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New operators take over Hell's Kitchen's 'Ritas as city runs pre-permit inspection

New operators take over Hell's Kitchen's 'Ritas as city runs pre-permit inspection

Money Moves New York, NY local

The Mexican restaurant at 756 Ninth Avenue now runs as 'Rita's' under Singh and Muhs, with a city food permit decision still pending.

October 7th, 2026: Review describes restaurant serving at 756 Ninth Avenue

Overview

Updated Oct 11

Hell's Kitchen's 'Ritas at 756 Ninth Avenue is now trading as 'Rita's,' run by Avi Singh and David Muhs, the pair behind Same Same Wine Bar. The restaurant's website and a review note from October confirm the switch; the exact day wasn't reported.

Singh and Muhs filed community board plans to keep the Mexican spot largely the same, with 29 table seats and 13 bar seats. The city's Department of Health recorded a pre-permit inspection on October 6; its decision on the new operators' food service permit is still pending.

Why it matters

New operators plan to keep 'Ritas' Hell's Kitchen menu and name intact; the city's permit review determines how smoothly the changeover goes.

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Key Indicators

Rita's
New operating name
The restaurant now trades as 'Rita's' under Singh and Muhs, per its website and a review note.

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People Involved

Avi Singh
Avi Singh
Co-operator of Same Same Wine Bar; incoming operator of 'Ritas
Operating 'Ritas (now trading as 'Rita's') with David Muhs; the pair also filed plans to take over B Side and A Side pizza bars
DM
David Muhs
Co-operator of Same Same Wine Bar; incoming operator of 'Ritas
Operating 'Ritas (now trading as 'Rita's') with Avi Singh; the pair also filed plans to take over B Side and A Side pizza bars

Organizations Involved

Same Same Wine Bar
Same Same Wine Bar
Wine bar
Anchor of Singh and Muhs' Hell's Kitchen expansion

Hell's Kitchen wine bar opened by Singh and Muhs in the former Monkey Thief space.
'Ritas
'Ritas
Mexican restaurant
Operating as 'Rita's' under Singh and Muhs

Mexican restaurant at 756 Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen, offering nachos, tacos, enchiladas, churros and dulce de leche; now trades as 'Rita's' under new operators.
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Municipal regulatory agency
Conducts pre-permit inspections and issues food service permits

The city agency that inspects food service establishments and issues food service permits.

Timeline

June 2024 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 7th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Review describes restaurant serving at 756 Ninth Avenue

    Latest Coverage

    A review feature describes 'ritas at 756 9th Avenue as a going concern for Broadway crowds, with frozen margaritas and Mexican fare, backing the restaurant's continued operation during the handover.

  2. Pre-permit inspection filed for 'Ritas

    Inspection

    NYC Department of Health records a pre-permit inspection at 756 Ninth Avenue, ahead of a food service permit for the incoming operators.

  3. Restaurant trading as 'Rita's' under new operators

    Ownership Change

    The restaurant at 756 Ninth Avenue now runs as 'Rita's' under the Singh-Muhs team, per the restaurant's website and a review note dated October 2026. The exact day of the handover wasn't reported.

  4. 'Ritas last inspected

    Inspection

    City records show 'Ritas at 756 Ninth Avenue was last inspected on this date.

Scenarios

1

City issues food permit; 'Ritas stays open under new operators

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: What Now New York's reporting on the takeover; the city's public inspection data.

The pre-permit inspection clears and the Department of Health issues a food service permit to the incoming operators at 756 Ninth Avenue. 'Ritas continues serving with its menu, name and hours largely unchanged, as Singh and Muhs planned.

2

Inspection flags issues; permit delayed

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: The pre-permit inspection process can require follow-up; the DOH data portal tracks outcomes.

The October 6 inspection records violations the operators must fix before the permit is issued. A follow-up inspection is scheduled, delaying the permit and possibly the change of hands.

3

Takeover falls through; 'Ritas stays or closes

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Neighborhood restaurant takeovers can collapse before closing; community board filings are not binding.

The deal between Singh, Muhs and 'Ritas' current owners falls apart. 'Ritas either stays with its existing operators or closes, and the pre-permit inspection becomes moot.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October (year not specified)

Same Same Wine Bar takes over Monkey Thief space (October)

Avi Singh and David Muhs opened Same Same Wine Bar in the former Monkey Thief space on Ninth Avenue, converting an existing Hell's Kitchen restaurant into their own wine bar concept.

Then

The wine bar launched and anchored the pair's neighborhood expansion.

Now

It set Singh and Muhs' pattern of taking over existing spaces rather than building from scratch.

Why this matters now

The same playbook is now being applied to 'Ritas, which the pair plans to keep largely unchanged.

Reported 2026

Singh and Muhs take over B Side and A Side pizza bars (reported)

The pair filed plans to take over B Side Pizza Bar and A Side Pizza & Pasta Bar in Hell's Kitchen, as part of a cluster of concepts W42ST reported on West 51st Street.

Then

The takeovers put the pair in control of multiple neighborhood spots.

Now

They reveal a cluster-acquisition strategy across Hell's Kitchen.

Why this matters now

'Ritas is one of several existing restaurants changing hands under the same operators.

Sources

(5)
NYC Open Data / Department of Health and Mental Hygiene What Now New York The Infatuation Rita's HK NY Matinee