A new Shake Shack is opening and a chain drugstore is actually closing.
Shake Shack is opening a new restaurant at 116th Street and Broadway in the former home of Ollie’s Chinese restaurant. “For seven or eight years I have said to our team, ‘Guys, can’t we get a Shake Shack up near Columbia and Barnard?’” Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti told the Columbia Spectator. “I have said for years before that this spot, the only spot I really want, is that old Ollie’s spot on 116th and Broadway.” It’s set to open by the end of the year.
Duane Reade is closing a location at 2148 Broadway between 75th and 76th Street as of Feb. 27. Gretchen talked to a manager, who said that it’s part of a larger plan to consolidate. After years of expansions, could chain drugstores actually be disappearing from the Upper West Side? And one day, will you miss them?
Butcher shop Hudson & Charles is getting closer to opening at 555 Amsterdam Avenue at 87th Street, the former home of Schatzie the Butcher (which is now on Broadway between 101st and 102nd). Thanks to Kevin and Oren for the tips. Hudson & Charles also has a location downtown.
Yogurt and Candy World on Columbus between 81st and 82nd is closing in a week, an employee told Carol. According to the employee they apparently can’t pay the $15,000 rent and are moving to 2nd Avenue where the rent is $8,000. “We’re losing the best dark-chocolate nonpareils ever!”
Please send all openings and closings tips to westsiderag at gmail dot com.
Nice way to poach Schatze’s trade. No honor among thieves.
Serving on Grand Jury duty, I had no time to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. I ordered from Shatzie, and I’ll never do that again. It was the worst meal!
It’s funny that you would say someone is poaching Schatzie’s. He was originally located on the UES, but he wasn’t concerned about leaving 30 years worth of customers behind (with no other butchers even remotely in the area unless you count the Food Emporium), so I’m sure he’ll do just fine no matter where he is, even if a dozen butcher shops open on the UWS. Plus customers like to have options.
Correction.
Schatzi’s defection from Madison Avenue did not exactly leave the Upper East Side bereft of butchers. Lobel’s, just a few blocks south, is one of the best purveyors of meat in the city. Schatzi’s was a nice neighborhood store but not in the same league as Lobel’s. (The meat counter at Dean & DiLuca isn’t half bad either.)
Fleishers Craft Butchery on Third at 76th is doing very well. At least it is always packed when I pass.
I never liked Lobel’s and consistently had problems with deliveries; they’d drop off meat that I hadn’t ordered, as well as raw meat that was supposed to be cooked, and nothing ever came on time, and if they messed up they wanted me to return the product or wait until late in the afternoon for another pickup/delivery. It wasn’t close enough for me to pop over every time they messed up, especially when I was picking up kids at school and going to after school activities, etc.
It’s more like, thanks to Hudson & Charles for replacing the service that Schatzie abandoned in this neighborhood. Clearly Hudson & Charles feel they can make enough money in this neighborhood and they’re investing in it. Whereas Schatzie went for higher profits at a lower rent.
Just what we really need: another Shake Shack. Wait ’til I tell my daughter…
How is a new butcher poaching Schatzie’s trade? He left by choice; moved 23 blocks north,and I’m sure he’s got plenty of new business there along with some of his old from 88th.There’s plenty of room (and need) for more butchers, and I’ll welcome the new shop.
I agree, Marci. How is a new butcher shop a thief with no honor? maybe I am missing something here.
I live near there and we need a new butcher since Schatzie left. As of now the closest place is probably downstairs at Wholefoods. Pricey but high quality. Otherwise down to Citarella or Fairway I guess.
Perhaps UWS4ever is an employee of Scahtzie’s. Or who knows, maybe UWS4ever IS Scahtzie.
Wow, I managed to mis-spell “Schatzie” twice. Way to go, me.
Agree with Marci
The closing Duane Reade is halfway between the mega store at 72 and Broadway and the one at 79 and Amsterdam, so it seems to make sense.
No it doesn’t make sense…DR 72nd is understaffed, overcrowded, unable to answer the phone and too small to keep adequate supplies. They just closed DR on 72nd & WE. The store on 76th is excellent and comfortable. They have enough room for meds and a good supply of cosmetics etc. This is not a good decision on Walgreen’s part. This is a good DR….no hassles…always have the scripts on hand. Such a shame.
Methinks Walgreens is getting their ducks in a row in anticipation of the purchase (merger) with Rite Aid. Though now with this new administration who knows if or when that will happen.
If it does in urban areas like NYC you’ll have Walgreens, DR and Rite Aid all often within a block or so of each other. As it is there are already it seems many DR stores far to close to each other than seems necessary from a running a good (and profitable) business stand point.
Am also guessing various rules and laws regarding wages, OT, and or PTO days is playing a part in this downsizing. Some DR stores are barely open for eight hours on Saturdays or certainly Sundays.
Don’t forget the new butcher – White Gold – on AMS Ave & 78th. Really good product, service and prices.
None of these “butchers” have beef or veal cheeks. They won’t even order them for you. They’re butchers?
I’m going to check it out for sure!! Something about a trip to the butcher that just puts me in a good mood.:)
Thanks Norma.
I believe you meant that the address for the Duane Reade location that is closing is supposed to be 2148 Broadway and not 2418?
Yes, thanks for pointing this out. We fixed it. WSR
Will definitely miss the DR at 75th and Broadway!! No way will I go to the pharmacy at 72nd and Bwy it often has a line 5 people deep. Guess I will have to find another local pharmacy. Very strange because this location is only a few years old.
