This one hurts.
In December I reported that Moishe's Bake Shop in the East Village was possibly closing. I went in and asked. The response: "Where'd you hear that?" asked the cashier. On the Internet. More laughter. "People put all kinds of stuff on the Internet," said the cashier. So everything's fine? "Yeah, yeah."
As I noted then, "But you know how these things happen. If I were you, I'd go enjoy the great Moishe's while you can." I went in and got a last bag of hamentaschen.
Today, E.V. Grieve reports that the bakery has closed without any further warning. He writes:
"Storefront photographers James and Karla Murray first posted the news last night on Instagram:
'Sadly, we just heard from the owner, Moishe Perl, that today was its last day as the entire building has been sold.'" Perl, they say, decided to retire.
And there's one less reason to live in the East Village.
8 comments:
I happened to get a job at NYU late in the Fall and early Winter. I discovered Moishe's still hanging onto life and managed to go in and buy my favorite - the big Hamantashen. I also took photographs over the few visits. Glad I did now, because my radar was telling me, without asking anything, that this place was on borrowed time. I'm good at predicting what will likely stay and what won't. It's survival of the fittest out there, and when you see a place loaded with character but shorn of any recent investment, you know it's vulnerable, or someone in charge just isn't that interested in the future. So it goes, and the vultures attack, and they do get their prey. The question is - how far can all of this really go? We may have to go back home after all.
I read recently somewhere nearby on this here internet that these ridiculous rent hikes, along with the constant turnover of new tenants is fine with the landlords because on paper it increases the value of the property, allowing the owners to get more loans to buy other properties.
What a bummer been going here since I was a kid. Besides Block Drugs and Gem Spa the last things left ore or less on 2nd ave.. I moved to LA last year and things like this are part of the reason why, The NYC I love and miss is going going gone. RIP you had a great babka
Enough is enough. We have to do something about this. We need to become a political force.
The signage and awning was the first thing I noticed about Moishe's Kosher Bakery. In such shabby shape! (What is this place?) What specialized merchandise could withstand such an off putting storefront? This was the Grand Street shop, far east Grand Street. But then I saw the 2nd Avenue storefront a few weeks later. Same rundown, tattered, missing some parts of the letters, a little graffiti storefront presentation. Maybe this a orthodox Jewish neighborhood thing? (This was pre-gentrification, pre market rate Seward Park coops on far east Grand Street) This was a pattern. I went inside a few.weeks later, so old.school. Was I in a 1940s time warp? This must be a neighborhood institution. Everybody must be familiar with the place. No need to put on glossy hardcut edges of the modern commercial retail era sterile corporate boringness. You are in comfort cookie and cake land and Mom may be behind the counter. Anyway, it was fabulous that a place like this was still around. And then I saw the Moishe himself working on the window display of ultra fresh cookie and cakes one morning. That is who is keeping this dream together I thought.
Jeremiah, so true, another reason to leave the East Village. Chalk up a classic and drink with the ghost, just sold White Horse. Love your blog and bought your book, work of love and genius, highly recommend. Thank you for your contribution to this still dynamite city.
Doesn't sound like a push-out. Sounds like the owner is retiring and leasing the building.
I'm sorry to read that you'll be shelving this blog. I hate that soulless social media is the only way to reach people today. I myself have deleted Facebook over a year ago, rarely use Instagram, but I have started a blog that's attached to my website. I would rather reach 20 people who were genuinely interested in what I had to say than receive 200 "likes" from those who don't really care.
Have you given any thought about writing a book about the death of the diners that have closed in NYC as well as every other city in the country ?
Good luck and keep up the good work,
Michael Penn
www.michaelpennphotography.com
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