The MidAtlantic E170s indeed had a closet and 72 seats instead of 76 because they were ordered by legacy US Airways. The closet was at the 1R door across from the galley, so it was deeper than the one that will be on the smaller L side. When Republic bought the aircraft they decided to use the closet for emergency equipment, not for passenger use.
The E190 is supposed to have another galley across from the one at 1R and a closet at 1L. Amateur West ordered them without the closet, G2 galley, and FC oven that other carriers have in G1 so they could stuff two extra FC seats in and have 99 total seats instead of the standard 97.
They must have finally realized a year in that it's not physically possible to cater 11 FC meals in a single half size cart, so they will probably stack catering items in the new closet instead of in the FC overhead bins and under passenger seats. Something big must have happened, it's surely not to make work easier for the crews or create a more civilized travel experience for the customer.
They are just putting something back on that was supposed to be there in the first place, but they tried to get away with not having. Usual story.