A Crumbs bakery appears to have cleared out, and Gastronomia Culinaria is open.
Crumbs at 775 Columbus Avenue (98th Street) appears to have closed, and a sign on the door now says Palermo Custom Cakes. Crumbs, which was founded on the UWS in 2003, went public and then the business went south. It was purchased out of bankruptcy and reopened some stores in 2014. No one was answering the phone at Crumbs on Friday. Palermo appears to be a New Jersey-based bakery. An employee there said she believes they are opening a New York store. But as some commenters pointed out, the sign for Palermo may be old, part of a partnership with Crumbs. Thanks to Jayson for the photo.
Gastronomia Culinaria at 53 West 106th Street is not closed, owner Vincenzo Pezzilli tells us. The website, which had previously said that it was closed, now says the restaurant is open. A message says it’s hours are 5-10 p.m., except on Mondays, when it’s closed.
Crumbs was the worst pastry bakery I have ever been to. Dry, sugary cheap drek. Long overdue.
I agree, they should have closed a long time ago!
love the blame the victim tactic Mark…an oldie buy goodie…in use today, getting popular again…
I keep reading WSR comments to see if UWS Hebrew might ever make a comment that’s not negative.
Ha! Perfect Bob Jones … I’ve never posted before but I often think the exact same thing :; Misery loves social media company.
I’m one of a number of people on here who had a negative comment regarding Crumbs, yet Bob Jones only singled me out. I wonder why…I’ve had plenty of nice things to say for other food establishments on WSR…gee I wonder why Bob Jones only focused on me…so tough to figure out…
There’s that persecution complex again…
Glad to hear you’ll be a lifetime reader (his, not necessarily yours)!
If Bob Jones is married, his wife has the patience of a saint.
Recently bought cupcakes for my son’s birthday at Crumb’s. I will miss that.
But, of course found that I needed to comment on there sign displaying the price of a cup of water.
The Palermo sign was up while the Crumbs was still in business. I think they were trying to revive the place by selling custom cakes as well, but clearly it was destined to fail.
I’m glad gastronomic culinarily is still open. If you can’t eat in Rome, this is as close as you can get. Really delicious.
The “Palermo Custom Cakes” sign (worn-looking) is on the door of the closed Crumbs in Times Square, too, so I think Brian is right.
Crumbs was really crummy.
Crumbs was great when it was just the tiny original shop on Amsterdam. Lovely custom cakes. The mystery oversized cupcakes were just debuting. It’s a shame the greed kicked in. Bigger is not always better, people!
I say, that is rather harsh.
Isn’t always “greed”, but a business owner or owners wanting to expand to serve a wider customer base.
That being said Crumbs fell victim to what often happens to any new venture; the craze that was capitalized upon and basis for their being petered out. That and they also suffered extensive losses due to super storm/hurricane Sandy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumbs_Bake_Shop
Cupcakes are all very well, but a bakery that only specializes in that one product was always going to be at a disadvantage. In Crumbs case what could happen did, other bakeries and supermarkets simply cranked out cupcakes to become part of the craze as well.
Baked goods in NYC and elsewhere took a hit in early 2000’s from New York City’s war on trans fats that was followed by other areas and even federal government. Another war being waged against carbohydrates didn’t help matters either.
All this being said plenty of chain bakeries survive and are doing well in NYC. Harbs, Pain de Quotidien, Maison Kayser, Francois Payard, and on the lower end Dunkin Donuts.
What about the war on Christmas cookies?
your writing caused me to think of Levain Bakery on 74th which is tiny, but is one of four locations.
their website says they specialize in cookies. no wonder. like the rise in popularity of cupcakes, the rise in popularity of cookies is major—at Levain, $71 per dozen!! now i know where to buy a coffee mug and a dozen cookies for $120, right in my own neighborhood.
i used to buy my baguettes at Levain ($3) and they were fine, not great (well, not French), but i stopped when the lineups for cookies began. Levain provided no way to sidestep the cookie crowd.
i agree with your thoughts and i watch this example with interest.
Crumbs was crumbs. Will not be missed.
FWIW, the Crumbs in Times Square appears closed also, with the same Palermo Custom Cakes signage in the window.
Personally, I think Crumbs cupcakes are (were?) great, much better than the over-frosted, under-caked Magnolia variety.
If it wasn’t for the boost provided by “Sex and the City”, Magnolia Bakery likely would not be as popular as they are now and or even around.
Their goods are “alright”, but scores of old school local bakeries (of which NYC once had plenty) can and do blow them out of the water.
Heck I’ve done better cupcakes than Magnolia using good old Duncan Hines mix and frosting.
me too..Magnolia sux too!
Assuming it is the same, Palermo’s Custom Cakes is a highly rated New Jersey bakery. Don’t think they have anything to do with the founders/owners of Crumb’s. Other than perhaps some sort of subleasing and or partnership arrangement perhaps. Maybe PCC was seeking to expand into Manhattan.
https://palermobakery.com/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/palermos-bakery-ridgefield-park
Nothing beats a Ring Ding or a Moonpie and a Doctor Pepper.
With a RC cola
With all the comments on the website about schools and standardized testing scores, why didn’t anyone comment on the last sentence of this article, which has a grammatical error?
And to the editor – please don’t change the last sentence so that my comment becomes meaningless. Thanks, and happy new year.
You know , places such as Crumbs, Baked by Melissa’s, and all those froyo shops that have come and gone — are/were just a front for money laundering by these –as Emperor Bloomberg said — god-send billionaires.
I’ve lived on the the UWS for five years, but since I was a suburbanite for over 20, I straddle both worlds. Haven’t found a city bakery that holds a candle to the bakery in my former Long Island community–Front Street Bakery in Rockville Centre. Or for that matter a decent pizzeria. And, dare I say it, you’ll never get a bagel in the city that comes close to Lynbrook Bagels. Even though I love city life there are still some things suburbia does better.
As far as the Crumbs goes I don’t consider that a bakery.
Beth, if you haven’t visited Silver Moon at 105 and B’way for a baguette, croissant or pain au chocolate, you’ve spoken (ok, written) too soon. About as good as you’re going to find West of Brest.
Shameless plug, but I just shop there.
Has Nick and Tony’s on W. 67th St. closed?
Thanks, AnDee. I don’t drink coffee and keep those pastries to a minimum, but will definitely try Silver Moon next.