While never short on bars, East Houston Street is beginning to move upstream and appeal to the velvet rope type. According to the New York Daily News, a collection of operators of some of the city’s most exclusive clubs and lounges are eyeing various sites on the East Village-Lower East Side border.
The Sutra Lounge and Lucky Cheng’s spaces, which are being marketed for sale, along First Avenue just north of Houston Street, are drawing interest from operators of Pink Elephant, Greenhouse, Hudson Terrace, Acme, 1 Oak and Electric Room, the News said. On Avenue A and East Houston Street the owner of Ella and Gallery Bar has taken over sports bar Nice Guy Eddie’s. Finally, EMM Group, which operates a handful of Meatpacking District spots, is opening a new concept on the Bowery just south of Houston Street. Paving the way for these new clubs is Jamie Mulholland‘s Five Nightclub, which will open shortly on Houston and Essex streets.
Picken Real Estate founder Alex Picken, who represents many nighttime spots, said the influx of younger people to the East Village and Lower East Side combined with the luxury condominiums rising on the Bowery have helped pushed the city’s upscale nightlife scene east. [NYDN]