Allan Dabrio Marrero released from ICE custody, reunited with husband at Middle Church on 7th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Allan Dabrio Marrero stood beside his husband, Matthew, inside Middle Collegiate Church this afternoon, thanking him for "not allowing me to give up on myself" during an emotional homecoming after nearly five months in ICE detention.

"I want to thank my husband Matthew for not allowing me to give up on myself — thank you, I love you," Allan told the audience.

Allan had been detained on Nov. 24, 2025, during a routine green card interview at 26 Federal Plaza.

According to media accounts, the couple learned there that a removal order had been issued for Allan in 2022, based on a notice he missed while he was between addresses. The Department of Homeland Security said the order stemmed from his overstaying a tourist visa years earlier. 

But Allan, who is from the Cayman Islands, had already begun an asylum process before that visa expired. He and Matthew have been married for 10 years. Marrero, who has no criminal record, was held at five facilities over the past six months, including the infamous "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida. 

His case drew support from advocates and local organizations, including Middle Collegiate Church, where the two are parishioners here on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

In January, a judge granted Allan release on bond, but he remained in ICE custody for months afterward.

"ICE refused to accept the bond payment," Alexandra Rizio, supervising immigration attorney for Make the Road New York, said today. "Despite the judge's order, he was not released." 

"They purposely, I feel, do that to you for the fact of mentally trying to break you down into signing a self-deportation," Allen said. "'Alligator Alcatraz' was by far the worst." 

Today's press conference featured Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister of Middle Collegiate (below), and other local elected officials.

Said Williams: "Allan Dabrio Marrero is free — and it was so moving to welcome him home. But it's bittersweet. It shouldn't take around-the-clock work to keep one of our neighbors from being jailed illegally. We're going to use this pain to free others and prevent wrongful detention in the first place."

In an Instagram post, Lewis wrote: "Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we fight with love."

Two Boots Pizza is moving — but staying in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Two Boots Pizza will soon have a new home in the East Village.

Owner Phil Hartman said the decades-spanning pizzeria is relocating from its longtime home on the corner of Avenue A and Third Street due to a rent increase he said he can't make work. 

This will be the pizzeria's last month in this space, with a final day expected by the end of May. UPDATED: The last day is now May 29.

"The landlord rejected our final offer this past Friday," Hartman said. "We are moving." 

Hartman said he is eyeing a couple of other East Village storefronts but did not disclose locations. 

"We will still be in the neighborhood," he said. "We will build something great. We're going to build a pizzeria together."

He added that both potential spaces would include beer and wine service, and that he's hoping for community input as plans take shape. 

Hartman noted he has a cordial relationship with the landlord, but the numbers ultimately didn't add up after lease negotiations stalled. 

"Emotions are high," he said, adding that he's trying to adapt as best he can. 

Two Boots — named for the shapes of Italy and Louisiana — got its start in the East Village in 1987, when Hartman, Doris Kornish and developer John Touhey opened the original outpost at 37 Avenue A. A slice shop later opened across the street before moving to the current corner location. 

Known for its Cajun-Italian mashups and offbeat slice names, Two Boots has long been a staple of the neighborhood's pizza scene, with additional locations opening in NYC and beyond over the years. 

Hartman said elements of the current space — including the artwork and mosaics — will move with the pizzeria. The counter is expected to be preserved for a future "Two Boots Museum."

He also expressed particular attachment to the painted windows, which will be recreated in the new space. 

The Avenue A and Third Street space also once housed the Two Boots video store, Den of Cin and the Pioneer Theater, known for its eclectic indie programming. 

A lot of East Village history packed into one corner.

Openings: Taqueria Emilio 4 on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Taqueria Emilio has officially arrived on Avenue B. 

The fourth outpost of the family-owned quick-serve taco shop opened over the weekend at 168 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street, marked by a festive ribbon-cutting backed by a mariachi band.

Below are owners Delfina Saldivar, Emilio Alvarado, and their daughter Emily Alvarado, plus staffers, aka "the team."

