Neighborhood bar Local 138 moving from Ludlow to Orchard this spring

Local 138 is on the move on the Lower East Side.

Bar reps last night announced that Local 138 will leave its home since 1996 at 138 Ludlow St. between Stanton and Rivington next month for a new space at 181 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton...



The last call at Local 138 on Ludlow is April 27. No word yet on when they will open on Orchard Street.

A bar rep said — long story short — that the lease was up at 138 Ludlow St., and the owners couldn't come to terms on a new lease.

No surprise, really. Michael Shah's Delshah Capital bought the building for $19 million in January 2018.

Earlier this year, lead levels in the building were found to be as high as 36 times the federal government’s acceptable health standard, according to a report commissioned by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Alphabet 99-Cent Fresh Pizza now in Grand Opening mode on Avenue A

The cheap-slice shop made its debut a few days back here at 20 Avenue A between Second Street and Houston.

Aside from slices, 99-Cent Fresh Pizza offers fried chicken, wings and a variety of sandwiches. And we're not sure if this establishment is connected with the other 99-Cent Fresh Pizza joints around.

This marks the second business — of four expected — to open in the big space that was last home to a Chase branch until November 2015.

Essential Cinema at the Anthology Film Archives

I'm browsing through the Anthology Film Archive's new spring catalog (featuring a sketch of the late Jonas Mekas on the cover) ...

There are, as always, a lot of interesting offerings... most immediately, there are several films this weekend from the Anthology's Essential Cinema collection. "Citizen Kane" plays tomorrow and Saturday night at 8 in 35mm. On Sunday, you can catch Warhol's "Eat" and "Harlot." Find more details at this link.

Essential Cinema screenings are $9 (no entry fee for Anthology members). The theater is on Second Street at Second Avenue.

The web series 'Zhe Zhe' returns — see it Saturday night at the 6th Street Community Center

The next episode of the web series "Zhe Zhe" — "a comic fantasy about the glamorous misadventures of two fame starved wannabes" — premieres Saturday night (at 8!) at the Sixth Street Community Center.

So what has happened since the last installment? Via the EVG inbox:

The fifth episode of the second season, "Take Me To Your Leader" functions as a standalone short film, while simultaneously providing answers to many of the arcane puzzles which have captivated "Zhe Zhe" fans for years.

Directed by "Zhe Zhe" writer Leah Hennessey, the episode follows a day in the life of "supervillain?" Chewie Swindleburne (Emily Allan), as she succumbs to the paranoia that has plagued her since last season’s denouement.

Both satire and celebration of the films of Antonioni, Jim Jarmusch, Nick Zedd, Agnes Varda and Gus Van Sant, "Take Me To Your Leader" is a ridiculous exploration of psychic terror and cinephilia.

... this latest "Zhe Zhe" is the New York-est, strangest episode yet.

Allan, who was born and raised in the East Village, previously told me this about the series: "It's definitely inspired in part by my childhood memories of ye olde East Village aesthetics, while also poking fun at our present culture of hyperbolized downtown mythos and manufactured nostalgia."

You can watch this episode on Saturday night at the Sixth Street Community Center, 638 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. The show starts at 8 p.m.

The first sign of Japanese ramen shop Sanpoutei arrives at former Kabin space on 2nd Avenue

Renovations continue over at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street ... where a small sign on the exterior reveals the new tenant — Sanpoutei Ramen...


[Photos by Steven]

Last fall, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license (they were originally seeking full liquor) for the Sanpou Group, which operates 30 restaurants worldwide, including Sanpoutei Ramen, which started in Niigata, Japan, in 1967.

Reviews of the restaurant note that "Sanpoutei is defined by its authentic Niigata-style ramen, a shoyu-ramen in a clear fish stock-based broth."

Sanpoutei joins a crowded ramen market in the East Village... other recent arrivals include Tatsu Ramen on First Avenue ... and TabeTomo on Avenue A.

Kabin Bar & Lounge closed in March 2015 at this address. While there were a few potential suitors, the storefront has sat empty for four years.

97 2nd Ave. is for sale — again

[Photo via LoopNet]

The 6-story building between Fifth Street and Sixth Street has returned to the sales market.

