FOX’S CLOSES AS BROADWAY BUILDING IS SET TO BE DEMOLISHED
Department store Fox’s had a very short tenure on the corner of 80th street and Broadway. It closed this weekend, and the building will now make way for the wrecking ball, to be replaced by a 20-story luxury apartment building with two stories of retail at the bottom.
Friedland Properties owns the spot, and revealed plans for it a few months ago. Those plans have since been removed from its website, so there’s always a chance that they’ve changed the design. They never got back to us after we reached out for our initial story. The demolition was approved last year by the Department of Buildings.
(The DSW on the other side of the block isn’t going anywhere. It’s owned by the Zabars.)
Fox’s opened in November 2012. It says it plans to open a new New York store, location still to be determined.
Thanks to several tipsters, and to Jeff for the photos.
That’s a travesty and just a symptom of an UWS that only works for the 1%.
I remember all the way back in the early days of February when Fox’s held my keys and European backpackers kept that corner safe. I hope Mr. and Mrs. Fox can find a new place to open up their shop, far away from a neighborhood that only welcomes chain stores that would feel comfortable in places like Mineola, Boca, or Oakbrook Terrace Illinois. Godspeed to the seniors who were living in the changing rooms – I hope we’ll see a rally in support of them.
*Thanks* de Blasio!
too too funny!!!!!!!!!!
Best comment of the year, hands down!
Our neighborhood is just being destroyed. Absolutely destroyed. Fox’s is not the loss but the BUILDING. Please, keep away these ugly high rises at the expense of all the beauty that once was the UWS.
Not sure what editors mean when they mention “DSW at the other side of the block”? It’s on the south end of the same block, not the other side, which is fact where Zabar’s is. Do you mean they are not going to tear down the entire block on the east side of Bway between 79th and 80th? Only the corner where Fox’s is? That would be odd. I thought that entire block was one lot (and is two stories high)
When I first moved to the UWS over 30 years ago, Broadway was populated by many two story buildings, which gave some charm and a lot of light to the avenue. It’s sad to see them go. There goes light in the morning on Broadway.
I was wondering about that too. Seems to me that Filene’s had both ends of the building and they connected the two in the middle a year or two before closing. Seems difficult to destroy only Fox’s.
Well…SOME of us appreciate the interesting architecture that many of the new high-rise buildings feature.
ESPECIALLY those that are NOT bland upended glass-and-aluminum cracker boxes. For example, there’s the lovely Laureate with its classic New York limestone facade and very European “Juliet Balconies”.
And sometimes even glass-and-aluminum can work, as shown by the interesting design of The Corner, that curved rental that wraps around the southwest corner of Broadway and 72nd.
Two-story “taxpayers” are boring, and evoke the main streets of countless look-alike suburban commuter villages.
Scoots you are a rational person , thank you.
remember “taxpayers’ were built to pay the taxes until something bigger was feasible.
Some had nice art deco flourishes and are missed.
Especially when the new building is bad , like the Leturd (Lestrand?).
these guys are big owners on UWS – Freidland – we made this family very wealthily – for the life of me, I do not understand why they don’t spend a few more dollars for a quality building with unique UWS architecture – it can be done. See the Harrison, The Laurete – instead they go the cheapy cheap route with ptak window units and bland boxes.
They do rentals ( heaven forbid they should sell something… !) instead of for sale condos – which usually are better quality.
BUT……
The City government pushes rentals over owning … and of course, subsidized (aka affordable) housing trumps all – light, air, architecture, amenities, skyline, etc.
Not sure why city planning and good design is not a priority in this town – it once was – See the grand old dame buildings of Riverside Drive, West End Ave and CPW (and the Ansonia, etc) . also worth noting they were ALL BUILT by those “greedy” developers for the gentry of their time (the Rich).
The plans do not appear to include the DSW building. See our original story:
https://www.westsiderag.com/2013/11/05/proposed-luxury-building-at-80th-and-broadway-set-to-rise-20-stories
WSR
Just plain awful. 77th ….going up is now getting dreadful.
