Astoria's Greek community and a cheese-lovers everywhere had their eyes on the calendar, counting down until Titan Foods, a veritable Greek supermarket titan, was set to swing open its doors after a notable hiatus. This opening, however, is going to have to wait just a bit longer. In an Instagram story that likely caused many a shopping list to be put on hold, Titan Foods announced that "Due to an unexpected technical issue, the grand opening of Titan Foods has been rescheduled for Friday, August 1st," contradicting earlier reports that pegged the opening today. This postponement, as noted by The National Herald, ups the anticipation for patrons eager to peruse aisles lined with Mediterranean specialties.
The new 23-53 Steinway Street location, nestled at 23rd Road, is see as a "fresh start" for the storied Greek market. Anatoli (Anna) Mastoras, a driving force behind the brand's continuity, described the revamped venue to Eater as having a "different setup and a different design" compared to its previous incarnation. Mastoras, alongside her parents Kostas and Stavroula Mastoras, the original founders, continue to imprint their legacy on New York's culinary scene, also maintaining Titan Bakery in Deer Park for wholesale orders.
While Titan Foods readies its comeback, a couple of Hell’s Kitchen haunts have bid farewell. Bar Nine, a dueling-piano bar and a perpetual contender for the most lively night out in Hell’s Kitchen, has shuttered as of yesterday following an open-mic swan song. Noodie’s, a Thai establishment cherished for 11 years, will also say its goodbyes as its lease concludes by month's end. Rising business costs and the lingering effects of long COVID have been cited as contributing factors to these closures, as reported by the W42nd Street blogpost.
There's a glimmer, or rather, a honky tonk glint, for the New York music-bar scene. Lucinda Williams, formidable Grammy recipient, has christened the former Heaven Can Wait bar as Lucinda’s Honky Tonk + Juke Joint. It's a Southern-flavored escape complete with live tunes that'll have patrons toe-tapping every weekend. Between the wood-paneling and classic jukebox tunes, it's a crafted nod to nostalgia in the East Village, as described by Williams in partnership with Laura McCarthy and Kelley Swindall. The recently rebranded bar has rooted itself in a lineage of venues known for their vibrant musical offerings, thriving at 169 Avenue A between 10th and 11th streets.