First, here's more from the pitch:

The 10,948 square foot building (approx.) contains 10 residential units and one retail unit. Currently, of the 10 apartments, eight are free market and two are rent stabilized.

69% of the property’s income is derived from the residential component and 31 percent from the ground floor retail. The 10 residential apartments comprise 9,123 SF of the building’s gross square footage and are made up of two, three, and four bedroom units. The retail tenant on the ground floor is a restaurant currently paying $249,142 annually.

Asking price: $14.5 million.

This building is notable for being the source of a legal tussle between Raphael "I will bury you" Toledano and developer Michael Shah.

During a hearing in November 2017, a federal judge tossed a bankruptcy case filed by Toledano, ending his bid to stop the sale of 97 Second Ave. to Shah’s Delshah Capital, The Real Deal reported at the time.

Both landlords were claiming ownership of the building. It's a little complicated. Read the Real Deal piece here for the full blow by blow.

According to the documents filed by Shah, Toledano allegedly told him, "I will bury you, literally. I will bury this building and make sure of it."

However, it was never buried, and now awaits another owner. Toledano reportedly lost control of the property when he defaulted on a $2-million loan.

No. 97 was one of the first East Village properties purchased by Toledano. Public records show that Toledano paid $4.95 million for it in April 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

Report: Threats made in ongoing battle over 97 2nd Ave.

Demolition watch: 238 E. 3rd St.

EVG reader Bobby G. shares these photos from Tuesday, when workers started erecting the scaffolding to envelope 238 E. Third St. ahead of the building's demolition...



As previously reported, a 7-floor, 20-unit residential building is slated for this property between Avenue B and Avenue C. (New-building permits are still pending with the city.)

The current building, which the Blue Man Group owned at one point for use as a practice facility, also served as a movie theater. Public records from July 2017 list two of the founders of the Blue Man Group — Chris Wink and Philip Stanton — as the previous owners, who received $18.6 million for this and another LES property.

Vinbaytel Property Development is the new owner of No. 238. Vinbaytel has developed several East Village condos in recent years, including at 227 E. Seventh St., 67 Avenue C and 26 Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-story residential building planned for former Blue Man Group facilities on 3rd Street

A visit to Rossy's Bakery & Café on 3rd Street

At long last, activity at 75 1st Ave.

An EVG reader who lives near 75 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street has reported activity again on the property.

A few workers were spotted at the stalled site with a delivery.

As previously reported, the future home to an 8-floor, 22-unit condoplex has been quiet for the past 14 months... ever since the DOB issued a Stop Work Order here on Jan. 11, 2018. (That Stop Work Order — "no protection for pedestrians" — was fully rescinded on Feb. 7.)

The previous post has more history about the project, which broke ground in September 2016.


[The future No. 75]

Wednesday's parting shot

View of Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B at 10th Street via EVG reader riachung00...

What might have been at 51 Astor Place in the early 1960s — and beyond

Today, the Cooper Union Library Instagram account shared the above image... Per their post: "51 Astor Place Engineering Building Initial Proposal — Harrison and Abramovitz, NY, Associate Architect Prof. Esmond Shaw of Cooper Union ... "

Instead, the Cooper Union Engineering School was housed in this building below off of Third Avenue between Astor Place and Ninth Street for years ...



That building was demolished in the summer of 2011 to make way for...



Whoops! Sorry! This!

Screening of this Bowery film classic benefits the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors

The Bowery Alliance of Neighbors is presenting a special benefit screening of Lionel Rogosin's 1956 documentary "On the Bowery" in a restored 35mm print on April 7.

The 65-minute film chronicles three days in the life of Ray, a railroad worker who drifts onto the Bowery. He enters the Confidence Bar & Grill and begins a weekend of drinking ...

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1957.



Per the invite:

We're especially excited to have it introduced by the filmmaker's son Michael Rogosin, who will be presenting a slideshow peak at a rare trove of his father's Bowery photographs from the 1950s. He'll also share an excerpt of an interview of Martin Scorsese discussing the film's impact.

This benefit screening for the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors takes place Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Anthology Film Archives on Second Street at Second Avenue.

Plans for an East Village outpost of the Wild Son moving forward; steakhouse no go for St. Mark's Place

[Photo of 132 1st Ave. yesterday by Steven]

As we reported back on March 19, Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall are planning to open an outpost of their Chelsea cafe the Wild Son at 132 First Ave. at St. Mark's Place.

