kind-regards

Cake Shop space is now fancy cocktail bar Kind Regards

152 Ludlow St, the space that was home to beloved indie rock venue Cake Shop for more than 10 years (and closed New Year’s Day), is now Kind Regards which opened last weekend. Nick Bodor, who ran Cake Shop with his brother Andy, is part owner of the new bar and lounge. From DNA Info:

Kind Regards quietly opened its doors over the weekend at the 152 Ludlow St. space, revealing a modern design with white and bright pink accents and scattered greenery, and an accompanying menu of $15 craft cocktails heavy on fruity and citrus-infused drinks.

The new operation signals a sharp departure from the spot’s previous tenant of more than a decade, noted Nick Bodor, who ran Cake Shop with his brother Andy and is now part-owner and manager of Kind Regards.

That departure was intentional, he said. After years of struggling to stay afloat against the tide of rising rent and operating costs, it became necessary to scrap the old model and create something that could be profitable in the ever-changing Lower East Side.

“[Cake Shop] was this really beloved place that didn’t make enough money…with this, I think I’ve earned a right to make some money,” said Bodor, adding the decision to shutter the venue was tough but necessary.

“I’d rather feed my kid,” he said.

Kind Regards hopes to have performances in the downstairs space, comedy nights and readings according to the DNA Info article, and maybe some music too. “Maybe stripped-down performances, but not full-on rock seven days a week in a sweaty basement,” said Bodor.

Nick and his brother Andy, meanwhile, are looking to open another music venue in Brooklyn.