All stories about "The Shutter"
Renovation Report: YourAsian on Permanent Vacay?
Tribeca: YourAsian, the misguided takeout Asian spot from the owner of the classic and shuttered Jerry's in Soho, is temporarily shuttered. According to the signage, this is just a summer break, but a peek inside reveals there's a full-on reno going on. The restaurant could just be taking advantage of the summertime lull to make some changes (like Daniel, 21 Club, Freeman's). However, given the age of the place—four months— and the early negative response, chances are this is a permanent vacation. We wouldn't be surprised if Jerry Joseph was scrapping the project in order to open something new or to ready the space for a new buyer.
· Plywood Special: Jerry (of Jerry's) To Open Chambers St. Asian Joint [~E~]
The Shutter: Zen, Joe & Joe's, Lime, BK
The shuttered Zen on South End Ave.
1) Battery Park City: BPC Chinese spot Zen, on 311 South End Ave. is now papered over. We're not sure when it went down for good, but the shutter is no more than two weeks old two months old. Not great news for the nabe, but here's hoping something superior takes its place. [Shutter Inbox]
2) West Village: A reader reports on a new shutter on 7th Ave South: "Thai place Lime on lower 7th ave is closed. Restaurant is empty of furniture, etc. That stretch of seventh turning into death row, Dragonfly, Steak Frites and now Lime. Not sure if Ido's opera nights are going to save them from the same fate." [Shutter Inbox]
Kensington and Midtown East, up next.>>Cutlets reports, via a Gawker employee's Twitter feed, that Nolita standby (and recent home of Gawker's monthly networking party) Sweet & Vicious has closed, possibly temporarily, possibly due to a landlord seizure: "...our heart cries out on behalf Nolita's drinkers: This, now? August? The timing just seems cold." [Cutlets]
The DOH Chronicles: The Final Straw at Cafe Carciofo
Cobble Hill: For most restaurants, getting shuttered by the DOH is bad for their reputations and bad for business, but they typically bounce back. However, for some, the DOH'ing is just the nail in the coffin. See Mei Lai Wah for a recent example. According to a tipster, a recent DOH inspection for Cobble Hill's Cafe Carciofo was the final straw:
"Cafe Carciofo in Cobble Hill was DOH'd on July 29th, and over the weekend they were having a tag sale to sell off most of the stuff in the restaurant. The owners were there looking very glum and there were bright yellow signs up saying that they were closing for good because of the poor treatment they'd received from the DOH."They may feel they were unfairly targeted, but according to the official report, there was a lot of serious rule breaking going on at the restaurant, including this existence of a "sewage disposal system in disrepair," faulty plumbing, and cross-contaminated food. In a case like this, perhaps it was easier to shut her down than to bring the place up to code.
· The Shutter: Mei Lai Wah Shuttered for Good [~E~]
The Shutter: Border Burrito Preparing for 2nd Makeover
East Village: Border Burrito, the strange new incarnation of the former Rocket Wrapps, had ambitious plans but has finally given up on their music cafe/make your own burrito concept. According to a shop clerk nearby, the owner—who changed the space from the wrap and smoothie joint just four months ago—will reopen it as something else yet again "hopefully by the end of the month." Given some negative response the space got after the last changeover, we're guessing the ownership thinks an entirely new concept is the way to go.
Or perhaps it's a conspiracy. Says one tipster: "Between this and the Burritoville shuttering up, a wave of anti-burritoism is sweeping the East Village! Maybe Chipotle is behind a conspiracy."
· The Curious Case of Border Burrito [~E~]
The Shutter Report: Gasparino's Tells it Like it Is, Burritoville Bites the Dust
Marion's Continental isn't the only sad shutter today. We've got a couple more places that have served their last meal. Know of a restaurant that is no more? Let us know.
