Casa Mezcal Announces End of January Closure After 15 Years in the LES
No word yet on what might come next at 86 Orchard.
Casa Mezcal has announced on Instagram they are officially shutting their doors on January 31st.
As usual, it was the rent that did them in. A 50% hike, to $45,000 a month, was unrealistic for the business to pay, said General Manager Jacqueline Piccini. Despite Casa Mezcal's best efforts, the landlord was unwilling to negotiate.
It may not be the end for Casa Mezcal, however. The staff is actively looking for a new space, preferably within the neighborhood. In the meantime, plans for popups around the city are in the works.
After 15 years in the Lower East Side, Casa Mezcal has itself become an institution for its pioneering of mezcal. It was the first mezcaleria (mezcal serving establishment) in the United States, long before the smoky tequila-like liquor became mainstream and a common sight on a bartender's shelf.
The three story space was previously home to Majestic, a lingerie boutique and remnant of the old Orchard St shopping district. No word yet on what might come next at 86 Orchard.
Pictured
Casa Mezcal
Majestic in 2009
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F437f2040-36af-4000-88e3-aa278e251de3_2320x1297.png)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5955d2dd-e4a1-4337-8411-cd67a63bca91_4500x4500.png)