In today’s openings and closing news: a shoe store closes, a classic restaurant reopens and more.
The UGG store on Columbus between 67th and 68th closed on January 15. That store used to be packed all the time. Thanks to Amy, Sarah, Nancy, David, Colleen and Jackie.
Bella Luna is reopening this Thursday at 574 Columbus Avenue (88th Street), a block away from its original location. “New features added by the owner, Turgut Balikci, include a brick pizza oven and a 1930s mural of Central Park that has been restored,” the Times reports. “The restaurant has the same leather and velvet banquettes as the original, as well as a menu of Italian staples like bresaola, lamb pappardelle and veal or chicken in various styles.”
Sky Locksmith and Hardware opened at 2206 Broadway (78th-79th Streets) “A great addition to the neighborhood and owner Eli is super helpful!” writes Michael.
The Enterprise Rent a Car on 95th between Broadway and Amsterdam has a note in the window saying it’s closing on Jan 27th, a tipster tells us. They do plan to reopen somewhere else nearby eventually, an Enterprise employee told us.
Grand Metro Hardware at 95th and Broadway closed a few months ago, but has reopened temporarily to liquidate inventory. Crain’s talked to the owner about what happened. “‘My lease is up, and I have been losing money for the past three years,’ said owner Roy Ennacheril, who has been at his 10,000-square-foot location since 2002. He cites declining sales for small appliances, like toasters and blenders, as well as for air conditioners, sheets and tablecloths, which all can be bought cheaper and more easily online. ‘You cannot pay Broadway rent and be the cheapest,’ Ennacheril said, estimating that e-commerce has cut into his revenue by as much as 15% in the past four years. High rents and taxes also have played a role in his store’s closing and explain why he doesn’t expect to move to another space.”
American Apparel was sold in a bankruptcy auction to a Canadian company, but its stores were not part of the auction, meaning they will likely all close, possibly in the next few months. The UWS still has one location at 1841 Broadway (60th Street).
Trader Joe’s is indeed coming to 93rd Street and Columbus Avenue, the Superintendent in the building told one of our tipsters. “They are in ramp up mode and hope to open by the spring. Saw a few workers coming in and out of the space too.” Some of our tipsters had been concerned that the deal had fallen through.
Crumb’s on Columbus Ave., just north of 97th Street, across from Whole Foods has closed.
This will be a wecome plus to the UWS. I live in the middle between 72 and 93. So, now I will have access to TJ whetherI do errands either uptown or downtown. 😆
Can’t wait for Trader Joe’s at 93rd!
What is going on at the former Food Emporium site at 90th and Broadway?
I heard–don’t remember where–that Bed, Bath & Beyond will be replace Food Emporium.
Interestingly, that spot needs a large food store, while the Trader Joe on Columbus will threaten a supermarket two blocks to its south and most certainly close small food store one block to its north.
Meanwhile, Columbus hasn’t had a store resembling Bed, Bath and Beyond since Woolworth’s closed.
Could we do a trade?
Yes, we did report that Bed Bath could be coming, though it’s unconfirmed: https://www.westsiderag.com/2016/10/06/openings-closings-full-life-taco-grill-mint-phoenix-roze-and-a-rumor
The manager at Bed Bath and Beyond in Lincoln Center said that was not true and that it never was slated for 90th Street.
That new locksmith and hardware store is very close to Beacon, which is a great neighborhood store. I wish them both luck.
Bella Luna is the best! Missed it terribly. So glad it’s back.
there was a lot of stuff at Metro that was impossible or inefficient to get online — plus you could look at the merchandise, and get assistance.
I’m sad to see them go.
I loved Metro but really, who’s buying an air conditioner there or small appliance?
i think i purchased a toaster oven once.
there was no elevator, a drawback in a community with a large population of elders.
I bought UGG gloves for my wife last month. I was told if she didn’t like them and had a gift receipt she can get her money back. She tried and they refused and then laughed as she left. Now I see why. Worst customer service ever!
Try their Madison Ave store for a refund for your gloves. You can also buy Uggs at Tip Top Shoes.
I kind of disagree about Grand Metro Hardware … It was not the prices that hurt them (perhaps they carried too many for the neighborhoods needs) … but I kept having problems with the store when I have been looking for items … I would go in looking for a specific item and be told by a “salesperson” that that was not what I wanted or that what I wanted did not exist … many times I was replacing an item that outlasted itself … I would end up walking out empty handed and go home and order it online … this happened so many times over the past few years … then there were other item that I bought often like glasses and housewares items that they would suddenly stop carrying … I was getting very frustrated with with them so I stopped shopping there …
“then there were other item that I bought often like glasses and housewares items”
You purchased the glasses to give as gifts? Or perhaps they would break, requiring replacement?
You’ve gotten me curious, as glasses seem an odd item for an individual to buy “often”.
That Enterprise location was (I believe) a Hertz location that left because the building was supposedly coming down. After being empty a while – Enterprise took it.
Isn’t the building next door slated for demo and a rebuild
(Reported on WSR recently?)
I called Enterprise today to confirm (as I need to rent a car Monday) and they said they’re closing for good on Sunday because “the building is being demolished for a new apartment building.”
Yesterday’s story in Crains happens to be about the UWS!
Amazon and high rents are killing New York City retailers
Rents below 96th Street in Manhattan need to come down; landlords won’t do it but that is just a simple fact. Not every business has the deep pockets of a bank or Starbucks, and how many of them do you need on any given block?
Rent should equal about ten percent of gross margin. You’ve got places paying twelve, fifteen or even 17 percent; that just cannot work for very long. This is why you are seeing more and more places closing.
Bad as the UWS is; this plague of vacant storefronts/retail is all over Manhattan. Tribeca, Soho, Greenwich Village, West Village, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Third Avenue, etc…. The latter is even more forlon now that Gracious Home has vacated all that space in the upper 60’s.
All this being said certain businesses will continue to thrive high rents and or the Internet withstanding. You notice plenty of food, bars, and that sector are opening with many doing well. I use SweetGreens as an example because their locations are always packed.
Gastronomia Culinaria took a reservation on the Sat. Of the snowstorm but upon arrival was locked up tight. My son tried to go there around 1/16 and found it locked as well. Does anyone have any info?
Amazing. A hardware store has opened on Broadway.
Finally, a shop that we can really use as opposed to another Duane Reade or shoe store.
Hope they don’t wind up getting priced out of the neighborhood.
Grand Metro was overstaffed. Salesmen in nearly every aisle, which usually isn’t a knock but must have hurt their bottom line. The bizarre layout of the store, with that weird mess downstairs near the lumber, probably required all those employees. Easy store to shoplift from.
Any news on the 110th Broadway (D’agostino’s old location) ?
Why did Bella Giordino on 71st Btw Columbus and CPW change to Popette (?) 2. It looks exactly like
Bella G inside and from what I can remember the
menu, food quality and prices the about the same.
One good addition is that you can now use a credit
card. I asked about the restaurant about s month ago
but haven’t seen a response.