CB3's SLA committee gave their approval for a new liquor license on March 19.

The current tenant in this corner space, the Rolling Stones-themed Waiting on a Friend, which opened back in the fall (taking over the space from Colibri and VBar before that), is expected to close after Thursday.

The EV Wild Son will be open all day for breakfast and lunch, with dinner-drinks in the evening.

Meanwhile, Ceraso and Mendenhall, whose East Village credits include the Wayland on Avenue C and Good Night Sonny on First Avenue at St Mark's Place, had planned for a steakhouse at the former Mr. White space at 123 St. Mark's Place.

However, as Eater reported yesterday, CB3's SLA committee nixed a full-liquor request for that spot between Avenue A and First Avenue.

So, per Eater:

They felt the steakhouse concept would only work with a full liquor license and are now pivoting to something that could work with just wine and beer, Ceraso says. That idea is still in development and moving forward with the location is not a definite yet according to Ceraso. He also says plans for a steakhouse are on hold since it would require finding a new space.

So for now No. 123 will remain empty...


[The former Mr. White on St. Mark's Place]

Previously on Ev Grieve:
Team behind the Wayland and the Wild Son eye St. Mark's Place for 2 restaurants

As the sushi rolls on 1st Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

As we noted last month, Kikoo Sushi, the all-you-can-eat specialist currently at 141 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, was moving up the Avenue ... to the former Papa John's outpost at No. 210 between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Now it looks as if Kikoo will have some company. EVG regular Laura shared this photo from yesterday... Kumo Sushi on the corner of First Avenue at 13th Street is merging with Kikoo at No. 210... this via the signage up at the Kumo space...



So two Sushi restaurants combined in one former chain pizza shop.

As we understand it, Kumo's lease was up ... and for now, we're told that Kikoo will continue on at 141 First Ave.

H/T Steven

The DOH temporarily closes Bubbleology Tea on 1st Avenue

Updated 3/29: Bubbleology Tea has reopened.

The DOH has temporarily shuttered Bubbleology Tea, the London-based chain that opened at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place in early February.

The report from the inspection, which took place yesterday, has yet to be posted online.

Thanks to EVG reader Sawyer Mitchell for the tip/photo!

Updated 7 p.m.

The inspection report is still not online... and a "closed for repairing" sign is now on the door...


[Photo by Steven]

Tuesday's parting shot

Derek Berg spotted this posted along Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place around 3 p.m. ... and it was gone by 4 p.m.

Report: Man dies from stab wounds at 9th Street shelter

There's not much information at the moment about a deadly stabbing that reportedly took place last night just before 9 at a men's shelter on Ninth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D.

According to the Daily News and PIX 11, a 27-year-old resident of the shelter was stabbed in the stomach. Per the News: "He staggered out ... and collapsed in the courtyard of the Jacob Riis Houses about a block away."

EMS workers took the victim to Bellevue, though he did not survive. Another shelter resident is in custody, though it's not known if charges have been filed.

Police officials have not released the victim's name.

Updated 3/27

Police have made an arrest. Per Patch:

Christopher Dixon, 26, was arrested and charged ... for murder after a fatal stabbing of Phibeon Smalls, 27, a fellow resident of an East Ninth Street supportive housing building for young adults with a history of homelessness or mental illness.

Report: Arrest made in hit-and-run death of East Village cyclist

[Ghost bike for Chaim Joseph]

Police said today that they've made an arrest in the hit-and-run death of Chaim Joseph, a 72-year-old East Village resident who was struck by a private oil truck shortly before 6 a.m. on Feb. 4 while he was riding in the bike lane near the intersection of Eighth Avenue and West 45th Street.

According to published reports, the NYPD arrested 56-year-old Queens resident Kenneth Jackson, who worked for Brooklyn-based Approved Oil company.

As Streetsblog reported, Jackson was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care.

Per Streetsblog:

The charge of failure to yield suggests that police believe Joseph had the right of way and was pedaling with the light when Jackson allegedly ran him down.

Jackson ... faces a maximum of 30 days in jail — although such sentences are rare.

