Touch-screen kiosks that do not take cash will be the order at Shake Shack's Death Star branch

The Shake Shack opening any day now at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star will be a cashless and (mostly) faceless experience.

Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti offered what Shake Shackgoers can expect here during an interview with CNBC yesterday:

[T]his Shake Shack won't have a cashier's counter. Instead, guests will use digital kiosks or their mobile phones to place orders. Manning these kiosks will be "hospitality champs," Shake Shack employees who specialize in making customers' time in the restaurant as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Orders will go directly to the kitchen, which has been rearranged to "eliminate friction time," Garutti told CNBC.

Eliminating "friction" is a big piece of this new Shack location. In addition to streamlining the back of house operation, the Astor Place Shake Shack will not accept cash. Garutti said many customers still pay with cash in its restaurants, but the company wants to see if removing that option will make the dining experience more seamless.

In addition, instead of the traditional Shake Shack buzzer, diners will receive a text from the restaurant letting them know when their food is ready. This way customers are no longer tethered to the restaurant while their food is being prepared, Garutti said.

Garutti said that the Death Star Shack "will be a playground where we can test and learn the ever-shifting needs of our guests."

A few other things from the interview:

In order to hire the best staff, Garutti said the company will be paying workers at this location a minimum of $15 an hour.

And...

Garutti said company officials expect a few hiccups, but they are just excited to see what elements of this restaurant work best. In particular, he said the restaurant made sure to have a backup plan in case of internet malfunctions or Wi-Fi issues.

As Eater reported, Shake Shack has 17 open and upcoming locations in NYC and over 135 worldwide.

Updated 8 a.m.

The crinkle cut fries are being delivered...

Monday's parting shot

A tribute to Tom Petty at Black & White on 10th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue... The singer-songwriter was reportedly in grave condition following a heart attack last night at his Malibu home. (Earlier reports erroneously stated that Petty died.)

Updated 5:30 a.m.
Petty's family has confirmed his death. He was 66.

Photo by Dan Krupin via Instagram.

Along came some spiders on 7th Street

[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

This apartment building on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue is feeling Halloween. (Or the super needs an exterminator.)

Accidental art

Spotted on Ninth Street via Grant Shaffer...

Eastville Comedy Club looking to move to former Chase space on Avenue A

The corner space at 20 Avenue A and Second Street has sat empty since the Chase branch closed in November 2015.

And after at least five brokers showed the space, it looks there's potential new tenant. According to CB3's SLA agenda for Oct. 16, Eastville Comedy Club, currently housed on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, is proposing to move into some part of 20 Avenue A. (This is a pretty large space, and the various listings said that it could be divided.)

The full questionnaire for this application isn't online just yet. Will update when that is available.

This CB3-SLA meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton. The drama starts at 6:30 p.m. (The SLA committee meeting agenda is split up over two nights. The second meeting is Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
The retail-wine bar possibilities for the former Chase space on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

The retail space at 20 Avenue A no longer looks like a bank branch

Joe & Pat's hiring this week on 1st Avenue

[Photo Friday by Steven]

Joe & Pat's is hiring this week — Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for all positions.

The Staten Island pizzeria, which got its start there in 1960, is expected to open later this fall, serving a variety of thin-crust pies and pastas.

As previously noted, Lanza's was the longtime tenant here at 168 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Find previous posts on this topic here.

Also coming soon and hiring: Szechuan Mountain House on St. Mark's Place

There's a new Coming Soon banner on the upper level at 19-23 St. Mark's Place for Szechuan Mountain House, an offshoot of the establishment with the same name in Flushing.

The restaurant is hiring, per the sign on the front door here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



Szechuan Mountain House is next door to Mango Mango, serving desserts from Hong Kong ... they are still in the Grand Opening phase...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Mango Mango bringing more dessert to St. Mark's Place

Szechuan Mountain House coming to St. Mark's Place

Dian Kitchen bringing food from the Yunnan Province to 9th Street

[Photo by Steven]

Dian Kitchen has announced itself at 435 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ...


[Photo by EVG reader Dennis]

According to the restaurant's Instagram account, "Dian Kitchen will serve mixian (Rice Noodle) and small dishes. Inspired from the providence of Yunnan." (The account notes that the owner is a native Yunnaner.)

