Savelli Restaurant And Bar Coming, Ichiba Is Now Izakaya And Other Smith Street Restaurant News

We have heard great things about Purepecha

Ichiba, a Thai restaurant which opened in the spring of 2019 seems to now be called Izakaya, or is it Gatsu Gatsu?

Finally, some action at 195 Smith Street, which has been standing empty for a couple of years now.

We love when people reach out to PMFA with news of the neighborhood. With so many openings and closings on Court Street and Smith Street, we sometimes miss a new restaurant or bar, so we are glad for any tips from local residents.
Recently,  a 30-year neighborhood resident (who prefers to stay anonymous.) contacted us to make us aware of changes to three establishments on two blocks on Smith Street.

Below are his observations on these new establishments.
Thanks for your contribution, N.

Hi Katia,

Of neighborhood interest are three new restaurants on Smith Street within two blocks of each other (between Warren and Butler) that each come with a backstory. 

Purepecha (213 Smith)

This new Mexican occupying what would seem to be a cursed space (formerly Broccollino, formerly Hunter’s, Ossobuco, El Pitayo, Athena, a Japanese joint...) appears  to be defying the odds judging by the number of diners I have seen in there as of the past month or so. Perhaps a very good review in Eater NY in late November had something to do with it?

Ichiba (196 Smith)

I mean Woori. I mean Ichiba. As PMFA noted, this Japanese-Korean opened in the spring as Ichiba. Closed suddenly and mysteriously. Opened again as Woori in the fall. Closed suddenly and mysteriously. Now marked as Ichiba again with a sign that says opening soon. Guess we’ll see…and eat..maybe.

Savelli’s (195 Smith)

Speaking of mystery… There are (again) signs of life in the Mystery Pizza place in the old Robin Des Bois space. Signage for “Savelli’s” coal oven pizza have been up for the past month and lights have occasionally illuminated the brown paper covered windows and front door. Perhaps that take-out order I placed in 2012 is finally ready? 

Bonus: Has Chance (223 Smith) been renamed “Seized?” Black humor, I know. 

Bonus x2: Zest (176 Smith) has closed. To be replaced by a taco joint according to signage. Not black humor.

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Two Contiguous Properties On Smith Street Up For Grabs For $13 Million

Smith Street between Warren and Baltic Streets

191 and 193 Smith Street

191 Smith Street, currently housing Ceol, an Irish pub

Since the one story brick building housing Met Food at 205 Smith Street between Warren and Baltic Streets was just sold in May for $18,500,000 to a group of investors to make way for a new two-story retail building, the owner of two properties on the same block must have decided to put them on the market as well.

The two contiguous buildings at 191 and 193 Smith Street are being sold through Smith Hanten Real Estate for $13,000,000. Both buildings are 25 feet wide, which would represent a total of 50 feet of commercial frontage on a high foot traffic street, along a subway line.

Number 191 currently houses Ceol, an Irish pub that has been at this location for quite a number of years. Spice, a Thai restaurant just moved into number 193 this past January.

One has to wonder what all of this will mean to the small one story building and the deli at 189 Smith Street. How long until it, too, will be sold and probably demolished.


This particular block was rezoned as part of the Carroll Gardens contextual rezoning and is zoned R6B with a commercial overlay and a 50 feet hight limit.

189 Smith Street

Just recently, the building at 195 Smith Street, also on the same block,  has gone through a rather sad re-muddle that left it void of any character. Sadly, it used to be identical to 193 Smith Street.
It is safe to say that Smith Street between Warren and Baltic will look very different very soon.

193 and 195 Smith Street in January 2014

The façade at Number 195 Smith Street was altered just recently.

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The Sad Remuddling Of 195 Smith Street, Former Home Of Robin Des Bois

The Former Robin Des Bois at 195 Smith Street back in 2011

Construction Work begins in 2012

Construction continues in May 2013

Still Sisters: 193 and 195 Smith Street in  January 2014

Reconfiguration of inside walls.

Notice metal studs across windows.

195 Smith Street as it looks now

 

Many in the neighborhood will remember Robin Des Bois, one of the "pioneers of Smith Street French bistrodom".  The beloved bar/restaurant called it quits in late 2011.  Since then, the vacated storefront at 195 Smith Street has been empty and the building which housed it had been undergoing a bizarre transformation.

In 2012, it looked as though a brick oven pizza place was going to move in, but that never happened, By September of that year, the NYC Department Of Buildings approved a permit for a horizontal enlargement at rear to change the three-story, two family building with commercial space to a "four family with commercial space. Shortly afterwards, a crew began excavating the backyard. Day after day, workers dumped wheel barrow after wheel barrow of dirt into a dumpster. By November, the NYC Department of Buildings Emergency response team issued a violation for work without a permit.

Eventually, it was lifted and work progressed slowly.

Then earlier this year, a reader commented that it seemed strange that metal studs had been installed in the middle of the windows, suggesting that the inside of the building was being reconfigured in a way that would make it necessary to redo the façade.

Sure enough, a few days later, a scaffolding and netting went up and work on the front of the building began.

Well, the scaffolding just came down to reveal a very changed building.

Gone is the cornice, gone are the old beige bricks and the detail around the windows.

195 Smith Street looked exactly like its sister building next door at number 193.  Now it just looks like an ugly brick box.

It makes me rather sad.

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What's Up With The Smith Street Building That Once Housed Robin Des Bois?

Something quite strange is going on with the Smith Street building that once housed Robin Des Bois.
A year after the once popular French bistro called it quits in late 2011, it appeared that a brick  oven pizza joint would take its place at 195 Smith Street.
In September 2012, the NYC Department Of Buildings approved a permit for a horizontal enlargement at rear to change the three-story, two family building with commercial space to a "four family with commercial space."

Shortly afterwards, a crew began excavating the  backyard.  Day after day, workers dumped wheel barrel after wheel barrel of dirt into a dumpster.  By November, the  NYC Department of Buildings Emergency response team issued a violation for work without a permit. Apparently, the proper permits for structural and underpinning work had not yet been obtained.
Several other violations that were issued in early 2013 were dismissed.

Excavation of back yard in late 2012

Work continued all throughout the spring, but rather than to enlarge the building in the rear, it would appear that the roof, rear and side wall of the building have been slowly dismantled.

Rather than working on the extension, it looks as though everything but the front façade are still intact. It all looks rather precarious.

The construction (or rather de-construction) has stopped of late.   Several 311 calls seem to have been made to express concern about the structural stability of the building and to report that the gutting had damaged the side wall of number 193 Smith Street. but so far, DOB does not seem concerned and has dismissed the complaints.

Not sure about you, but for the time being, I'll walk on the opposite side of the street.




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Former Robin Des Bois On Smith Street To Become Brick Oven Pizza Place

Many in the neighborhood still miss "Robin Des Bois",  the french bistro and wine bar with a fun eclectic decor and a much-loved back yard at 195 Smith Street.  The eatery opened in a former shoe store a few years ago and quickly became a favorite on restaurant row, before closing in December 2011. In the last few months, the storefront and the apartments above it have been undergoing renovation.  Just a few days ago, a sign went up indicating that the retail space will soon become a brick oven pizza place.
A quick glance inside shows that there is still lots of work to do before a grand opening.
It's a bit disappointing that the space won't be used for something more along the lines of 'Robin.'
There are already quite a few pizza places on Smith Street.




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