New businesses, including an interactive art studio, are popping up on the Upper West Side as a few others close.
The Paint Place, an art studio hosting classes for people of all ages, just opened at 243 West 72nd street the former home of BI Rosenhaus and Sons Carpets, which moved to Columbus between 87th and 88th. Their motto is “Arts That Rocks the Soul.” The owners are pictured above.
Cure Urgent Care, a new walk-in medical center is set to open on August 1 at 2689 Broadway between 102nd and 103rd street. There are quite a few of these centers opening up in that area, including one expected to open in the former Rite Aid on 104th and Broadway. amNY interviewed Dr. Jake Deutsche, the founder and clinic director. “There is a huge need for these services,” he says. “As Obamacare connects more people with access to healthcare, a lot of hospitals are going to be burdened with a large volume of new patients.”
A sign has been advertising a closing sale for months at La-di-da, a jewelry and accessories store on Broadway between 88th and 89th, but the final days are now upon us. Owner Sema Timurhan sent us the following message:
“A final rent hike forced me to make this very difficult decision earlier this year. Since then, with love and support and encouragement of my loyal customers and vendors, I tried all I can to find a way to stay in business and stay in our beautiful neighborhood. I also tried so hard to stay open at my existing location as long as possible.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a way for my little store to survive any longer.
Like all other small business owners, I build and kept my business with love and hard work. It is very sad to except that it came to an end. It is extremely difficult to say goodbye.
Our last day is July 29th. I’d love and so appreciate if you spread the news of our “Final days Sale”. I always kept a big inventory and I still have a large and wonderful selection of Hats jewelry, scarves, gifts and more.. All 40% to 80% off. I hope all my neighbors would take advantage of this major sale.”
Brokers are marketing the space on Columbus between 70th and 71st street that is now occupied by boutique clothing store Teddy. Thanks to Emily Baer for the tip.
A card shop and stationery store is also closing on Broadway between 89th and 90th, Robin tells us.
My building in Chelsea is getting renovated fully and we just got letters that we will not be removed or replaced and we will still pay the same rent where we are now. I have that letter all locked up and will save it because it is a gauenteed promis that we stay in Chelsea area.
When the community board turns the UWS into a retirement community, merely the supply of vintage jewelry goes up with nary a professional customer to be found, especially since the silly landmarked artificial housing shortage means there is little excess income for most people to spend around here after housing and certainly the destruction of night life here alienates any downtown professionals from hanging out around here, and in fact drains the area in the evening in favor of hanging out downtown. Welcome to busy body paradise, citizens.
Lots of professionals (and non-professionals) all over NYC, in all boroughs and neighborhoods. Theoretically, all kinds of opportunities to explore and hang out in different neighborhoods. That is part of what made NYC special.
As for the UWS, the percentage of older people on the UWS is declining (it is not a “retirement” community.) And actually, it is the older people here who represent the last authentic aspects of the UWS…
I’m not opposed to “downtown professionals” hanging out on the UWS, but as a husband and father of three school-aged children, economically, the UWS has thrived on the income of families like mine, rather than single downtown professionals. We dine out, get my shirts laundered, get stuff for the kids, go to movies (four adults now, with two kids over 13; and only one child ticket), etc. Families like mine are the economic engine of the UWS. Yet the neighborhood doesn’t support us with indy-owned stores like many residents prefer. Amsterdam Avenue between 79th and 86th has plenty of nighttime action, by the way. Good for downtown folks, but the rest of the UWS is increasingly vapid.
we need a form of commercial rent control… as famed restauranteur Danny Meyer suggested in a NY Times Op-Ed. London has it (a commercial rent arbitration panel).
I am concerned about my shoe repair guy, my favorite pizza place (Sal and Carmines), my supermarket, my hardware store… as soon as the lease comes up, these stores are gone.
Five Lamps Tavern on 105th and Broadway is closed from what appears to be health violations. According to their sign, it’s temporary. Anyone know what actually happened?
Yes, is there sort of zoning rule that could keep independently operated stores safe? I feel like there should be a limit of some sort. Is this something that can be discussed/mandated? Because all that happens when greedy landloards up their rent is that local businesses suffer and make way for more of the same boring stuff.
As far as the NikfromNYC comment, my husband and I are professionals and used to live downtown, but find life a bit easier up here. Not sure what you’re on about in your rambling note, but I don’t think the UWS would ever compare to downtown as far as nightlife – nor should it. It’s a different kind of neighborhood. Since plenty more people like us are moving here I guess that’s not anyone’s top priority.
Renee, the great Councilwoman (and later Boro President) from the Upper West Side, Ruth Messinger, was prescient on this issue in the 1980s when she represented the district, and pushed for Commercial Rent Regulation. It never passed.
Danny Meyer, the famous restauranteur, recently had an op-ed in the Times decrying quickly rising commercial rents, and the negative impact these have on neighborhoods. i will link to it below. He endorsed a form of commercial rent reguklation, which they have in London. It is called the Rent Assessment Panel.
We need something like this.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/opinion/danny-meyers-union-square-cafe-is-a-casualty-of-rising-rents.html
I think Danny Meyer is telling half the story, which should not be surprising.
Why should his neighborhood’s landlords go out of pocket to support his business, if Danny Meyer’s not willing to do the same for his own neighbors? USC’s dinner appetizers are $15 and entrees easily hit the mid $30s. A slice of pie is $11. To what degree should he lead by example and take a few bucks less in order to serve a broader class of neighbors? To what extent should the city regulate his retail prices to ensure that this occurs? I’m not sure that these questions are very different than the issue that he raises.
Agreed! I guess I’m technically a “young professional” (single, early 30s, own a small business) and I choose to live on the UWS precisely because it is, as you say, a different kind of neighborhood. I would much rather be surrounded by families and dog walkers and low-key neighborhood cafes than by any kind of “nightlife.” (And as Howard pointed out, there is plenty of that along Amsterdam. I spent a year living on 80th and Amsterdam and ended up moving because of the excessive frat party noise from Bourbon Street and other bars on those couple of blocks.) It’s easy enough to take advantage of nightlife in other parts of the city–I have no desire to live in the middle of it!
The last thing New York City needs is more government interference via more rent controls.
All controls should be eliminated. Residential ended on vacancy and no inheriting.
The City needs to stop overtaxing property owners and allow new construction at an excellerated rate to try and meet demand.
so you do realize that residential property is taxed at a very low rate in NYC? although Bloomberg raised property taxes, they are still very low for condo, coop, and home owners.
residential property tax rates are subsidized by the large commercial property tax base.
I refuse to engage you and your tunnel vision.
However, yes single family homes are taxed at a very low basis – a concession to home owners in queens and staten island.
multifamily apartment buildings , as well as co-ops and condos are taxed at a much higher rate. approximately 1/3 of the gross income for a rental building is paid to the city in taxes. Some condos and co-ops are able to subsidize their own expenses with income from commercial rents – if they own the commercial units.
However this is a posting on the opening and closing of retail businesses in the area – not a forum for your political agenda.
… yes, it’s only a forum for YOUR political agenda.
I can assure you that property taxes in Manhattan for individual condos are very low. I don’t know about residential rental buildings… the figure of “1/3 of the gross” seems very high. I will look into it.