Openings & Closings: OsteoStrong, TUMI, Theory, Felice, New Vessel Press
OsteoStrong, just don’t wear heels. Photograph by Joy Bergmann.
OsteoStrong, a franchised fitness center, focusing on skeletal strength and bone density, has opened at 245 West 72nd Street, between Broadway and West End Avenue. It is a machine-based program that uses devices developed by “a biomedical engineer, after he learned his mother had osteoporosis and had to stop gardening,” Mackenzie McMahon, 25, co-owner and operational manager, told WSR. “You only come once a week, for about 20 minutes. You don’t sweat. You can wear whatever you want. The only thing we say is to not wear heels.” For more information about this technique, as well as available memberships, costs, and hours, go to their website here. If you join, your first two weeks are free. Thanks to Joy for the tip.
TUMI. Photograph by Joy Bergmann.
TUMI, the high-end bags and luggage store, has closed at 2205 Broadway (closest to 78th in the Apthorp complex). A sign directs customers to the Columbus Circle location. Thanks to Joy for the tip.
Theory.
Theory, the high-end women’s clothing store at 230 Columbus Avenue and West 70th Street, closed on April 25th, as did Theory’s shop on Madison Avenue. A manager at their Flatiron store told WSR, “It just wasn’t working out at the Columbus Avenue location, because of contract and other issues, but we know the Upper West Side is a strong market.” She didn’t rule out a return to the neighborhood. Meanwhile, the sign says visit one of their other stores or their online site.
Probably not until the end of July.
The latest news from Felice, the Italian restaurant that will fill the space once occupied by Oxbow Tavern, on Columbus Avenue between West 71st and 72nd, is that it will not open for “two or three months,” a manager named Luigi, at the First Avenue location told us. “It will probably happen at the end of July,” he said. We last wrote about it here. They will be posting updates on their website. Thanks to Marie for the tip.
Creative use of vacant space.
The former home of Bank Street Bookstore, on 107th Street and Broadway, is turning into a pop-up community arts center. We recently reported that, beginning on June 5th, Art on the Corner, a pop-up gallery, featuring local artists, will occupy the previously vacant space through the summer. Now, WSR has learned that, until then, a pop-up display of books from New Vessel Press, an independent publisher devoted to “literature in translation and narrative nonfiction from around the world,” is renting the windows. There are no sales at the site. “The window display lets passersby know that our books are available on the UWS at Book Culture, Shakespeare and Company, The Strand, Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold,” said Michael Z. Wise, the publisher of New Vessel Press. “They are frequently reviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and other publications.” Click on their website here.
Very excited about Felice! I love the space and am bummed every time a place fails. The bar is one of the best in the city.
I used to live on the UWS then spent my last two years in the city on Wall St…near Felice 15 on Gold St. We were regulars and was sad to see what Covid did to its business. We’ve now retired to Hilton Head Island and speak often of our good times there. The UWS is lucky to have it…now be sure you support it!
Now Scott Stringer??
WSR reported that Allbirds was opening a store on Columbus Avenue. However the for rent sign is on the store and Allbirds has removed its UWS site. What happened?
Spaghetti galore, you can always eat more.
Re: felice
Not sure it was brought up, but Gebhard’s Beer Culture on 71st was opened today. Noticed they started clearing things off during the week, so may have been a few days.