The Gourmet Garage on Broadway between 96th Street and 97th Street will close its doors, perhaps as soon as this month, according to three sources, including a company employee.
The food store’s lease was up, and the landlord apparently wanted to impose a hefty increase, one source said. Gourmet Garage still has five other New York City locations, including a store on 66th Street off of Amsterdam Avenue that also offers catering.
A Gourmet Garage employee also told one of our readers that the company has been worried about competition from a new Westside Market opening on Broadway between 97th Street and 98th Street.
Update: Gourmet Garage has confirmed that the store is closing at the end of the month. “Your information was correct, after 15 great years our lease is up at our W. 96th street location. Up until the last week we were still discussing some extra time with our landlord, but as of now we will be closing at the end of this month,” wrote Andy Arons of Gourmet Garage in an email to us.
For more recent Upper West Side openings and closings, click here.
I tried warning my former employees of this….luckily i got out last month!!
This is not surprising. I do feel awful for the employees. No one should be losing jobs, especially this time of year.
BUT – it’s not surprising. The store has a poor layout. Prices are high. And with Westside Market coming just a block north, it will pull a large chunk of the crowd (personally, I wish WM just took over the GG space as it’s closer to my apt and the subway station.)
Let’s hope some more local businesses do open up. Maybe something good in the old Antique store space on Broadway & 93rd?
Keeping the faith since ’88…
THE CHEESE SAMPLES WERE SUPERIOR TO EVERY OTHER FOOD STORE IN THE CITY. SORRY, FOLKS. ITS THE TRUTH
Not surprised.
Gourmet Garage is of of track quite long.
It is just a name only. They carry everything except gourmet products