Now Closed: Baluchi’s

The 5th Avenue location of the Indian restaurant mini-chain Baluchi’s has closed, and it looks like, as is an increasingly common story in our area, higher rent was to blame.

Blauchi’s, which has four other locations around the city, has closed its space at 310 5th Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, and we’ve heard that their lease was up, and the increase in rent was too much to justify staying.

In recent years, this outpost had experienced some difficulties. It was closed briefly in 2013 by the Department of Health for racking up several critical violations, and once not long before that in 2012. Still, it regularly got good reviews on Yelp, and their backyard was a nice draw.

It doesn’t appear the space has been listed for rent just yet, but we’ll keep an eye on it.