Site of Former Pommes Frites Location, Leveled in East Village Explosion, Sells for $6M

EAST VILLAGE, NY — The building leveled in a gas explosion in March 2015 which held Pommes Frites has sold for a reported $6 million.

City records show George Pasternak sold the building to 123 Second Avenue Corporation on Sept. 23. The Real Deal reported on Tuesday it was sold to Ezra Wibowo. Pasternak had owned the property since 1978. There's no word on what could be going up in the former location though it is zoned for both stores and residential.

The New York Post reported back in March the property was initially put up for sale for $9.7 million.

The building housed restaurant Pommes Frites and Sam's Deli and Grocery on the first floor with four floors of residences above it. The whole building was razed when an explosion occurred in the next-door basement of 121 Second Avenue. Maria Hrynenko, the owner of the building, and four contractors were arrested and charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after two people were killed in the explosion. Investigators allege Hrynenko and the contractors illegally installed gas lines in the building, which caused the explosion.

Pasternak only owned 123 Second Avenue, although 121 and 119 Second Avenue were also leveled.

Pommes Frites opened a new restaurant at 123 Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village this past spring.

Photo Credit: MusikAnimal via Wikimedia Commons