Photo by Gavan.
A new mattress store is opening, as some restaurants have closed or changed identities.
Coco-Mat, a high-end bedding company that lets you “sleep on nature,” is getting ready to open on the corner of 78th street and Broadway. “Perfect timing for bevy of new buildings going up in five-block radius,” notes Rob. Thanks to Gavan and Holly for the tip.
Wondee Siam V, a Thai restaurant at 969 Amsterdam Avenue (107th-108th), has become Happy Hot Hunan Restaurant, an employee told us. It’s a new owner and new menu. “The restaurant kept some elements of Wondee Asian like the seating, but the rest of the decoration is Chinese,” one Yelp reviewer wrote. “Dinner prices are a little high (~$20 for entrees) but lunch specials at $8.95 are very reasonable.” Thanks to Paulie for the tip.
Warique, the Peruvian restaurant at 852 Amsterdam Avenue (101st-102nd) has closed and plans to reopen in Astoria, according to the Astoria Post. “The restaurant, which serves authentic Peruvian cuisine, had to close at its former Amsterdam Avenue location after the lease expired and the rent was pushed up, according to [owner Jimmy] Lozano.”
A new bubble tea store called Shiny Tea NYC is opening on Broadway between 101st and 102nd street. Thanks to Jenny for the photo.
Salad spot Chop’t is getting close to opening on Amsterdam between 76th and 77th and has set up a counter in the store, Joyce tells us.
Coffee Break, the bakery and restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue at 105th street, had its grand opening, with s ribbon cutting held by council member Mark Levine. “I have brought in chefs and bakers who know how to turn out specialty baked goods and food choices from many countries, such as French brioches and croissants; Jewish hamentashen and rugelach; Italian cannoli, cappuccino and pasta dishes; Belgian waffles; Chinese bubble teas; American cheeseburgers – and even,” Mr. Villa joked, “English muffins and cheese Danish!”
Coffee Break has “chefs and bakers”? Their decore leads one to think that everything is shipped in.
It is truly sad to see so many Mom & Pop ethnic restaurants moving out of the city or going out of business. It is almost always an issue of rent.
Wonder if new salad bar on 75th and Amsterdam is going to survive. Hugh space for a business that just sells salads. Good luck to them. All their predecessors have ultimately had to close because of rent.
Is this salad craze just that, i.e., a fad?
Any more info on Planet Fitness at the Metro theater? I never see any movement when passing.
For every mom and pop ethnic restaurant closing, another seems to to take its place. Its easy to blame rent, but these are businesses and can move to another location if they chose. There are many factors why a business fails, and well instead of saying bad marketing, food, business plan, death, higher food costs, bad chief, etc etc , its an easy answer to say the rent. and hey if you don’t have customers then yes paying the rent is an issue.
This response is as if you are living in the past. The only reason everyone has to close it move IS because of rent right now!! Any mom and pop or old restaurant that has a following has had to close because of RENT! If you think it’s from other than you fooling yourself. If a new place is closing because of no customers it could have something to do with the ridiculous prices having to cover the ridiculous rent. !!!
NJ!! relax with explanation points!
Glad you know that every situation for every business failure in every corner of the city is the rent (!).
Sometimes buggie whips become obsolete, sometimes an owner retires, sometimes the owner owns the building and decides to rent it out himself, sometimes a chain miscalculates the market: hello pink berry, Cafe Bene, Organic Avenue – to name of few from just the past few months.
The day that Spice opened on 108th and Amsterdam earlier this year as the third Thai place on the same block between 107/108, the clock began ticking on how long Wondee Siam V would last. Both Spice and Thai Market are far better than Wondee Siam V ever was.
Ocean grill closed!
BubbleTea is last year’s FroYo. Good luck to them.
Coffee break looks like it could be on the side of a multi lane highway it has no personality. For personality and truly wonderful authentic European baked goods and French onion soup cross Amsterdam between 106 and 107 TOULAISSAINT