Two empty Second Avenue lots where the buildings were razed by the Spring 2015 gas line explosion were sold by their owner (who faces manslaughter charges for said explosion) for $9.15 million. [NY Post]
On the Lower East Side, 104 subsided apartments in the forthcoming Essex Crossing development received 93K-plus applications. [DNA Info]
The Pearl Theater Company, formerly of St. Mark’s Place, has filed for bankruptcy. [NY Times]
Following a nine-month hiatus, the 18-foot-tall Vladimir Lenin statue has been reinstalled at 178 Norfolk Street. [EV Grieve]
Elizabeth Street’s Egg Shop has spun off a second outpost, will replaces Cherry Izakaya on N. 8th Street in Williamsburg. [Gothamist]
Smorgasburg SoHo and the East Village’s Martina—a new pizza establishment from the team behind Marta— made a “most anticipated restaurant openings of the summer” round-up. [Eater NY]
Alphabet City’s first Starbucks will open near the intersection of St. Mark’s Place and Avenue A. [EV Grieve]
Read a history of nine-decade-old Strand Book Store in the East Village. [Gothamist]