There’s finally some action at the old Popover Cafe space. And we’ve got lots of news about other Upper West Side openings and closings.
The old Popover Cafe space on Amsterdam between 86th and 87th street is finally getting renovated, and a construction worker told one of our tipsters that it’s going to be a restaurant. The space has been empty for more than a year since Popover closed on January 6, 2014. Initial rumors that it was going to be a 24-hour bakery and bistro didn’t pan out. And Popover, sadly, hasn’t reopened elsewhere.
However, there’s about to be a vacancy right next door to that space. Schatzie the Butcher on the corner of 87th and Amsterdam is moving uptown to 2665 Broadway between 101st and 102nd street, the former home of PicNic market. Schatzie will also open a burger spot called Richie’s Burger Joint along with the new butcher shop. They expect to move on April 1. Thanks to @coolculinaria and @1spiritedfilly for tips.
Spot Doggie Daycare closed suddenly this week, apparently without telling customers. This left a lot of people in the lurch and trying to get their money back. Wrote one tipster: “Just wanted to let you know that the doggy daycare and grooming store Spot 82 on Columbus and 82nd shut down without any warning to its customers. I had just paid my yearly membership and bought a package worth close to $1000 and no one even contacted me to let me know they were shutting down, provide an explanation or apology, nor offer a refund or a credit to another one of their locations. It’s such a scam!” We left a message for Spot, but they never called us back and customers say they haven’t been calling them back either.
An employee at The Spot Experience on 72nd street said they sold the 82nd street location a couple of years ago, and have no connection to the location on 82nd. The new owners simply didn’t change the name as they had expected. They had no further contact info for the new owners. If you prepaid for doggie daycare, let us know if you’ve gotten your money back!
Hat store Jeannie’s Dream looked set to open earlier this week on 72nd between West End Avenue and Broadway when Melissa took the photo above. There’s another location on Long Island. More about Jeannie here.
Women’s clothing store Variazioni’s on 88th and Broadway is having a liquidation sale, Carly tells us.
Nancy’s Wines on Columbus between 74th and 75th street is now Corks on Columbus, Jenna tells us.
Thanks for all the tips! Keep sending them in.
Yayyyyyyyy Schatzie! Can’t wait for him to open up a few blocks up from me. There aren’t too many old-style butchers left. I recommend everyone to stop in, even if it’s just to listen to his voice, which sounds like a freight train running over gravel.
Schatzie’s is great! Glad to hear it’s expanding and doing wel.. Best weisswurst I’ve had outside of Germany
New owners at Corks on Columbus promise to restore the high quality and service that the store maintained for the many years that Nancy was the actual owner. Interim owners during the last few years kept the name (Nancy’s Wines) but not the quality.
Hello its your resident “conversative” – here is today’s example of a neighboring CB at work. Voting down an bar owner’s plan to take over a porno store.
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150206/hells-kitchen-clinton/community-board-votes-against-bar-porn-stores-location
If this porno store is a local mom & pop business, shouldn’t we be fighting for them to remain?
Schatzie is great (as is Richie, aka Schatzie Junior) and I’m sure that they will do well further uptown. As long as they continue to deliver to those of us “left behind”.
The empty Popover space has been a drag on that block, especially when combined with the scaffolding. Greengrass can only do so much.
Did the French owner sell Nancy’s Wines? Hope so, cause he was a real jerk. Nancy herself was great!
Oh god. A burger joint right around the corner from home. If it’s any good, my waistline is doomed.
We had a horrible experience at Spot Day care back in August and I hunted down the owner and spoke with him on the phone. He was deaf to my complaints. Unfortunately the only contact information I have now is his email. His name I believe was Bryant but for sure his email was: spot82nd@aol.com
If it was my $1000 dollars I would call the State Attorney General’s office and register the complaint. Maybe they would take it seriously enough to find him through that email address.
it must be the Landlord’s fault.
Never trust anyone with an aol email address.
I had a similar experience (paying a fee and then the business went under) and I called my credit card company and they refunded the money. Patrons of Spot might try that.
Patrons of Spot is my next band name.
We were also charged by Spot for the annual membership fee ($217) just TWO DAYS before the closing! I have heard of many who are in the same position. I disputed charge with my credit card company. Such a scam!
So disappointed that this business closed and on such bad terms with their customers. The morning of the closing was a disaster for those on the way to work, with their dogs in tow, only to find that the store was boarded up. AWFUL!
Whatever the real-estate reasons for Schatzie’s northward move, it’s no great loss to this part of the UWS. Nor is it likely to be uptown’s gain–unless he learns to “tenderize” his abrasive personality, in line with his meats. (His reputation in that area preceded him when he left Madison Ave.)
Variazioni’s is running a liquidation sale in order to clear the way for the spring line. It is not leaving the area.
The old location was terrible. they endured years with sidewalk bridges. A little far for me to walk, but I’ll just take the bus. They have the best heritage pork on the planet.
I was contacted via email by the Spot daycare owner of the 82nd store. He sent an email confirming that he would be refunding the balance we were owed from Spot. Hopefully other owners will soon see similar emails. I contacted him at spot82nd@aol.com.
https://www.crainsnewyork.com/data-lists/real-estate-deal-watch/details/12/2955183
Richie’s Burger Joint opened today. It is awful. Electric overhead light, overpriced so-so burgers, loud, annoying dude running the show. I paid $30 for a standard burger and fries and 3 sodas (NO REFILLS).
This place will close in a month.