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.)
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.)
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.
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.)
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
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!
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.
16 handles has had a tough run, with COVID but also the multi year scaffolding and panhandling.
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.
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.
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.”
yeah that corner space isn’t good. Before 16 handles it was a Starbucks for about 10 years.
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.
Anyone who lives here know that specific block that 16 Handles was located on is disgusting and scary.
Yes, the residents of the halfway house a few doors down are always loitering in front and making that block feel very sketchy.
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.
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
Still missing Tasti Delite on West 72nd. It has remained unoccupied, as are SO many places on the UWS.
El Coco seems very reasonable. Thank you.
Rents too high, labor costs too high, taxes too high, kills businesses. Also endless scaffolding blocks businesses from passers by.
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.
Nice to see the recent influx of more quality Mexican restaurants in the area
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.
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.