Tokio to Tumor

For quite awhile now, some of us in the East Village have been keeping a close eye on 83 East 7th Street, aka "The 7th Street Tumor," a major growth sprouting from a former residence. Grieve first spotted it in May 2008 and documented its history back in December around the time I got a peek inside its echoing massiveness.



It was hyped on the market as boasting 2,000 square feet on the first floor plus an additional 1,000 square feet in the basement. In October 2008, I predicted it would one day be "rented to a loud bar and restaurant with open seating out front." In the summer of 2009, Grieve predicted it would turn into "some sort of ramen/noodle/yogurt place" when one of its construction workers "said it will be 'a restaurant or another bar.'"

Meanwhile, the economy was crashing and the tumor languished on the market, mostly serving as shelter to local homeless girls and making the neighborhood anxious about what liquor-licensed monstrosity was to come.

Miracles do happen. From the very same block, "thrift" and consignment store Tokio 7 will be moving in.



A sign in Tokio 7 states they will be closing their old location on March 9 and relocating to 83 East 7th Street.

That's a big jump--from a smallish storefront to 3,000 square feet. But maybe the economy is right for it. Tokio 7 sells used designer clothing, and they are very discerning. Don't dare walk in trying to hawk your old Levi's--you will get the serious stink eye.

Like the opening of a vintage shop on E. 3rd, I'd say this is another good sign for the East Village's supposedly doomed thrift stores.