The Second Street Cafe on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope is toast. The eatery, which had been open for a decade and had done a top-to-bottom renovation last summer, has locked its doors and papered up the windows. GL can exclusively confirm the news that they have gone out of business. A tipster emails to say:
I got confirmation today from Two Boots up the block that 2nd Street is out of business. This means that this block of Seventh Avenue is now bound by out of business restaurants – Tempo Presto on the southwest corner and 2nd Street Cafe on the northeast corner. In the middle of the block is the now vacant store that used to house Seventh Avenue Books, with Park Slope Books a few doors away scheduled to close in March. I’ve also attached a photo of the 2nd Street Cafe this afternoon.
The 2nd Street Cafe had undergone renovations this summer. When it reopened, it was a bit more upscale than previously.
Last week, we posted about all the vacant storefronts between Second and Third Streets on Seventh Avenue. Add the empty space that was Maggie Moo’s a few paces to the north of 2nd Street Cafe and the now shutter Inaka Sushi a block and a half away, and one suddenly has a surprising number of empty storefronts on Seventh Avenue. As for the corner of Second Street and Seventh Avenue, we’re certain there will be many laments of this popular spot for moms with kids and just about everyone in the neighborhood. We hope it is not replaced with something horrendous.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Matt // Jan 27, 2008 at 7:57 am
Whaaa? That place was always packed on the weekends. If they can’t afford rents on 7th Ave, how can anyone?
2 angela // Jan 27, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I. Am. Dumbfounded. I’m so sad.
They were always filled- I went for breakfast or lunch during the week practically every day recently! There is NOWHERE to go on 7th avenue.
3 Anonymous // Jan 27, 2008 at 8:30 pm
The reason for their renovation? To move the front door off 7th Avenue and down the street just enough feet away from PS321 in order to get a license to sell booze. I never liked the place. Once I found a hair cooked into my burger and when I told the wait staff about it she asked if I was sure it wasn’t mine. Never went back.
4 Anonymous // Jan 28, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Empty storefronts: bad. 2nd Street Cafe brunch: also bad. Changing the menu and atmosphere might have spared the place from the mediocre restaurant overload on 7th Avenue. A victim of its own making?
5 Anonymous // Jan 28, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This was one of the worst restaurants I’ve ever been in – period. The place was more like a bad day care center. My only concern is that the parents and the screaming kids will now be invading more civilized dining spots. At least with 2nd St Cafe, they were quarantined.
6 Anonymous // Jan 29, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Food was just horrible.
Still, 7th Avenue is in trouble. The closed storefronts are no good.
Concerted effort needs to be made to revitalize 7th Ave as a community destination.
Widening the sidewalks by five feet on each side would be a good start. You could use the extra sidewalk space for benches and other amenities. Restaurants could put out tables.
Additionaly, curbside parking rates need to be completely revamped and meters need to be put back on Sundays. Make the curbside work better for customer parking and deliveries. 7th Ave. shouldn’t be a daytime parking lot for residents.
7 Anonymous // Feb 1, 2008 at 3:20 pm
i went here once a few years ago. and when i noticed the ceasar salad was iceburg lettuce with mayo on it… i said “never again.”
8 e.a. hanks // Feb 1, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Oh, fuck the world. If they put in a Vitamin Shoppe, god help us all.
9 Anonymous // Feb 5, 2008 at 7:09 am
The fact of the matter is restaurants cost a lot of money to run and the rents on 7th Ave are not sustainable. 2nd st was fine. It’s a shame it’s gone. They had good eggs benedict.
10 Anonymous // Feb 9, 2008 at 6:45 pm
The Sunday night $9 burger and a beer special will be missed. Hair and all.