BlueWater Grill Faces Massive Rent Hike

Joyce Leslie, “the store where you send your daughter to dress like a hooker,” has been gone for a while on the corner of University and 8th. A replacement has finally been named: CVS. So the neighborhood gets yet another alternative to the surly hellhounds at Duane Reade.

Looks like Izu/Lemongrass Grill is done. In its place will be Shanghai Square. No details yet. Stay tuned.

They’ve been under construction for ages, but it looks like the condos at 82 University Place, where the beloved Cedar Tavern used to be, are finally ready to be sold. Starting around 1.5 million.

Some kind of fancy champagne bar will soon be positioned across the street from our front door.

The Feil Organization announced Maison Kayser will bring its artisanal breads and baked goods to Union Square, signing a 15-year lease at the historic 841 Broadway for its eighth location in Manhattan.

The bakery will occupy 3,000 sq. ft. on the ground and mezzanine floors of the 108,000 sq. ft., eight-level Romanesque building, where COSI used to be.

“The activity in and around Union Square is buzzing, and the demand for this location was extraordinary, allowing us to maximize the income,” states Nicolas Forelli, director of leasing for The Feil Organization.  “While we were marketing this location, we had an overwhelming response from every food concept you can imagine. With its reputation for quality and unique product for this market, Maison Kayser was the best fit for the building and neighborhood.”

Built in 1894, the Romanesque building is located at the intersection of 13th Street just one block from Union Square Park. In the past year, Feil completely renovated the building, restoring the terracotta façade, creating a brass-accented lobby, and installing new elevators and windows.

Reports are in about how 13th St. and 14th St. may change when the L train shuts down for 15 months. Some amazing details, most notably the creation of the city’s first protected two-way bike lane running the entire length of 13th St. Hard to imagine what it will be like in reality.

Read more here.