West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

Search the site

No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

AVAILABLE NOW!


HERE

Openings and Closings: Homemade Taqueria; Crossbar; Sprint Sports; Melissa’s Gourmet Deli; H&H Bagels

April 5, 2022 | 4:40 PM
in NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
19
Photographs by Scott Etkin.

By Scott Etkin

Homemade Taqueria has opened on Columbus between 109th and 110th Street. Hilario Morales, one of the founders, worked at his first taqueria “in Mexico City at 15 years old,” he wrote on Instagram, and opened the original Homemade Taqueria location with his wife, Felicitas, in Long Island City in 2010. There are now several Homemade Taqueria restaurants in NYC – the UWS location is the first one in Manhattan. At the original restaurant in LIC, “we worked from open to close every day for months with our kids having to stay with us in the restaurant after school,” he wrote. “It truly started as a family-owned and run business.” Some of the most popular tacos on the menu – which also has burritos, nachos, antojitos and more – include: the Al Pastor, Grilled Shrimp, Lengua (Beef Tongue) and Spicy Pork. (Thanks to Dave for the tip.)

Crossbar, a soccer-themed café, retail and event space, is coming to 86th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue. Across two levels and 4,000 square feet, soccer fans will be able to order Devoción coffee and food while watching a game, shop for gear at an Upper90 store, and play on a mini field. Crossbar is under the same ownership as Upper90, which has a store on the corner of Broadway on the same block. Upper90 (referring to the top two corners of the goal) was founded in 2009 and has had space on the UWS for many years. Crossbar replaces The Parlour, the Irish pub and restaurant that closed last fall.

Photograph by Susanne Beck. (A longtime salesmen, not the owner)

Sprint Sports, the sneakers and apparel shop that has been on Broadway between 93rd and 94th Streets since 1986, is closing. Susanne Beck, author of a recent profile about the owner Dany Ghatan, writes:

Ghatan says it is time. He has spent almost half his life developing a devoted group of employees and a very loyal clientele – one was quoted recently in the WSR saying “Dany is such a gentleman. The owners and associates are considerate and knowledgeable. Sprint Sports is the place to go if you have feet…you don’t need to be a runner.”

But between rising costs, pandemic-related supply chain issues, and yes, the ever-present scaffolding, which continues to overshadow the storefront, he says it’s time to enjoy life. “It’s time to relax a little…I want to spend time with my grandchildren.”

In the meantime, Ghatan is helping make sure his staff has new jobs. And he has placed all the merchandise at a 40% discount. “We will sell it until it all goes.” While a specific close date has not been set, Ghatan is sure it will be before the end of May. “I have a wedding to go to,” he says, with a smile in his voice.

Another longtime store on the UWS, Melissa’s Gourmet Deli on Broadway between 61st and 62nd Street, has closed. “After 32 years it’s sad that we had to leave our community and loyal customers,” Melissa’s ownership wrote in an email to the WSR. “We tried our best, but the pandemic hit us hard. And unfortunately the city isn’t like it used to be.” In the early days of the pandemic, Melissa’s stayed open for delivery and in March 2020, they posted on Facebook that they were stocked with essentials. (Thanks to Ann, Lynn and Mary for the tip.)

After a nine-week renovation, H&H Bagels on Columbus between 85th and 86th Street has reopened. The store, which is five blocks away from the original H&H that opened in 1972, has “new brighter lighting, new floors and tiled walls, new tables and chairs, and an airy, friendly vibe,” writes Ed Hersh (read his full article about H&H here). The re-model coincides with H&H’s strategy to franchise its “fast-casual bagel concept into the top 50 U.S. metro markets.” Other H&Hs can already be found at JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station.

Share this article:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

guest

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

19 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sam Katz
Sam Katz
1 year ago

I really relied a great deal on Melissa’s for the past 32 years and I wish the real estate giants would stop putting the neighborhood stores out of business.

0
Reply
Otis
Otis
1 year ago
Reply to  Sam Katz

How did “real estate giants” put Melissa’s out of business? The owner makes ZERO mention of rent or landlords being a factor in the decision to close Melissa’s.

Don’t rant nonsense.

That said, I’m sad to see it go. My first job out of college was located in Columbus Circle. I would regularly go to Melissa’s with colleagues at least a couple of times a week because at the time there weren’t many places to grab a bite nearby. It’s hard to believe now but the area was kinda sketchy back then.

Interestingly, the decor of Melissa’s has remained exactly the same since the early 1990s. During recent visits there I felt like I was stepping into a time machine.

0
Reply
Mike
Mike
1 year ago

Although I’ve read a few anecdotes about quality and possibly safety diminishing recently, I can’t say I ever had a bad experience at Melissa’s. Sandwiches were always made to order and tasty, service was quick and friendly. A recent visit, filled with mostly bare shelves made us question if the writing was on the wall. It’s unfortunate that one of the few mom & pop places to pick up a reasonably priced deli sandwich in this immediate area of banks and drugstores and big box stores is now gone. We’ll miss the #9 on a hero.

