(Photo: Daniel Maurer)
Anyone who thinks East Village grit vanished when Mars Bar closed has probably never walked a block over to The Cock, the equally ramshackle and (judging by the horrified Yelp reviews) even more rambunctious dive. But could that seedy throwback be leaving Second Avenue as well?
Community Board 3’s calendar of October meetings indicates that the gay bar is applying for a liquor license at 25 Avenue B. It’s uncertain whether that would be a new location or a relocation (we haven’t yet been able to reach the bar), but with all of the recent changes at the base of Second Avenue (the ominous closing of the BP station across the street being just the latest), we’d put our rolled up dollar bills on the latter.
Though the block between East Second and Third Streets has, for some time, been an eyesore of construction, it’s actually looking pretty slick now that Exile Professional Gym has opened and the last of the plywood has come off of Ben Shaoul’s incoming residential building at 31-33 Second Avenue.
25 Avenue B is home to Idle Hands Bar, in case you’re wondering. Since that’s a two-level affair, it’s possible The Cock would take just the basement or the top floor, if this is happening at all. (We’re thinking the basement is more this place’s style). We haven’t been able to reach Idle Hands, nor have we been able to reach the landlord of The Cock’s current building. We’ll let you know if they respond to our messages.
Of course, this wouldn’t be The Cock’s first move. Its original location on 12th and Avenue A, which opened alllll the way back in 1998, is now Au Za’atar.