Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Restaurant Closes, Blames Bike Lanes, BP Oil Spill, Whatever
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 25, 2011
Modified Mar 25, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 25, 2011
Modified Mar 25, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The NYC restaurant business sure is rough: the critics are heartless, the profit margin is tight, the overhead is crushing. And then you've got international oil conglomerates and the Department of Transportation breathing down your neck. East Village restaurant Mara's Homemade has just announced its closing, and in a farewell email, the Cajun eatery explains that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the bike lane on First Avenue put them out of business:
It's with great sadness to inform you that our lease expired over a year ago. We accepted a short term lease to give us time to re-locate or negotiate a longer term with our current landlord. Since that time, the BP explosion took place, bike lanes were installed on First and Second Avenues which reduced parking and the signs of future property tax increases have occurred. In addition, our landlord has insisted he WILL raise the rent. We can no longer afford to stay in this location. We have not been able to find an affordable location in NYC at this time.
Janette SADIST-KHAN strikes again! It's getting so you can't run a business in this town without the DOT or the GOD squeezing the life out of you. And don't even get Mara's started on the Japan tsunami, the Middle East unrest, or the last season of Weeds—to say nothing of those lousy Knicks!
Tagged
bike lanes
BP
dining
east village
gulf spill
mara's homemade
restaurants
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.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .