West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • 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

Openings and Closings: Agave, El Coco, Loeb Boathouse, Innovation Luggage, 16 Handles

July 28, 2022 | 7:37 PM
in FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
20
Photograph by Scott Etkin.

By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
With additional reporting by Adelaide Gorton

Agave, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, officially opened on July 28 at 688 Columbus Avenue between 93rd and 94th Street. This past weekend they had a soft opening with drinks and snacks, and so far the reception has been positive, a manager told WSR. Agave is taking the place of Gabriella’s, the Mexican restaurant that closed in 2019 after 15 years. Tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas plus salads and side dishes are all on the menu at this large indoor/outdoor space, which seats over 200 people. Delivery is expected to be available starting next week. Agave also has locations in Kips Bay and the West Village, known for their bottomless brunches. “Agave is where you go if you want to get drunk at brunch, but you don’t want to feel like you time-warped to freshmen year of college,” The Infatuation writes in its review of the West Village location. (Thanks to Twilla for the tip.) 

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

El Coco, a taqueria, is opening at 104 West 73rd Street, right off Columbus. It also has locations in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. The menu features “authentic Mexican dishes, empanadas, traditional tacos, and a variety of signature sauces,” according to the website. El Coco replaces Portofino Sun, the beauty and tanning salon, which has moved to 53 West 72nd Street on the second floor.

The Loeb Boathouse, the iconic restaurant on The Lake in Central Park, is planning to close this October due to “rising labor and costs of goods,” according to a company filing. The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking a new operator for the restaurant. The WSR’s Monday Bulletin has more information and some personal memories of the landmark from our readers. (Thanks to Gretchen and Thomas for the tips.)

Photograph by Adelaide Gorton.

Innovation Luggage, on the corner of 68th and Broadway, is closing on July 31 after 30 years of business. WSR previously reported that Morton Williams supermarket signed a lease to take up the whole block beneath the Dorchester Towers, with an opening planned for Summer 2023. Innovation Luggage is searching for a new location, Raphael, a manager, told the WSR. “We have a potential place on 55th and Broadway, but it’s not a done deal yet — we are still negotiating.” Innovation Luggage also has a shop in Westport, Connecticut, and two stores in California. 

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

16 Handles, the self-serve frozen yogurt shop, has closed its location on the corner of Broadway and 98th Street. A notice on the website says the closure is temporary and 16 Handles’ other UWS location (on 75th and Amsterdam) is still open. A clerk there said that there hasn’t been enough business at the Broadway store. (Thanks to Henry for the tip.)

guest
guest

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

20 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
karen Roberts
karen Roberts
19 days ago

Not sure what the deal is with the 16 Handles on 75 and Amsterdam. Store is dirty, machines are broken , it seems like it is no longer part of the franchise. Pity

3
Reply
NPK
NPK
19 days ago
Reply to  karen Roberts

I completely agree but we lost tastee freeze and now this! I am so sad this is gone but not surprised. Every time you go in more machines are broken. And do not get fixed!

0
Reply
topcat
topcat
19 days ago
Reply to  karen Roberts

Agreed! Was there a few weeks ago and it smelled so bad of heavy disinfectants that it overpowered everything. And they closed the entire back seating section at 8 pm. Maybe even earlier than that. What a shame as it was one of our favorite after dinner places for a sweet treat.

Last edited 19 days ago by topcat
1
Reply
good humor
good humor
19 days ago

16 handles has had a tough run, with COVID but also the multi year scaffolding and panhandling.

4
Reply
Concernedsmallbusinessowner
Concernedsmallbusinessowner
18 days ago
Reply to  good humor

Absolutely correct. The aggressive panhandling in this neighborhood has hurt more stores than you will ever acknowledge. They are not individuals who need help, they come from Brooklyn or the Bronx because they know Upper West Siders give them money and they tell their buddies to come to our neighborhood. Doubt me? Ask an officer in the neighborhood. They know them all and how many times they have been arrested for violent acts.

8
Reply
margaret
margaret
19 days ago

You’re right about 16 handles on 75th. The machines are often broken and fewer options work. Flavors are repeated without variation. The place is dirty and the staff are indifferent. It really was a great place, great location (near playground, PS 87, and JCC), but I fear it won’t last as it is.

