Japadog’s American dream is dead, at least for now. The Vancouver-based Japanese hot dog restaurant and food cart chain opened its first U.S. outlet at 30 St. Mark’s Place in January 2012.
The restaurant in the East Village was reportedly an early success, but it closed on the evening of February 28. The signage to the restaurant has already been removed:
Before
Image: Real Estate News NYC
After
Image: Real Estate News NYC
The space it occupied has also been listed on Craigslist.
Description
***Exclusive Listing by Exit Realty Landmark***
Newly renovated restaurant with full basement. Vented both on the grand floor and basement. 9 ft ceiling.
No Key Money.
W & B in place
New 10 Yr Lease available.
1500 sqft, same basement
Wide Front approx 20 ft
3 seasons of outdoor seatingSt. Marks Place, located at heart of East Village. Amazing foot traffic.
According to comments on East Village Grieve, Japadog’s New York expansion fate was sealed due to the arrival of Papaya King, which is a cheaper yet equally delicious option for those looking for gourmet hot dogs in the neighbourhood.
There is no word yet if the company plans on relocating to another spot in New York.
Meanwhile in Vancouver, the Japadog restaurant on Robson Street is still doing great, with lineups leading out the door during peak hours. Japadog has also expanded its menu for some of its food cart locations after the recent purchase of new, larger food cart vehicles.
New Yorkers take to Twitter on Japadog’s closing
AWW MAN. I really liked that place RT @devourNYC Japadog on St,Marks place has closed down
— Chris Crash (@ChrisCrash00) March 2, 2014
JAPADOG CLOSED MY FUCKING LIFE IS OVER — Michael Bae (@ModDelusion) March 2, 2014
@jennifer_chow21 @_blahblahblah I went to May’s the other day, and the Japadog sign is already gone, and it’s all boarded up 🙁 — Denise Chow (@denisechow) March 6, 2014
http://t.co/KxrFbP7ljZ OMG WHAT JAPADOG CLOSED?? NOOO
— burnable trash (@spacekase) March 2, 2014
@japadog any chance of opening another location in NYC?
— Cindy B. (@cindybrz) March 6, 2014
Mad I never had japadog — AreJay Porzio (@AreJayWho) March 6, 2014
OH MY GOD JAPADOG JUST CLOSED DOWN — SagarBall’s Dead. (@Sagarball821) March 2, 2014
WAHHHH WE ARE LOSING JAPADOG http://t.co/T0Z61xLX1C
— No EMi Only Zuul (@uglymachine) March 3, 2014
new yorkers you are all fired for not keeping japadog open. http://t.co/kQMRBuu6Wf
— molly yeh (@mollyyeh) March 3, 2014
Not surprised, was empty on #NY trip MT: @supervancouver #Vancouver‘s #Japadog just closed their New York restaurant http://t.co/Z12HK3r8t7 — Carmen PL Cheung (@carmenplcheung) March 3, 2014
Japadog closed?! Nooooooo — Chris Zranchev (@ChrisZranchev) March 3, 2014
NYC Japadog closed: http://t.co/MhWIBaLSWy You fools!
— Samuel Wade (@samuel_wade) March 3, 2014
Popular food spot @Japadog has closed on #StMark‘sPlace … #EastVillage http://t.co/xrLwYBdaJa — James Nelson (@JamesNelsonMKRS) March 4, 2014
I just found out that #JapaDog closed on St. Mark’s. This is the 2nd closing of a store in NYC that really upsets me. Sad emoticons. — Elisabeth Parke (@LeParkette) March 4, 2014
Omg… Japadog on St. Mark’s is closed for good?! Whyyy?!?
— Jhanell Directo (@jhadirectz) March 4, 2014
So Japadog has closed for good? I coulda used one more of those green tea ice cream dog things lmao.
— jenny (@jennymangopie) March 4, 2014
JAPADOG CLOSED DOWN, WHAT — Rachel Siu (@raychelsiu) March 4, 2014
THEY CLOSED JAPADOG DONT TALK TO ME RIGHT NOW — Rachel Adler (@hatchcomic) March 4, 2014
nooooo japadog is closed for good! i never even got to try it ;O;
— jiaface (@tsunderes) March 4, 2014
Japadog in St. Marks closed. OMFG. OHMYFUCKINGGOD
— Cynthia Isabella ™ (@cynthiasaysyo) March 5, 2014
JAPADOG CLOSED. TRAGEDY.
— Katie Lee Grosskopf (@seekatiedraw) March 5, 2014
NOOOOOOO JAPADOG CLOSED MY LIFE IS OVER
— ☆ﾟ*･｡ﾟSandra ｡ﾟ･☆ﾟ*. (@ChasetheRabbits) March 5, 2014
Image/Source: EV Grieve Japadog New York