Where are they now? Hells Angels edition

[Photo of 77 E. 3rd St. from Tuesday]

The Hells Angels, who left the East Village after nearly 50 years last March, have a new home in the Bronx.

According to NY1, the club resurfaced in Throggs Neck, a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the Bronx.

Per NY1:

“Besides the noise that we’re going to receive now, how about property value? It has to go down. It’s a gang. Who would want to buy around here knowing that you’re going to move right next to a motorcycle gang,” said Alejandro Caban.

But some are giving them the benefit of the doubt.

“At first I was a little worried about it, but then I felt good that we’ll have a presence. Maybe it will keep some of the bad people away. Recently, we had people try to get into cars. Maybe these guys will make them think twice,” said Tony Rugnetta. He lives just a few doors down from the new clubhouse.

Meanwhile, back in the East Village, renovations continue at 77 E. Third St., their former clubhouse here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

As previously reported, workers are converting No. 77 into 22 one- and two-bedroom units with an expected price point of $3,500 a month following a $2 million renovation. There was also a report that the ground floor will house two retail spaces.

The 6-story building is now owned by Better Living Properties.

The last of the members moved out last March. The Hells Angels had No. 77 in their possession since 1969.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Photo exclusive: Take a look inside the former Hells Angels clubhouse on 3rd Street

• After 50 years on the block, the Hells Angels appear to be selling their 3rd Street clubhouse

• The Hells Angels have left the East Village

RIP Kitty at the former Grassroots Tavern

[Photo by Steven]

Kitty, a regular of the former Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark’s Place, recently died. Someone created a memorial in his honor outside the space ... which still sits empty after the Grassroots closed after service on New Year’s Eve 2017...


[NYE 2017 photo by Peter Brownscombe]

As noted many times before, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832 here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

Past lives of this subterranean space — via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

Who's next? We don't know. For nearly 18 months Bob Precious had tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized.

Applicants for Ichibantei have been on the CB3-SLA agenda dating to November 2018 for a liquor license for a new restaurant in the former Sounds storefront upstairs. There was speculation that they were also taking the GR space. Ichibantei was once again on the January CB3-SLA agenda, but scratched.

In any event, this is a retail space to watch in the New Year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

Mi Tea currently closed for renovations on St. Mark's Place

The Mi Tea location on 19-23 St. Mark's Place has been dark in recent days.

Someone told us the sign basically says "closed for renovations" ...



Mi Tea opened here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue in October 2018. This was the fifth U.S. branch (there's one in Flushing) for the Hangzhou, China-based chain with 1,000 locations worldwide. Their speciality: Himalayan pink salted cheese tea drinks.

No word on when or if they will reopen. There's a lot of bubble tea competition in the area.

The space is also adjacent to St. Mark's Market, which closed back in the fall. These businesses have been under the doom and gloom of a sidewalk bridge for two to three years now.

Thanks to EVG Bubble Tea District Correspondent Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
More bubble tea for the Bubble Tea District (aka St. Mark's Place)

A 2020 look at 24 2nd Ave., now with a high-end Mathieu Lehanneur showroom

From the posts-we-never-got-around-to-posting-in-2019 department, here's, perhaps, a last look at 24 Second Ave. (aka 32 E. First St.), the 10-story condoplex with ground-floor retail on site of a former BP gas station.

We've been documenting the building's progress these past four-plus years. As previously reported, the building features 30 condos. The building's website — "meticulous meets magnificence" — lists five units available for purchase, with prices ranging from $1.375 million to $3.625 million.

The marketing materials note that the residences were "inspired by a modern interpretation of Italian rationalist design, the living spaces are designed with sleek detailing and rich character with each corner and angle offering up a visual experience."

Also, that ballerina mural via French artist JR that went up on an adjacent building in December 2015 remains in view for the building's outdoor space. (Some units also have ballerina views.)


[Photo from December 2015]



Meanwhile, signage for the Mathieu Lehanneur showroom arrived in early November ... it took multiple requests to several sources at the address to learn whether this was a full-time endeavor or merely a pop-up shop for the designer. (Apparently full time, though the showroom is by appointment only.)

These photos are from early November...





... and a view of the building from First Street from the same time...



The BP station closed in July 2014. This was the second-to-last gas station in the East Village, joined later by the Mobil station on Avenue C and East Houston in September 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

• Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station

• More about the 10-story building taking the place of the former BP station at 24 2nd Ave.

• Check out the new 10-story building for the former 2nd Avenue BP station

• A ballerina for 2nd Avenue

• 2nd Avenue residential complex now complete with renderings on the plywood

gathering days

gathering days

as i pass by the kitchen

my eyes take me to the numbers

on the calendar hanging upon the wall

where all can see clearly each day

a number each month a name

expressed in silence

yes with my pretty picture

here i am make the best of me

i never speed i never slow

never telling where to go

each year another slowly arrives

to hang upon your wall survive

when young one day barely moves

so eager to push time aside

as days gather unexpectedly

days now pass of their own accord

soon months pass like weeks then

didn’t i replace this calendar a month ago

what's that a new decade

what happened to the last one

•

peter radley

Tuesday's parting shot

Tompkins Square Park this afternoon. Photo by Derek Berg.

