Wednesday's parting shots

Photos by Steven 

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue explosion, Nixon Figueroa visited the corner where his son Nicholas died on March 26, 2015. 

Nicholas, who was 23, was having a late lunch with a friend at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave., when an explosion rocked the building. The blast killed Nicholas and Sushi Park employee Moises Locón, 27, and injured more than 20 others. 

On this 10th anniversary, Nixon was surprised that no one was there. He wondered if a ceremony had been planned and he simply hadn’t been informed. There wasn’t one. 

The grieving father said he felt as if he had died that day, too.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A message from Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, Nicholas Figueroa's parents 

• RIP Nicholas Figueroa 

• RIP Moises Locón 

• Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

'A reminder of the tragedy that left many physically and emotionally wounded...'

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion.

First, the victims. Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón died on March 26, 2015. Figueroa, 23, who had recently graduated from SUNY Buffalo State, was at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, and the site of the fatal blast, dining with a co-worker. Locón, 27, worked at Sushi Park.

The explosion injured over 20 others and leveled three buildings — 19, 121 and 123 Second Ave. A condominium complex at 45 E. Seventh St. (above) sits on two of these three lots. A third lot remains vacant.

Here's some background about what has happened to date with those people who were convicted for their roles in the explosion.

In November 2019, a jury found landlord Maria Hrynenko, who took over ownership of the buildings after her husband, Michael, died in 2004, contractor Dilber Kukic, and unlicensed plumber Jerry Ioannidis guilty of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and related offenses for their role in the explosion.

Prosecutors said that Hrynenko, driven by greed, and her cohorts rigged an illegal system to funnel gas from 119 Second Ave. to 121 Second Ave. to save money.

In January 2020, they were each sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. Hrynenko remained out on bail for two more years as she waited for an appeal of the case. 

During the sentencing, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus told the courtroom, "What the defendants did, in a matter of speaking, was roll the dice with the lives of many people. The results, as we know, are catastrophic."

However, Obus said he gave the defendants a break on their prison time because they were older and "did not intend to blow up the building." 

"It's not enough. It’s a joke," Nixon Figueroa, father of Nicholas, told reporters afterward. "What kind of justice did you give us? You didn't give us no justice. It's a slap in my son’s face."

According to public records, Hrynenko, 65, was released from prison in October 2023 after serving 20 months. She was eligible for parole in November 2025. Her conditional release date was November 2029, and the maximum date is November 2033. It's not known at this moment why she was released early. Records show that she is under post-release supervision through April 2026.

Kukic, 49, served at the Wallkill Correctional Facility after sentencing in early 2020. He was released on parole last month. Ioannidis, 68, remains in custody at the Adirondack Correctional Facility in Essex County, N.Y. He is also eligible for parole in September.

Michael A. Hrynenko, Jr., Maria's son and a key figure in the gas explosion investigation, died on Aug. 25, 2017. He was 31, according to an obituary posted on the Pizzi Funeral Home website. The cause of death was never disclosed.

RIP Janne Schaefers

Information via the EVG inbox... 

It is with profound sadness that the East Fifth Street Block Association announces the death of Janne Schaefers. 

Janne was the central force of the East Fifth Street Block Association for many years. Her association with the BA began with the trees that now line East Fifth Street between First Avenue and The Bowery, for which she is solely responsible. She was also the driving force behind all substantive efforts by the block association. 

She spent countless hours at Community Board State Liquor Authority Committee meetings advocating for residents on and around East Fifth Street. She organized community protests that resulted in major agreements with large businesses, garnering substantial commitments to the quality of life for East Fifth Streeters and the elderly residents of The Greene Residence. She was also involved in the protest and eventual closing of Sin Sin, an intensely disruptive rogue bar (and location of a murder) located on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue.

Janne was a fighter. She worked hard for our block, the trees, and the quality of life she expected for herself and her neighbors. If you knew her, we sure hope you were on her right side. If you weren't, well, you weren't the only one! 

As Spring approaches and the budding canopy of trees blesses East Fifth Street for another year, take a moment to enjoy them and give thanks to the tough old gal who brought them to us.

Williamsburg hit Titi's bringing the empanadas to 7th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Titi's, a family-owned restaurant in Williamsburg specializing in empanadas, is opening an outpost at 130 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue A this spring. 