Days after Joseph was killed by the oil truck, police responded by ticketing cyclists a block from the hit-and run site. The following day cyclists rallied outside the Midtown North stationhouse.

On March 11, cycling advocates installed a ghost bike for Joseph on Eighth Avenue and 45th Street. Via the Families for Safe Streets Facebook page: "We learned of his beautiful acts of kindness, his commitment to social justice, his generous spirit and his deep respect for all living beings."

Updated 3/27

Christopher Robbins at Gothamist has a solid Day 2 story. An excerpt:

Police say that Jackson was driving the truck for Approved Oil Company of Brooklyn when he killed Joseph. Jackson is the third reported driver from Approved Oil to kill a pedestrian or cyclist in the last two years.

In an email, Approved Oil attorney J. Bruce Maffeo said, "There is no evidence that Ken Jackson was driving negligently or aware that he had hit the bicyclist who was dressed in dark clothes and traveling at night. As a result the police who investigated the incident declined to arrest him at the time and correctly saw the tragic incident as an accident—nothing more or less."

Maffeo added, "The charge against Ken involves an untested NYC statute that criminalizes any motor vehicle accident involving a fatality. While Ken and Approved Oil sympathize with the victim and his family, neither he nor the company acted negligently, much less criminally, in this case and intend to vigorously contest the charge."

Joseph Cutrufo, a spokesperson for Transportation Alternatives, countered, "This crash happened in midtown Manhattan, a block from Times Square, where there's no shortage of light. And last we checked, it's not a crime to wear dark clothes. It is, however, against the law to kill a person with an oil truck."

Remembering Nicholas and Moises: the Figueroa family marks the 4-year anniversary of the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the gas explosion that killed two men, injured more than 20 others, and leveled 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.

Members of the Figueroa family gathered on the corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street today to remember their brother and son Nicholas Figueroa, 23, who died on March 26, 2105, along with Moises Locón, 27.


[Top photos by Steven]

Figueroa, who had recently graduated from SUNY Buffalo State, was at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave. and the site of the fatal blast, dining with a co-worker. Locón worked at Sushi Park.


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

The previous owner of 119 and 121 Second Ave., Maria Hrynenko, her son Michael Hrynenko (now deceased), contractor Dilber Kukic and their plumber Anthanasios Ioannidis illegally tampered with the gas line at 121 Second Ave. then failed to warn those in the building before the blast, according to the Manhattan District Attorney.

According to public records, Hrynenko and the other defendants will appear in court again April 26. Records show that Hrynenko and the other accused have appeared in New York County Criminal Court 25 times since February 2016... and the outcome was the same — "adjourned/bail continued" — since their initial appearance.

On March 20, Andrew Trombettas, the plumber indicted in connection to the explosion, was sentenced to probation and community service. He reportedly signed off on required paperwork that went to the Department of Buildings and Con Edison because a friend who actually did the job did not have a license.

Meanwhile, work continues on the retail-residential complex coming to part of the blast site. The new building will include a commemorative plaque that honors Locón and Figueroa.


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Nicholas Figueroa

RIP Moises Ismael Locón Yac

A memorial on 2nd Avenue

Birthday wishes for Nicholas Figueroa on 2nd Avenue

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

What's in your empty storefront? Capital One is closing both of its East Village branches

After May 8, Capital One will no longer have a bank branch in the East Village.

Closing notices are up in the locations on Third Street and Avenue C (above) ...



... and 10th Street and Second Avenue...


[Photos on 2nd Avenue by Steven]



The Capital One on the southeast corner of Third Avenue and 14th Street closed in July 2016 (that retail space is still for rent).

The bank is sending customers over to the newish multi-level flagship location on 14th Street and Broadway. (An EVG tipster first told us about these pending closures in January. Per the tipster: "It's Union Square or be damned" for Capital One customers.)

This continues the trend where banks are closing down local branches. Last June, The Wall Street Journal reported that banks across the United States have closed nearly 9,000 branches this decade "as more customers rely on digital tools to complete routine banking transactions."

In recent years, Citi, Chase and Santander all shuttered their outposts on Avenue A, making it a bank-branch-free zone for now.

Tickets for the 'Other Music' documentary screening at Village East go on sale today

The "Other Music" documentary makes its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

And tickets for screenings at the Village East, Second Avenue at 12th Street, and Regal Cinemas Battery Park, go on sale this morning at 11 via this link.

