to ape to...

All together now

Bloc Party are back with a new record and lineup... the UK-based quartet will be playing Governors Ball this June... ahead of that you can see them at Irving Plaza on March 16. And you can see them in the above video with "So Here We Are" from their 2005 debut.

Next stop?

St. mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue this afternoon...

Feb. 29 is the last day on St. Mark's Place for Trash and Vaudeville ahead of move to East 7th Street

[EVG photo from last July]

As we exclusively reported last July 28, Trash and Vaudeville is leaving its home of 40 years at 4 St. Mark's Place ... to new space at 96 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The store has taken to social media to announce that their last day on St. Mark's Place is Feb. 29. They will reopen in their new home in early March.

Hey Ho Lets Go... to 96 East 7th street! After over 40 years at 4 saint marks place, Trash & Vaudeville will be relocating to 96 East 7th street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A (just a few blocks away!) We'll be on Saint Marks till Feb 29th. We would love to see you here before we move and we look forward to seeing you on 7th street in early March! We'll keep you updated with confirmed dates. Any questions please email or give us a call, customerservice@trashandvaudeville.com / 212-777-1727 ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏

A photo posted by Trash and Vaudeville (@trashandvaudeville) on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:35am PST

Here's some of our conversation with store owner Ray Goodman from July:

"I love St. Mark's Place. There's no doubt it. There's something magical about it. This just isn't any block," Goodman told us on the phone. "The decision wasn't something that I took lightly. From a business perspective, we saw a shift in the clientele. The block is not as conducive for fashion shopping as it once was. Now it seems as if it's all food — fast food — and bongs. Even stores that aren't bong stores sell bongs."

He said that the changing business environment on the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was just one of many factors that played into the decision to relocate.

"The retail world is so different today," he said. "So much of it is done online."

And increasing rents are always a culprit.

"The rent is creeping up," said Goodman, who is a minority partner in the ownership of the historic Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place. "Rent was a factor, but it wasn't the sole reason."

Last November, 4 St. Mark's Place, the landmarked building whose first owner in 1833 was Alexander Hamilton’s son, arrived on the market. Asking price for the building that includes Trash and Vaudeville: $11.9 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place

Minca Ramen Factory is back open next Thursday

Good news if you're a fan of Minca. The popular ramen shop on East Fifth Street just west of Avenue B had been closed since mid-December for some unspecified gas-related issue.

However, as you can see in this photo via EVG reader Alexis, Minca returns this coming Wednesday, Feb. 25, here at 536 E. Fifth St.

Updated:

Despite what the sign says, Minca will reopen on THURSDAY, Feb. 25...

3rd Avenue penthouse cottage returns to market as a $17k monthly rental

[EVG file photo]

Last Aug. 27, the penthouse home(s) atop the building that houses Kiehl's on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street caught fire...

Fire on 13th & 3rd. NYFD handling it. Hope no one is hurt. pic.twitter.com/MMblm6oU40

— Connor Scalleat (@connorscalleat) August 27, 2015

Despite how it looked, the damage was minimal to the cottage that had just sold for $4.4 million.

You still have a chance to live here, though. As the Post reported, the 1,972-square-foot rooftop duplex (apartment 4CD) with three bedrooms and three bathrooms is now available as a rental — for $17k a month.

Here's part of the listage action via Corcoran:

An open kitchen features stainless steel appliances including Miele dishwasher and Wolf range, along with a dramatic Thermador vented range hood. Hand-painted Victorian-era aluminum casted balusters line the staircase leading up to the stunning master bedroom suite.

Enter this second level through the spectacular solarium, sun-flooded during the days and great for stargazing at night through its numerous skylights. This well-designed suite is complete with a spa-like master bath featuring a deep-soaking tub and separate steam shower, a windowed study/dressing area, and corner fireplace. The two spacious terraces flank the second level, the larger featuring an outdoor wood-burning fireplace, retractable awning, and four exposures with views of the Empire State Building. There is also a new irrigation system in place.

To refresh your memory...







The unit is available is furnished or unfurnished.

As for the cause of the fire, the Post heard that it was a faulty hot tub on the roof.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Live in tranquil cottages overlooking … 3rd Avenue (but still)

Updating: Fire reported on the rooftop at Kiehl's on 3rd Avenue

Do you have any opinions about noise in the East Village?

[Smurf #woo circa 2010]

Then have we got a survey for you! (And you!)

Via the EVG inbox...

Dear New Yorkers:

The New York State Comptroller's Office is conducting a survey on noise in New York City neighborhoods and would like you to take the survey.

Research has demonstrated that noise can adversely impact public health. For example, noise can disturb sleep and increase stress levels.

We want to learn about your experience of noise in your community and solicit your ideas for reducing noise.

Toward that end, we are asking all community residents take the survey by March 15, 2016.

Thank you!

State Government Accountability
New York State Comptroller's Office

You may access the English version of the survey here. (The survey is also available in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.)

P.S.

Remember! If you don't like noise, then move to _______________

Report: Higher rent helped doom Nino's; owner wants to open another pizzeria in the East Village

[EVG photo from yesterday]

On Wednesday, the signs on the door at Nino's stating that the pizzeria would reopen were removed... along with the help wanted signs...

As reported on Tuesday, owner Nino Camaj accepted a low six-figure amount to walk away from his remaining 10-year lease and surrender his longtime space on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place.

Nino's had to close on Oct. 21 due to a gas leak in the building. On Nov. 17, the pizzeria was hit with an eviction notice. Camaj has said that the gas was shut off in the building without any notice to him.

In late November, Camaj's lawyers were reportedly in discussion with landlord Citi Urban Management to dispute the rent charged for the month during which they had to close due to the gas leak. However, a Citi Urban representative at the time told Bedford + Bowery that Nino owed rent for previous months — not just for the month without gas.

DNAinfo spoke briefly with Camaj, who said that he could no longer afford the $14,500 monthly rent. "I’m not making any money before I closed," he told DNAinfo in a story published yesterday. "I’m breaking even."

Camaj said that the rent for the corner space was $3,500 when he opened in 1989. (Nino sold the business in 2012, which produced a short-lived pizzeria. He returned and reopened Nino's in July 2013.)

Camaj told DNAinfo that he would like to continue running a pizzeria in the East Village — if he can find a more affordable location.

Meanwhile, James Morrissey, who owns The Late Late on East Houston, had been after the Nino's space to combine with the former Hop Devil Grill next door to create The Honey Fitz, a destination serving a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning along with high-end cocktails by night... with WiFi and printers for freelancers and others to use during the day.

However, facing a denial for a liquor license from CB3's SLA committee on Tuesday night, The Honey Fitz team withdrew their proposal for the time being.

Morrissey said Wednesday that he "remains interested in the location, assuming all outstanding lease issues have been resolved," per DNAinfo.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Honey Fitz in the works for St. Mark's Place and Avenue A (54 comments)

Gas leak closes Nino's for now

Nino's and Yoshi Sushi served with eviction notices on Avenue A

Encouraging signs at Nino's

Report: The Honey Fitz on hold; and RIP Nino's

Pork Pie Hatters is closing on East 9th Street

[Image via Facebook]

After nearly five years on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, Pork Pie Hatters is packing it in. (They announced it on Facebook on Saturday. No reason given for the closure.)

The shop was an outpost of JJ Hat Center on Fifth Avenue, which has been around since 1911. The flagship store isn't going anywhere.

The last day for is March 10. Until then, everything in the East Ninth Street shop (No. 440) is 50 percent off.