West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG
No Result
View All Result

Favorite WSR Stories

  • This Giving Tuesday Help Sustain West Side Rag
  • STAMPED OUT! Have Notaries Vanished from the Upper West Side?
  • Why Residents of an UWS Building Are on a Rent Strike: ‘Only Negotiation Power We Had’
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS: SUPER TACOS, TURKUAZ, HEYDAY, SAJE, ROYAL SOUL FOOD, TAIJI BODYWORK

August 15, 2017 | 6:55 PM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
26

A new taco spot is here, but a well-loved Turkish restaurant has closed.

Super Tacos, owned by the guys who run the taco truck at 96th and Broadway, has a handwritten sign on the window saying it’s open at 96th Street and West End Avenue. The truck is famous, and hopefully the restaurant will live up to the reputation. (Let us know if you go!) Thanks to Tom for the tip.

Turkuaz, a Turkish restaurant on Broadway between 99th and 100th Street that had been around since 2000, closed on Sunday. Owner Ali Kocak said he was closing following a dispute with his landlord. Turkuaz has another location in Fort Lee. The restaurant had a good reputation. “Loved it,” wrote Paul, who sent in the photo above. “Really unique yet low-key joint. They had belly dancing on Saturday nights, tapestries on the ceilings, and a great brunch. Nice place for a romantic date or a large party.”

HeyDay, a skincare shop, is opening on 71st and Columbus next to Drybar this fall, according to a sign out front. Thanks to Swati for the photo.

Saje Natural Wellness at 158 Columbus Avenue (67th) is holding an opening party on Tuesday, August 22, with special deals, champagne and “plant-based treats.” It’s taking over part of the old Starbucks space there.

Taiji Body Work, a new massage spot and spa, just opened on 102nd street between Broadway and Amsterdam (but closer to Broadway), Jessica tells us.

Royal Soul Food at 914 Columbus has closed and has a For Rent sign in the window. Thanks to Daren for the tip.

Laser Away, which does hair and tattoo removal, is opening on Amsterdam between 66th and 67th next to Starbucks. As Lee points out, another hair removal place called Spruce & Bond already opened across the street. Thanks to Lee for the photo.

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
Leave a comment

Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.

guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

26 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mark
Mark
8 years ago

“Turkuaz, a Turkish restaurant on Broadway between 99th and 100th Street that had been around since 2000, closed on Sunday…following a dispute with his landlord.”

One question: Does The Market eat Turkish?

0
Reply
Sue
Sue
8 years ago

Loved Turkuaz! Will miss it.

So… a bank? A Duane Reade? A Blue Mercury?

0
Reply
UWCider
UWCider
8 years ago
Reply to  Sue

I say bring Big Nick`s Back!! who`s with me?

0
Reply
ron shapley
ron shapley
8 years ago
Reply to  UWCider

yes

0
Reply
SA NYC
SA NYC
8 years ago

Tattoo removal services: the most predictable pendulum swing-back business of the last 10 years?

0
Reply
DrMary
DrMary
8 years ago

UWSiders. Evidently we have bad skin. Bad hair. Bad bodies. So what else is new? We’re middle aged!!! What we need are reasonably priced groceries, a decent laundromat open past 8:30 pm (and on the weekends! I mean, come on!!! We’re middle aged, not dead.) and comfortable, welcoming places to eat. I am futility awaiting the day that all of these new, overpriced, self-pampering stores go away. I mean, would I like to have better skin? Better hair? A better body? Of course. I’m just too smart to think paying exorbitant must-cover-the-rent prices for ineffective marketing-driven drivel is real. I’ll eat well, exercise, drink plenty of water and continue to look for a place to do my fucking laundry, thank you very much.

0
Reply
ron shapley
ron shapley
8 years ago
Reply to  DrMary

Post this all over the neighborhood…..

0
Reply
Cat
Cat
8 years ago
Reply to  DrMary

I’d also prefer a laundry and a normal grocery store where I don’t have to battle my way through the aisles and stand online for 30 minutes. These places cater to the 20 to 30ish crowd who already look super amazing and do the whole gym, laser, facial, stylist, mani/pedi routine. It’s just maintenance for them and they can afford to blow $200 on a teeny bag of products every week. They don’t want people who need an overhaul. 😉

0
Reply
JM
JM
8 years ago
Reply to  DrMary

Well said.

0
Reply
james
james
8 years ago

This place was a dump, of course they are closed!

