Second Ave San Loco
The Second Avenue San Loco taco joint supplied my first meal in the East Village, 23 years ago. I ate those crunchy tacos on my fire escape after a long day of moving in. Back then, it was across Second Avenue, a hole in the wall bedecked in yellow and red.
The place was always full of customers. On its last night, it was packed. And now it's gone. The rent was too damn high.
In the plastic-covered windows, the owners have posted an "I Love NY" sign. The neon lights are dark.
I talked to co-owner Jill Hing last year about San Loco's struggles. She told me:
"There are many factors that contribute to our struggle to survive--and the noose definitely keeps tightening. Our customer base has been mostly squeezed out of this neighborhood as a consequence of hyper-gentrification. Rent is a constant source of stress. In our case, as with many long-standing businesses, we are at the mercy of the landlord and live in fear of our next rent renewal."
That fear has come true. As it does every day for many long-lived small businesses in New York City.
The last--as good as the first
For other San Loco locations, click here.
The place was always full of customers. On its last night, it was packed. And now it's gone. The rent was too damn high.
In the plastic-covered windows, the owners have posted an "I Love NY" sign. The neon lights are dark.
I talked to co-owner Jill Hing last year about San Loco's struggles. She told me:
"There are many factors that contribute to our struggle to survive--and the noose definitely keeps tightening. Our customer base has been mostly squeezed out of this neighborhood as a consequence of hyper-gentrification. Rent is a constant source of stress. In our case, as with many long-standing businesses, we are at the mercy of the landlord and live in fear of our next rent renewal."
That fear has come true. As it does every day for many long-lived small businesses in New York City.
The last--as good as the first
For other San Loco locations, click here.
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