In recent days two local businesses have closed suddenly — one because of a fire and one for unclear reasons.
Ollie’s Noodle Shop on 67th Street and Broadway closed after a fire on January 3 sent smoke billowing throughout the neighborhood and forced the Apple store next door to close down too. What initially looked like a temporary closure is now permanent, with a sign on the restaurant door telling customers to head over to Ollie’s newest location, a Chinese-Japanese spot called Hiro Sushi @ Ollie’s on 68th street and Freedom Place. The Ollie’s on 67th had been around for at least 15 years, but had struggled after being found in violation of labor laws in 2010 and later filing for bankruptcy protection.
Rookie USA, a kids’ sporting goods store at 808 Columbus Avenue (99th street), closed suddenly over the weekend. The 7,000-square-foot store just opened in August and had been holding all sorts of special events, even getting Carmelo Anthony and other athletes to come out out to promote the brands it sold. But over the weekend, we heard from a reader that it was closed and no one was picking up the phone. The store confirmed the closure today on its Facebook page, saying it was temporary: “An update from Rookie-USA. We have temporarily closed our NY Columbus Avenue location– keep your eyes peeled for NEW Rookie locations and a website launching soon! We are taking the store and brand to AMAZING new levels! We will keep you up to date with all that is happening with our store!”
Update: We received this from Rookie USA: “We have closed the location so that we can focus on expanding the Rookie brand and open up more convenient shopping locations. There is a plan in place to expand rookie, and we will continue to grow both state-side and internationally. Please assure readers that this is only temporary – and Rookie will be returning soon in a big way. We will keep all up to date on New locations TBD.”
The company didn’t answer our follow-up questions.
I liked that Ollie’s since they splurged on decor items without adopting upscale prices. I was there the last night they were open, and had randomly ended up there again the next night to find them closed, so I discovered a new place with quite good soup dumplings: Canteen 82 on Columbus/82nd, also a real restaurant.
I BELIEVE I PREDICTED THAT ROOKIE USA WOULD NOT LAST IN AUGUST……3. BILL says:
August 22, 2012 at 10:46 am
wont last
Rookie USA was open for about 6 weeks. Wow!
That’s a shame it was literally the only independent store in the chain mall that is Columbus Square. I never understood how opening up across the street from Modells made sense for them.
Ollie’s lease was up at the end of this month anyway and they were due to close at the 67th street location. They had already advised their staff of the closing back in December. Another restaurant should open at the same location with a few months.