Early reports from readers who stopped by: the tacos are excellent. (Here's a menu via DoorDash.) 

Taqueria Emilio got its start in Inwood, later expanding to the Bronx and Brooklyn before landing in the East Village. 

The menu features a range of tacos and platters, including a house specialty dubbed "La Famosa Ruleta" — a $55 wheel of 15 tacos with a choice of three meats (chicken, chorizo, al pastor, etc.), plus sodas. 

There are several dining tables inside the space.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.

Woman unharmed after reported domestic hostage situation on 8th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A woman is safe following a reported domestic hostage situation late this afternoon on Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

There was a large NYPD presence on the block, with multiple officers — including members of the Hostage Negotiation Team — responding, along with drones and an inflatable safety cushion set up on the blocked-off street.

NYPD officials said police were responding to an emotionally disturbed man. They described the incident as domestic in nature, initially reported as a hostage situation.

Authorities said they were using multiple resources as the situation unfolded. Sources said the man was armed with knives, and he was distraught following the death of his mother. There were no reported injuries to the man's wife. 

The NYPD eventually removed the man from the barricaded apartment around 7:45 p.m. He was seen strapped to a gurney and taken to an ambulance. It was not immediately known what charges he may face.

Editor's note: The man's face has been blurred in the photos out of respect for privacy.

Sal’s Deli & Grocery reopens on 13th and B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Sal's Deli & Grocery reopened today on the NW corner of 13th Street and Avenue B following the April 25 shooting that claimed the life of employee Abdul Saleh. 

Family members expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of community support in recent days.

The memorial for Saleh, which continues to be maintained, has been moved to the 13th Street side of the deli.

The NYPD confirmed last week that 28-year-old Kavone Horton, who lives a block from the scene, has been charged in the shooting. 

According to police and media accounts, an argument that began inside the deli spilled onto the street, where Saleh was shot. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Candlelight vigil on 13th and B honors slain deli worker Abdul Saleh 

• 'Justice for Abdul': Advocates push for protections for bodega workers 

• 'He looked out for absolutely everyone here': Friends and neighbors discuss slain deli worker Abdul Saleh

Remembering a familiar presence on Broadway and Astor Place

Photos by William Klayer 

There's a growing memorial on the newsstand outside 740 Broadway at Astor Place. Dave, the longtime proprietor here, recently passed away.

Flowers, candles and notes have been left in his memory at the stand where he greeted customers for years.

A worker at No. 740 said a service has already been held. One of the signs notes that Dave was born in 1956. 

A social media user posted this remembrance on Instagram: 

I must have bought a few hundred packs of Trident peppermint from David over the last 26 years. His newsstand sat directly outside 740 Broadway ... He'd say hi even if I wasn't buying gum. He smiled, he nodded. I smiled and nodded back ... This tribute to him, to his presence, his language (French), his smile, moved me to tears. How I love New York.

Book Club Bar closing briefly for refresh as Bushwick location opens

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy 

It's a quick refresh for Book Club Bar on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B — a closure starting today for a few weeks of repairs and sprucing up, timed with the opening of a second location in Bushwick, which debuted on Troutman Street Saturday. 

Co-owners and managers Erin Neary and Nat Esten gave me the rundown on the bookstore and cafe that debuted here in November 2019. 

So, what can we expect with the renovation on Third Street? 

Nat: The main highlight is a literal and figurative fresh coat of paint. 

Erin: We're taking advantage of the fact that we had our second store opening this past weekend. We're moving our staff over there. They're going to be working in Bushwick temporarily, taking advantage of the time to do some repairs and maintenance, and also just kind of freshen up the look. 

We've had six years of heavy foot traffic. We're very lucky. Lots of people in the door and just a lot of wear and tear. So some things need sprucing up. 

Nat: It's been whack-a-mole fixing when things are always breaking. And this is a rare opportunity to kind of fix everything, or as much as we can. 

We're expecting to reopen before the Memorial Day weekend, so we'll have just under three weeks to get everything done. And our landlord's been really cool and cooperative, and they've understood the goals here.

