Papaya King still AWOL on Upper East Side months after signing new lease

There’s still no sign of a supposedly reopened Papaya King on the Upper East Side.

The legendary hot dogs-and-tropical drinks stand, a favorite of Martha Stewart, closed at the corner of Third Avenue and East 86th Street early this year over issues that included alleged nonpayment of rent.

The owner said in April that he’d signed a new lease at 1535 Third Ave. across the street and would reopen there “in two weeks.” Some lazy media outlets even  reported that the new Papaya King was actually open.

But the space is dark and padlocked, to the frustration of fans who stop by the veterinary clinic next door to ask if they have any information.

“We get asked all the time,” a manager said. “But we don’t know a thing.”

Sweets are out, shades and shutters are in at 1011 Third Avenue at East 60th Street. Canadian-based interior products chain Blinds to Go just signed a lease to replace Dylan’s Candy Bar, which closed two years ago.

The 15-year deal is notable due to its size (more than 11,000 square feet on three levels) and prime corner location across the avenue from Bloomingdale’s. The asking rent on the 4,000 square-foot ground-floor portion was $250 per square foot.

Current Real Estate Advisors co-founder Adam Henick represented the tenant; Ripco’s Richard Skulnik repped the landlord, Olshan Properties.

Henick said, “Blinds to Go has  dozens of stores in the US, including in Brooklyn,  and were waiting patiently for the right opportunity for their Manhattan flagship.”

Skulnik commented, “Ownership was happy to lease the space to such a large corporation in the home business. We’re  going to finish leasing the remaining spaces in the building with this use category top of mind. We’d  love to see more tenants in the furniture/home furnishings business.”