Btw this apt bldg and the one on 79th, that’s 36 stories of higher end apartments, presumably many with school age kids. Lots of new overcrowding in the schools coming our way.
Just a quick FYI-Here is the link to the Rag’s story they did when I sent them the breaking info back when this was announced last year. Some thing our elected were not aware of and/or not paying attention to. The rag then checked with Rosenthal’s office and got the same info I had sent them .
Pls also note the Zabars had long said they would never, ever sell. Guess what money talks, now they are saying they will never, ever sell the southern half of the site. Sure, I bet its gone in a year or as soon as the store that is there can be bought out/lease is up.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2013/11/05/proposed-luxury-building-at-80th-and-broadway-set-to-rise-20-stories
By the way for all the kicking and screaming going on about these new buildings, their height etc, pls remember that when Parkwest Village was built people that lived in the area at the time said they would be the end of the neighborhood. That they would block out sunlight with shadows, were to tall and ugly. Guess what, 50 plus years latter, the neighborhood is still here. To really be a neighborhood it needs to be “alive” and all living things change over time.
Emerging from the subway at the SW corner of Broadway and 79th, I was always struck by the light at that intersection and the open sky on the other side of the street. Yes, apparently just that half of the block is being developed, so that’s something. The old Apthorp parking garage is also going, I’m told. A shame!
As permanent UWS-ers since ’78, with our residential real estate office on 79th St, we care deeply how life here unfolds. Our city has hi standards & rules that builders must adhere to. Can we make rom for more UWS folks here? Yes. We can, and we will welcome them in the schools, restaurants, shops and parks. Welcome to the UWS.
Scooterstan has a good point. Change is inevitable. At least some architects respect the flavor of the upper west side. The buildings he mentioned are good examples of what can be done.
I live very close to this site and will need to tolerate the demolition and construction.
But I think the new building will be a net plus. Some gorgeous new buildings have been going up along Broadway. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Every time I stopped into Zales to ask about this, they insisted they have not been told to leave and have a lease through November.
What are they saying now?
Zales just closed, so demolition of the old low-rise building cannot be far behind. I do not agree that the new building will be a plus for the neighborhood– It is really ugly and looks like an office tower from the ‘burbs. There goes the light & air on Broadway and 79th-80th….
Does anyone remember when the building that houses DSW was a Woolworth’s? Now those were the days…
Will the developers help with the additional overcrowding at the 79th St. subway station? Will the developers help with the consequent school overcrowding? Do the developers plan to make any adjustment for the sky light which will be lost? For the additional cars? Do the developers live in this neighborhood? Do they have any connection to the life in this neighborhood, except for the profit they stand to make?
Additionally, Zabars has betrayed the neighborhood, despite its promises. Apparently over 75 million dollars in sales per year is not enough for them.
People need to have their facts straight before they slander a neighborhood business. The site where Foxes-is “not” owned by Zabars. There are no plans to develop a condo that anyone has heard on the other half of the block where Dsw is and is in part owned by the Zabars. Please be careful before making such a comment Matt.
Robert
Is that where it was? I vaguely recall it. What was up on the second level?
A billiard parlor, at least as of mid-70’s.
I remember well that Woolworth’s! Does anybody remember Willy the Butcher, the luncheonette/candy store next door to him, Winifred’s Frocks, Tip Toe Inn, Schraft’s, Gitlitz Deli, Rappaport’s- where Mom bought me my first “training” bra. What a great neighborhood it WAS. Shops where proprietors knew you, cared about you, valued your patronage, all phenomena that seem completely forgotten these days…
Stuart is quite right…the south store was a Woolworths
as far back as the 50s….and the 80th street store was a Kresge’s which was also a 5 and 10, but always lower end, if such a thing is imaginable..so they were competes, and even getting school supplies, at good old PS 9, you always shopped both stores to get the best price….the stores never connected…
At least they can’t eliminate the great memories !!!
Will there be a gym?
when a 1 bedroom apartment can be sold for 1.5 million dollars the entire broadway store area becomes a soft spot and is prone to be torn down and developed,when the broadway and 72nd st, monster sold out the entire neighborhood was doomed charm doesn’t sell apartments if you need charm move to paris