I talked with co-owners (from left) Nate Ramm and Jesus Villalobos inside the space the other day...

Villalobos, whose family also runs the Venezuelan restaurant Cachapas y Mas, which has locations in Ridgewood and Inwood, says they will serve empanadas, cachapas, Cuban sandwiches, and coffee. There will be 18 varieties of empanadas, largely Venezuelan, although some fusion offerings are in the works. 

There will be two, maybe more, vegan options, plus vegetarian choices, and Villalobos tells me that about half the menu is gluten-free. 

"I like the neighborhood — it's a good place for our demographic," Villalobos says. "There are people willing to try different ethnic foods and are adventurous." 

He also pointed out his immediate neighbors. "There is a Latin/Caribbean corner here with Miss Lily's, Yuca Bar and 787 Coffee," he says. "It's a good fit for us."

Plans are for Titi's to be up and running the first week of May. 

Titi's topped The Infatuation's recent "Best Empanadas in NYC" list. (This Eater feature has more on Villalobos and his family.) 

While I was there, Villalobos was working on a donation to Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless and EVLovesNYC. 

"We embrace community and want to be a part of the community," Villalobos says. 

This retail space was most recently the Instant Noodle Factory.

Moving on: The construction trailer has left Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Late Monday night (10:30, a source said!), workers removed the construction trailer from Tompkins Square Park, marking another step toward a construction-free area around the field house.

The trailer arrived on May 5, 2023, as renovations were ramping up. It was plopped down a few convenient feet from the well-used ping-pong table.

An NYC Parks official told us earlier this month that the field house upgrades were complete, and the Park staff was conducting final inspections.

There is still no word on when the area might reopen. The official said they are still working on scheduling a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the upgraded facility. 

The reconstruction of the field house included a complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, upgrading all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements feature reconfigured layouts, new entryways, ADA-compliant ramps, and renovated restrooms and maintenance areas. 

The mayor's office funded the $5.6 million renovations, which were much needed because the field house rarely had heat or hot water, and the restrooms could have been used in the first film in the "Saw" franchise.

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo on 1st Avenue today by Steven 

Today marks the 114th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. 

As in the past 20-plus years, volunteers have participated in the chalking project (organized by Street Pictures), writing the names and ages of the victims, mostly young women, in front of the buildings where they lived on the Lower East Side.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which occurred on March 25, 1911, in New York City, remains one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history. The tragedy claimed the lives of 146 garment workers. Management locked the doors to the stairwells and exits to prevent unauthorized breaks. The trapped workers either perished in the flames or by jumping from the factory windows. 

Located at the northwest corner of Greene Street and Washington Place, just east of Washington Square Park, the Triangle Waist Company became a symbol of the urgent need for workplace safety reforms. 

For more details on the fire and its lasting impact, visit the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition website.

At the annual fundraiser for the Sixth Street Community Center

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Sixth Street Community Center held its Annual Fundraiser Dinner on Sunday night. Proceeds go to support the Food Distribution Program, which has provided free access to farm-fresh produce to thousands of food-insecure families on the Lower East Side since April 2020. 

I stopped by as the staff was prepping the four-course meal created by Chef Frumpy Grain.

According to an Instagram post, the Center raised nearly $7,000.

Learn more about the programs at the Sixth Street Community Center here.

Terra Thai reopens with new grab-and-go items

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After a month-long revamp, Terra Thai reopened earlier this month at 518 E. Sixth St., between Avenues A and B. 

I stopped by last week and met with co-owner Karuna Wiwattanakantang, who runs the small restaurant with her husband, Norawat Margsiri.

Terra Thai has a new grab-and-go concept. Two display fridges in the front of the shop have signage indicating what is available for take-out when you drop by. There is no menu, delivery, or online ordering, although that might change. 

"I am trying to make it easier for the kitchen," Karuna tells me.

Karuna says they have "created special food, something that can surprise you" and "new, special dishes," like today's salmon with basil sauce over rice, served with a poached egg side and a broccoli salad, all for $13. 

Karuna says they've stopped carrying less popular dishes and added some new ones, like empanadas and basil salmon. 

She also plans to sell a Thai cooking set for at-home chefs, where you buy the kit and add your own choice of protein, and prepare it in your kitchen.

