Back in late January, I noticed construction underway on my block at Avenue B between 11th and 12th--directly across the street from Panificio, which opened last week--and learned that a cafe was to open, "in early February." Well, a few months later, it looks like a cafe called De Nova is finally getting ready to open its doors fairly soon. The above sign (left) appeared several weeks ago, but after a graffiti writer quickly put the kibosh on that plan, the sign disappeared, then reappeared covered in some kind of plastic sheath that's presumably resistant to Posca markers and such.

The space, formerly home to the Furniture Place (which moved to Great Jones Street after my landlord raised the rent, also forcing out vintage shop Suzette Sundae), is larger than it looks, but it's unclear whether De Nova will be a coffee shop-style cafe posing as a restaurant that serves three squares a day, or whether it'll be more like a real restaurant with a coffee bar. I suspect they don't have a liquor license and won't be able to get one, so I'd say it's looking like the former. I walk by at least twice a day, so unless my rent is next on the hit list, I expect to know as soon as De Nova opens.