Without Nightlife, 141 Chrystie Street Again Shopped for Buyers

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141 Chrystie Street has been dormant for over a year already. The hex of nightlife at this former law office was too great to overcome. Indeed, the revolving door of clubs is likely concluded, with sale and redevelopment on the way.

First, a refresher of recent history.

Proprietor Ming Cheung (aka Fay’s Restaurant & Bar Inc) spent years trying to make nightlife work here, from the early days of Mystique and Chrystie 141 to the laughable moments of Bobby’s, Red Heels, and LES Sports Bar. All bars were apparently under the same ownership … and equally short-lived. Even a run of million-dollar listings to sell the business didn’t pan out.

Then Donal Nguyen – who also owns The Boil next door – briefly considered a concept here. Work permits were filed around this time last year under his name to renovate the bi-level bar and “modify” the kitchen. Nguyen was reportedly planning to sublet from Cheung and applied to Community Board 3 for booze, but the application was withdrawn around the same time that the Department of Buildings issued a stop-work order. Plans fizzled.

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Sources in the know tell us that that the recent movement inside the building (e.g. daily sawing and other clamor) is indication anew that 141 Chrystie is again ready for sale (and future development). You’ll recall that the property was previously hawked as a development opportunity worth $13.5 million. Nothing happened at the time. Apparently, there was an issue with evicting the leaseholder behind the aforementioned string of clubs due to a default.

The issues with tenant occupancy were sorted in the interim, though. Indeed, there is a City Marshal’s seizure notice taped to the front door, dated December 30. So, expect a changing of the guard real soon, as in the coming months.