0
Reply
L
L
8 years ago

So sorry to see Turkuaz go. Great restaurant.

0
Reply
UWCider
UWCider
8 years ago

Royal Soul Food was a strange place. The food was OK but (for that type of place) could have been going pricey really quick because of the buffet style. I`m almost certain its a chain. I have seen one in Brooklyn.

0
Reply
Virginia
Virginia
8 years ago
Reply to  UWCider

I’m sorry for the owners but when I checked it out a while ago, people were touching the food, changing their minds and putting it back. Self-serve buffets are a bad idea.

0
Reply
UWSHebrew
UWSHebrew
8 years ago
Reply to  UWCider

bland food (a lot of mush), that went up in price every few months. won’t be missed.

0
Reply
Nicole
Nicole
8 years ago

Turkuaz was terrific and rather unique. What a shame! Nothing but personal care, suburban-style chains and banks opening up in place of all the interesting places that have been closing. Don’t landlords realize that is just going to bring all real estate prices down eventually as the neighborhood becomes totally boring?

0
Reply
Chuck D
Chuck D
8 years ago

Loved Turkuaz! Yet another place closed on Broadway. When are these landlords going to learn????????

0
Reply
Woody
Woody
8 years ago
Reply to  Chuck D

Learn what? You don’t think they’re as business savvy as you?

0
Reply
AnDee
AnDee
8 years ago

What’s up with Mama’s Too? Haven’t seen signs of activity there for months!

0
Reply
Jay
Jay
8 years ago

Turkuaz really was not good (bodrum is far superior) and the space was huge. Last time I went it was more than 2/3rds empty. I’m not surprised it closed. Hopefully something better will replace it.

0
Reply
Alice
Alice
8 years ago

Does anyone know what is happening to the Westside Market on Broadway and 77th Street? Is it closing? There are signs outside saying “Save Westside Market.”

0
Reply
West Sider
Author
West Sider
8 years ago
Reply to  Alice

Our latest: https://www.westsiderag.com/2017/08/10/for-rent-sign-sparks-fears-that-west-side-market-will-close

0
Reply
Mark Moore
Mark Moore
8 years ago

So now that the restaurant opened what are they going to do with the taco truck? I doubt they’ll leave it a block away.

0
Reply
ya
ya
8 years ago

Why can’t we get a good Thai restaurant around here?

0
Reply
Suzanne
Suzanne
8 years ago
Reply to  ya

Try AmsterThai on Amsterdam at 101st and Amsterdam. Delicious food and friendly service!

0
Reply
wombatNYC
wombatNYC
8 years ago
Reply to  ya

I miss Sura for Thai

0
Reply
Margaret Ryan
Margaret Ryan
8 years ago

Oh,sad about Turquaz. Only place that did well in that space since it was, i think, Uncle Wong’s Harbin Inn in the mists of history. Loved their food, and the ambiance.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

The Disco Ball Causing Problems on West 86th Street: ‘Extremely Disruptive’
ABSURDITY

The Disco Ball Causing Problems on West 86th Street: ‘Extremely Disruptive’

December 5, 2025 | 12:27 PM
UWS Weekend: Great Things To Do in the Neighborhood
COLUMNS

UWS Weekend: Great Things to Do in (and Around) the Neighborhood

December 5, 2025 | 7:56 AM
Previous Post

FALLING TREE INJURES 4 PEOPLE IN CENTRAL PARK

Next Post

SILVER STARS FITNESS: SIGN UP BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11TH AND GET 20% OFF ALL FITNESS SERVICES. SILVER STARS WILL HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE AND STRENGTH!

this week's events image
Next Post
SILVER STARS FITNESS: IS YOUR FITNESS PROGRAM RIGHT FOR YOU? HERE’S HOW TO FIND OUT.

SILVER STARS FITNESS: SIGN UP BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11TH AND GET 20% OFF ALL FITNESS SERVICES. SILVER STARS WILL HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE AND STRENGTH!

TWO INJURED AS SUV SLAMS INTO SUBWAY STATION AT 66TH

TWO INJURED AS SUV SLAMS INTO SUBWAY STATION AT 66TH

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FILES BUILDING PERMITS, BUT IT’S NOT A DONE DEAL YET

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY FILES BUILDING PERMITS, BUT IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL YET

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
    • GET WSR FREE IN YOUR INBOX
    • SEND US TIPS AND IDEAS
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.