Behind the Plywood at EMM’s 199 Bowery

EMM Group’s 199 Bowery is off to the races for sure. Shielded by the oft-vandalized two-story Alec Monopoly plywood, contractors have been tearing apart the interior for a couple months already. The former BLVD/Soiree space now resides in the token curbside dumpster (and landfill).

Given these recent demolition developments, let’s take a peek behind the curtain, as it were. Place is enormous – 20,000 square-feet. Jaw-dropping, in fact, when viewed without any of the furnishings. So get ready for the inevitable.

As we’ve been closely monitoring for the last year, 199 Bowery is slated to become a restaurant-nightclub hybrid. Both up top and down below. The main level will serve small-plate Asian cuisine behind a bakery front. Nightlife maven Travis Bass is on board for the unnamed basement club, managing operations, booking talent, and “coordinating the crowd.” The rather optimistic launch estimate for this as-yet-untitled EMM monstrosity is pegged at sometime in the fall. Likely later than sooner. Stay away on the weekends…

Meanwhile, management is using the ginormous ad mural as a job board of sorts. It appears Alec Monopoly designed the public listing which seeks help for all positions in the joint.

On another note, someone please explain the purpose of the police barricades out front…