The Tea Lounge Bids Adieu
Signs have been posted for weeks that the 7th Avenue location of Tea Lounge is closing due to a hefty rent increase, but latte sippers got a shock yesterday morning when a new sign went up: Thursday, July 24 was the cafe’s last day of business—not even a ceramic mug was left on the shelves….
Signs have been posted for weeks that the 7th Avenue location of Tea Lounge is closing due to a hefty rent increase, but latte sippers got a shock yesterday morning when a new sign went up: Thursday, July 24 was the cafe’s last day of business—not even a ceramic mug was left on the shelves. A rumor circulated that a Vietnamese sandwich shop might be taking root there, though Tea Lounge workers intimated the deal fell through. Anybody know what’ll go in the space next?
Two Down in Park Slope [Brownstoner]
Background photo by kansasliberal
does anyone have any idea what commercial space on 7th goes for? (per sq foot).
how big is/was the tea lounge?
I don’t understand why the landlord would be so set on getting such a high rent. Even if he eventually gets 12k, he will loose lots of money for having it sit empty till he finds someone.
It would have been in his best interest to negotiate a rent that the tenant can afford in order to maintain foot traffic to the area. Once the area is greatly improved and traffic is higher he could raise the rent to 12k.
hard times are ahead. he should have been wiser. no telling how long this place will remain empty.
get fresh on 5th avenue was vacant for over a year before they moved in.
slopedoglover– $12,000 a month really isn’t very much for a commercial space of that size.
bxgirl:
Residential development in the Garment District has been minimal. If you look at a zoning map, you’d find residential use is actually not allowed in the vast majority of the district.
To put things in perspective – all that land was owned by the Astors. Back in the days before zoning laws, he was reviled for allowing the area to be developed with huge industrial buildings. It’s a big change from the other side of the island where more civic minded rich people prohibited such development, even with restrictive covenants. You’ll also find that the Garment District is one of those great parts of the city where the zoning code is anything but contextual. The average FAR there is like 15, way beyond what has ever been allowed in many decades. You even find some choice buildings with 25+ FAR measurements.
For that reason, you’re not going to see any knockdowns of the vast majority of the garment district lofts anytime soon, even if the allowable uses change.
So, I call BS on your little story.
11217, what do you mean? I thought the Tea Lounge in the picture IS the 7th Ave. one.
Btw, I’m a big Ozzie’s fan too and wish there was one in BH or CH. Love going there when I’m in the Slope.
I think the Tea Lounge on Union near 7th in Park Slope was always the big stroller hang out, no?
Whenever I walked past this one, it seemed more subdued.
A gorilla coffee would do great in this spot, in my opinion. I think the South Slope is a slightly different market than the North Slope, and reflects more of the demographics of 5th Avenue in terms of a younger and more single set.
I also happen to think the Tea Lounge sucks. It’s rundown (the sofas look as though they harbor bedbugs) and the coffee isn’t that great. They rode the wave of their brand for a while, but in the end it’s a good product that counts, and I never felt Tea Lounge had it.
I’m partial to Ozzie’s myself.
Probably have to buy drinks for all of the ones that I’ve offended or p1ssed off!
It is still BYOB BTW
Dave, will you be signing autographs and taking pictures with your adoring throngs of posters?
Back to the topic for just a moment: I’m wondering what the rent is on Court for the Tea Lounge there. It sure seems the one above on 7th was popular based on the stroller traffic. It makes me wonder, along with slopedoglover, what the Sam Hill kind of business will be able to thrive there.
i pay 9000 dollars for 1200 sq ft on a better stretch on seventh ave in a lease i signed within a year. unless its food i dont see more then this possible.