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Bloody Thursday: Triple Restaurant and Cafe Closings
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 5, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 5, 2008
Modified Jun 6, 2008
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Tasting Room courtesy Cravings, Chez Brigitte courtesy Vanishing New York, Hopscotch courtesy mgoddard.
The incessant stampede of "neighborhood institution" closures has a way of making your eyes glaze over, but today’s tally of three (and counting!) price-outs demands observation. Jeremiah's Vanishing New York – fast becoming the most depressing read in town – has the bad news of two of them. The first is Hopscotch, the 2.0 version of Avenue A’s Alt.Coffee, renowned for its ‘No ODs Allowed’ signage in the filthy bathroom. Owner Nick Bodor had hoped to fancy his place up for the yupsters, but it seems the local real estate market won’t rest until the space is a real estate office.
Earlier, Vanishing New York broke news that Chez Brigitte, the humble luncheonette on Greenwich Avenue, is closing tonight after 50 years in business. The chef says “the lease is up and the rent has doubled,” but even Jeremiah is beginning to wonder if his blog is the kiss of death, because he just wrote about its 50th anniversary in March : “It seems every time I post the story of a survivor, they soon go under.” Restaurateurs may want to start posting the J-Reaper's picture in the kitchen and alerting the staff.
Also tits up is longtime gourmand favorite The Tasting Room. The original 24-seat restaurant on First Street was a hit soon after opening in ’99, thanks to chef Colin Alevras innovative cooking and his commitment to fresh ingredients supplied from local farmers. In 2006, the restaurant relocated to a larger space on Elizabeth and, according to some, struggled to maintain the same level of excellence. An underwhelming Times review set a bad tone, and the $18,000 a month rent (according to one source) couldn’t have made things any easier. Alevras confirmed the closing in a comment on Eater Monday; Cravings and Grub Street have eulogies today. (N.B.: The original First Street location is still open under Alevras as a wine bar.)
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Alt Coffee
Chez Brigitte
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closing
coffeeshop
Hopscotch
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The Tasting Room
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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