"People here like to cook," she explains. And she's happy to create "affordable food for the neighborhood."

There's no seating in the newly renovated space, and the wall of plants is still there.

Is there a favorite dish on the old menu you miss? You can try calling the restaurant and asking to have it prepared, but Karuna warns it may take a while, and she may or may not have the ingredients. 

She encourages people to drop by, see what's fresh and ready to go...and pick up their food to take away.

"I feel indebted to the East Village neighborhood very much," she says. 

I ask Norawat what he thinks of the changes, and he points to Karuna and smiles, "You have to ask her. She's the boss."

Terra Thai is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here.

They previously operated Terra Thai in Boulder, Colo., for six years before deciding to move to NYC and signing a lease — weeks before the pandemic PAUSE of March 2020. They opened in May 2020.

Urbanspace Union Square has shut down to make way for Time Out Market

Urbanspace Union Square, the food hall on the ground floor of Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving, and tech hub), has closed at 124 E. 14th St. 

While the closure was anticipated this year, its suddenness caught many off guard. Last evening, we saw several people peering inside and asking what had happened.

Late last month, Time Out announced it was opening Time Out Market, Union Square, in this space in the fall. 

The 10,000-square-foot market hall will soon house seven kitchens, a fully-stocked bar and a stage set to host talent and performances from local artists. The 300-seat space will also feature an outdoor terrace. The new destination will build upon the legacy of Time Out Markets across the world — all with the mission of featuring the city’s best and up-and-coming culinary and cultural talents. 

"Time Out Market New York, Union Square will not just be a place to eat: it will be a platform for culinary and cultural talents—where you can discover the city’s flavors and fresh ideas, and experience New York’s creativity all at once; a place for people and the local community to come together," said Vice President for US Time Out Market, Virginia Rector-Birbal. "It will be for everyone, every day — for all ages, budgets, tastes — under one roof." 

Time Out currently has 10 similar markets worldwide, including a 24,000-foot converted warehouse that opened in 2019 in Dumbo.

 

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Reps for Time Out were scheduled to appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee this month but withdrew before the meeting. 

Urbanspace Union Square opened in December 2022 with 13 vendors (including locals Bobwhite Counter) ... six of the vendors were reportedly first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies. 

We were never inside here and can't speak to its appeal — or lack of. Some Reddit commenters spoke of high prices for the vendors. 

The market is on the ground floor of the 21-story building — developed jointly by the city's Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services — that was long contested by local preservationists and community groups. It sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Bánh Anh Em looking closer to opening on 3rd Avenue

Bánh Anh Em has hosted pop-up events over the past two weekends at 99 Third Ave., showing the unique Vietnamese dishes that the restaurant will offer here between 12th Street and 13th Street before its grand opening next month. 

As previously noted, Nhu Ton and John Nguyen, the owners of Bánh Vietnamese Shop House on the UWS, are behind Bánh Anh Em. 

Grub Street had a preview here.

 

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A few more details on the condo conversion of a former tenement synagogue on 4th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

As we first reported on Feb. 10, workers are gutting the former Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel at 256 E. Fourth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

As of this past Thursday, a partial demolition permit has been filed with the city. Some parts of the existing building will remain in place as the four-story structure will receive two additional floors to accommodate six condos. 

Since our story broke, there has been concern over the loss of this one-time historic tenement synagogue. 

Project architect Stephen Conte told the Post on Friday that ...

 ... there was no way to save the original facade, as decades of water damage rendered the already-thin front walls unsafe.

"We're going to see if there are any interior design elements we can keep that don't have any toxic materials or mold," such as stained glass windows and wooden doors, Conte told The Post, adding that the red brick exterior was chosen to keep the building "contextual" within the block.

Village Preservation continues to call for expanded landmark protections in the East Village, including swaths of Avenue B and Avenue C (more info here). Despite similar designations in other neighborhoods, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission has ignored the proposal. 

Our previous post has more info on this building's history. 

Here's a New York Municipal Archive photo from the early 1940s, when this was the Lemberger Congregation Anshei Ashkenaz. The property, dating to 1859, was once part of Petrus Stuyvesant's estate.

