Tuesday, December 29, 2020
EVG Etc.: Checking in with Arlene's Grocery; rallying around Army & Navy Bags
Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg
• Christmas at Middle Collegiate Church, destroyed by fire on Dec. 5 (The Associated Press)
• Checking in with Arlene's Grocery, struggling to survive during the pandemic (Gothamist)
• City still confusing restaurants about outdoor dining rules (Gothamist)
• More lawsuits over Cuomo's indoor dining ban (The Real Deal)
• New York lawmakers approve sweeping eviction moratorium (Politico)
• Fashion boutique Café Forgot's year-long residency has come to an end on Sixth Street (Instagram)
• Holidays with red-tailed hawks Christo and Amelia (Laura Goggin Photography)
• The new photo book, "The Drag Explosion," explores the downtown scene of the 1980s-1990s (NBC News)
• Tonight at 6:30, a virtual book talk — "East Village: Lens on the Lower East Side" (Zoom info here)
• How loyal customers rallied around Army & Navy Bags on East Houston Street (The New York Times)
A rent increase is forcing Avenue C Studio to close its doors
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
After 11 years at 55 Avenue C, Avenue C Studio is closing its doors this week.
Bonnie Sue Stein, executive director and producer of GOH Productions, the nonprofit that develops and manages programs in dance, puppetry and theater, talked with me about the studio's closure.
GOH Productions shared this space with East Village Dance Project and Movement Research since its opening in January of 2011. Later, after EVDP relocated to Abrons Art Center in January 2018, Moving for Life became a new tenant.
Stein says the rent became an issue, that the building (it's an HDFC) was flexible for several months during the COVID-19-mandated closure. However, the nonprofit was served a 30-day notice on Nov. 30. They must vacate the space by Thursday.
She mentioned having a great relationship with the building prior to the pandemic, though the HDFC now seems to want a different tenant, like an office. They also would like to double the rent.
I asked Stein about the genesis of the space and its history.
So this was a dream we had…with Martha Tornay [of East Village Dance Project] we searched the Lower East Side for a space to call our own. I used to shop at Olivio's at 55 Avenue C for yarn, underwear and fresh icies in the summer at his storefront. I saw he was closing and asked if he knew whether the building would be interested in a dance studio and youth program. We lived nearby, and envisioned a neighborhood studio, where local kids could come after school and dance their hearts out.In 2010, Avenue C Studio was born, partnering in the early years with Movement Research who shared the office and studio, made the space come alive with dancers [aged] from over 80 to under four years old. Each dancer gave energy to the space and the space returned the magic. Within those walls, on that floor, in front of those mirrors, irreplaceable gorgeous memories formed. And will live on.Like a new chapter, a death, a loss. I know now I am feeling sad and brokenhearted, but when I see the studio dancing in my mind's eye, I know I am not alone.
In more positive news, all of the organizations will live on, albeit in other locations. EVDP is still at Abrons, Moving for Life has moved uptown. GOH Productions will have a limited office space at the Mary Spink Library on Third Street.
The floors and mirrors from the studio, which were being removed and packed up when I arrived, are going to Movement Research at 122CC (formerly known as PS 122) on First Avenue at Ninth Street.
Have you been pining away for MulchFest 2021?
MulchFest 2021 is officially underway (as of Dec. 26). Through Jan. 9, you may drop off your Christmas tree in Tompkins Square Park (see the photo above by Steven).
Then!
On Saturday, Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, the Parks Department will be mulching up the trees In Tompkins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ... where you may take away a bag of weapons-grade mulch for your own garden, tree bed, potted plant, nightstand, green smoothie, etc.
Weather permitting, the Sanitation Department will also collect and compost (non-decorated) trees left curbside from Jan. 4 through Jan. 15.
Report: Chain stores decrease citywide
The Center for an Urban Future's 13th annual survey of NYC's national retailers finds the largest overall decline in the number of chain stores, and the third consecutive year-over-year drop in national retailer locations.
Given the pandemic and forced closures for months, news of the decrease may not be a huge surprise.
Here's some analysis via the report:
More than 1,000 chain stores across New York City — or a little less than one out of every seven chains that were open this time last year — have closed their doors over the past 12months, underscoring the immense difficulties facing retail businesses large and small during the pandemic.Overall, the number of chain stores in New York City declined by 13.3 percent — with 2 percent closing temporarily and 11.3 percent not indicating whether the closures are permanent or temporary. This is by far the largest yearover-year decline in chain stores since the Center for an Urban Future began our annual analysis of the city’s national retailers 13 years ago, eclipsing last year's 3.7 percent drop and the 0.3 percent decline in 2018.While every borough experienced notable declines in chain stores, Manhattan had the biggest losses, with the number of chain store locations in the borough shrinking by 17.4 percent (of which 2.8 percent were closed temporarily). In fact, Manhattan accounted for nearly half of all chain store closures (520 out of 1,057) citywide.
Other details closer to home: The 10003 zip code, which includes parts of the East Village as well as Union Square and Fifth Avenue, has the third-highest number of chain store locations at 140 (down from 171 last year) in NYC.