1) East Village: East 6th Street Italian spot Gasparino's has one of the saddest, and most honest, little shutter signs we've ever seen. "Closed due to lack of interest." Our tipster reports: "I would have loved to see it thrive on Curry Row, but twas not to be, I guess. Part of the challenge was their high prices - the other places in the neighborhood are far cheaper, and it's tucked away so neatly." [Shutter Inbox]
2) East Village: Jeremiah's Vanishing brings the news that the East Village's Burritoville on 2nd Avenue is no more: "I know it's a chain, but a few chains here and there aren't a terrible thing and besides, I always liked Burritoville. Now, this location on 2nd Ave between 8th and 9th has shuttered. A sign in the window just says it's been closed and lists every other Burritoville in town." [JVNY]
The Shutter: Marion's Finally Gives up the Ghost
East Village: The troubled Bowery veteran, Marion's Continental is finally, and for real this time, shuttering for good. The restaurant temporarily shuttered back in May for some "repairs" and a "special project" (which turned out to be an appearance on Marco Pierre White's show The Chopping Block), but reportedly reopened in July with a limited menu. Now, according to an emotional letter posted on their website and in emails sent out to patrons, the current owners (Marion's son and his business partner) have announced it's time to throw in the towel: "We understand the frustration and disappointment that many feel about our decision. For months we have been living in limbo as to our next step." The new owners will be using the name Marion's while they "begin their transition," so don't be fooled. Click through for the complete goodbye.
"There's the thrill and fear of the ride and then the joy of stepping off the ride.">>Renovation Report: Donut House to Get New Look
Back in March, there was a brief scare that Carroll Gardens' classic Donut House diner was going to shutter. Luckily, that proved not to be the case, but it is going to change its look. The beloved Court Street greasy spoon will be closed for two weeks while its interior gets ripped up. The owner tells us the changes won't be too drastic, "It will be classic diner." A long counter with stools will still be part of the scheme, and it will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (a new addition) when it reopens.
There has been some rumormongering on the web that the place was recently bought a number of weeks back by the former owner of the shuttered Nicks City Diner in Manhattan, a possible force behind the redo.
—Lost City
The Shutter: It's Looking Grim For Chickie Pigs
Lower East Side: Ludlow Street's year-old brick oven pizzeria Chickie Pigs has been shuttered since early July with a sign in the window saying, "Taking an extended holiday break...will return at end of the month." Not exactly a huge deal or cause for concern. However, the end of that month has come and gone, and today two tipsters write in to let us know that their status has been updated. The future does not look good. The new sign reads, "Closed Until Further Notice." Might be about time to call the Kamali.
· EaterWire: Chickie Pig Opening This Friday [~E~]
The Shutter: Cafe Biarritz, Cosi, Pintxos, and Kyma
It's been a fairly shuttery week with the shuttering of the Brooklyn Heights trifecta (The Busy Chef, Blue Pig, The Oven), Brooklyn BBQ, and old timers Cafe Mozart and Coco Pazzo, along with the shutter announcements from David's Bagels and Borough Food & Drink. But, alas, there are still a few more:
1) Union Square: A correspondent writes in with some more bad news for Cosi, a chain that recently made the blogs for a Midtown DOH'ing: "The Cosi on 6th ave and 13th street is not only gone, but the place is totally cleaned out. Only a week ago it was in full operation. I wonder if it was DOH that closed them down? Thought maybe it was noteworthy bc of the recent DOHing of the one uptown." [Shutter Inbox]
2) Soho: A reader has some bad news to report from the Basque tapas joint, Pintxos: "Just walked by Pintxos (which hasn't been open for lunch all summer) and all the doors and windows were open with big 'Sale' signs posted outside. Inside there were some guys in chefs whites and some brown boxes filled with what I assume were the supplies they were selling off." [Shutter Inbox]
