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HERE

OLD SAIGON GRILL UNDER RENOVATION TO BECOME A SUPERMARKET

March 4, 2014 | 12:36 AM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
26

saigon grill space

The old Saigon Grill space on 90th and Amsterdam Avenue is being renovated and will be turned into a supermarket, according to city permits and discussions with construction workers at the site.

Yes, it struck us as odd too.

The restaurant, which has been closed for about a year, is being completely rebuilt inside to hold a full supermarket. One worker said it would be a Foodtown. But Foodtown’s corporate offices never responded to our request for comment. There is one Foodtown in Manhattan on 148th street.

In any case, the space seems a bit small to accommodate a full market, but Upper West Siders are used to narrow aisles. And it could draw shoppers who once went to Food City at 94th street and Columbus. That market closed last year, much to the dismay of neighbors.

(Come to think of it, the construction worker or our tipster may have been confusing Foodtown with Food City. We’ll update if we learn more.)

Thanks to Daniela, Judd and Kenneth for tips.

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26 Comments
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Erica
Erica
9 years ago

Wish they would put in a Westside Market. The options in the upper 80s are pretty lousy.

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Reply
RF
RF
9 years ago
Reply to  Erica

The Westside Market on 97th/Broadway is pretty nice, and totally walkable from the upper 80s. I live three blocks from the 77th Street location and walk to the uptown one instead.

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Kate
Kate
9 years ago

There’s already a Food Emporium a block away at 90th and Broadway. Bizarre.

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Reply
WombatNYC
WombatNYC
9 years ago

Would have loved to see a Westville restaurantmove into this space .. or the space that Blockbuster once occupied on 94th / Broadway ..

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Reply
webot
webot
9 years ago

didn’t our politicians hold yet another misguided press conference last year regarding the closing of Food City?

Well, here you go. A new supermarket where a restaurant was.

The free market triumphs again.

However, doesnt Brewer’s unthought out new zoning law not allow big stores in the UWS ? I guess this one is grandfathered in.

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nycissues.org
nycissues.org
9 years ago
Reply to  webot

Supermarkets are allowed unlimited store frontage if they meet the criteria.

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Bruce Bernstein
Bruce Bernstein
9 years ago
Reply to  nycissues.org

i guess Borough President Brewer’s zoning law was a little more “thought out” than some of her critics imagine.

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Reply
webot
webot
9 years ago
Reply to  Bruce Bernstein

I will ask politely again for Bruce Bernstein to stop with his snide direct attacks on me (“ad homonym”) and for anyone that dares counter his extreme liberal views and that of his proxy Gail Brewer.

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Reply
webot
webot
9 years ago
Reply to  webot

I was mocking your use of the term.

You are the one who reports others and whines when you are “attacked” – “Avi make the stop! wahh”

I would like you to NOT ever respond to my comments and I will give you the sam courtesy.

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Reply
Bruce Bernstein
Bruce Bernstein
9 years ago
Reply to  webot

there was absolutely no ad hominem attack above. you’re apparently not familiar with the meaning of the term.

I attacked your argument, not your person (or any other person).

Gale Brewer is “my proxy”? what a joke. what does that even mean?

Gale is very very popular on the UWS, as shown by the recent vote totals. You have the right to denigrate her — she’s a public official. (although i think the frequent denigration from many commenters is rude.) but you don’t have the right to portray yourself as in a majority opinion in this denigration. it is a small (albeit vocal) minority.

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nycissues.org
nycissues.org
9 years ago
Reply to  Bruce Bernstein

The intent of the contextual zoning ordinance was to impose the look of small businesses rather than promote them. A new tenant such as chain pharmacy could have a large storefront if it met supermarket criteria. The ordinance gives the community board and city planning commission additional authority over the choice of businesses in the community. Properties on the urban renewal side of the street have no restrictions to storefront size and do not require review by the community board or city planning commission. To this date, promoted as saving mom and pop stores, the zoning ordinance has not saved a single business that has been forced out by high rents.

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Christina
Christina
9 years ago

We need a supermarket where the old Food Emporium used to be on 68th and B’way. And please don’t say we have a Trader Joe’s and Fairway> They ARE NOT SUPERMAKETS! Period!

