Openings and Closings: Harry’s Shoes for Kids, Mayan Bistro, Vitamin Peddler, Citizens Bank, Summit Health, Spectrum, Variazioni

By Scott Etkin

Harry’s Shoes for Kids, on Broadway between 83rd and 84th, has closed and its inventory and staff are moving into the main Harry’s Shoes store, on the corner of 83rd and Broadway, to create a new children’s department, an employee told us. Actually, according to New York Magazine, Harry’s “moved its bustling kid’s shoe department into a stand-alone location down the block in October 2006,” so it’s simply coming back. The move and consolidation are expected to be completed in April. Harry’s Shoes, a favorite of many UWS locals (and local celebrities), has been part of New York City for 90 years and is still family owned. The first iteration of Harry’s Shoes was on 116th and 5th Avenue in 1931 and the current UWS location opened in 1975. Last year, WSR profiled Robert Goldberg, grandson of the eponymous Harry, as he led the store through the challenges of the pandemic.

A new restaurant called Mayan Bistro is coming to Amsterdam between 101st and 102nd Street. It fills the vacancy left by Cafe Roma, the kosher pizzeria. We’ll provide an update when more info is available. (Thanks to Ryan for the tip.)

After a series of three-month leases, Vitamin Peddler posted that it is relocating to 83rd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus. The move from its current store on Amsterdam between 77th and 78th Street, where it has been for 13 years, is planned for March. It is replacing Amused, the café that had a fun menu geared toward kids.

Citizens Bank replaced the HSBC on the corner of 95th Street and Amsterdam. This same transition is happening at several former HSBC locations throughout the city, following Citizens’ purchase of 80 HSBC branches along the East Coast last year. (Thanks to Twilla for the tip.)

Summit Health opened a medical office with 20 exam rooms, one of its largest facilities, on 61st Street between Columbus and Broadway. Summit was formed in 2019 by the merger of Summit Medical Group and CityMD. “We know that many patients who visit CityMD for episodic urgent care need primary or specialty care,” said Dr. Dan Frogel, the NY Region’s Chief Medical Officer. In addition to four primary care providers, the UWS office will offer several specialties, including allergy/immunology, cardiology, internal medicine, family medicine and on-site imaging/radiology, among others.

Spectrum is expected to open on the corner of Broadway and 83rd Street in late March. It will be a full-service center, like the one on 96th Street, writes tipster Ian. The space used to be Chico’s, a women’s clothing store.

Variazioni clothing boutique on Broadway between 98th and 99th Street closed on February 15. A few other of the store’s locations remain open in the West 70s. (Thanks to Mark for the tip.)