Some locals aren’t very happy about the bright new awning announcing the Upper West Side’s newest discount emporium on 92nd street and Amsterdam, in the former home of Imi Sushi. The 99-Cent Plus store does not appear to be shy about promoting itself.
“There goes the neighborhood,” wrote one tipster. “The landlord really needs to set some standards.”
“If that’s not a sign of the reverse gentrification taking place in the West 90’s due to all of the issues in the past 5 years I don’t know what is!” wrote another. “This is what happens when you pump a neighborhood disproportionately full of homeless shelter and supportive housing while at the same time fighting free market housing. Between the TONS of vacant storefronts on Broadway, increasing garbage in the area, 99 cent stores on Amsterdam it feels like we’ve slid back 20 years…”
Pizza By La Grolla on Amsterdam and 79th has closed with a For Rent sign on the door. The restaurant had just celebrated its fifth anniversary. It’s been a tough run for pizza joints in the West 70’s. David wrote: “Walked by this afternoon. The guys were taking their signs down. Big sign saying store for rent. This joins big nicks and new town pizza losing space in the past two years.” Thanks to Peter for the tip.
Le Sportsac on Columbus between 71st and 72nd has closed, about two years after opening.
Three stores located in a building next to The Lucerne at 207 West 79th street (pictured at right) off of Broadway have closed or are in the process of closing because the building is set for demolition.
Mai Salon is moving to join the salon across the street on the second floor of 212 West 79th street.
Tower Cleaners will relocate to Poly Organic Cleaners one block North, at 217 West 80th street.
A Select Few Antiques has closed and is looking for a new location nearby. It’s also directing customers to its new location called Funk and Swagger in Huntington Long Island.
There’s a cryptic sign in the window of the closed Cafe Uni (corner of 115th and Broadway), one tipster tells us. It says “coming soon Au Bon Pain…. hopefully.” Hey, we all have hopes and dreams…
“There goes the neighborhood”??? I do think that the blocks on Amsterdam between 91st & 93rd do have quite the eclectic storefronts. Some higher end restaurants, kosher restaurants, pet stores, “cheap” Chinese, and now the 99 cent store. No real personality, but certainly variety.
THAT SAID… ugly awning, but how many of you who say “there goes the neighborhood” are the same ones complaining that there aren’t any bodegas or “mom and pop” shops around? These types of stores are great places to pick up inexpensive paper goods, party supplies, stationary (for the kids), etc.
Would you rather it be another Starbucks, or a “national chain” store? (Or another manicurist? Because we certainly need more of those!)
I’m willing to give the store a shot. Hopefully they are welcome new neighbors. And it’s better than having a vacancy (like the bank on the corner of 91st & Broadway for years now!)
That’s all. Carry on!
While I’m a fan of 99-Cent stores, I look at it as a downgrade for that block, being that it replaced the two decent Sushi joints that used to be on that corner. Maybe they’ll sell 99 cent spicy yellowtail rolls.
Well stated Dave, I live just across the street at 93 in the Genaro building and would always rather have an open business then a vacancy but I also feel all landlords should take control over some type of uniformity in the awnings attached to their retail spaces. It would give the hood s much nicer look and help to keep property values up no matter what type of stores were there..
I also agree with Dave. ….and yes, the awning is pretty ugly but thats ok. At least its not another bank, SB or DR.
I agree… “one tipster” seems like a snob.
I agree Dave!!!
Actually I think by all the development and such, pushing out the mom and pops is better representative of “There Goes The Neighborhood”
there is also a new sign at 118tj and Amsterdam for a new vegan, farm to table restaurant called Freedman’s. The sign has been up for a few months, no opening date yet.
Vegan? I just looked at the menu in the link provided for Freedman and that just isn’t so. Alas …
*Friedman
Friedman’s is a locally driven comfort food restaurant with two other locations already open in Chelsea (Chelsea market) and Midtown (31st street). Check us out on the website http://www.friedmanslunch.com. We’re excited to join the neighborhood!
The NYPost is reporting that Gazala’s @ 78th and Columbus is closing…reportedly to make way for new condos. They aren’t tearing down the Evelyn building, are they?
This is false, Gazala’s is alive and well and ready to make your borekas dreams come true
They are not taking down The Evelyn….the building is being gutted to make it into 16 condo units
Not being an UWS snob, I happen to like “99 Cent” stores.
Glad they opened one in the hood.
There’s already one at 89th & Amsterdam, and and one at 86th & Bway. We don’t need another.
I know one should never cheer a small business closing but here’s to the closing of Pizza by Le Grolla, not becuase I ever ate there but because it was always a threat to T&R’s Pizza on the same block which to my taste buds is the single best slice in Manhattan. Yep, better than Bleeker Street, Joe’s and all the others. So here’s to T&R’s!
