Openings, Closings, & Relocations: Big Gay Ice Cream, Rootchi, Pizza Collective, The Shade Store, Apthorp Pharmacy
Big Gay Ice Cream has put its sign up at 516 Columbus Ave (85th Street), the former home of Birdbath bakery. Big Gay Ice Cream has fun takeoffs on classic flavors like Rocky Roadhouse, an ode to Patrick Swayze. The company said it does not have an opening date to release yet. Thanks to Jamie and Edward for the tips.
The Rootchi-Lauren Vidal Boutique at 2450 Broadway near 91st Street has closed, though you can still buy items from the store online. Thanks to Janet for the tip.
A new restaurant called Pizza Collective is opening at 2060 Broadway between 70th and 71st Street. The sign on the window gives a cryptic message: “Is it me or is it getting crazier out there?” with a yes and no button under the words. Unfortunately, the Instagram handle posted on the door does not appear to link to an active account. The Instagram account has more ads like the one above, and the website only says something new is coming. Absent any further information, we presume they will sell pizza.
The Shade Store is opening a new location on Broadway between 88th and 89th Street, on the west side of street, between Duane Reade and Wells Fargo Bank. The Shade Store, which sells shades, has another location on Columbus and 75th. Thanks to Ruby for the tip.
The Apthorp Pharmacy is moving out of the Apthorp on 79th and Broadway, to the former home of Bra Smyth on Broadway between 77th and 78th. It’s apparently been in that space since 1910 — 109 years! Vasili Katergaris, a pharmacist at Apthorp Pharmacy, said they are moving to “save a little money on the rent. The Apthorp is expensive and spot we’re moving to is cheaper.” They were planning to move by the end of the year, but now it looks like it will be the beginning of next, probably by March. The pharmacy and most of the items are going, but the cosmetics department will be a little smaller in the new place. Thanks to our many tipsters, including Warren, who sent in the photo above.
I want to see Chick-Fil-A move in next door to big Gay Ice Cream. Everybody gets along 👍
Are you not realizing that Chick-Fil-A is anti-gay, whereas Big Gay Ice Cream is owned by 2 gay men? I guess when you’ve never had to worry about your safety due to being LGBTQ, it’s easy to make a lighthearted joke of the 2 businesses opening next to each other.
Oh WestWestWest.
I, too, am a gay man but at least I understand when someone is making a joke.
I also don’t believe in preventing businesses from operating because I don’t like where they stand on various issues. If that were the case, Big Gay Ice Cream could be prevented by homophobic right wingers.
Sometimes lighthearted jokes is exactly what everyone needs.
NotImpressed, if you were familiar with some of UWSHebrew’s other comments you would know that he or she is not joking, but rather mocking. It’s gross.
And unfortunately, we’d probably be seeing a different reaction if a business were opening in the UWS from an owner who expressed anti-semitic beliefs and donated to organizations that have supported anti-semitic causes.
I’m not mocking. I think it would be great because it’s so obvious that everyone would get along with each other. Thanks for the hate though.
George, I’m very familiar with UWSHebrew’s posts and I almost never agree with him.
But this post was a good one, and I take each post at it’s value.
Sorry, my comment didn’t post in full before. Trying again:
I get that UWSHebrew’s post may read like a joke to those not familiar with her agenda on this site. She banks on that—I call out her joke, those unfamiliar with her inevitably tell me I can’t take a joke, then she chimes back in and calls me snowflake and claims another victory.
UWSHebrew consisterly insults people and causes that she sees as counter to Trump values (probably the strongest oxymoron ever to leave my mouth), and finds ways of twisting a wide range of subjects to all be evidence of anti-semitism.
My point in posting—accurately echoed here by George—is that just because Chick-Fil-A & Big Gay Ice Cream sharing a block is a hoot to UWSHebrew, does not mean it must be a hoot for us all. Many of us are educated UWSers who understand that persecution comes in many forms—and that although the limits of our own experience naturally make it difficult for any of us to truly understand each form, that doesn’t make any form less real.
As a fellow Jew, I welcome UWSHebrew to challenge herself: spend a week away from this site. In that time, instead of setting online fires, read about the history and struggles of identities other than your own. If you’re reading with an open mind and heart, you’ll begin to understand the persecution you’ve perpetuated by repeatedly elevating your own identity as the only valid one in this vast, complex city. UWSHebrew, I don’t expect you to take me up on this. I expect my proposal to make you at least a little uncomfortable, though—and that’s a start.
UWSHebrew, what on earth leads you to believe it is “so obvious that everyone would get along”?
Fascinating how you much extrapolate from what you perceive as my nefarious intentions and meaning from my two sentence post that is simply optimistic. To you and the other hysterics regarding this; do you all really, sincerely believe that if these two businesses would be located next to each other, there would be anything negative in their relationship? On the contrary, it would be positive, and would likely lead to more positivity. Also, I’m not a she.
What is evident here is that there are people who believe that only stores with a “correct” political culture are welcome. I’ll bet many of those same complainers bemoan the many empty storefronts.
Perhaps those who demand that store maintain certain religious values should move to a theocracy, Those who demand a cultural litmus test move to a country that shutters religion.
In the meantime, most of us, including this gay, Jewish, left-of-center UWSer am open to anyone as long as they participate in the neighborhood in a safe way. Until Chick-fil-A refuses to provide services to gay people, I don’t care what their board believes.
1. How do you know that the jokester is not gay?
2. I think their point is that it would be really good for Chik-fil-A’s owners to see who lives and is valued here on the UWS. If they come, they’ll have to live in our world, not vice-versa. And that is healthy.
You might be on to something that I never thought of before. Interesting.
It certainly would explain a lot.
Chick fil a is a franchise company, many of the store owners do not align with Dan Cathy political or religious views.
The pizza collective instagram has two underscores, not just one. If you search that you’ll see their active page!
Thanks!
Apparently pizza collective does have an active instagram account! @pizza__collective (two underscores)
Thanks!
I think the quotation in the window of Pizza Collective is from the new Joker movie – Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) says it.
The Shade Store, which sells shades. Sounds a little shady to me.
I guess people choose not to remember that chic-fil-a in Florida opened on a SUNDAY to help feed those who were helping at the Pulse night club shooting.
I’d be inteeested in seeing some support for that. I never heard that. It would help bring some balance to their public persona.