#152 west 49th street

[notesonnewyork]

One to Watch

While meandering past 152 West 49th Street the other day, I was startled to find Iroha, Sapporo, and Saki Bar Hagi all shuttered. Discarded fixtures and empty booths nodded off behind the wobbly window gates. Many years ago, I often dined in these places with a friend I had hoped would be more than ephemeral. Hagi, in particular, was a basement refuge suffused with something palpable from “old New York.” I could never put my finger on what it was though.

Back in January, the manager of Iroha told grubstreet.com that “We’re closing because the building hasn’t been able to be repaired for 40 years, and there are structural issues we are no longer able to ignore.” Fair enough. And in the past two weeks, the Department of Buildings (DOB) has issued work permits that support that assessment. One authorizes a renovation to the commercial space on the first floor, a second allows an upgrade to the apartment units on the five floors above, and a third enables crews to repair a structural joist below apartment 2F. 

But, as always, I’ve learned to be suspicious of these things. In the past 18 years, the DOB hasn’t written a single structural violation for the building. In fact, the only active violation against 152 West 49th Street is for the condition of its elevator; or, in others words, it’s been on the fritz since 2016. As a resident complained to the DOB as recently as three months ago (on November 9, 2017):

The elevator has been out since Sunday and there are 6 floors in this building. Three people have been stuck in the elevator since November and the Fire Department had to come three times for people in the elevator.

So, did the building owner oust the restaurants to upgrade the property or initiate some other ambition? Before the DOB approved those work permits the past two weeks, a resident registered this complaint on January 22, 2018:

They have been gutting out apartments and breaking walls without permits. When I asked about the permit he told me that everything is fine and [they’re] working on the permit and they don’t have it yet. 

When the DOB investigated the concern on February 16th, however, it didn’t find any “construction work in progress in apartment #6B at the time of inspection.” But, with the planned improvements to come, will the people who presently live in the building’s 30 apartments be forced to move? Moreover, is the 87-year-old structure just being prepped for a future demolition?

Given the major real estate deals happening on this square block of the city lately, I wouldn’t be surprised. 

Jack Cohen’s Comjem Associates purchased 152 West 49th Street for $30 million in 2014. Additionally, the firm picked up the address behind it--163-165 West 48th Street--for $19 million. It also bought 167 West 48th Street next door for $8.25 million in 2013 and 721 7th Avenue--aka 169-171 West 48th Street--next to that for $22.9 million in 2009. All in all, an $80.15 million investment. Each of these addresses connect to form an L shape between 48th and 49th Streets, so Comjem could potentially merge the lots, bulldoze what’s there now, and erect something more massive with all the unused development rights. Perhaps little restaurants like Iroha, Sapporo, and Saki Bar Hagi didn’t fit into the plan. We shall see.

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(Photo by Riff Chorusriff. View of 152 West 49th Street and the sign on the door of Saki Bar Hagi. February 15, 2018.)

[tissipropaganda]

Woman killed by falling façade at Himmel + Meringoff’s 729 Seventh

A 60-year-old woman on Tuesday was struck and killed by a piece of façade that fell off a building near 49th Street and Seventh Avenue. Police said in a statement that around 10:45 a.m. they received a report of an unresponsive woman with head trauma near 152 West 49th Street. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The Department of Buildings said its engineers were at the site to inspect the structure of 729

Source: https://therealdeal.com/2019/12/17/woman-killed-by-falling-facade-at-himmel-meringoffs-729-seventh/

[johnsimon]

Location: 152 West 49th Street, New York, NY

Cuisine: Japanese (Ramen)

Cost: $$$

Overall: A minimalist dining experience, they only serve one dish executed expertly. The ideal restaurant for introverts seeking a night out or anyone in need of some solitude and delicious ramen.

In our youth, we enjoyed ramen as a quick snack or cheap meal, with little regard to its origins. For us, ramen has evolved from plastic-wrapped noodles and foil packets of flavor into a true culinary experience. As adults, with more sophisticated palates, we’ve come to appreciate this humble dish in its many forms. Though we still enjoy the occasional instant ramen, these days, we’ve made it more authentic by adding veggies, meats, and soft boiled egg. While we thoroughly enjoy our homemade concoctions, nothing beats a meal prepared by a trained chef. We visited ICHIRAN NYC, one of the most talked about ramen restaurant, for a taste of Tonkotsu Ramen, a style celebrated for its richness and depth of flavor.

Fall 2016, ICHIRAN opened its first restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. Since then, the brand has expanded to include two additional Manhattan locations. Delicious ramen is only part of this chain’s appeal. Their unique service model is what attracts locals and tourists alike. ICHIRAN is one of the few restaurants in the city that offer semi-private dining. Partitions and separators allow ramen lovers to slurp and chomp peacefully away from prying eyes. The restaurant is laid out with rows of communal tables with wooden partitions separating each seat. Guests may dine alone or slide the partition to the side and enjoy the person next to them. In front of each seat are a bamboo screen and a call button. The wait staff works behind the screen taking orders directly from each customer. Orders are placed by filling out a menu of options; placing check marks on your choices, then pressing the call button to have the menu retrieved. The menu is simple, ICHIRAN only serves Tonkotsu, which is a pork bone broth ramen. The purpose of the menu is to allow diners to customize their ramen. Customization options include: removing ingredients, adding extra portions of ingredients and personalized levels of noodle firmness, saltiness, and spice. There two ways to approach building your bowl. You can start with the classic Tonkotsu adding each ingredient or have the “Recommended Set” which includes everything they offer. Since this was our first visit we went with the Recommended Set, for the most authentic experience.

A few moments after placing our order the bamboo curtain lifted and we were presented with a plate of dried seaweed, pork slices, scallions, and a soft boiled egg. Shortly after the additional ingredients were presented we finally got steaming bowls of ramen. The broth is dotted with a bright red dollop of spicy red sauce which we incorporated into the soup adds an abundance of fiery flavor. The broth is delicious and rich with a soothing mouthfeel. The fresh house-made noodles were just short of al dente and perfect for slurping.

We ended our meal with a bowl of matcha pudding. Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves that are often mixed with hot water for a stimulating tea. The pudding has a delicious green tea flavor with a slight sweetness. The texture is a combination of gelatinous and creamy, similar to a basic flan. A tasty treat to end our dinner. All in all, it was an enjoyable meal from start to finish.

Dining at ICHIRAN is a welcome departure from the usual loud and often frantic restaurant scene, especially in Time Square. The entire process is remarkably fast, from seating to eating it was about 15 minutes total. Dining here is an alluring opportunity to enjoy a solo meal, prepared for your unique specifications. Though there are cheaper ramen bowls to be had, ICHIRAN offers a unique atmosphere and fast service. Best of all, they are a cashless establishment that doesn’t allow tipping! Indulge your introvert tendencies and treat yourself to a good meal, without the threat of forced human contact.

Head over to ichiranusa.com for more information.

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Restaurant Review: ICHIRAN @ICHIRANNY #food #foodie #foodporn #eeeeeats #ramen Location: 152 West 49th Street, New York, NY Cuisine: Japanese (Ramen) Cost: $$$ Overall: A minimalist dining experience, they only serve one dish executed expertly.