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.)
Great news about the new Spectrum location. The other one was pretty close but this one is even closer. And that space has been empty for a while so good to have something in it.
Worst case, if Spectrum tells you there is a long wait, you can run across the street and grab a burrito!
It’s only great news if you’re into union busting. The crushing of unions is the worst thing that has happened to Americans.
Variazioni was only closing for what, like, six years?
There were so many Variazonis all along the UWS. Now all the clothing stores have gone bye bye.
The Vitamin Peddler is the best. Very happy he has a new location.
Also. Is Roma opening at another location?
Apparently Cafe Roma is looking for a new location in the 80s or 90s. I haven’t heard any update though.
Best news about Vitamin Peddlers new location (sorry it didn’t work out for Amused). Love this store, the owner, the products – thrilled it will stay in our neighborhood!!!
Roma is planning to open again
He is working on finding best location
Went into Harry’s for my two year old’s shoes, they measured him and told me they had no shoes in his size? When I asked when they might get more inventory they suggested I buy the shoes from Amazon? Very weird experience. Thank goodness for Tip Top Kids!
Harry’s for kids has had very limited stock for the last year due to supply chain issues. It felt like this closing was only a matter of time, but it’s still sad.
Amused hasn’t been open for years, from what I could tell. We loved them but they were only ever open 1-2 days a week and the open/close hours were never clear. I think it was just a side operation of the catering business next door.
Does anyone have any intel on what is or is not going into the old Victoria’s Secret space on Broadway and W.85? There seems to be something going on but it is not clear if the space is being demolished to “white box” space to show to potential tenants, or if someone is coming in. That stretch of Broadway is bleak.
It would be helpful if you gave the actual address of vitamin peddler on W. 83rd St. All of their loyal customers Will be following them to the new store. You can be sure of that!
Could you give me the proper name of the Vietnamese restaurant around 105th St. and Amsterdam thatwas written up in the New Yorker? Was it BAHN?
Yes, it’s Banh. https://www.banhny.com
There’s Miss Saigon at 105th and Banh at 106, which very much praised.
Ooooh! Spectrum is the best!!! Especially their Skinemax channel line-up.