Residential rendering reveal at the former 9th Street parking garage

Workers have now installed the scaffolding and sidewalk bridge for the residential conversion of the former Little Man Parking garage (aka LaSalle Parking) on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

And the plywood now includes a rendering of the new residential structure... and not the most detailed one we've ever seen ...

Per previous reports, the new 74-foot-tall building will include 31,231 square feet of residential space, including 18 units and likely condos. Colberg Architecture is the architect of record. 

Part of the existing structure will be used in the conversion and vertical enlargement of five to six floors for residential use. 

The plywood rendering lists a Winter 2026 completion date.

The garage closed in April 2023 after the Department of Buildings issued a vacate order on the property following the deadly collapse at the Little Man garage on Ann Street in the Financial District. 

Per the DOB vacate order: "The occupied parking structure with concrete framing observed to be in a state of disrepair at several locations in cellar level... crushed column base observed at several locations in cellar level ... vertical cracks observed inside elevator shaft and on masonry walls." 

The address was offered as a "redevelopment project" in August 2023. 

According to public records and the TradedNY account, Arcus Development, operating through Astor Nine LLC, is the new owner of the vacant property. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• 9th Street condo project turns former parking garage into construction zone

After December fire in building, Jane Cookshop will not be reopening on 9th Street

Jane Cookshop, closed since a fire in the building on Dec. 14, will not be reopening at 328 E. Ninth St. 

A fire broke out on the fourth floor, causing extensive damage to the housewares shop between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Owner Jen Ro made the announcement on Instagram: 

With a heavy heart, we're coming on here to announce that Jane Cookshop will not be returning to 328 E. 9th Street. We miss our little shop and the magic it brought to everyone who walked through our doors. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing vendors, collaborators, and, most importantly, our loyal customers who made this journey so special. 

Thank you for the love and support along the way. While this chapter is coming to a close, we're taking some time to reflect and reimagine what’s next for Jane Cookshop. Stay with us as we work on our next big adventure. We can’t wait to share it with you soon! 

Ro has been selling some items at East Village Postal, which her parents own at 151 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. The remaining goods there from Jane's are now on sale.

Jane Cookshop opened in early 2022.

7 years vacant, the storefront on the NW corner of 3rd Avenue and 12th Street is now for rent

Leasing signs for a vented restaurant have arrived on the storefront on the NW corner of Third Avenue at 12th Street, aka 88 Third Ave. (The listing via CBRE isn't online yet.) '

There's also a for-lease banner on the 12th Street storefront that last housed Tacombi...

These two spaces have operated with separate businesses in recent years. 

The corner storefront has been vacant since Gotham Pizza closed in the summer of 2018. The following year, we spotted workers gutting it, and one of them said a Chinese restaurant was in the works. 

In April 2022, we spotted a demand-for-rent notice totaling $281,134.68. 

Last week, along with the new for-lease signs, came a notice of eviction to the business that never opened...

Other past corner tenants included Funkiberry, the colorful FroYo establishment that went down in 2015.

Sunday's parting shots

How things started today on 13th Street at Third Avenue... and how they ended...

Top photo by Bayou; 2nd pic via Pinch

Check in on the bunny of 13th and B

On Tuesday, a reader noted a rather domesticated-looking rabbit living in the vacant lot on the southeast corner of Avenue B and 13th Street. 

Here's an update from the reader: 

Our friend continues to hop around the vacant lot every evening — usually can be seen from 8 p.m. onward enjoying the fresh green shoots and grass slowly growing in. No sightings of other rabbits. We are so curious about how he made this little corner of his home. 

Hope he stays safe. There are a ton of rat poison containers in that space, though also an insane number of rats ignoring them ... but otherwise seems to be doing OK.

Thanks to Sara for the photos!

Venerable Joe's Pizza becomes Jonas Pizza for a day to celebrate the Jonas Brothers

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

If you were wondering about yesterday's lines on 14th Street and Third Avenue, Joe's Pizza became Jonas Pizza for part of the day.

... as part of a Jonas Brothers 20th-anniversary event (they formed as a band in 2005), which included lighting up the Empire State Building Friday night. 

Anyway! There was a Jonas Brothers slice and merch inside... as well as excited fans...

Later in the day, the brothers — Kevin, Joe and Nick — arrived on the scene for a quick DJ set...

And today, the American Dream Mall in New Jersey hosts the sold-out JonasCon ...