Mexican restaurant Vamos Al Tequila (162 Franklin St.) was closed last week by the NYC Dept. of Health following a Nov. 6th inspection, according to the agency’s website.
A sign in the window says that the business is closed for health violations.
The restaurant received a failing grade of 46 (an ‘A’ is 0-13 points), with “critical violations” for alleged evidence of roaches, improper food storage, and not having a vermin-proof facility.
City restaurant health inspection results can be challenged and the cited problems can potentially be fixed for the restaurant to reopen.
A popular place for locals to munch on standard Mexican fare and to enjoy outdoor seating in the warmer months, Vamos Al Tequila is a staple for affordable food options in the northern end of Greenpoint.
“I’ve had at least 300 bowls of soup alone in there in the last 10 years and never have had a problem,” a dedicated Vamos fan responded to the news on a Greenpointers Instagram post, “here’s to hoping they can sort out whatever the violation was and reopen soon – I was about to head there for some chicken soup!”
The annual winter holiday lights were installed today on Greenpoint streets.
It’s beginning to look and feel a lot like winter, Greenpointers! Holiday lights were being strung along Greenpoint’s main avenues today just as the wintery air brought a reminder of the season ahead.
It’s also an easy night to keep indoors, but if you venture out there’s a bunch of art to view. Head to the Greenpoint Gallery for another one of their salon-style art shows starting at 7 p.m., or check out The Other Art Fair at the Brooklyn Expo Center. Continue reading →
Starting this weekend the alcohol-free bar Getaway (158 Green St.) will become a coffee shop (serving Intelligentsia coffee) during the morning and daytime hours. Continue reading →
Two FDNY firefighters were injured earlier this morning while battling a fire that took more than two hours to contain at a Greenpoint industrial building near Newtown Creek, the NY Daily News reports.
The future home of Brooklyn Whiskers at Magick City (37 Box St) in Greenpoint
The vegan cafe Brooklyn Whiskers will move to a new Greenpoint location on Box Street in 2020, the business announced the same week that their 1008 Manhattan Ave. space was vacated, following “a debilitating cycle of production and staffing.”
Brooklyn Whiskers (1008 Manhattan Ave.)
Compared to the tiny former storefront on Manhattan Ave, much more space, an increased number of tables, and outdoor seating are being promised at the new Brooklyn Whiskers 33 Box St. location, which is part of the community arts space Magick City
Brooklyn Whiskers likened the new space to “a living room and commercial kitchen for artists” and the greater community in a post on social media:
The silver lining! We’ll be making some magick on Box Street in 2020 . @magickcity is the kind of tucked away gem that reminds you why we ❤️ new york . It’s a living room and commercial kitchen for artists, artisans, neighbors and friends . lovers or strangers, sisters and brothers . It’s a very special place and with some work will be our new #greenpoint home.
While no date is set, an early 2020 opening is in the works, and in the meantime, Brooklyn Whiskers is directing its loyal customers to seek out their signature baked goods at Le Labo Fragrances (120 N 6th St) in Williamsburg.
12 Franklin St. rendering (via Commercial Observer)
The former impending office and manufacturing development known as 12 Franklin St. is now on hold as the developer who purchased the lot three years ago for $24 million has relisted the property for more than double their investment, the Commercial Observer reports. Continue reading →
Pierozek (592 Manhattan Ave.) will open on Wednesday (11/6)
A new pierogi shop that was inspired by another restaurant based in Poland will open Wednesday on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint.
Pieroƶek (592 Manhattan Ave.) is from married couple Alexandra Siwiec and Radek Kucharski, who told the NY Times that the business will help to “maintain the cultural heritage” of Greenpoint against a backdrop of recently-closed Polish-owned businesses on Manhattan Avenue such as Bakery Rzeszowska (948 Manhattan Ave.) and Green Farms Supermarket (918 Manhattan Ave.) . Continue reading →
The vegan cafe with cat flair, Brooklyn Whiskers (1008 Manhattan Ave), is now closed following an announcement on social media on Monday.
Specializing in dairy and gluten-free baked goods and sandwiches, the cafe opened at the end of 2017 in a small space on the northern end of Manhattan Avenue and was open as recently as Sunday.
“We finally conceded that this location is not the future of #brooklynwhiskers Greenpoint,” the post stated, explaining that a “silver lining announcement” will follow:
We have permanently shuttered our #1008manhattanavenue location. Yesterday was our last hurrah. And what a banner day it was! We had one of our busiest days to date, and loved welcoming the chill fall air with all of you that came out. This project was a brutal labor of love that we spilled A LOT of blood, sweat, and tears over – confident that despite the tiny footprint, we would be able to carve out a sustainable niche for all you crazy food and animal lovers on Manhattan Avenue. After revisiting our #brandgoals (and bottom line!) and following the most recent event in a debilitating cycle of production and staffing trials, we finally conceded that this location is not the future of #brooklynwhiskers Greenpoint . Thank you for all of the love and unending support these last two years. We are truly humbled and grateful. And stay tuned for our next announcement . There is a #silverlining.
The retail and wholesale bakeshop also has a new flagship location at 1037 Broadway in Bushwick and their original space at 760 Dodworth St., which is in the works to reopen “as soon as this week,” according to another Instagram post from Brooklyn Whiskers.
If the cafe was a go-to for your vegan snacks, then there may be a reason to withhold feelings of loss, as Brooklyn Whiskers hinted “stay tuned” for their next announcement…
Happy post-Halloween Friday Greenpointers! If you’re still in the holiday spirit, there’s a Día de Los Muertos-themed dance party tonight at Magick City (37 Box St.).
On Sunday, more than 50,000 runners will pass through the neighborhood for the 2019 NYC Marathon. As usual, the race will pass through Manhattan and Greenpoint avenues, before heading over the Pulaski Bridge via McGuiness Blvd, which will be closed to traffic North of Calyer Street starting at 8 a.m. along with many other Greenpoint street closures. Here’s the complete list of the traffic alerts via the 94th Precinct.
Soft Opening (570 Manhattan Ave) is moving today to Nassau Avenue.
On its second anniversary, the plant shop Soft Opening (570 Manhattan Ave.) will move to Nassau Avenue to focus on building an online store.
On Friday, Soft Opening’s owner Kristin McLaughlin posted a message on Instagram stating that she started the business in a smaller storefront on Nassau Avenue near McGolrick Park and that she is moving Soft Opening back to its original location on the businesses’ second anniversary. Continue reading →
