Learn about a hibachi restaurant, a new gift store and many more Upper West Side openings and closings below.
Hibachi restaurant Columbus Flame, a spinoff from (now-closed) Asian fusion restaurant Fusha on 75th and Amsterdam, is getting ready to open at 100 West 82nd street next month; it’s the former location of Ditch Plains. The rent is $30,000 a month, according to the Observer. The kitchen’s already operating and making deliveries, but there’s no sit-down service yet. Thanks to Solana for the photo.
Organic Avenue closed all its stores last week because of financial struggles, according to Eater. That includes the store on 82nd and Amsterdam that opened three and a half years ago. Thanks to Elizabeth, Taryn and several other people for tips.
“Back in August, Racked reported that the company’s owner, Weld North, sold Organic Avenue to Vested Capital partners for next to nothing. To cut costs, Organic Avenue’s CEO Anthony Tomaro was let go. Racked reported that the company lost $1 million in January of 2015, and out of its ten Manhattan locations, only three were actually turning any kind of profit.”
A card and gift store called Jooneechees opened at 473 Amsterdam Avenue, between 82nd and 83rd street.
The Dramatics hair salon at 305 Columbus Ave. (75th St.) moved to 72nd street. Commenters noted this is old news, so consider it retracted.
Wine4Ever at 200 West 79th street is closing after 9 years, Bill tells us. “The sign [above] says it all. Frankly, I never shopped there that often. Their hours were somewhat erratic and they did not carry all of my favorite brands … but Eddie, the owner, was a cheerful guy and always had a smile for his customers. Over the years that space has been a flower shop, a newsstand and a coffee shop. I hope some other family-type “smallish” business will take over.
Men’s clothing store Theory closed on Oct. 18, and will reopen with a women-only collection on Oct. 26. This store has gone through numerous transitions — it was once a Helmut Lang store too (one company owns both Helmut Lang and Theory). Thanks to Sarah for the tip.
Have you heard about an opening or closing on the Upper West Side? Snap a photo and email us at info at westsiderag dot com.
The Dramatics hair salon at Columbus and 75th closed almost 2 years ago!!!!
… and the site is STILL empty!
Landlord must be waiting for Chipotle or a bank to show interest..
Our top story tonight – Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!
D’oh!
WSR
Who’s surprised about Organic Avenue – $8 for a glass of milk? Ridiculous.
The Dramatics moved to 72nd St. I think maybe this is referring to the barber shop that was right next door? Seems like it from the sign…
Just to be clear, the Dramatics hair salon on Columbus between 74th & 75th did not actually close. It moved to 132 W. 72nd St. (between BWAY & Columbus, south side of Street). I’ve been going to Sparkle for 9 years and I followed her there.
Read about the demise of Organic Ave last week elsewhere.
Not very surprising to me. Odd, very high priced product assortment and very under merchandised compared to most other food stores in Manhattan. I wondered how they could pay the rent with such odd, small assortments. Never was inspired to buy anything.
I wondered how long it would be in business after my very short visit to its Amsterdam Ave. store a while ago. I hope something more interesting and useful replaces it.
I adore Juice Generation and Blossom du Jour, but could never find anything I wanted to buy from OA.
Organic Avenue used to have these reusable glass bottles stamped “love” that sort-of justified the cost of their juice. When they traded those for cheap, plastic versions I knew it would only be a matter of time…
Another gift & card shop? Upper West Side surely needed another one of those. Cynicism aside, how do these places thrive? I feel like there are so many. Cardeolgy has been a neighborhood staple for as long as I’ve been a live and that sorta blows my mind.
Plus with Papyrus having a store not too far away, I imagine big(ger?) business is stealing away a bunch of that business. I can’t imagine it’s at all cheap to open a store in this neighborhood, so there must be some kind of secret weapon they’re all using
the restaurant at the corner or 116th St and Amsterdam (Celeste?) closed during the summer and is now undergoing extensive renovation. There is now a small sign directing deliveries for the “Arts and Crafts Beer Hall”. No idea when this will open.
Have you printed a retraction correcting your multiple ERRONEOUS postings about Sal and Carmines? They have been OPEN since 1959, HAVE NEVER CLOSED in their current location on Broadway between W. 101 / 102 Streets. The store next to Sal and Carmines closed years ago, and still remains boarded up. Righting this wrong is long overdue.
Actually this site is one of the few that DIDN’T post the rumor that Sal & Carmine’s closed. This is what we posted, and it was 100% correct: https://www.westsiderag.com/2015/09/15/everyone-chill-out-sal-carmines-says-it-isnt-closing
WSR
Food City — still closed.
Theory store on 69th and Columbus is closed too.