By Jefferson Siegel
For decades mavens sank their teeth into the succulent pastrami on rye sandwiches that made the 2nd Ave. Deli famous. Now all those alter kockers can come back to the corner of E. 10th St. to have those rye bread seeds cleaned from their teeth.
According to Vincent Sheehan of the commercial real estate firm NYSPACE, Vital Dent, a dental services franchise, is on the verge of signing a contract for part of the space where chopped liver and half sours once reigned.
Sheehan said the former restaurant space would be split. A “food tenant” would occupy the corner space. Sheehan didn’t know the name but said they had several other outlets but that it was not a franchise. Vital Dent would occupy the space facing Second Ave. as well as the basement.
A contract “is almost done,” Sheehan said on Tuesday, “but the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.” Asked how soon gelt might change hands, Sheehan said of the fat lady, “She’s approaching the stage.”
Architect Raymond Bennett of Bennett Design Group said there was one design issue holding up the contract, but he expected the issue to be quickly resolved. If work begins, nothing of the interior or facade will remain. Asked about the Yiddish Hall of Fame stars embedded in the street, Sheehan didn’t know their fate, saying, “The stars weren’t mentioned in the negotiations.”
If, as expected, a contract is signed next week, Sheehan and Bennett estimated the new dental facility would open in late September.
Vital Dent, with 190 locations worldwide, including Spain, Portugal and Italy, has been making inroads in the United States the past few years. It provides general and cosmetic dental services.
Sheehan has participated in 12 other lease signings for Vital Dent in Manhattan and Queens in the past year and said he is working on another 10 leases for locations in the outer boroughs and New Jersey.