I totally agree!! I have been going to T&R for at least two decades and it is the best in the area.
I remember lots of late nights at Amsterdamn’s across the street and then a couple of slices at T&R. In fact, back then it was actually located in the Pizza by La Grolla space. Not sure why they moved two doors down…must have been a lease thing.
Long live T&R Pizza! Get out there and support the good stuff in this neighborhood. And…now I’m hungry:)
Back in the 1980s there was a great hole in the wall pizza place on Amsterdam around 74th street – does anyone remember it? When they disappeared, I had to settle for the place on Amsterdam on the corner of 78th, which wasn’t as good, and is also now gone.
It was the best — one slice was enough for a family — and they seemed to use real cheese etc. I miss it terribly. Although I have no problem with the current places.
I lived nearby in the 1970s and that was the best pizza ANYWHERE. I still remember it with great fondness.
That was Vinny’s Pizza. There for two+ decades. Recognized your voice on the phone before anyone had caller ID. Best pizza on the UWS to this day. Took additional space next door. Remodeled. Two years later – vanished. It is the space currently occupied by Salumeria Rossi Parmactto.
Sorry. I was wrong. It was one store just north of there. Space currently occupied by Jacques Torres Chocolate.
La Grolla was great. Delicious pizza and cool owner. Very sad to see it go. Also sad about Gazala’s. I still pass by that spot hoping someone would resurrect the bar downstairs/next door, the old 78 Below, into a new hole-in-the-wall drinking spot. That was a great space.
We loved La Grolla too. Very innovative combinations and always fresh and delicious. I hope they can find space in the neighborhood again. BTW T&R is terrible! Cardboard and all dried out and frequently a “C.” There is no comparison.
I’m bummed about La Grolla too! That was my favorite spot – such a nice place to pop into for a slice. La Grolla and World Coffee on Columbus Ave – sad to lose these two spots so abruptly. I’ll try T&R’s though – thanks to the tipsters above.
Love 99 cent stores – especially the close out ones (job lot, odd lot).
Hate this sign.
What a snob. 99 cent stores are great and aren’t just for the poor and downtrodden. I love the eclectic nature of the UWS. Do you really want every block to be bank, Lululemon, expensive specialty mustard shop, expensive french bakery, expensive children’s specialty store, and equinox? Every neighborhood in NYC needs a good reliable 99 cent store for things like shower curtains, discount balloons, and cheap laundry baskets.
Very sad about Pizza By La Grolla closing. The pizza was amazing. Great ingredients really made the pizza a better option than most places. Cozy little place that I’ve been taking my family to since it opened. Dan, the owner is a terrific guy. Hope he finds another more affordable option to open another place. Don’t know where I’m going to go now…will miss this place.
99 Cent stores rule. They are the new Woolworths; a place to get random inexpensive stuff. Which this city desperately needs.
I have to laugh…. you know who you are 😉
Better a 99 cent store than a designer mustard store. Get real. Who else has affordable toilet paper?
Buying factory-second 99-cent toilet paper seems very shortsighted.
Although this is not quite on topic, but what’s been happening at the old site of “Popover’s?” Originally a bakery was supposed to open there, but so far, nothing. Also, did Popover’s ever open at another spot?
I loved POPOVERS. Popovers were great as was the smooth creamy butter.
Why don’t you cover the area around ,200th street …CPW to Broadway?
Why don’t you cover the area around ,100th street …CPW to Broadway?
Awning aside, before Imi Sushi there at Amsterdam/92nd there was Yuki Sushi, which had excellent food, great value, always seemed crowded – and suddenly it was gone, replaced months later by something else before it became Imi. Would love to have it back.
Give me more social service programs and fewer people like the tipster.
Wow!! A store that will be selling items that cost only $.99. Amazing. It must be $.99 and up with the emphasis on up.
Any way, what can you get of any value for only $.99? Some cheap jewelry made in China that contains cadmium and lead? Good luck with that stuff.
My mom lives in Queens and swears that she get absolutely great buys all the time at the $.99 store in her neighborhood. She just couldn’t understand why there weren’t any $.99 stores in Manhattan. Well, now we have one. Let’s see how long this store lasts.
Anyone ready to start the countdown clock running?
Laughing my head off at the people who think “there goes the neighborhood” when a 99-cent store appears. It’s going to be far more useful and is much more necessary than yet another overpriced restaurant or bank. “Our neighborhood is going down the toilet! The Upper West Side is the ghetto now! This is proof!” Hahahaha first world problems ahoy.