This is the Zoolander edition of retail openings and closings. It includes news about a new place to blowout your hair and get your body looking shiny-new, along with other recent openings and closings.
Drybar, a salon that specializes in blowing out your hair, is opening on 71st street between Columbus and Central Park West. That space was once Cafe La Fortuna, but it’s since been split into two spaces. I plan to be the first customer, so I can finally achieve my favorite Derek Zoolander look: Blue Steel! At some Drybar locations, you can hold parties where you blow your hair dry and drink. Thanks to Aimee, Jason and others for the tip.
While we’re on the subject of male models who are “really really good-looking,” a new waxing emporium called UniK Wax Center is coming to Columbus between 85th and 86th. Thanks to Mrsha for the tip.
There’s one sad piece of grooming news, however: Supercuts on 102nd street and Broadway is closing, and one employee told our tipster that they’ll be shutting stores regionally.
A pop-up Halloween store opened on Broadway between 83rd and 84th, former site of a Duane Reade.
The corner deli at 96th and West End Avenue is closing, possibly as soon as the end of the month. We’ve heard from several readers who are upset about this. Said one: “Owner says landlord will not renew lease. Rumor has it someone bought the building and is also trying to buy the Mobil Station building. Smells like a teardown/mega building!”
A party supply store on 111th appears to be closing, though the owner was “not ready to make a statement,” according to the Columbia Spectator: “Closing sale signs covering the front window of Possibilities@Columbia, the quirky party supplies store on 111th Street and Broadway, don’t try to hide the fact that the store is shutting down soon.”
The New York Kids Club at 169 Amsterdam Avenue will relocate to the new tower being built at 170 Amsterdam between 67th and 68th in the summer of 2015. The new space is 1,200 square feet larger.
Crystal Cleaners on 81st just west of Broadway appears to have closed suddenly, a customer tells us. “We just got dry cleaning back from them earlier in the week, and now the store is empty! When I called the phone number, it was a guy’s answering machine–a residence, not a store.”
Crystal Cleaners merged with the organic cleaner near the Northeast corner of 80th and Broadway. No more tailoring but onsite cleaning now…
Ahh, they had signs up saying where the new location was, but I forgot to make note of it! Thank you. 🙂
To add to openings/closing talk, has anyone noticed that the 3-Star Diner has an upgraded sign?
It looks like the sign facing south has been slid out of position a bit, but it’s not new.
Drybar taking over the La Fortuna space is one of the more telling examples of the way in which the neighborhood is being transformed.
I seriously doubt that they will last as long as La Fortuna, though.
I talked to the Possibilities people about a month ago and they said then that they were “just moving” into the STA travel space. I thought it was odd that they would sell everything off to move next door, and the store in the 80s on Broadway, owned by the same people, also says it’s closing.
Bummed about the corner deli on 96th & West End. It was a good pit stop for snacks on the way to Riverside Park.
An employee at the party store on 111 and Bway told me they are closing at the end of the month, then moving next door, where Liberty Travel is now.
So sad that Possibilities@Columbia is closing! What a cute store with great cards. First Cardomat, now Possibilities. 🙁
The only item about this that is pleasing is that we will be rid of one garish overpriced Duane Reade. Perhaps if they closed some more of their multiple stores, a small business owner might be able to rent a store. This influx of high end stores will turn this distinct and varied neighborhood into a version of the boring and uptight East Side.
Duane Reade is a lot of things, but overpriced is not one of them.
To Mike.. with all due respect.. Please tell me you;re not serious ? DR is unbelievably overpriced.. Hand Sanitizer, Cereal , Water , Chips , Cosmetics and OTC medicines are vastley higher then most of the other chains. The best prices IMO were always found at Rite Aid’s.. So Ghetto Fab and a bargain hunters dream .. But alas, they are closing their stores around the city. 🙁