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Read the press release here.

Diablo Royale Owner Opening French Restaurant in Long-Vacant Village Space

By Andrea Swalec | February 23, 2012 3:41pm
A French small plates restaurant will open at 131 Seventh Ave. South at West 10th Street, courtesy of Diablo Royale owner Jason Hennings.
A French small plates restaurant will open at 131 Seventh Ave. South at West 10th Street, courtesy of Diablo Royale owner Jason Hennings.
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DNAinfo/Andrea Swalec

GREENWICH VILLAGE — A long-vacant former pizzeria space on Seventh Avenue South will soon be home to a new French restaurant, its owner said this week.

The "French small plates" restaurant will open at 131 Seventh Ave. South, at West 10th Street, courtesy of Diablo Royale owner Jason Hennings, who revealed the plan to DNAinfo on a recent visit.

 The 650-square-foot space in the landmarked former home of Pizza Villa, which left in 2006, is slated to open in the next couple of months, the property's broker said.

Hennings, who declined to provide the name of the forthcoming restaurant or speak about its opening date, raised the ire of East Village residents in November over the renewal of a liquor license for his 167 Avenue A outpost of Mexican restaurant Diablo Royale Este, which locals complained was too loud.

A renewal of the eatery's liquor license is pending with the State Liquor Authority, according to public records.

Village residents also complained about noise at Diablo Royale's original location at 189 W. 10th St. when its liquor license was up for renewal in September 2009, according to Community Board 2 records. 

CB2 unanimously voted for a resolution encouraging the SLA to deny the restaurant's liquor license renewal application unless it agreed to keep its external doors closed at all times. The restaurateurs said they would "continue community outreach efforts," CB2 documents said.