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Goody
Goody
9 years ago
Reply to  Christina

Cristina is 100% right. Look, it’s already a “supermarket-ready” space. The neighborhood is very dense (largest cluster of hi rise resi buildings in the UWS). Been vacant for ten months.

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Sean
Sean
9 years ago
Reply to  Christina

Yes, a supermarket for the old biddies of the UWS: please install a Bohack, King Kullen, A&P, or Key Food immediately.

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Bruce Bernstein
Bruce Bernstein
9 years ago
Reply to  Sean

i shop at Gristedes instead of the West SAide Market — except for fresh fruits and vegetables, where the WEst Side Market is superior and has excellent prices.

Gristedes has lower prices on most other items (except when W Side Market has sales), and is much cheaper on prepared foods. Not as wide a selection on the latter but WSM is vastly over-rated on quality.

i think the selection on things like cleaning materials, cereals, frozen foods, meats — in fact almost everything other than fruits, vegetables, and prepared dishes — is much better at Gristedes. it is not cost effective to buy these sorts of things at WSM.

some of my neighbors say Gristedes is more expensive than Associated on Amsterdam but i have done price comparisons and have found no difference.

i guess some of the commenters above are not so concerned about the price of food and other staples. please count me as an “old biddie”.

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G Gomez
G Gomez
9 years ago
Reply to  Christina

Name one item that you can get at a “supermarket” in NYC that you can’t get at Fairway. I can’t think of anything. But I can think of a lot of things I can get at Fairway that I can’t get at Gristede’s, Food Emporium, etc. Seriously — how is Fairway not a supermarket?

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Sean
Sean
9 years ago
Reply to  Christina

Then what the heck are they?

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Robyn
Robyn
9 years ago

Besides Food Emporium on Broadway and 89th-90th, Barzini’s which is a food market on Bway between 90 and 91st, The Kosher Marketplace, also on Bway between 90 and 91st, and D’Agostino on Col. and 90th, another supermarket seems redundant. And that’s only 1.5 – 2 blocks in any direction. Go slightly further and you have the supermarket on Amsterdam and 85th, the supermarket on Amsterdam and 97th, etc. That really doesn’t make much sense, unless this is some kind of specialty market (hello fish store!).

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gale
gale
9 years ago

Hmm…It would be so much better as a Trader Joe’s, or a really good pizzeria, or even a good Chinese restaurant………

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Barbara Michalak
Barbara Michalak
9 years ago

We really really need a real supermarket at the former Food City site, 94t/Columbus. This Upper West Side Urban Renewal area was planned for the low- and middle-income high rises that surround it; many now NORCs—naturally occurring retirement communities. And transitioning into communities of young families. People who cook all or most of their meals. People alert to the much higher prices at Gristede’s and Whole Foods. And to the effort to push a cart from Associated at 97/Amsterdam, or even Whole Foods. Uphill. Whatever city and community forces push for supermarkets in Harlem should focus also on this now UNserved area. Don’t forget—no supermarkets or even delis on Central Park West and the cross streets.

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PRL
PRL
9 years ago

The more the merrier! I live on 96th & Broadway, smack in the middle of West Side Market, Gristedes, Associated, & Barzini’s. I love them all, and try to spread my shopping around all of them. One thing that sets this ‘hood apart from many others are the wonderful grocery options that we have within spitting distance of each other. Incidentally, Schatze’s Butcher Shop on 87th & Amsterdam and Joon Fish Market on 98th & Amsterdam are great gems in the neighborhood. Buy local!

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Grace
Grace
9 years ago

I’m curious about this new supermarket because one of the renovation permits says that they are installing “1 PIZZA OVEN, 1 CHARCOAL GRILL, 2 DEEP FRYERS 1 FLAT GRILL 2 CANDY STOVES 1 CONVENTION OVEN, 1 BAKERY OVEN 2 FURNACES.” That sounds more like a new 7-11.

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Sean
Sean
9 years ago

How about a Grand Union?

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Reply
Freya
Freya
9 years ago

Trader Joe’s I hope!

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Reply
Drew
Drew
9 years ago

Based on the permits (and the fact that construction crews never get the stores correct) it’s pretty safe to say it’s a Balducci’s or Balducci style gourmet market. Grocery store and primarily prepared food market.

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Reply
AM
AM
9 years ago

This area would definitely keep a Trader Joe’s alive and well there, but I doubt it. I really hope it’s not another Food City type.

0
Reply

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