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Cafe Charbon at 170 Orchard Closes for Good

Posted on: June 9th, 2011 by

Cafe Charbon officially closed on Monday after nearly a decade on the Lower East Side; a call to the restaurant last night confirms.  This latest neighborhood development was not surprising, but all the more painful.  Behind shuttered gates at 170 Orchard Street, the dining room is dark, with chairs stacked on the tables and curtains partially drawn.

It was exactly five months ago that the Charbon folk transferred their full liquor license to the nightlife team NYC Best Bar, which operates frat-boy havens across town (e.g. Jake’s Dilemma, Off the Wagon, 13th Step, 3 Sheets Saloon).  At the time, speculation abounded as to when the French epicerie would actually close up shop.  Some readers posited that they would hold out for roughly another year.  Obviously that was not to be.

[Photo Credit: Goggla]

As we mentioned back when news first broke, this is a huge loss for upper Orchard Street.  Cafe Charbon was a Boogie haunt for years, offering mostly modest prices and a screen for the occasional soccer futbol match.  One thing is certain, though.  The southeast corner will never be the same once the smoke clears.  While proposals have yet to see daylight, it’s highly likely that the new incarnation will replace character with crap a so-called “neighborhood bar.”

  • http://twitter.com/ltrav1023 Lisa Travnik

    booooo. this makes me so sad. looks like i’ll be surrounded by more frat boys soon enough.

  • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

    i hardly see anyone there during weekdays and weeknights. and the tourists and the b&ts crowds that do patronize there during the weekends hardly order wine, beer, or cocktails (which is how, unfortunately, restaurants make their money). they’re just there to see and be seen.

    anyhoo, expect more plasma screens to be installed there to show nfl football

  • http://rickmoser.net Rick

    I hate restaurants that don’t take plastic. If it’s cash only I have no problem saying goodbye.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

    • http://esquared.tumblr.com/ esquared

      restaurants have to pay a fee on each charge purchase, which is why some don’t use them. but café charbon did accept plastic — amex. plus, most french restaurants in the city only accepts amex and cash only.

      café charbon tried to accept visa/mc at one point, but then decided to drop it.  either they had a lot of trouble to set up the visa/mc
      cards or amex must have a fee structure that favored charbon. nonetheless, amex does offer deals whereby merchants pay a far lower fees or rate on amex  transactions if they agree to only take amex. 

      but i’m sure the frat joint taking over that place will be taking visa/mc.

  • Pingback: Gin Mill to Open Inside former Cafe Charbon on Orchard? - Bowery Boogie

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