Blue Bottle Coffee Is Here

Finally, the new Union Square playground, three times its former size, is open.

Here’s what they’re currently saying:

“With demolition and abatement complete, Tishman Construction and the Durst Organization have moved on to the next major phases of the construction process: clearing and laying the foundation. Future deadlines include the following.”

Present to August 2011: Excavation foundation

September 2011 to May 2012: Superstructure erection

May 2012 to October 2012: Façade and building enclosure

The original location of New York mini-chain Heartland Brewery is slated to close on January 1.  The Post reports that the building at 35 Union Square West has a new owner who is asking for more than the Heartland team can afford to pay.  Owner Jon Bloostein says that when he opened the pub in 1994, the rent was $150,000 a year, but now the new landlord is asking for about $2 million a year.

The four new condos at 61 5th Ave, corner of 13th, have finally been priced, and the prices are mindbending. See prices and photos here.

Zappos — the Amazon-owned online shoe retailer — appears to be launching a brick-and-mortar location.

Zappos has leased the three-level, roughly 16,000-square-foot corner of 19 Union Square West at 15th Street that was previously home to American Eagle and its concept-store spinoff, AE Studio.

Neighbor James Morgan has done additional investigative work to find out the following:
–The name of the cafe may be Maison de Croque Monsieur.
–The owners are from the Petite Abielle group.
–They intend to keep the antique signage on the building, which is great.