Midtown and Times Square, up next.>>From the desk of Adam Kushner, former co-owner of Seymour Burton: "I am surprised [and a bit heartened] that we've had such a response to our departure. Seeing that I named the place after my father I am feeling pretty bad for letting dear ol dad down..but that said, I too have learned much in the last year and perhaps the thing I will share with others is that one should stick to what they do best. For me, I'm a Architect/Designer/Developer...as soon as I became a busboy/accountant/waiter I should have set up the flares.. that said, we had some laughs, made some friends, enjoyed some good times but unfortunately the lords of the Establishment proved too formidable a foe...Adam [Burton's Son] Kushner." [Eater Comments]
EaterWire: Southern Hospitality Taking Over Steak Frites, Rififi to Close Tonight, and a News from Top Chef's CJ
HUDSON SQUARE— Cutty is spreading the rumor that Eytan Sugarman and Justin Timberlake are looking into opening a second Southern Hospitality in the Deathwatched Steak Frites space. It makes sense that someone would take that space, since it is, after all, in the ICU, and reps tell Cizutty that they're looking into a number of locations. Just keep in mind that Sugarman is already in a fight with CB1 to open a "sports bar" at 6 Murray St., so you can bet opening Southern Hospitality Part 2 won't be smooth sailing [Cutlets]
EAST VILLAGE— Gothamist is reporting that East Village bar/comedy club/performance space Rififi will shutter tonight: "...employees received text messages yesterday announcing tonight (Wednesday) as the last night open. One day’s notice, and there was a crazy insinuation that if more money had been made over the weekend the venue could have been open for another month..." According to a local comedian, who received the foreboding text message, this "about the 15th time there has been a shutdown scare," but at this point it seems like the real thing. [Gothamist]
Top Chef Alumni News, ahead.>>
Perhaps this is just a case of one generic Midtown spot replacing another, but according to a tipster, BagelFeller was actually a big place with the Rock Center crowd. When it was DOH'd last May, no one really knew what would become of it. Here's your answer Midtowners: Sam's Cafe House, serving breakfast and lunch. Here's hoping it has sushi, a deli, hamburgers, and tex-mex just like its predecessor. [EaterWire]
CrimeWatch: The Busy Chef, Oven, and Blue Pig Shuttered After Partner's Arrest
According to the Brooklyn Paper, three of the Brooklyn Heights operations co-owned by Dan Kaufman, the manager who allegedly stole over $25,000 from customers, have shuttered. The store The Busy Chef, the ice cream shop Blue Pig, and the pizzeria The Oven have all been dark since Monday, 11 days after Kaufman's arrest
"...the restaurant’s other owners told employees that Monday night was their last, a source said. 'They closed it up at 11 — they just shut everything down and started throwing out the food,' the source said. The Wine Bar at 50 Henry Street, also co-owned by Kaufman, is still open. Owners are expected to talk with the Wine Bar’s manager sometime this week about the future, the source said."The paper hears that they owners can't pay employees anymore, and the publicized arrest couldn't have been good for business. The District Attorney is set to drop an indictment against Kaufman later this week.
· Busy chef closes! Co-owner’s arrest led to demise [BP]
· Crimewatch: Busy Chef Arrested [~E~]
EaterWire: A Look at Steve Hanson, Thomas Keller, and a Brooklyn BBQ Shutter
SOUTH SLOPE— Some plywood/shutter news from the tipline: "Brooklyn BarBQ at 6th and 20th has been closed since at least Saturday...an easel board outside said it will be reopening next month as Safe Haven Bar and Grill. Bless any restaurant that can survive literally sandwiched between the local Kitchen Bar/Toby's mini empire. Not sure what happened or if it changed hands. It had its fans." [EaterWire]
STEVE HANSON— August's issue of Forbes includes a piece on New York restaurant god and BR Guest head honcho Steve Hanson. How on earth does he stay profitable with the current economy? By paying attention to everything, including patrons' body language, chipped plates, the temperature every night (for the heat lamps), and the cost of tomatoes. He also keeps an enormous database of customers' phone numbers, spending habits, and favorite dishes. [Forbes]
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