Good Old Days: 14th St. Near Union Sq.

It’s hard to run a business in Manhattan. So hard, in fact, that even the beloved City Bakery couldn’t survive.

Read it here.

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

Please note that the annual shareholders’ will be happening this year on July 22.

Today Goathamist reports that the city has picked Simon Oren’s Chef Driven Market, LLC to run the restaurant in the pavilion in the northern tip of Union Square. The company currently runs the 5 Napkin Burger chain, as well as a string of other restaurants throughout the city.

The current plan is to run an all-day seasonal American restaurant that will utilize produce from the Union Square Greenmarket, from April through October. The operators also want to annex part of the space just north of the pavilion for outdoor seating and a bar area. The city has reportedly agreed to a 15 year deal with the company. This comes a few months after news broke that OV-Hospitality’s plans for a restaurant in the space called City Farm Cafe fell through.

Now that Blick Art Supplies has vacated on our block of 13th St., the question becomes…what will move in? According to recent reports, there is no tenant lined up, and the landlord is open to a large restaurant, a store, a medical office… pretty much anything. They will also subdivide as needed. Stand by.