The family behind long-running East Village favorite Cafe Mogador is getting ready to add another hangout to St. Mark’s Place, with plans for a new bar called Matbucha just down the block. A recent liquor-license filing pegs 126 St. Mark’s Place for the project and describes a drinks-first, small-plates setup that would sit near Mogador and give the block one more casual spot, if the application clears local review.
According to What Now, a representative for Matbucha has submitted a liquor license application to Manhattan Community Board 3 listing the 126 St. Mark’s storefront and outlining the bar’s concept, though it does not include an opening date. The report notes that the space previously housed a neighborhood bar and that the owners are moving ahead with planning while the community board looks over the paperwork.
Where Matbucha Will Sit
The 126 St. Mark’s Place address has a long history as a neighborhood watering hole, and local listings have identified East Village Social at that number in past years. Gothamist and other guides have pointed to that stretch as one of several compact, late-night spots that help give St. Mark’s its after-hours character.
A Family Business Expands
Cafe Mogador was founded by Rivka Orlin in 1983 and has remained a family-run operation ever since, according to the restaurant’s own history. Cafe Mogador notes decades of service on St. Mark’s Place, while EV Grieve has documented how Rivka’s relatives, including Danny Orlin and cousin Jacob Ahiyon, have taken on much of the day-to-day work running the cafes in recent years.
Owner's Vision
Rivka told Manhattan Community Board 3 that Matbucha is meant to be “a place where we can meet friends, people from all ages can sit, have a nice meze, a nice drink that I’ll be preparing,” according to What Now. The idea is a relaxed, convivial small-plates bar that complements Mogador’s busy brunch and dinner traffic rather than competing with it.
What Happens Next
The liquor-license request for Matbucha will move through Manhattan Community Board 3’s SLA & DCA Licensing process before heading to the State Liquor Authority for any final sign-off. Manhattan Community Board 3 posts committee agendas and meeting videos where neighbors can track any public hearings tied to the application.
Matbucha has not announced an opening date yet. For now, community board agendas and any future word from the owners will be the clearest clues for when the new St. Mark’s bar might finally open its doors.
