Twenty-four hour East Village staple Punjabi Grocery & Deli is being threatened by some very invasive construction, which has put the beloved vegetarian haunt in danger of closing. The cabbie favorite has operated at 1st and 1st for 20 years but ongoing construction on Houston—East 1st and Houston are separated by a smallish median—has sucked the lifeblood out of the business, with cabbies unable to park and enter the store, reports Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.
To prevent what would be a huge loss for weary cabbies and hungry locals, a petition has been started to the Taxi & Limousine Commission to "arrange a taxi relief stand" nearby so cabbies won't fear being ticketed for parking in tenuous spots on the street. So far, the campaign has earned nearly 500 signatures and continues to grow. When completed, it will be delivered to TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi.
Save the samosas!