Meanwhile, the 10009 zip saw a 29-percent decrease from 2019, shrinking to 22 from 31. And in 10002 on the Lower East Side and Chinatown, there was a 16-percent drop, from 51 to 43.
It wasn't all closures for chains. Popeyes added 11 locations in the past year, including the one on First Avenue between Second Street and Third Street.
You can find the 40-page report at this link.
Monday, December 28, 2020
A holiday variety show — and benefit — for Pangea
Tonight, the East Village-based TWEED TheaterWorks is hosting a remote holiday variety show, which will serve as a benefit for Pangea, the restaurant-performance venue at 178 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
Here's more about what to expect ... info via the EVG inbox:
One of our producing partners the past six years has been TWEED TheaterWorks ... with TWEED's artistic director Kevin Malony who produced a remote holiday variety show called 'TAINT ... an alt-holiday show featuring performances by many of their favorite artists who have graced the intimate Pangea stage.The streaming premiere of 'TAINT will be tonight at 8 and will run for an hour. For those who can’t attend the premiere, a video on demand link will be sent on Dec. 29 and be available through Jan. 10.
Pangea has had its share of challenges this fall — aside from the loss of revenue with the pandemic-related closure of its supper club. On the morning of Oct. 30, Pangea management walked into the restaurant to discover that Con Ed had shut off their gas in the middle of the night. (A nearby resident was said to smell gas on the block. Although Con Ed didn't detect a leak, they shut down the gas service anyway.)
So in the past two months, Pangea's ownership has been entangled in the time-consuming bureaucratic process that includes scheduling inspections by the DOB and Con Ed. This also led to a loss of business, including the seasonably warm Halloween weekend.
However, Pangea owners Stephen Shanaghan and Arnoldo Caballero took action, and bought electric cooking equipment and, with the help of a new chef, created a menu to fit their circumstances. In addition, they recently introduced a takeout dinner menu.
Here's more from a recent email to Pangea patrons from Shanaghan and Caballero:
Our biggest obstacle now is the weather turning colder and the new mandate closing indoor dining ... Since our heat is gas powered, we are concerned that electric space heaters may not be sufficient if we get a real dose of winter.On a positive note, we have implemented a new takeout dinner service (for pick up only). In the past, takeout was not a viable option for Pangea. We have a two-person line in the kitchen. Pre-pandemic we were not able to offer takeout while hosting a busy 50-seat cabaret room and a 40-seat front dining room. Now it will be our only source of revenue.
During December, takeout orders are discounted 20 percent. Pangea also has several tables for outdoor dining.
Pangea has a long history in the neighborhood. Read our interview with Pangea owners Stephen Shanaghan and Arnoldo Caballero here.
Today is the last day for Sweet Generation on 1st Avenue
ICYMI from Dec. 24: After nearly six years at 130 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, Sweet Generation is closing its bakery ahead of a move to a larger location in Brooklyn.
And today is their last day, when they'll be open for curbside preorder pickup only ... taking orders by phone: (646) 964-5777. (And they have flash sales via their Instagram Stories.)
Sweet Generation partners with several nonprofit organizations and local high schools to create an internship program that teaches baking, food safety, customer service, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to teens and young adults from low-income communities.
3 for-rent signs along a once popular stretch of 7th Street
Most recently, Caracas Arepa Bar closed in early November at 91 E. Seventh St. The original location at at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St. suffered extensive fire damage in September 2016, and the owners were never able to reopen in the space, which has remained vacant.
In the middle, the first outpost for Luke's Lobster's closed in October 2019.
Both Caracas Arepa Bar and Luke's carry on at other locations. These small spaces on Seventh Street seem ideal for other new businesses just starting out.
As Luke's founders Luke Holden and Ben Conniff wrote in October 2019: "It's time for 93 E. 7th Street to help launch someone else's dream, and we can't wait to visit and support it."
ICYMI: Medan Pasar is now open and serving Malaysian cuisine from this 7th Street space
Another ICYMI recap from Dec. 24: Medan Pasar is now serving Malaysian cuisine from 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
They are currently open for takeout or delivery starting at 11:30 a.m. Find their menu here. Or call them at (646) 756-4006.
The Instagram account @eastvillagefoodfinds highlighted their Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang in a post last week: "Full of flavor, some nice kick and a stick-to-your ribs meal overall — perfect for keeping you warm in these cold months."
Closings: The Dip, Williamsburg Pizza
The quick-serve restaurant that served a variety of sandwiches went dark in the fall ... and they didn't respond to requests about their reopening status.
The Dip opened in November 2019, and barely had four months in business before it had to shut down for the PAUSE in March. Still, they made an impression in their short time here... people seemed to like their specialty dish — the French Dip sandwich.
The other retail space at the address is also vacant. The Clay Pot closed next door at the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, on 14th Street, Williamsburg Pizza looks as if it won't be reopening here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...
This outpost has been closed since the PAUSE... and the space was emptied out in the past week ... the pizzeria's other four locations remain in service...
This outpost of the popular pizzeria only opened in December 2019.
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