3
Reply
Katie
Katie
19 days ago

Sorry to see Innovation go – hope they find a new spot! 16 Handles on 98th has been going downhill for a while. Used to be great. It’s a shame. It was one my favorite spots to bring my kids a few years back, but recently it’s been dirty with broken machines and just “off.”

2
Reply
good humor
good humor
18 days ago
Reply to  Katie

yeah that corner space isn’t good. Before 16 handles it was a Starbucks for about 10 years.

0
Reply
Maxine Skopov
Maxine Skopov
19 days ago

Frankly, I believe that all the scaffolding on Broadway has obscured too many stores and is severely curtailing business, especially walk-by business. Unless you want a specific item and know a specific store’s location, the chances of “impulse buying” are definitely lessened.

16
Reply
CardiZ
CardiZ
18 days ago

Anyone who lives here know that specific block that 16 Handles was located on is disgusting and scary.

8
Reply
Jodi
Jodi
15 days ago
Reply to  CardiZ

Yes, the residents of the halfway house a few doors down are always loitering in front and making that block feel very sketchy.

0
Reply
Mary Newman
Mary Newman
18 days ago

I agree with the negative reviews. Several weeks ago the store still wasn’t open at the posted opening time. The woman there was still working on gettting the store open 10 minutes after the posted opening. She refused to answer questions as to when the store would actually open. When I brought to her attention her rude manner she ignored me and responded with a scowl. The yogurt still tasted good.

1
Reply
Marcia M
Marcia M
18 days ago

Looking forward to going Agave which is right across from my building. Gabriella’s was a staple in the neighborhood. They started as a tiny store front on Amsterdam and 93rd and then took over the spot on a Columbus Ave. it was so popular that it was sad to see it close. Hope Agave does well

2
Reply
life long upper-west-sider
life long upper-west-sider
18 days ago

Still missing Tasti Delite on West 72nd. It has remained unoccupied, as are SO many places on the UWS.

2
Reply
Mark Moore
Mark Moore
18 days ago

El Coco seems very reasonable. Thank you.

3
Reply
Joe
Joe
18 days ago

Rents too high, labor costs too high, taxes too high, kills businesses. Also endless scaffolding blocks businesses from passers by.

5
Reply
Concernedsmallbusinessowner
Concernedsmallbusinessowner
18 days ago
Reply to  Joe

It’s not the rents. Taxes, yes, labor maybe – but allowing the panhandling and loitering on every corner IS WHAT IS DRIVING OUT YOUR BUSINESSES.

8
Reply
UWSAli
UWSAli
15 days ago

Nice to see the recent influx of more quality Mexican restaurants in the area

0
Reply
Bryve
Bryve
14 days ago

What is it with the restaurants on that Agave block being so overpriced? The burger place existing is enough to drive me insane given its prices, and the two restaurants that were there before that were also both equally overpriced. Hmmm I wonder why no one’s eating there.

0
Reply
Huh
Huh
14 days ago
Reply to  Bryve

The burger place is kosher. The cost of kosher meat is 2 to 3 times the cost of non kosher . They also need to pay for rabbinic supervision and be closed Friday nights and Saturdays and many holidays.
They are not trying to appeal to people who can eat at the other 99 percent of restaurants. Their customers have very few choices and consider the value decent.

1
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Here’s the Dish: Zaad’s Falafal Sandwich
COLUMNS

Here’s the Dish: Zaad’s Falafal Sandwich

August 16, 2022 | 12:29 PM
Upper West Side Real Estate Market Bulletin, August 2022 Edition
NEWS

Upper West Side Real Estate Market Bulletin, August 2022 Edition

August 16, 2022 | 11:32 AM
0
SHARES
18.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Previous Post

Alleged Stabber of Senior on Subway Still At Large; Police Seek the Public’s Help

Next Post

Updated: Arrest Made in 69th Street Sexual Assault Case; Second Assailant Still At Large

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 development dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants retail riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

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
Updated: Arrest Made in 69th Street Sexual Assault Case; Second Assailant Still At Large

Updated: Arrest Made in 69th Street Sexual Assault Case; Second Assailant Still At Large

Weekend Column: Is Age Just a Number?

Weekend Column: Is Age Just a Number?

Updated: 119th Street Tennis Courts in Riverside Park Renovated; ‘Worth the Wait’

Updated: 119th Street Tennis Courts in Riverside Park Renovated; 'Worth the Wait'

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2022 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
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT US

© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.