What's Up With The Smith Street Building That Once Housed Robin Des Bois?

Something quite strange is going on with the Smith Street building that once housed Robin Des Bois.
A year after the once popular French bistro called it quits in late 2011, it appeared that a brick  oven pizza joint would take its place at 195 Smith Street.
In September 2012, the NYC Department Of Buildings approved a permit for a horizontal enlargement at rear to change the three-story, two family building with commercial space to a "four family with commercial space."

Shortly afterwards, a crew began excavating the  backyard.  Day after day, workers dumped wheel barrel after wheel barrel of dirt into a dumpster.  By November, the  NYC Department of Buildings Emergency response team issued a violation for work without a permit. Apparently, the proper permits for structural and underpinning work had not yet been obtained.
Several other violations that were issued in early 2013 were dismissed.

Excavation of back yard in late 2012

Work continued all throughout the spring, but rather than to enlarge the building in the rear, it would appear that the roof, rear and side wall of the building have been slowly dismantled.

Rather than working on the extension, it looks as though everything but the front façade are still intact. It all looks rather precarious.

The construction (or rather de-construction) has stopped of late.   Several 311 calls seem to have been made to express concern about the structural stability of the building and to report that the gutting had damaged the side wall of number 193 Smith Street. but so far, DOB does not seem concerned and has dismissed the complaints.

Not sure about you, but for the time being, I'll walk on the opposite side of the street.

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Former Robin Des Bois On Smith Street To Become Brick Oven Pizza Place

Many in the neighborhood still miss "Robin Des Bois",  the french bistro and wine bar with a fun eclectic decor and a much-loved back yard at 195 Smith Street.  The eatery opened in a former shoe store a few years ago and quickly became a favorite on restaurant row, before closing in December 2011. In the last few months, the storefront and the apartments above it have been undergoing renovation.  Just a few days ago, a sign went up indicating that the retail space will soon become a brick oven pizza place.
A quick glance inside shows that there is still lots of work to do before a grand opening.
It's a bit disappointing that the space won't be used for something more along the lines of 'Robin.'
There are already quite a few pizza places on Smith Street.

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'Robin Des Bois' Calls It Quits On Smith Street

About a month ago, my friend David tipped me off to the fact that Robin Des Bois at 195 Smith Street was going to close.  Today came confirmation from Reader W, who writes:

"It looks like Robin des Bois, which I believe was one of the pioneers of Smith Street French bistrodom, may have bitten the dust.  The contents, including all its previous-incarnation. quirky antique-store items, were being hauled out this afternoon, along with cases of wine and so forth.  Though the area no longer lacks for steak-frites-and-beaujolais kinds of places, Robin (a/k/a "zapatos para todos") was kind of special -- plenty of fondly remembered brunches in their garden and oysters in the darkened front room and world cup matches at the bar, tricolors waving.  Always saddening to see places like that go."

Sad indeed.  Robin Des Bois has been on Smith Street for quite a number of years.  Most of all,  I'll miss the Michelin Bibendum that was always standing up front and sometimes held up the rolling gate..  Glad I took a photo of it a few years back.

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