The Living Room is Relocating to Williamsburg
This image has been archived or removed.
Shuttered Living Room, October 2013
It’s a sad, but true, state of affairs when Lower East Side institutions continue to shutter, and cross the river into Brooklyn. The Living Room, which spent sixteen years in the neighborhood gave up and is doing the same. It’s currently applying to open inside 134 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg.
Last night, Community Board 1’s SLA committee out there heard the case for the venue. Testimony given by co-owners Jennifer Gilson and Steve Rosenthal revealed that “We just couldn’t find a location [in Manhattan] that was appropriate.”
Indeed, the Living Room was priced out of 154 Ludlow Street last December, and lived month-to-month for almost another year. During that time, Gilson and Rosenthal spent months researching new locations, but all were dead-ends. Their closest bet was the former laundromat at 173 East Second Street, but the application was roundly defeated by Community Board 3, thanks to the vocal block association.
Ultimately, the committee told the applicants last night to withdraw for more community support before a final vote can be taken.
If the liquor license is approved, though, the Living Room would join its former Ludlow neighbor Max Fish on the same street.
Recent Stories
After Years of Vacancy, Ernesto’s Spanish Restaurant Opening on East Broadway
Way down East Broadway, at the corner of Montgomery Street, an upscale corner tenant is entering the fray. This after five years of apparent on-and-off storefront warehousing by a controversial landlord. Eater had the scoop last week, revealing that Quality Eats executive chef, Ryan Bartlow, is opening a new restaurant here at 259 East Broadway. […]
Post-It Solidarity in Chinatown for Hong Kong Protesters
The splintered plywood on the perimeter of 282-286 Grand Street is now a makeshift statement of solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong. Within the last few days, a display of colorful Post-It notes appeared atop the weather-worn flybills, each with a message in Chinese or English. The stunt includes two small baskets stocked with stickies […]
Iconic Tofu Shop Returned to Chinatown over the Weekend
Two years after Fong Inn Too closed its doors, the family that runs the iconic tofu shop is back. Albeit in a new form and location. Paul Eng, part of the family that’s run the business since 1933, debuted Fong On over the weekend at 81 Division Street, which is just a few blocks away […]
Shear Luck: FRED Salon Finds Refuge in the East Village
Another retail victim to report on upper Orchard Street. The FRED.nyc hair salon is now gone. According to signage on the shuttered security gate at 192 Orchard, the five-year-old business recently relocated to the East Village. The move to 40 East Third Street was a long time coming for eponymous owner Fred Connors, who braved […]
Grand Street Guild Files Plans for 15-Story Affordable Housing Tower
New towers are coming to Broome Street on the Lower East Side. Now we have sight of the first newcomer. Back in January of 2018, the Grand Street Guild nonprofit officially announced the imminent construction of two, as-of-right 15-story apartments on its property, plus a parking garage. All 400 of the proposed units are earmarked […]
