Openings and Closings: Warby Parker; Jerusalem Restaurant; Café Paradiso; Starbucks; Brown Harris Stevens

By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Warby Parker, the eyewear company, opened a new location on Columbus between 80th and 81st Streets on February 25. In a nod to the American Museum of Natural History across the street, this store will house a permanent art collection, “Museum of the Blue-Footed Booby,” which is named after the company’s bird mascot. The collection includes artwork by New York-based artists Maira Kalman, Julia Rothman, Nate Padavick, and Or Gotham. The blue-footed booby, which inspired Warby Parker’s color palette, is native to the continental coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The bird is a “sight to behold: It has style and sophistication in equal measure with humor and curiosity,” a sign on the wall of the store reads.  This location will be the company’s 17th store in NYC.

Jerusalem Restaurant, the longtime falafel shop at 2715 Broadway between 103rd and 104th Streets, has closed. The small restaurant, which served Middle Eastern food and was known for being open late, was established in 1979. “I have been coming here for over a quarter century, and they have never disappointed,” a reviewer on Yelp posted in 2021. There is a “For Rent” sign in the window. (Thanks to Nicholas for the tip.)

Café Paradiso, a restaurant serving Italian and American fare, has opened in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at Lincoln Center (144 West 65th Street). The restaurant, which replaces Indie Food & Wine, is backed by restaurateur Shelly Fireman, who was raised in the Bronx and lived for 35 years in “Pietrasanta, an artist community outside of Florence,” according to the restaurant’s website. His group of restaurants also includes Bond 45, Fiorella and Trattoria Dell’Arte, among others. Café Paradiso’s current hours are 8am to 5pm daily (the café will be closed March 5th and 6th) and next week they’re planning to start staying open until 8pm. Beer and wine offerings at the Film Center will resume this spring.

A Starbucks is opening at the northeast corner of 86th Street and Broadway. The space has been vacant for years – a Banana Republic clothing store used to be there over a decade ago. It’s expected that the new Starbucks will just use half of the vacant space, tipster Jon heard at a nearby Starbucks location. 

Brown Harris Stevens, the real estate company, has moved its office from 1926 Broadway to the other side of the block. The new space at 1934 Broadway on the corner of 65th Street, which replaces a Brooks Brothers, covers approximately 17,000 square feet across two floors, a representative told WSR. There’s still some construction going on in the new space, which is expected to be finished this summer. BHS has a 150 year history and specializes in luxury residential listings. It has several offices in NYC and also operates in high-end markets like Westchester, the Hamptons, Connecticut, and Palm Beach.