Nish Nush, the hugely popular Mediterranean vegetarian on the corner of Church and Reade, has closed. This has been the site of a proposed building since plans were filed last April, but I think none of us were prepared for the end of this Tribeca staple. (Thanks to L. and R. for sending the marshal’s notice taking possession and photos.)

Their online ordering system is now dead. I’ve had no luck trying to reach them — even last April when this news first broke; I hope they are looking for another Tribeca location — otherwise this is a huge loss.

“I was still processing the heartbreaking news about Madeline at Duane Park Patisserie (still), when I walked by Nish Nush to discover they’ve been closed!” R. wrote. “It’s a lot to take in over the course of a week, and both of these closures will have a real impact on me and others in the neighborhood.”

The Department of Buildings has unapproved permits filed on May 10 for an eight story, 82-foot residential building with 24,680 square feet total. (Oddly there is also a permit for a walk-in freezer filed in March.) The excavation will not go deeper than 12 feet, according to the permits. The DOB notes say there are still objections on that application. The drawing below is a massing study for a slightly taller building proposed in 2025.

The current two-story building, 88-90 Reade (aka 176 Church), was built in 1953 and is in the Tribeca South Historic District, but clearly was not a player in the designation (see below). The site is 50 x 60 feet. A mortgage was last taken on the site in 2011 for $3.5 million.

Nish Nush opened in 2012 and was a go-to spot even on its first day. (That space used to have Mike’s Papaya.) Owner Eyal Hen also has the restaurant 19 Cleveland in Nolita.

There is a piece of history here: From 1773 to 1802, the lot (which extended about 30 feet further east prior to the construction of the IND subway line in 1928-30) was set aside by Trinity Church as a burial grounds for its African-American parishioners.

From the historic designation report:
The building was designed by M.E. Ungarleider and constructed in 1952-53 for Reade Street Associates Inc. Faced in glazed orange brick, the second story has large bays of windows with multipane sash. The first-story storefronts are replacements. The present building replaced two five-story store and loft buildings constructed in 1860-61 for the firm of Harral, Risley & Kitchen, druggists.