Dian Kitchen, which is expected to open next month, will have daily hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Workshop, a body-piercing shop, was the previous tenant at this address

Sara Kay Gallery debuts on 2nd Street

The Sara Kay Gallery is now open at 4 E. Second St., just off the Bowery, in space that previously housed the Rivington Arms gallery.

This is the first gallery for Kay, whose career includes stints as director of the White Cube gallery in London, director of the fine art department at Jan Krugier Gallery and as a specialist for Christie’s, per published reports.

Per the Gallery's website:

Her diverse expertise will drive the gallery’s genre-defying programming, which will span a wide range of art historical periods and movements, and provide an expansive vision for collecting. The gallery will also put a special emphasis on supporting female artists.

The New York Times had more on the first exhibit:

The inaugural exhibition, “A Limitless Vision: The Collection of Audrey B. Heckler,” will show pieces from Ms. Heckler’s exceptional trove of works by self-taught artists such as Martín Ramírez, Aloïse Corbaz, Madge Gill, Adolf Wölfli and James Castle. Ms. Kay will also display hand-painted ceramics by Picasso and a cast by Dubuffet — artists who found inspiration in outsider art. “Dubuffet had an enormous collection of Art Brut,” or raw art, said Ms. Kay, “and was really a champion of this genre.”

Well it's official 🥂Thank you everyone for your support and the warm welcome to the LES!

A post shared by Sara Kay Gallery (@sarakaygallery) on Sep 28, 2017 at 3:47pm PDT

Space Mabi now with an Oct. 10 opening date

Over at 67 First Ave., the opening for Space Mabi has been pushed back. The Korean tapas bar/restaurant (aka gastropub) at Fourth Street originally had a Sept. 19 debut set, per the front-door signage... then it was pushed to Sept. 26 ... and now, Oct. 10...



The proprietors were previously behind a similar venture on Fifth Avenue at 30th Street called Space Nabi, which closed in the spring. It was a cafe in the morning hours, with food and drinks later in the day.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Guayoyo has been closed now for 1 year

Gastropub — 'Your new playground' — slated for former Guayoyo space on 1st Avenue

Week in Grieview

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

CB3 calls on the MTA to address poor frequency and reliability of the M14A bus (Friday)

Hurricane Maria relief efforts continue at 2nd Street firehouse (Tuesday)

Icon Realty fined $500,000 in tenant harassment probe (Thursday)

Out and About with Nancy Blum (Wednesday)

Christo and Dora look to be building another nest (Friday)

Frisson Espresso coming to 3rd Avenue (Monday)

As No. 320 turns: 5 restaurants have come and gone in this space in 1 year (Monday)

The latest installment of I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

A tale of 2 chains on 3rd Avenue (Thursday)

Ciao For Now now open on Tuesdays this fall (Tuesday)

Mani in Pa sta coming to 14th Street (Monday)

Mark Burger won't be back around here (Monday)

Construction watch: 363 Lafayette (Tuesday)

Dog's cafe life: Boris and Horton signage arrives on 12th and A (Wednesday)

Cheers Cut makes it (more) official on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Here's "Gotti" (Tuesday)

Rent a former Duane Reade on Broadway (Tuesday)

Mayahuel replacement now open on 6th Street (Wednesday)

... EVG regular Jose Garcia came across this in Tompkins Square Park today... a candle on a letter marked "My Love Story" ...



... and if you're in the market for a free Vintage Schwinn Air Dyne Exercise Bike ... someone yesterday left this on Seventh Street just east of Second Avenue... Derek Berg, who took this photo, reports that it is in good working condition...



... and it has moved to the trash bins outside Cafe Mocha ...



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Peep the 2017 collection of dioramas at the Ninth Street Community Garden & Park

Peephole Season — late September into October — is here again at the Ninth Street Community Garden & Park on the northeast corner of Avenue C... as East Village artist J. Kathleen White has unveiled her 2017 collection of dioramas...



Here's a look at three of the four dioramas ...







These arrived this past week ... and will be up on the fence along Avenue C for six weeks.

White started creating and sharing the dioramas in 2005. Here's her work from 2016 ... 2015 ... 2014 ... 2013 ... 2012 ... and 2011....