By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Le Petit Parisien, a French sandwich shop and bakery, has opened at 172 Amsterdam Avenue (68th Street). It replaces the French bakery Boule & Cherie, which opened in 2015. The owners of the two businesses are friends, so they arranged for the transition while keeping all the same staff from Boule & Cherie. This is Le Petit Parisen’s fourth location in NYC. “Me and my father own and run all the businesses – it’s not a franchise or anything like that,” said Alex in a phone call with the Rag. Alex was born in Austria and his father is from Greece. “Europe is a melting pot, just like it is here. So French culture goes around […] We love the culture. We love the food.” All baking is done on premise and the sandwiches are made fresh. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., opening an hour later on the weekends. They are expecting to start doing deliveries next month. (Thanks to Joanna for the tip.) 

Five Napkin Burger, at 2315 Broadway (corner of 84th Street), has opened a sushi bar in the back of the restaurant. Guests dining at regular tables can also order off the sushi menu, a representative told West Side Rag. Prior to the new addition, the restaurant did not serve sushi. “So far the new sushi bar is doing really well,” the rep said. “It is always busy and the seats at the bar are usually full at dinner time.” (Thanks to Joy for the tip.) 

Madison Reed, a hair salon, has signage up for a new location at 2315 Broadway (83rd & 84th Streets). The salon specializes in hair color using only their own color brand, which can also be purchased online. Madison Reed opened a large location on Columbus Avenue at 72nd Street in May 2022. The salon’s services include roots, all-over color, highlights, gloss, and blowouts. Madison Reed has approximately 50 salons throughout the United States, a representative told WSR. This will be the second one on the Upper West Side. Other Madison Reed Color Bars in NYC can be found in Tribeca, Flatiron, Brooklyn, and on the Upper East Side. (Thanks to Joy for the tip.)

Scotch & Soda, the Dutch clothing brand, closed its store at the corner of 80th Street and Columbus Avenue. Scotch & Soda recently filed for bankruptcy in the Netherlands and was acquired by the brand management company Bluestar Alliance. Scotch & Soda has stores around the world, including a few in NYC. It opened its UWS boutique in 2016. (Thanks to Billy for the tip.) 

Workplayce, a membership-based co-working space for parents and their kids, is opening at 2030 Broadway between 69th and 70th Streets (on the second floor). Workplayce provides a work space for parents with on-site childcare for children ages 2-6, starting at $12 an hour. There are both quiet enclosed work spaces and shared open work spaces. Membership is $350 per month. (Thanks to Tierney for the tip.) 

FedEx is moving later this month from 2233 Broadway (80th Street) one block north to a larger space at 2255 Broadway (81st Street). The expected move date is May 18th. The new storefront has been vacant for the past few years. (Thanks to Joy for the tip.)

Yasaka, the traditional Japanese sushi restaurant at 251 West 72nd Street, is opening a second storefront under the same name a few doors down at 243 West 72nd Street. A staff member said one location will be for dine-in and one will be for takeout, but plans are still being finalized, wrote tipster Harriet. We’ll update with more information when it becomes available. The original Yasaka opened in 2011; the new space used to be Silverstar Cleaners. (Thanks to Joy, Harriet and Andrea for the tips.)