0
Reply
LL
LL
1 year ago

Ok. So Spirit Shoes. A local place closing is very sad. BUT. The sales people have never been good. It felt like I could have been at DSW.

0
Reply
LL
LL
1 year ago

Wait. Has the scaffolding been there for just about 4 years now? Wow. And it HAS NOT been good for anyone.

0
Reply
Judy Bonkers
Judy Bonkers
1 year ago

Sad to see Melissa’s Gourmet Deli go.

0
Reply
LEE APT
LEE APT
1 year ago

MELISSA’S WAS MY GO TO PLACE BEFORE LINCOLN CENTER. VERY NICE SERVICE AND FRESH FOOD. I WILL MISS THEM. THEY EVEN KNEW MY “REGULAR SANDWICH. 🙁

0
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
1 year ago

That’s too bad about Melissa’s. I used to dash into there during halftime at the Met for some quick refreshment.

0
Reply
D-Rex
D-Rex
1 year ago

I will miss Sprint Sports, such nice people!
I may not buy as many sports shoes as I used to, but when I do, that is where I go.

Best wishes and thanks for the greats years of service, you will be missed.

0
Reply
Carlos
Carlos
1 year ago

I’m eager to check out Crossbar. I walk past several times a day. Parlour always seemed to do a decent business – I think they drew a lot of adult league teams stopping by after games, as well as some supporters clubs. Good idea to start a soccer themed place not long before the World Cup.

0
Reply
Terence
Terence
1 year ago
Reply to  Carlos

Carlos,
Agreed….it is a nice large space for a sports bar but can also be a venue/party space for a group that wants to rent the basement space for a private party.

If they offer a decent menu, they will be very successful there.

Let’s hope!

0
Reply
Bonniel
Bonniel
1 year ago

Melissa gourmet was one of my favorite go to spots. So sad. I’ve been a loyal customer since moving to nyc in 1998. Another sad local loss due to Covid.

0
Reply
Joe
Joe
1 year ago

Please lower the commercial rents on the UWS so businesses can come back.

0
Reply
rs
rs
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

And please make every day sunny and warm, and please make everyone in the world be nice.

0
Reply
Chris
Chris
1 year ago
Reply to  rs

1st is possible 2nd request is impossible:)

0
Reply
Dinesh
Dinesh
1 year ago

Is the taco place replacing Giovanni’s pizza??

Dany is a gem of a man. When he used to be in the store regularly, he’d always jokingly harass me about not having a wife, just like my parents. Felt like home every time I stepped through his doors, just with more sneakers 🙂

0
Reply
LL
LL
1 year ago
Reply to  Dinesh

No – it is on the southern corner of the same block though. This space used to be a very good Bangladeshi restaurant that closed during early Covid.

0
Reply
Steve M
Steve M
1 year ago

Taqueria y Fonda La Mexicana in that area will always be the champ, IMHO. Jorge and his crew rock the UWS. Best Mexican ever!

0
Reply
jane
jane
1 year ago

Does anyone know what is going in to the space where Victoria Secret was @ SW corner of W85/Bway?

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Mayor Announces New Partnership With Faith-Based Group to House Asylum Seekers
NEWS

Mayor Announces New Partnership With Faith-Based Group to House Asylum Seekers

June 5, 2023 | 7:27 PM
After 42 Years, West Side Kids Toy Store Is Moving
NEWS

After 42 Years, West Side Kids Toy Store Is Moving

June 5, 2023 | 5:50 PM - Updated on June 6, 2023 | 10:05 AM
Previous Post

Guess Which UWS Spot Was Just Named One of the ‘Hottest New Restaurants in Manhattan’

Next Post

Police Release Photos of Alleged Anti-Semitic Incident Perpetrators

this week's events image

Explore Your Favorite Subject

20th precinct 24th precinct american museum of natural history animals art bicycling bulletin central park closings columns community board 7 coronavirus crash crime dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history homelessness jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings openings and closings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

The City
Brick Underground
City Limits
Eater
Gothamist
NY Daily News
NY Post
NY Times

LOCAL RESOURCES

Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Central Park Conservancy
CB7
Community Education Council 3
Assembly District 67
The New York Historical Society
Riverside Park
West End Preservation

UWS Blogs

Bloomingdale History Central Park Blogger
North River Notes

Next Post
UWS Resident Charged in Subway Hammer Attack and Duane Reade Robbery on 111th St. – NYPD

Police Release Photos of Alleged Anti-Semitic Incident Perpetrators

St. John the Divine and Other Local Churches Partially Reopen; One Bans Singing

Cathedral of St. John the Divine Will Offer In-Person Services for Holy Week and Easter

Have You Seen the Etching Man? He’s Been on Broadway and 80th for 30 years

Have You Seen the Etching Man? He's Been on Broadway and 80th for 30 years

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

© 2023 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
  • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.