Seen & Heard: Stella Is Moving

••• Stella is moving to 184 Duane early in 2012. Says owner Mischelle Arcus: “We are extremely excited about the new store and our neighbors at Laughing Man! They serve the best flat whites outside of New Zealand (and of course Australia).” The new Stella shop will include some seating for the café.

••• I saw something online (yet to be verified) that Tribeca Tap House is opening Wednesday. Click that link and you can make your way to the menu.

••• Remember the post about the Blues Bar? Ron Gwynne, story consultant on The Blues Brothers, commented: “The original Holland Tunnel Blues bar was indeed at Hudson (282) and Dominick. It was halfway between our loft on Chambers and John’s place north of there, and it had been closed for some time. The place was owned by Jimmy Woods, a restaurateur who ran the New York Boat Yard at 81st and 2nd Ave. We cleaned it up and used it to park our bike in it. (In fact the parking for the bike on Chambers was more that the cost of the bar rent.) We used the pay phone (still there) outside as our office phone. Our opening party was when the Grateful Dead played on SNL. Tom Davis was a friend/fan of the Dead and he was able to entice them to play on SNL. Keith Richards and Margot Kidder were our bartenders. We had a motto of “Never open, always closed.” We never charged anything for drinks. Heinekin on draft was available and guests donated libations many times. The jukebox was free. On many occasions we let people use it to rehearse or to entertain. Williams Burroughs, Allman Bros., Levon Helm and Keith Richards used it over time. When the landlord took it back, John and Dan bought the other bar and used it for similar purposes although it was never the same as the original Holland Tunnel Blues Bar. We had many great times there and John once said that John Lennon knew of our club and had told him he liked the idea of a place for musicians to hang out without any pressures.”

••• Agatha Ruiz de la Prada is closed for renovations—six months after opening. “One mirror wall was still missing,” says manager Linda Brun. “We’ll be back open in a day or two.”

 

7 Comments

  1. Open Table isn’t accepting reservations for Tribeca Taphouse until Weds. which would seem to confirm your information that that is the opening day.

  2. Erik – any idea what’s going to replace Stella on W Broadway?

  3. Tribeca Tap House menu not the casual pub grub menu I was expecting. $16 for Mac and Cheese?

  4. @Rachel T: The building is for sale, so it may not be anything until it’s sold

  5. Kerry: I was more shocked at the 13 for salad! Wow – wish them the best!

  6. I know, riiiiiight ladies? The Tribeca Tap House’s prices are outrageously…..similar to most other restaurants in Tribeca. I can’t believe you are even talking about mac & cheese when we “Tribecans, are obsessed with boutique fitness, juice cleanses, yoga pants, organic food.” it’s the only thing we care about other than our mutual hatred of nail salons and chain stores (sorry, TJ MAXX), not to mention other people’s children (OPC).