In terms of aesthetics, is anything to change? 

Nat: We're going back and forth on the paint color. Out in Bushwick, we've really committed to a darkish green at the space. It's a lot of green, and because we both like to keep it consistent, we might mess around with it? But yeah, I think we're going to change the colors here a bit. 

Erin: Yes, change the colors, add some new tables in the front. We're going to do some new signage and spruce up the bathrooms, which isn't really fun, but it's necessary. 

We're going to add tiles and better drainage behind the bar, along with some waterproofing. And the front of the bar will be dark-stained wood. 

Also, in terms of book sales, we've paused book pickups here for the month. We're still doing shipping. And anyone who has special-ordered a book that's due to arrive in the coming weeks, we will contact them and offer complimentary shipping. We'll get it to them, they just won't have access to come pick it up for a few weeks … unless they want to come to Bushwick! 

Nat: We're going to have all the same functionality in Bushwick. 

Erin: So, it's one website that'll show the stock at both locations. So, one of the two stores will hopefully have the book. 

How will the Bushwick space be different from the East Village one? 

Nat: We want to make it as similar as possible. It's a slightly larger space. The layout is a bit different. But it is comparable in how many people can comfortably fit for an event or how many people can sit in it on an average day. 

Erin: There's space for a few more bookshelves, so the book inventory will be slightly bigger. 

Nat: In the beginning, we're starting with the same exact drink menu and very similar book inventory, and then we're going to learn what the customers like and probably diverge a bit, but the goal is to keep it as similar as possible. 

Erin: We have a fair number of people who travel from Bushwick to visit this store. So we know many people in the neighborhood are already familiar with us, which is nice. 

Hopefully, some of these East Village people visit us out there, too, when they're out there. And it's a neighborhood without a general bookstore. There are a few other smaller specialty or used bookstores that we love and have been in contact with, but we want to do something a bit different.

Are there plans for additional expansion after this? 

Nat: No. [laughs] No plans. It's been a year since we announced this. Actually, over a year ago, we announced that it was "coming soon." And the red tape has been big… But we're very happy now, and we love the space. We couldn't love the location more. So, yeah, in the end, it'll all be worth it!

Openings: Singapore Social NYC on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Singapore Social NYC had its grand opening at 15 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street on Saturday. 

As we first reported, the restaurant focuses on dishes rooted in Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cooking. (Find the menu here.) 

The photos here are from the soft opening the other week...

Hours: 5-10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The space was previously home to Roberta's spin-off Foul Witch, which closed after service on Nov. 30 after nearly three years. 

Roberta's co-founders, Brandon Hoy and chef Carlo Mirarchi, opened Foul Witch here in January 2023. 

The restaurant's Singapore-based team helped Roberta's Pizza expand in Asia and Europe.

As the chain stores turn on Astor Place

An EVG reader shared word that the Pret A Manger has closed on Astor Place...

This is the latest chain to throw in the town on the block between Lafayette and Broadway. The former Sweetgreen space remains vacant after the salad bowlery shuttered last summer.

A Hampton Chutney is at 2 Astor Place, a space that has seen some recent churn, including Felix Roasting Co. and Blue Bottle. 

Oh, and the high-profile Starbucks space is still vacant after a July 2024 shutter. 

While the Raising Cane's and Juice Generation seem to be doing well... there are plenty of vacanies in what is considered a high-traffic corridor. 

Anyway, not every chain is sticking around for the long haul here.

Double Zero returns to 2nd Avenue

Double Zero is back on Second Avenue. 

Citing strong customer demand, a rep told EVG that the vegan pizza spot has reopened at 65 Second Ave. at Fourth Street. Consultant chef Matthew Kenney has also returned. 

As previously reported, Double Zero and Bar Verde merged in early 2025 to form Plant Made, which served a mix of vegan pizzas and Mexican fare. 

Now, Double Zero is once again operating under its original name in the storefront next to its original space. 

The northern storefront at No. 65 is now available for rent. It likely suffered some damage during the fatal fire upstairs in February 2025.

