2) Meatpacking: A tipster snapped this photo of the restaurant going in to the former Florent space on Gansevoort Street. In May, Eater reported that the space was to be reopened as 69 Gansevoort Cafe, a 24 hour diner similar to its precursor, minus the long bar and the asbestos. The tipster confirms: "Looks like they didn't really keep much... unless they are going to put the bar back in. They pretty much gutted it... hope that asbestos is gone now." [PLYWOOD]

3) Midtown East: A PR rep informs us that Five Guys Burgers and Fries secured a lease for a 1,700 square foot space at 690 Third Avenue (between 43rd and 44th Streets). This is the fourth Manhattan location for the national chain, which has over 400 locations around the country. Expect more to come, as the release says the company has "plans for aggressive growth into 2010". [PLYWOOD]

4) Lower Manhattan: Hotel manager Christophe Scherman has purchased the rights to open outposts of the Vapiano restaurant chain in New York City and is planning a first location in lower Manhattan. The Italian casual dining chain has been expanding across Europe and the U.S. with 55 locations in 16 countries, with additions recently accounced in Houston, Chicago and Atlanta. [PLYWOOD]

5) Chelsea: Yesterday, Down by the Hipster reported that Matt Shendell of The Paige Restaurant Group ( The Hill, Axe Lounge at Dune, Garden of Ono) will be reopening The Event Space at West 26th Street as a new restaurant. Shendell says his new venture, a "brunch/happy hour lounge" will be called Ainsworth. [PLYWOOD]

6) Cobble Hill: Blackbook reports that Mile End, "an homage to Montreal in the guise of a casual, neighborhood eatery", will be opening in Brooklyn this September. Owner Noah Bernamoff says the twenty seater will focus on emblematic Montreal foods, including bagels, poutine, and smoked meat. [PLYWOOD]

7) Carrol Gardens: Brunch Anytime writes: "I just got word that a second edition of Eton, the dumpling and shaved ice place on Sackett and Henry, called Eton II, will be moving into the empty space behind Zaytoons on Sackett and Smith that was briefly the hookah bar, Sheesha. Look for it by the end of the month." [PLYWOOD]<

8) East Village: When an Eater staffer phoned Lesly Bernard's long delayed Permanent Brunch to find out about an opening date, we were told "we have one in mind. We don't need the press right now". The employee we spoke with then restated, "we're not ready to give out a date". Grub Street had previously predicted the spot would be "heading into soft opening mode very soon". [PLYWOOD]

9) Midtown West: Midtown Lunch reports that a second location of tonkatsu restaurant Katsuhama is expected to be up and running by the end of the month in the former Onigashmia space on 55th Street between 5th and 6th. The Katsuhama will be connected to noodle house Menchanko Tei; both are owned by Japanese company Matsuya Foods. [PLYWOOD]

10) Williamsburg: A reader informs us that Bakeri, a new cafe in the former St. Helen Cafe space at Wythe Avenue and North 7th Street, looks like it is almost ready to open: "looks really inviting, warm and cute. They are putting the finishing touches on it". [PLYWOOD]

11) East Village: EVGrieve reports that work has begun on the new outpost of the improvisational theater Upright Citizen's Brigade. The location at Avenue A and 3rd Street merged two shuttered businesses, a Two Boots Pizza and a video nook. [PLYWOOD]

12) West Village: A tipster sends in this photo of Zucca Trattoria, the new italian spot opening at 95 7th Ave. [PLYWOOD]

13) East Village: EVGrieve says that a new bubble tea shop, ThirsTea, is coming to east 10th Street just west of Avenue A. [PLYWOOD]

14) Park Slope: Brownstoner writes that a new coffee shop from the people behind South Slope Cafe Regular will be opening next week in the shuttered Zuzu's Petals. [PLYWOOD]
—Leah Herman