EAST VILLAGE — The East Village Tavern abruptly shuttered its doors over the weekend, citing a disagreement with its controversial landlord.
The tavern had failed to consistently pay its rent over the past year, according to a representative of landlord Steve Croman's realty company, and owed more than $78,000 in delayed payments at the time it was ousted.
The pub at 158 Avenue C served up its last beer Sunday night, according to the bar's Facebook page, where the impending closure was announced on Friday evening.
The post cited a "disagreement" with its landlord, identified in property records as Steve Croman, who's been hit with unrelated charges for allegedly ousting rent-stabilized tenants using harassment tactics.
"It is with a heavy heart that we regret to announce that do to a disagreement with our landlord, the East Village Tavern will closing this weekend," read the Friday post. "Please stop by and see us for one last drink or bite to eat this weekend. After Sunday night it will be no more."
Croman, who is currently facing up to 25 years in prison for a bevy of alleged schemes involving lying about his rental income to secure millions in bank loans, is facing separate charges from the Attorney General's office over tenant harassment.
A city marshal on Monday repossessed the property on the landlord's behalf, according to a notice posted to the storefront's door.
Representatives of the East Village Tavern did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokeswoman for 9300 Realty, Croman's real estate company, stated the landlord was forced to oust the tavern when it failed to pay up more than $78,000 in rent payments over the last year.
“We are sad to see a long standing tenant close its doors, but unfortunately the business has been unable to consistently pay its rent in the last 12 months," said a spokeswoman for 9300 Realty.
"We have made several attempts to strike a deal to settle the debt however given there has been no effort to make payment on the more than $78,000 that is owed, we were forced to part ways with our tenant.”