Also, DR closed their 72nd and West End location a few months ago. Residents like me in the 70s all of a sudden have a much longer schlep to the nearest drug store.
Totally agree with you. The pharmacy at 72nd is always busy and usually don’t know what they are doing. The DR at 79th and Amsterdam is a mess. At this DR there was enough room and the pharmacy dept. was always helpful and on top of things! Figures this is the first to go.
Joseph Pharmacy is the best local pharmacy and pharmacists you’ll ever find in the UWS (72nd st). Good, caring, personal service.
They know every one of their customers.
Go there!
Totally agree about very nice comments about Joseph. Really great customer service and often prices lower than the nearby chain drug store outlets.
about going to a REALLY local pharmacy. I have used Valley pharmacy at Amsterdam between 101-102 and its previous incarnations for 15 years of so, even though there is a DR closer to me. It’s not that I never go in DR but I find the owner (Ramesh) at Valley has really gone to bat for me when I have needed more of a migraine medication than various insurance companies have wanted to pay for.
What did you do before all the hated drugstores began proliferating? I thought everyone here hates the chain drugstores which are always cited (along with banks and Starbucks) every time another ‘local mom & pop’ closes. Now no one wants to walk more than 3 blocks to get anything.
The Duane Reade on Amsterdam and 108th has the same sign in its window.
White Gold Butcher 10 blocks south on 78th is the best butcher not just on the UWS but in the city. The all women team is superb and April Bloomfield’s creations are top notch. Hudson & Charles should have moved in prior to White Gold’s opening in Oct/Nov. It’s been almost two years that space has been empty – customers flocked elsewhere.
What we up by Columbia wouldn’t do for a Pret a Manger. An Au Bob Pain. A Hale n Hearty. Any quick soup/sandwich/salad place. We don’t need more burgers, although I am sure Shake Shack will do a booming business.
Regarding a new Shake Shack, the neighborhood will need to look out for increased trash on the street…
Puzzled about butchers opening up given the demographics of the West Side these days?
Seems like there are a lot more people who don’t cook at all. And a more who favor veggie as opposed to meat…
Soon to come: Why Debbie Downer lives on the Upper West Side.
Hi Woody
4th generation New Yorker here 🙂
Does anyone know why the building where Yogurt and Candy World is located has been allowed to have the scaffolding and elevator for so many years? It is obvious it is really there to drive out the businesses.
Other Hudson and Charles in West Village not “East side”. Excellent. Not inexpensive.
Sorry to see another closing. My 60th birthday brunch was at Bistro Ten.
https://mobile.dudasite.com/site/bistroten18com?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbistroten18.com%2F&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#2812
I really miss Bistro 1018!! What is the name of the place that replaced it?
btw, Hudson and Charles does not have a location on the East side. THey are literally on Hudson and Charles downtown, West Village. They are a sustainable butcher shop that works with small farms. Great addition to UWS.
Where is Big Nick`s when we need it.
Don’t get me started on Big Nick’s. Some of the most formative and happiest moments of my life happened at that place.
Being a teenager, tripping on mushrooms at like 2AM with my friends and drinking thick vanilla milkshakes. Just trying to keep it together. Are any places even open 24/7 anymore? I’m not out late anymore these days.
There was nothing better after a great show at The Beacon (Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, etc.)than some nice greasy pizza or a cheeseburger deluxe at Big Nick’s. Place was legendary. But alas, it’s not the 80’s anymore and now we have 5 whatever burgers and Shake Shack, etc. I’ll pass.
The day Big Nick’s closed was the same day I bought a nice cast iron pan and learned how to make a burger properly by myself. Hold the mushrooms.:)
Schatzie definitely won’t be missed by some of us–his attitude was that he was God’s gift to new or prospective customers, as long as things went smoothly–for him! Well before Thanksgiving his first year on 87th, I ordered a small turkey, specifying repeatedly 9 lbs. MAX, which he duly noted in his order book, along with my full contact info. On the appointed day, I went to get my bird–which weighed just under 14 lbs. When I protested it was far too big, and that he hadn’t even let me know, he shrugged, said, “That’s how it is,” and when I refused the turkey, he capped our “exchange” with: “I don’t expect to see you here again.” I replied that that went without saying and left.
Am looking forward to Hudson & Charles’ opening!
And, of course, they pick the very Duane Reade I use to close …. So what’ll replace it – a giant Verizon store?
Re Yogurt And Candy World: Look for the Guittard dark chocolate nonpareils online. That’s probably what the store sold. Whatever the variety (dark, milk, white), they’re the best.
Nobody mentioned CVS on 77th & Bway. They usually pretty well stocked. But the best is Joseph’s on 72nd ST just west of Bway on the south side of the street. Best pharmacists and most friendly help.
Just one thing about Josephs: yes pharmacy is personal and great but watch out for goods from front of the store.Since Ricky left, most things are more expensive and made in China or Mexico or wherever. The light bulbs blow out instantly and to be honest the products seem to be the same as one finds in the Dollar Store. Be careful what you buy. Trying to return something faulty is an ordeal and front store personnel change constantly. I miss the DR on 72nd & WE and will definitely miss the DR on Bway & 76th. One of the great things about living in NYC is that everything is so convenient….not so much now. We don’t even have a supermarket.
It’s a burger joint. Whatever.