Here are the dates and times for the various screenings:

• April 26, 9 p.m. — Village East
• April 27, 8:45 p.m. — Regal Cinemas Battery Park
• April 28, 12:15 p.m. — Regal Cinemas Battery Park
• May 5, 8:45 p.m. — Village East

The film chronicles the 20-year history and legacy of Other Music, 15 E. Fourth St. between Lafayette and Broadway, its influence on music in New York City and its closure in June 2016.



Other Music's owners cited rising rents and the growing hardship of selling music out of a physical store as reasons behind the closure.

Incoming: Me ❤️ Cue on St. Mark's Place; Empire Smoke Shop on 1st Avenue

Signage arrived late last week at 17 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue for Me ❤️ Cue ... apparently they will be selling cosmetics, not unlike Shibuyala that just opened at 37 St. Mark's Place.


[Me Cue photos by Steven]

This storefront was most recently (as you can see from the awning under the Me ❤️ Cue sign) the Mandala Tibetan Store.

Updated 3/28: Me ❤️ Cue is now open.

---

And that Optimo Cigars shop/deli (with its 75-cent coffee) closed last month on First Avenue between Third Street and Fourth Street ...


[Last month]

Workers were putting up the signage for the new tenant yesterday — the Empire Smoke Shop, whose awning touts e-cigarettes, CBD and Kratom...



And a flashback to an old friend next door — the Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo that ruled the Avenue in 2012...


[Photo in 2012 by Bobby Williams]

Monday's parting shot

Third Street today between Avenue C and Avenue D... thanks to Jason Chatfield for the photo!

'Heeere's Kubrick' returns to the City Cinemas Village East

[Oh hi HAL]

Once again this spring, City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street is celebrating the work of director Stanley Kubrick on the next few Wednesday evenings... starting tomorrow night at 7 with "2001: A Space Odyssey" in 70mm (and in the big auditorium).



... and the rest of the lineup...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Village East Cinema (@villageeastcinema) on Mar 19, 2019 at 12:15pm PDT

Find ticket info at this link.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest installment — panel No. 40 — of NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood — and NYC.

There's not much left of the former St. Denis Hotel on Broadway

[Photo by Dave on 7th]

Workers have been slowing bringing down the historic St. Denis building, 799 Broadway at 11th Street.

The above photo via Dave on 7th shows what's left. Workers started the demo prep work back in September.

Normandy Real Estate Partners bought the property for somewhere in the $100 million ballpark back in 2016.

On March 14, the city OK'd permits for the 12-story, "loft-style building" taking the place of the St. Denis. According to a news release about the address: "799 Broadway will feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private terraces, and 15 foot high ceilings. This combination of highly desirable location and state-of-the-art design will appeal to New York’s most progressive and creative companies."

And a rendering of the new building...


[Binyan Studios]

The nearly demolished structure, which was 165 years old, was noteworthy for many reasons. It opened in 1853 as the St. Denis Hotel, which is where Ulysses S. Grant wrote his post-Civil War memoirs and Alexander Graham Bell provided the first demonstration of the telephone to New Yorkers.



However, the building was not landmarked... and it was not in a Historic District.

For more history, Jeremiah Moss, who once worked in the St. Denis, wrote this feature titled "The Death and Life of a Great American Building" for The New York Review of Books in March 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Maps show that Midtown South does NOT include the East Village/Astor Place

Report: Former St. Denis Hotel selling for $100 million


[Image via Wikipedia Commons]

The Asian Taste awning has arrived on 3rd and B; China Wok redux?

[Photo by Salim]

On Saturday, EVG regular Salim reported that workers put in place the new awning for Asian Taste (hello Choc font!), coming soon to the space on the northwest corner of Avenue B and Third Street.

There is an unconfirmed reader report that Asian Taste is from the same family who ran the previous establishment here, the quick-serve China Wok that closed in early December. (A reader also spotted one of the former China Wok cooks helping with the sign.)

Upon its closure in December, there were rumors that the business was Cromanated via landlord Steve Croman. The for-rent sign arrived in mid-December.

Whatever the case, the family felt good enough to return to this corner.


[Photo Saturday evening by Harold Chester]