An observant Lo-Down reader noticed that two businesses – a fruit/vegetable stand and a juice shop – seem to have suddenly gone out of business at 1 Essex, on the corner of Canal. Both establishments opened about a year ago. There are three retail spaces on the ground floor of this building, owned by Naomi Blumenthal. For many months, a sign above the shops from JDF Realty has been advertising a “store for rent.”
On the broker’s web site, the listing reads: “Outdoor Courtyard in Rear (can be enclosed) + Large Sidewalk for Outdoor Seating. 5000 sf ground, 3500 sf basement.” Last year, Blumenthal went before Community Board 3 with a proposal to open an upscale restaurant in one of 1 Essex’s commercial spaces. She backed off after residents of 7 Essex, the luxury building next door, launched mobilized in to the project.
We have emailed JDF Realty for more information.
Sad! I loved these places. Just last weekend, I had a nice conversation with three Latino teenagers about dragonfruits– they were wondering what it was. Ended up talking about our respective favorite tropical fruits for a good few minutes.