Brooklyn: Williamsburg Archives
The Shutter: Viñas, Air Pizza
It's an all Williamsburg Shutter Report today, and if we include the curious case of Action Burger and the closure of La Gribouille, it's been quite the shuttery week over in the hipster kingdom. The last two:
1) Williamsburg: From the Shutter inbox, news on Viñas: "...saw that Vinãs, the Latin-American place on South 6th between Bedford and Berry that got a pretty positive Daily News review not too long ago, has its windows papered up. I had a last minute walk-in Valentine's Day dinner there that wasn't bad, but the fact that we walked in with no problem probably wasn't a great sign." Never a good sign. And then we get another on the scene look from an optimist: "Inside looks pretty good, not gutted or anything and the chairs aren't even up. I'm still wondering if there's another explanation. It seemed like such a nice place." [Shutter Inbox]
2) Williamsburg: Apparently Williamsburg's Air Pizza has been closed for about a month but we'll include it because a) it's the first we heard of it and b) just take a look at that logo. Perfection. [Shutter Inbox]
EaterWire: A New Name Our Space Contest, Red Rock West Shuttered, Radegast Gropers, and West Side Brewery's Construction Woes
WILLIAMSBURG— Taking a cue from Kosher Villager, the new owners of the Galapagos space in Williamsburg are holding a Name Our Space contest. Previous reports that the place would be called "Natural Selection" were false, and the owners say they will give the winner a $1,000 bar tab and a year of free admission. [Name Our Space via Brownstoner]
CHELSEA— Some news on everyone's favorite cowboy-themed dingy bar, Red Rock West on West 17th and 10th Ave, from the inbox: "Just walked by and some suits are putting big orange "Seized" signs on the doors and chaining it shut." [EaterWire]
WILLIAMSBURG— One too many perverts have been groping the barstaff at Williamsburg's Radegast Beer Hall. According to TONY they are changing the uniforms so the cocktail waitresses don't look like busty trollops: "We brought in professionals from Czechoslovakia to design something different—a compromise between what the uniform once was and what it is now. We’ll debut it in about four weeks.” [The Feed]
Top Chef Spike rumors and contruction woes ahead.>>The Curious Case of Action Burger
Hey, remember Action Burger, the comic-book themed disaster of a burger joint that opened in Williamsburg last month? It was a curious case from the get-go but the story has been getting stranger. First, the signage for Cafe Mexicano, the previous restaurant, is still up. Second, according to reports, the place hasn't been open for at least three weeks. Purportedly it is "under renovation." Third, and most interestingly, they advertised the restaurant to their key demographic at Comicon but were shuttered when the convention hit town. If the walls of your burger joint are covered with comic book posters, maybe you shouldn't go pissing off the nerds: From a commenter:
"I got a flyer from Comic Con as well, and it didn't say 'coming soon' or 'under renovations', it also didn't say it was in Brooklyn, and there is an identical address elsewhere in the city..."The nerds get pissed, next.>>
The Shutter: Williamsburg's Gribouille
Williamsburg: According to the blog Williamsburg is Dead and a number of commenters on Free Williamsburg, Hope Street bakery and French cafe Gribouille has shuttered for good. Over the last few months, the place has kept irregular hours and finally served its last brunch on Saturday. The owner blames spotty business. Per Williamsburg is Dead:
"A chalkboard in front of Gribouille read 'Last Day.' My heart sank. The dinning room was empty, the pastry shelves bare but for a small stack of raisin croissants. A cook poked his head out of the kitchen and smiled grimly. I asked him if the sign was true. He said, 'Yes. On Sundays, we were always full, but Monday through Friday...' He trailed off with a shrug."But what a beautiful corner spot.>>
The Shutter: Catch 22, Jahn's
It has been a dark week for restaurants. Sparky's, Giggles, and Chicory are shuttered for good, while the Elephant and Veniero's became the DOH's most recent vistims. Yet with all that, there are still some stragglers left in the Shutter inbox. Know of any more? Let us know.
1) Williamsburg: Graham Avenue Argentinian place Catch 22 looks to be down for the count. The place was dark on a recent Wednesday spot check and plywood was stacked up in one corner. The restaurant, which opened under a year ago, never really took off with the locals. [Shutter Inbox]
2) Richmond Hill: Eating in Translation reports on the shuttering of Jahn's Ice Cream Shop in Queens: "The surviving Jahn's, in Jackson Heights, has a familiar, well-illuminated counter-and-booth layout. By contrast, in its later years the Richmond Hill location could seem very dreary." [Eating in Translation]
Eater Listings Follow Up: 'Williamsburger' Takes Open BBurg Space
Two weeks ago we acted as a property owner's personal Craigslist and posted their listing for a restaurant space in Williamsburg up on Eater, because hey, we're in business of helping people. It looks like the little scheme worked: the landlord's son emailed to say they found a tenant in a week and a half. And what a tenant it is:
"The new tenant will be a burger joint called 'Williamsburger'. I look forward to that because spending $12 bucks for a decent cheeseburger in Brooklyn is a bit outrageous (sorry Dumont Burger)."We all knew that the day would come when a restaurant named Williamsburger would open, so don't try to fight it people. Oh and we're thinking some free burgers will suffice for the finder's fee.
