By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Rothy’s, which makes washable shoes and bags from recycled materials, has opened at 181 Columbus Avenue (the corner of 68th and Columbus). Rothy’s started as a direct-to-consumer brand and it now has stores in several major U.S. cities, including NYC (West Village and Nolita). Rothy’s sells bags and wallets, in addition to men’s and women’s shoes and sneakers. They also sell winter slippers with a sherpa lining. The space was most recently occupied by the clothing shop Variazioni.

Intermix, a chain selling trendy women’s clothing and accessories, is closing its Upper West Side store at 201 Columbus Avenue between 69th and 70th Streets on January 4th, a store clerk told WSR. Currently the store is having a warehouse sale with items up to 80% off. Intermix sells designer clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories in stores nationwide, as well as on their website. Other Intermix stores in Manhattan are located on the Upper East Side, in Soho, and in the Meatpacking district. The clerk told WSR that the Columbus Ave. lease was up, and that the corporate office decided not to renew. The store has been at 201 Columbus for 22 years, it opened in the fall of 2000.

Lungta, a small shop selling handmade cashmere, silk and wool scarves and jewelry from India and Nepal, has opened at 228 Columbus between 70th and 71st Streets. Pema Rishing, the owner, grew up in the Himalayan region of Sikkim and has had pop-up shops around NYC for the past 15 years, including at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market. Pema started wearing scarves as a child after she was diagnosed with cancer and began losing her hair from the treatment. The items she sells are “great quality for use in daily life,” she said. Lungta will also start carrying quilts and home goods. (Thanks to Rachel for the tip.) 

Amsterdam Wine Co. between 72nd and 73rd Street is under new ownership. Sabrina Jawer and Kaare Bivin-Pederson, two employees at the shop, have purchased it from the owner, who moved to North Carolina during the pandemic. Amsterdam Wine Co., which opened in 2014, will remain largely the same and have the same staff, said Sabrina. One notable change is they’ve “doubled the size of the everyday value section” of bottles $25 and under, she said. There are tastings on Thursday through Saturday (updates available on Instagram), where you might see Sabrina’s dog Oskar, who is consistently named the “employee of the month.”

Reamir Barber Shop at 512 Columbus Avenue (85th Street) has consolidated with the existing Reamir shop at 303 Columbus Avenue between 74th and 75th Street. WSR reported last week that the NYC Barber Shop & Museum on Columbus and 74th Street has also moved to 303 Columbus, which a sign on the 85th Street window refers to as the NYC Barber Museum Boutique. A sign also tells clients that “Barber Steven” has relocated and gives his cell phone number. Reamir has other locations at East 57th Street and East 44th Street. 

Five Below, a discount chain with more than 1,000 stores nationwide has now opened at 805 Columbus Avenue (at 100th Street). The space was formerly a Petco. Five below sells toys, games, home decor, beauty products, arts and crafts, fitness products, pet supplies and more. Most items in the store cost five dollars or less. A small amount of items are priced between $6 and $25.

Salon M, a beauty salon, has closed their Upper West Side location at 425 Freedom Place (at 63rd Street). The salon which offered haircuts, blowouts, manicures, pedicures and other spa services has another location in Tribeca. An employee at the Tribeca salon told WSR that the UWS lease was up after ten years. (Thanks to Andrew for the tip.)