save Kate's Joint
Admittedly I don’t go there very often anymore (and partially because the service can be sooooooo slow), but I have eaten there many times in my life, and so I’m sad to hear that East Village vegan institution/diner Kate’s Joint is in danger of closing! (though it’s not that surprising given that everywhere cool closes eventually in the new East Village).
Luckily there’s a campaign running to Save Kate’s. They write:
Kate’s Joint, vegetarian restaurant and bar, has been a staple in New York City’s East Village since 1996. Solely owned and operated by neighborhood native Kate Halpern, who dreamt to create an affordable restaurant to serve the community she grew up in. Kate’s Joint has grown to become much more than just a business, it is a home for locals and travelers a like, a place to bring family and friends, and to meet new ones.
Unfortunately, with the changing neighborhood and economic recession Kate’s Joint has seen a fall in business and rise in costs. Kate is currently in arrears with the landlord. Eviction notices have been sent, court appearances have been made, and if a substantial amount of money is not raised by April 11th, the next court date, the doors will shut permanently at Kate’s Joint. The East Village will lose another neighborhood landmark.
Anyone who has ever met Kate knows how hard she has worked over the past 15 years, and how dedicated she is to this business. She has many plans to increase business, including transforming a section of the restaurant in to a bakery featuring vegan and gluten free baked goods, reaching a new market of morning commuters who would be able to grab a cup of coffee and a vegan muffin on their way to work. That being said, first thing is first, fighting off this eviction!
Please help save Kate’s Joint, a little bit of the East Village preserved on the corner of 4th Street and Avenue B.
If you’re reading this on Wednesday (3/28) between the hours of 7pm-midnight, then immediately drop everything and head over there now because they’re having a party, sort of (or just go tomorrow, or soon).
