A top Upper West Side restaurant and a kids’ spot have closed, as a new clothing store opens.
Picholine, the high-end French-Mediterranean restaurant at 35 West 64th street that’s been around for 22 years is closing after a rent increase. “The lease is expiring and the rent is increasing, so staying at West 64th Street is no longer practical. Picholine has outgrown the space and I am looking forward to finding a new home and bringing the restaurant to new heights,” chef Terrance Brennan wrote in a note, according to Zagat. Picholine had just been awarded a Michelin star.
He told the Times that he’ll be moving out of the neighborhood.
Citing a rent increase, Mr. Brennan said Wednesday that he tried to renegotiate the lease, to no avail. “That’s the way it goes with leases these days,” he said. He closed the restaurant for vacation in August, as he usually does, but has not reopened it.
Mr. Brennan plans to relocate Picholine in a different neighborhood. “It’s the end of a chapter, but moving forward I hope to do something more exciting,” he said. “This was always a difficult space to deal with.”
It’s just the latest high-end restaurant to shut its doors after Ouest closed earlier this year.
Gymboree at 217 West 84th street has closed. A phone message directs people to the 73rd street location. Thanks to Kevin for the photo.
Peruvian Connection has opened on Columbus between 76th and 77th street. Thanks to Gavan for the photo. A rep writes in to say that “The new store will feature an exclusive, limited edition New York t-shirt in celebration of their new location.” Their website is here.
Farinella on the UWS opened for business about a half-hour ago.
I just passed by, and they were not open today. No sign on the door in explanation.
Finally. Looks great from what I saw on their website – hate the location though, albeit better than Grandaisy. Will stop by tomorrow.
Please be mindful that Farinella serves Roman pizza, and not Neopolitan or the other styles that are more familiar to most of us.
Re: an “exclusive, limited edition New York t-shirt” that reads ‘PC (hearts) NY’ ????
So exactly HOW MANY people, seeing this badly-thought-out shirt, will read the PC as ‘Political Correctness’ rather than “Peruvian Connection” (Political Correctness Loves New York!!…hmmm, that’ll be a first).
Just another example of a self-absorbed ‘art director’ who thinks his/her brand is instantly recognizable to everyone…or is it to everyone who meets his/her definition of hip-ness?
And WHAT THE HECK is wrong with their “model”? She looks like someone trying to find her way home at 6:00 a.m. after an unsuccessful evening drinking, smoking, drugging, and being rejected in every attempt to find a one-night-stand.
NY State owns the rights to the “heart” symbol, and will demand compensation for its use.
For those that may have doubts about the mere use of the heart symbol (not followed by the words “New York”), the quote below reinforces what Nanan expressed:
“…filmmaker Kevin Smith talking about how the state of NY demanded money because a background player (I think a dancer) in Clerks II was shown wearing an “I ♥ NJ” t-shirt, and NY, somewhat infamously, holds the trademark on “I ♥ NY.” I don’t recall all of the details, but I’m pretty sure Smith said that a significant sum of money had to be paid to the state of NY.”
(I hope that the two heart symbols in the quoted text above will not disappear once I post this comment.)
You’re right! Well, I’ll be danged!
“Today, the New York State Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s chief economic development agency, holds the trademark to the “I Love New York” logo, and licenses its use. According to a 2011 British Telegraph newspaper article, official merchandise, such as t-shirts and mugs emblazoned with Glaser’s design, generates more than $30 million a year, and the ESD receives a significant portion of the profits.”
LOL – leave it to an UWSer to read ‘PC’ as ‘political correctness’….look out – here comes a micro-aggression – DUCK!!!!!
I would agree with ScooterStan that “PC (heart) NY” was not such a brilliant idea.
Peruvian Connection can’t presume the brand recognition of Coke or Pepsi. Moreover “PC” is recognized as an abbreviation for “personal computer” as well as “professional association”.
The use of “PC” for “political correctness” extends even beyond the borders of the U.S., and is also internet-wide.
Proud of seeing a Peruvian business showcase such diverse merchandise…will definitely stop by to check it out before “trashing” your business…
Wash waah
HUH ??
Are you speaking ENGLISH or are you confusing this site with Twitter ?????
Glug splack mugga
Is Peruvian Connection something like Putumayo The Sequel? I don’t see this lasting too long….
Two years max – the fact the rent is out of this world and that there are two other clothing stores right next door can’t help.
Peruvian Connection has existed since 1976. I used to buy from their catalog before they had a website. They’re all about well crafted items based on ethnographic inspiration & principles of fair trade. Only 6 other brick & mortar stores. It will be interesting to see how they fare in NYC.
Also I don’t think PC is a “Peruvian business”…more like an American business sourced from Peru :-/
Re Picholine closing: The only surprise is that it lasted so long! While too-steep rent increases are obviously responsible for many recent restaurant losses, not just on the UWS–Jean Michel Bergougnoux’ L’Absinthe, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Café, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, and of course Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini’s Four Seasons come to mind–Tom Valenti’s Ouest is only the latest victim of this lamentable trend.
Something else they all had in common, whatever their location and menu, was a genuinely welcoming warmth, from the top down. Mr. Brennan, on the other hand, always had “attitude” to spare–as if he were doing his guests a favor by allowing them into his “hallowed precincts” at all. Perhaps he’ll have time to ponder that now as he seeks a new venue.