East Village Alum Rectangles Restaurant Shutters

Back in the heady days of 2004, longtime Yemenite standby Rectangles closed its doors at 159 Second Avenue (at Tenth Street).  It had operated in the East Village for nigh on two decades.  Shortly thereafter, however, the restaurant revived and relocated to 1431 First Avenue on the Upper East Side.  All along we’ve been fans of their food. But bad news recently befell the business.

Strike one came at the end of December when the Health Department paid a visit, and issued a failing report card. Rectangles consequently shuttered, never to reopen.  A sign in the door still promises that there’s some “boiler maintenance” afoot, but the liquor license application paperwork beside it negates that theory.  Said documents are for a new business identity, suggesting that restaurant history will again repeat itself at this address.

Indeed, it appears mini pizza chain Numero 28, which has an East Village outpost on Second Avenue, is reportedly opening its fourth location here.