East Village, is that you? With the opening of two national chains, the closing of a 10-year-old coffee hangout, and the threatened shuttering of a neighborhood bar, we take a look at some recent changes to the landscape of one of the city's favorite neighborhoods.
The International House of Pancakes, or more colloquially known as IHOP, opened its doors on 235 East 14th Street on Tuesday, their first ever location in Downtown Manhattan.
After finding much success in Brooklyn, the restaurant chain known for their moderately priced, but calorie-packed meals announced plans to expand with 24 new IHOP's in the New York area back in December of 2010.
EV Grieve is accepting First Meal photos at what's bound to become a late-night favorite for bar crawlers. Either that or a much-needed respite for the tired, huddled masses yearning for a hangover cure the morning after.
Not too far south, fellow national chain Starbucks caused a bit of ruckus for mom-and-pop cafe, The Bean, as owners were forced to close and make way for yet another Starbucks location on Monday. However, Ike Escava, one of the coffeeshop's partners said that they are fighting back by reopening a block away on First Avenue and Second Street. Until then, The Bean made its on-wheels debut on Tuesday by launching a truck version of the neighborhood favorite.
The East Village bar scene is also receiving a bit of bad news, as community board members and neighbors are threatening to deny owner Heather Millstone's application to renew the bar's liquor license. Grub Street reports that neighbors are fed up with the bar's noise and one complained that some patrons have been caught "trespassing on (my) property and smoking pot." Okay, but what exactly did you expect when you moved to 13th and Avenue B?
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