By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Small Door Veterinary is now open on the corner of Columbus and 93rd Street. “Our team is thrilled to meet all of the one, two, three, and four-legged friends who walk in that (small) door,” the company posted on Instagram. The website touts its convenient and modern approach to medical care, including 24/7 veterinary telemedicine. The space was also designed in consultation with “animal scientists to create comfortable, private, and stress-free environments.” There are several Small Door locations already in Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, West Village and Gramercy. (Thanks to Mark for the tip.)
A notice that Blondi’s Hair Salon has been seized for tax payments was posted on its storefront on Amsterdam between 81st and 82nd. Blondi’s wrote that they are “temporarily closed” in an email to WSR. “We are working on resolving this issue and looking forward to see all of our clients back soon.” The UWS location was opened in 2008 by stylist Joseph Nasser, according to the company’s Facebook page. (Thanks to Rich and J.J. for the tips.)
Wilson Sporting Goods is planning to open on June 11 in the Shops at Columbus Circle in the Deutsche Bank Center (formerly the Time Warner Center), according to a store clerk at Wilson’s flagship store downtown. The new shop will replace the Cole Haan shoe store and carry sportswear, footwear, and gear for tennis, basketball, football, golf, baseball and volleyball (insert cast away joke here). The 109-year-old company recently rebranded and opened its first flagship store in Soho this past January. (Thanks again to Michael for the tip.)
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A psychic offering palm and tarot card readings has opened an office on 82nd Street just east of Columbus. Amy, the owner, said people come to her with specific questions, out of pure curiosity, or just for fun. “Whatever their energy tells me, whether its positive or negative, I just read it back to them,” she said. The space used to be a Covid testing center and a Juice Press location. It is $25 per reading and she welcomes walk-ins.
A quick update on a previous WSR article: the kosher bakery William Greenberg Desserts, founded in 1946 and known for its black-and-white cookies, put up signage saying they are expecting to open in mid-July. Located on Amsterdam between 73rd and 74th, it replaces Jacques Torres Chocolate.
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meanwhile Broadway 72 to 96….nothing.0.
Huh? The last entry (my favorite) is about William Greenberg Desserts being located between 73rd-74th Streets. That falls within 72-96, I believe. And because it does my waistline will suffer.
William Greenberg will be on Amsterdam not broadway.
It is not on Broadway.
Look to the cookie!
My stomach hurts.
I had a feeling that a psychic shop was going to open in that space.
Bravo
WSR is promoting a Psychic? Why not a ghost hunter or water dowse or maybe a unicorn salesman? These people are scammers and charlatans who take advantage of gullible people. Don’t legitimize this nonsense.
Agree. Aren’t psychics (i.e., fortune-tellers) regulated under any statues? Sometimes they advertise one price to get people in the door and then say they will give a more complete reading if you pay them more. Be careful.
Hopefully the psychic can help me avoid the increasing number of psychos in the city.
how can a psychic afford to open, but a food store or retail cant?
“how can a psychic afford to open, but a food store or retail cant?”
Maybe she knows something.
Putting aside the business practices of “psychics”, the whole assemblage can be put up/taken down/moved pretty quickly at minimal expense.
So it’s quite plausible the landlord is using this as a spacefiller (far, far, better than vacant), charging relatively little rent, with a “once I get a real tenant you have ot be out in 30 days” deal
Did WSR report on the opening of Brilliant Vets (91st and Amsterdam) a year ago? Not a chain.
That’s another vet who only sees dogs and cats. Small animal need care too.
@Mark, You can take your fish, guinea pig, rabbit, bird, etc., to the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine at Columbus near 87th. They treat all pets except cats and dogs.
https://avianandexoticvets.com/
We do thanks, but would appreciate another option in the area. There are so many vets and most of them only see dogs and cats.
Yes, yes they did.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2021/08/21/openings-closings-the-mill-felice-jokr-brilliant-veterinary-care-upper-90-soccer-key-food
Re: the psychic who “welcomes walk-ins”.
Well, of course; she KNEW you would be coming by.
The Psychic might be fun if you don’t care about the $25. But I believe what she is doing is illegal…
Since you don’t actually know what she is doing, it’s perhaps a bit premature to declare it illegal, no? Or are we now at the “shoot first ask questions later” stage?
I am soooo excited for William Greenberg, they are the best! So happy for more kosher places in the neighborhood.
The lead investor in Small Door Veterinary is a venture capital founder of the tech company Toba Capital. I believe we should be ‘informed’ as to why a private equity company should have expertise in veterinary medicine. It’s happening in our healthcare also.
And how would you like to get ‘informed’ as to why they invested, what they know, what kind of expertise they have, etc.? Would you like to receive the confidential agreement between the two parties? Would you like to redline it as you see fit? What does that do for your dog/cat?
I do not know the details of this specific situation but my guess is that the VC is providing financing for the new vet. It really isn’t that different from a new vet going to the bank for a loan to launch their business. Many people have great ideas to launch a business but not the money to do so, so they go to outside sources for start-up funding.
The big if, which I think is what you are suggesting, is that they are good, caring vets, and not trying to bleed every penny out of the place and skimp on service. But that is where market forces come in – if you go there and get subpar service, then you take your business elsewhere.
On the other side, by having the resources of a VC firm behind them, they might be able to do things like billing, supplies, etc. cheaper, and perhaps they will pass along some of those savings to you.
The problem is that VC’s can keep prices artificially low and drive out the competition. VC’s want to win and make money, they are in it to win it.
I think the last thing you have to worry about with VC backed vets is “artificially low prices.” Vets don’t compete on price at all; they compete on “service,” which really amounts to “bedside manner,” which actually means how much they can get you to spend in order to feel you are “doing the best you can for your pet.” Mostly extra tests that do no harm but are not strictly necessary. The mark up is very high in most practices. Tests are the Monster Cable of the vet industry.
20 million for small door! How can any smaller vet compete? My favorite vet in the neighborhood is Brilliant veterinary. But I also care about every other small vet Does not have VC money
The psychic may tell me that there is a curse on my money. But I already know that.