Also, Happy New Year!

6 posts from December

[A recent evening along Avenue A]

A mini month in review...

• Meet the owner of the 'In the Air Tonight' car that plays the Phil Collins classic on repeat (Dec. 27)

• Last Christmas for Zum Schneider on Avenue C: Biergarten on the move in 2020 (Dec. 23)

• Hit sandwich connoisseurs Foxface opening a new venture in the former Harry & Ida's space on Avenue A (Dec. 18)

• San Loco opens on Avenue C (Dec. 13)

• A call to cancel SantaCon (Dec. 11)

• At the 28th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting (Dec. 9)

Gone but not forgotten

Remembering a few of our friends and neighbors who died in 2019...

• Tim Schellenbaum



• Steven Cannon


[Image via Facebook]

• Unkle Waltie


[Photo by Steven]

• Ron Edgecombe


[Photo via Facebook]

• Susan Leelike



• Purushottam Goyal


[Photo by Steven]

• Gigi Watson


[Photo by James Maher]

• Felicia Mahmood



• Lucien Bahaj


[Photo courtesy of Clayton Patterson]

• Jonas Mekas


[Image via Facebook]

• Joe Overstreet


[Image via legacy.com]

• Leslie Sternbergh Alexander


[Leslie Sternbergh Alexander and Adam Alexander]

• Brendan Cregan


[Image via Facebook]

• Chaim Joseph



• Brian Butterick/Hattie Hathaway


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

--

Others with ties to the neighborhood who died this past year include Robert Frank ... John Giorno ... Paul Krassner... and Robert Ogden.

An afternoon with Cáit O’Riordan

Photos and text by Stacie Joy

For the past few years, musician Cáit O’Riordan has called the East Village home. She's headed back now to her native Ireland as the New Year begins.

I've spotted her everywhere from the free concerts in Tompkins Square Park to the Drag March on Ninth Street. During her time here, she graciously met Caitlin, a part-time employee at Confectionery on Ninth Street, whose mother named her after O'Riordan, who played bass for Celtic-punk legends the Pogues.

I've appreciated her adventurous spirit while in NYC. Back on a warm early fall day, she agreed to explore a little of the East Village with me. We each found a few new places to visit.

After lunch at Superiority Burger on Ninth Street, we headed over to Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place, where owner Parul Patel and O’Riordan talked ...



We stopped by Uliana Hair Studio on Ninth Street for O'Riordan to book an appointment and, where I am told, Jimi Hendrix had an apartment in the mid-1960s while he was a session player and backup musician ...



O’Riordan browsed through the well-curated records at Limited to One on 10th Street. While rooting through the rare punk bin, this Anti-Flag compilation caught her attention ...



Continuing down 10th Street, we looked around at Crystal’s Garden ...



And there was this photogenic hearse by the Tenth Street Church of Christ as we walked to Tompkins Square Park...



In the Park, we ran into local resident Ceasar Noel Soto, who was featured in an Out and About in the East Village piece on EVG here...



We eventually made our way to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space on Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street and examined the exhibitions...



We visited several community gardens, including the Los Amigos Community Garden on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C where we received the OK to sample of the garden's summer peaches...



At Dancin’ Tastebuds, located inside Ben’s Deli on Avenue B near Third Street, we sampled the tastebudgasm sauce from Chef Lioness ...



We stumbled upon pawn shop East Village Buyers on Third Street near A, and met the artist, Gus Weiss, who painted their nifty windows ...



O’Riordan will be back for 10 weeks each spring and winter for her seasonal gig at the Irish Arts Center. We look forward to seeing her again!

The most-read EVG posts from the past decade

These 10 posts attracted the most views these past 10 years. Quick takeaways: Closures and nudity attract readers.


[Photo via @michalmeer1]

1. There is a woman who has been walking around the East Village topless (May 18, 2012)

2. After 34 years off the Bowery, the Great Jones Café closes tonight (July 26, 2017)

3. Female diner decides to go topless last night at Verso (July 8, 2013)

4. Noted, aka the Target-CBGB tribute (July 21, 2018)



5. [Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street (March 26, 2015)

6. Cafe Orlin will close next month after 36 years in business (Sept. 8, 2017)

7. Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place (July 28, 2015)



8. Veselka honored for its workplace practices with employees over the age of 50 (Jan. 17, 2018)

9. After 20-plus years in the East Village, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing (Nov. 7, 2019)

10. You literally can't say this word now at the Continental (Jan. 17, 2018)