· Listings: Williamsburg Landlord Seeks Restaurateur With Ideas, Capital [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Luna Lounge Shuttered
Williamsburg: A tipster sends word and the Dept. of Health confirms: one of the biggest music venues in Williamsburg, Luna Lounge, was shuttered on Friday and has yet to re-open. According to the venue's official website, they only canceled Friday's line-up and still have bands scheduled through the end of this week. However the DOH tells us a different story. Here's their background: "They were cited for operating without a permit on 3/7 and were given time to renew. They will not be allowed to reopen until they pay their fine, get their permit, and pass their reopening inspection." Phone calls and emails to the venue have gone unanswered. Music lovin' hipsters: head over to Williamsburg Music Hall or the recently reopened Sound Fix (which experienced a similar DOH incident earlier this month).
· DOH Chronicles: Mei Lai Wah Shuttered [~E~]
—photo courtesy of Luna Lounge
Plywood Report: East Village Tavern, ZeZe's New Project, and More
1) East Village: We've got news of a new bar replacing the sushi joint on C and east 10th St. Per a tipster: "New Pub going in at the corner of 10th and Ave C called "The East Village Tavern." Saw one of the owners working on it at 8:15 on Wed night, says they're aiming to open next weekend. 14 beers on tap and great bar food, he said. Has a cool light wood interior and bar, and big window front. I'll check it out, for sure, I love a good brewpub." [PLYWOOD]
2) Williamsburg: There's a new potential stunner going in on Bedford and North 9th in Williamsburg. The workers didn't reveal much except that it will be a bar and not a restaurant. [PLYWOOD]
3) Midtown East: And we have news from the inbox of a new project from ZeZe the florist: "The word in the neighbor these days is that ZeZe, the florist, will be opening a bistro or wine bar in his old digs on the south side of 52nd, just east of 1st (across the street from Le Perigord). (He moved his flower shop around the corner to First Avenue.) The building is a very small, one story box that was tacked onto the back of the building on the corner that faces the avenue." [PLYWOOD]
A Chumley's Non-Update Next>>Listings: Williamsburg Landlord Seeks Restaurateur With Ideas, Capital
Because we love bringing people together, today we have a letter from someone trying to rent out a restaurant space in Williamsburg on the corner of South 2nd and Wythe. Why use Craigslist or even a real life broker when you have the blogs? Reaching out directly to the people:
"I needed some help renting a restaurant space, my father owns a property in Williamsburg on a great corner on the Southside of the neighborhood a block from the waterfront. It is a perfect space for a small restaurant approx 1200 sq. ft. with 1200 sq. ft. of basement space and a ton of sun light and long sidewalks which make it a good candidate for a café license. I believe there already is a liquor license. The last guy that rented the space opened a shitty Latin food space, I don’t know how you can fuck rice and beans up but this guy did. My dad had to have a two year ordeal of this tenant not paying rent so I wanted to help him find an experienced restaurateur with a good amount of capital and a fresh idea for the neighborhood and if the right idea or person arises I am sure he would be willing to offer some sort of break in exchange for a partnership...I know Zack Pelaccio was looking to open in Williamsburg maybe this can work…?"Hmm, we think ol' Zak probably has his ducks in a row already, and we're still wondering what Latin 'food space' he's referring to. No matter. Any interested parties can find out more details (address and price seem important ones) by contacting the lister directly at (347) 408-6271.
Plywood Report: New York Muffin, Rink Bar, Frankie's, Sinigual
1) Williamsburg: New York Muffin is expanding into the vacant space next door. Writes in our BK correspondent: "Looks like it took over the store next door. I thought part of the point of the place was to stand around outside so I don't know if that'll change just because there's room to stand inside." [PLYWOOD]
2) Midtown: We already have ample evidence that spring is here, but here's just a little more. Rink Bar in the Rockefeller Center's ice skating rink has its tables set up and is putting the finishing touches on the outdoor bar and restaurant. [PLYWOOD]
3) Williamsburg: The signage for the upcoming Frankie's was spotted by two Eater tipsters. It's on Havemeyer right by the BQE and looks to be close to opening. NB: this place is neither connected to Frankies 457/Frankies Spuntino nor to Lil' Frankies in the East Village. [PLYWOOD]
More midtown ahead.>>Teary Shutter Signage: Cafe 1980
This one's an oldie but a goody, announcing the April 7th closure of Cafe 1980 in Williamsburg: "Wow I know it's crazy! But it's true :( ." They're leaving behind a number of devout fans in the neighborhood which has seen a recent influx of new cafes and coffee shops. A Yelp fan puts it this way: "A sad day in America. The best, cutest, and moodiest cafe in the nation is gone. Say goodbye best coffee in Brooklyn."
· Teary Shutter Signage: Blue Moon [~E~]
· Teary Shutter Signage to the Max [~E~]
Week in Reviews: Adour Gets the Tres
This week Bruni files his highly anticipated assessment of Adour, Alain Ducasse's second attempt to woo New York. And while Ducasse's restaurant at Essex House provided just the kind of fussiness that Franktastic is known to loathe, this toned down version earns three stars:
"Now Mr. Ducasse is taking a new chance. He’s also possibly making amends, or at least that was my thought when, during my first dinner at Adour Alain Ducasse in the St. Regis New York, I spotted the little bagel. It came with and sat beside a sublime cauliflower velouté, having nothing, really, to do with it. So why was it there? Maybe as a peace offering, half genuine and half winking.And what of the fancy wine bar that got so much buzz when Adour opened? "I never found a spot at that altar. With just four seats, it has limited utility. It’s all about flash, proving that some of the old Ducasse still lives in the new." [NYT]...Some diners have responded with yawns...If Adour is dull, it’s dull mainly in the context of what Mr. Ducasse previously attempted and what New Yorkers previously resisted. Can the man win? I think so, and I consider Adour a qualified victory. It’s not through-and-through rapturous, but it’s first-rate..."
Richman and Sietsema get Cheeky, and the Elsewhere, ahead.>>
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