May 3

As seen in the Stuytown bulk drop off on 14th and A... a suspiciously healthy-looking Christmas tree. 

Thanks to @theapiltzecker for the photo!

Week In Grieview

Post this past week included (with an FDNY lunch break in Tompkins by Jose Garcia)...

Never miss an EVG post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here. 

• 'He looked out for absolutely everyone here': Friends and neighbors discuss slain deli worker Abdul Saleh (April 28) … Candlelight vigil on 13th and B honors Abdul Saleh (May 1) 

• A 3rd Street staple, Rossy's Bakery & Café, closes after 16 years (April 27)

• Report: Rushed shelter shift tied to death, raises questions about East Village Intake plan (April 29) 

• Former St. Brigid School on 7th and B hits the market as a development site (April 28) 

• One spring day (April 30)

• Former Chris French Cleaners lot awaits its condoplex (April 29) 

• Remembering Wayne, who made friends on every walk (April 27) 

• Opening night of the Lower East Side Film Festival (May 2) 

• Coming attractions (aka, signage alert): The East Village is getting a Regina's Grocery & Deli (April 30) 

• Lower East Side History Month returns with a full slate of events (May 1) 

• Ramones at 50 (April 24) 

• Café Chrystie expands next door with new bar space (May 1) 

• Blank Street is leaving 149 Avenue A (April 27)

• Fire Escape debuts on Avenue A (April 30) 

• Reader mail: What is that smell in Tompkins Square Park? (April 30) 

• People went nuts for the Nuts Factory opening on 3rd Avenue (April 30) 

• Table Mercato bringing "Boston's best sandwich" to 10th Street (April 29) 

• Step right up: A game show experience is coming to the Bowery (April 29) 

• That Maybach moment on 11th Street, explained (May 2) 

• Signage alert: Olio e Più on 3rd Avenue (April 27) … Art Laboratory Wine Bar at 40 Avenue B (April 27) 

• 6 posts from April (April 30) 

... and CJ Tattoo has decamped from Fourth and C for a new space in Greenpoint ... gone, too, is the Love Zakka Mini Mart that shared the storefront ... (photo by Stacie Joy)...

We'll always have the Gap on St. Mark's Place

This past week, EVG reader Jacob Ford noted that workers removed the anti-tagging defense system from outside the incoming Sephora on St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue. 

And, lickety split, someone slapped another Gap logo out front. 

Meanwhile, a few weeks back, reporter Tom Ryan (a longtime EV resident) wrote a piece for RetailWire titled, "Is Sephora a Threat to the East Village?" 

Read the piece here. (Oh, and EVG is quoted.)

An East Village 'Then and Now' conversation tonight at Book Club Bar

As we recently mentioned, longtime East Village photographer Daniel Root has a new book out this month: "The East Village Then and Now: Capturing the Changing Streets" (Abbeville Press). 

The book pairs Root's photos of the Lower East Side and East Village from the early/mid-1980s with images of the same (or similar) locations today.

Tonight at 7 is the last event for the book, taking place at Book Club Bar, 197 E. Third St., between Avenues A and B. It will be a slideshow and chat with musician Eric Ambel, who owned the Lakeside Lounge (RIP 2012) on Avenue B. 

Reserve a free spot here.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Artist Butterfly Mush at the Flower Shop show at Art Bodega/CLLCT space on Third Street and Avenue B...

‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’ pop-up art show this weekend on 8th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

There's a pop-up group art show just this weekend now through Thursday at 304 E. Eighth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C titled "April Showers Bring May Flowers." 

The show features work by Tajo McBurnie, Allan Majano, Rory Hayatgheybi, Connor O'Neill and Liam Snyder. 

Below is Snyder...

... and Hayatgheybi...

The show is open until 8 tonight... and 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. every day until and including May 7.

May Day with the Rude Mechanical Orchestra

Photos by Stacie Joy 

From May Day yesterday... a set by the Rude Mechanical Orchestra in Tompkins Square Park, followed by a through-the-streets march to Sara D. Roosevelt Park on the LES...