Big-Money Landlord Is Threatening to Evict Apollo Bagels Over ... Long Lines

Apollo Bagels has filed a suit in court this week to prevent its landlord from attempting to break its lease over the bagel shops’ long lines, according to the New York Post. The West Village location has taken several measures to mitigate lines, nevertheless, the landlord — Lloyd Goldman’s BLDG Management, which owns 300 properties around the U.S. — is threatening to evict them. Does an owner with stakes in World Trade Center developments really need to go after an independently owned bagel shop? (It’s not the first time the landlord has gone after the little guy, having pushed out an elderly woman against her will for her rent-stabilized apartment.)

Three’s a trend for Thai burgers

It began with Little Grenjai, which made a name for Thai-style smash burgers, out of its Bed-Stuy storefront. Then, Zaab Zaab, a Thai Elmhurst spot followed suit, opening a Thai burger stand in the Lower East Side’s Essex Street Market, drawing some criticism online for its similarity. Now, Tawan has opened with burgers with Thai holy basil sauce and sunny-side-up eggs. Currently, the storefront calls itself a pop-up, running from Sunday and Monday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 235 E. 53rd Street, and Second Avenue, in Midtown.

Milu is expanding again

Connie Chung, an Eleven Madison Park alum, opened Milu during the pandemic in Flatiron, making it on Eater New York’s Eater Awards list in 2021 for its modern, fast-causal Chinese bowls. This year, she expanded to Williamsburg before shutting down the Brooklyn storefront after just a few months. Now, Chung is back to double down on Manhattan: She has signed a lease in Brookfield Place, set to open next year, according to a spokesperson.

A Mexican tiki bar debuts on the LES

Retro tiki spot Vallarta Tropical opens today on the Lower East Side (106 Norfolk Street, at Delancey Street) from the group behind La Contenta — Rigoberto “Rigo” Cervantes, bartender Alex Valencia, and chef Manuel Quintero. Look for a menu of aquachiles (with mango or pineapple), tacos gobernator, tostada de tinga, chile relleno, and cocktails like Tiki Tepache, with rum from Jalisco, housemade tepache vinegar, Curaçao, and lime.