By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Broadway Restaurant, the classic American diner between 101st and 102nd Streets, has closed after more than four decades. “To our staff and patrons, who have become our friends and family, it has been a privilege and a pleasure sharing all these years with you,” reads a sign on the storefront. The all-day restaurant served up breakfast favorites and other diner comfort food staples, with retro menu signage to match. Wrote one reviewer on Yelp: “Food, service and vibe are all Old School and simply outstanding. ‘Nuff said.” (Thanks to George and Jacqueline for the tips.)
Sherry Herring, the Israeli sandwich shop at 245 West 72nd Street, has closed. “We appreciate your support and the memories we’ve created together,” the business posted on Instagram. “Although we won’t be at this location anymore, we’re excited for new culinary adventures.” The fish sandwich shop originated in Tel Aviv and opened this Upper West Side location, its first in New York City, in the fall of 2021. (Thanks to Jeff and Joy for the tips.)
Spark, a yoga, art and meditation program for kids, opened a studio at 162 West 72nd Street (on the fifth floor) in May. Founded in 2015 by artist Sebastian Alappat, Spark is an “integrated art program that inspires and educates children using the three pillars of art, yoga and meditation.” Alappat, a former art director and designer for companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, wanted to leave the corporate world and share his love of art with children. He began the program in his NYC apartment, hired a team of artists and began to create after-school programs throughout the five boroughs. In addition to after-school programs, Spark hosts summer camps, private art mediation, yoga instruction, and birthday parties. Alappat plans to host a “Portfolio Prep Program” as well as an advanced art camp for children over the age of ten, he wrote to WSR in an email. Field trips to NYC museums are also part of the program.
PingPod, the table tennis chain, is in its soft-opening phase at 243 West 99th Street. Interested players can book online and start playing now, a representative told WSR. The official opening date is June 22nd, and an opening reception will be held then from 5pm to 8pm. The space has two tables in a shared room as well as one table in a private room. “The coolest feature that sets PingPod apart from any other ping-pong venue is that it’s autonomous,” the rep wrote to the Rag in an email – meaning that all reservations and checking in can be done through the PingPod app. Players can also use touchscreens in the studio to order replays of their shots or moments during a game which will be emailed to them.
“The UWS has been a target zone for PingPod since day one. We searched consistently throughout the neighborhood but were met with very low inventory and high prices. Finally, this space became available and met all of our physical criteria and we jumped on it!” said co-founder David Silberman. “The UWS has the right dynamics of density and diversity of people and families that PingPod strives for in our real estate selection and we are confident it will be a high traffic PingPod!”
A Sales & Design Gallery for 50 West 66th Street, the 70-story luxury condo building that’s currently under construction, has opened at 174 Columbus Avenue between 67th and 68th Streets. The tower is designed by Snøhetta, the architects behind many notable projects around the world, and features “50,000 square feet of immersive amenities” and views of both Central Park and the Hudson River. Next to the entrance of the sales office is a sculpture that appears to be an abstract rendering of the new building. Meetings are available by appointment. (Thanks to Melinda for the tip.)
Oh – goodbye Broadway Restaurant!! I will miss you so much even though my usual order of a bacon egg and cheese on a toasted roll always seemed to confused you. Although however it came out, it was always delicious.
Sad so many restaurants closing.
I’ll never think of 100th to 101st on Broadway without thinking of Broadway Diner (and the scaffolding surrounding it).
All the scaffolding in the neighborhood did not help any of these places.
People have been calling the end of the diner era in New York for the last decade. It’s actually surprising at the upper west side has had so many for so long. But inevitably the proprietors retire.
There is a huge Pizza Hut opening on Columbus and 106th where Mighty Crab used to be.
Ping Pod is very cool, you book online and if you book the private room you can bluetooth your phone and play your own music. Good addition to the hood.
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Where, oh where will I be able to have the perfect BLT and coke while reading the paper at a window-side booth?
Anyone interested in reopening this place and making a neighbor happy?
No shade on Broadway Restaurant, but Metro Diner is only, what, a block away?
A block away & 30% higher in prices.
Not the same thing. Sad to see this go.
Hey, if it was up to me, there’d be a diner on every corner!
Broadway Restaurant had better hours. Metro now only opens at 8:30 am – kind of late from a diner. Broadway opened earlier for breakfast. It was much appreciated.
I’d have to imagine the scaffolding didn’t help Broadway Diner.
I’d have to imagine the terrible food was the primary issue. I wanted to like the place – great old-school vibe, but the food was awful.
P.S. The scaffolding is gone.
Broadway diner was such a wonderful place to hang out-such interesting people. I remember Andre, the waiter–all memories now
I was in Broadway Diner this past Sunday & ordered a Lox omelet & was told they did not have any Lox. I said to the waiter that seemed strange. Now I know why.
Sherry Herring was a very expensive place with a limited menu. Not enough Kosher foodies to support it, I guess?
Fish (at least those with fins and scales) including herring are considered kosher. I was underimpressed because the prices were too high and the herring quality was poor, compared with place like Russ and Daughters.
It was all you say and also a cool atmosphere, it was a fun place to hang and share a sandwich with a friend. I wish I had spent more time there!
I really liked the food, but spending almost $40 on two sandwiches relegated it to an every now and again type thing for me. It’s too bad it didn’t work, because in my opinion we need more unique options on the neighborhood.
A 70 story luxury condo. Just what we needed so close to the park. How the hell did
the zoning/Community Board ok this TOO TALL????????
NYC is a real estate developers town. Developers can get anything they want. Sometimes, when illegal construction is temporarily stopped, the construction people continue with construction until they have gone so far that it is difficult for courts to order them to stop and remove the illegal components. Welcome to the BIG apple.
A new fitness/training/boxing gym has opened on Amsterdam between 97 and 98 in the spot where the laundromat was (that has been vacant for at least 5 years!). Next door to the now defunct Moonrise Izakaya.
re : Ping Pong tradition on the UWS lives on.
Those of us who grew up on the UWS will remember Marty Reisman and playing in his place on 96th street, in the basement, around the corner from the the Riverside movie house
“He was good enough to win 22 major table tennis titles from 1946 to 2002, including two United States Opens and a British Open. Many consider him one of the 10 best ever to play the game.” He was a hustler and would make bets playing blindfolded.
I hope there will be a new Marty among today’s UWS players.
Gosh, sad to see another closing. One by one we are losing some of my favorites.
Shining Star on Amsterdam, New Wave Diner on Broadway, Manhattan Diner on Broadway and now The Broadway Restaurant and Cafe Eighty Two.
I wish we could hold onto these neighborhood gems. This neighborhood was always chock full of independent business, now it seems the chains are the only ones to survive. Sad.
Who said anything about Cafe 82 closing? I was there yesterday (Friday) and it was busy in mid-afternoon. What do you know that no one else does??
Cafe Eighty Two also? Does anyone know what will replace it? I’m sorry to see Broadway Diner close because I think it’s the last of the old-school “steaks chops seafood” diners on the upper west side.
Rumor has it the space has been leased to an LGBTQ+ bakery/adult novelty shop.
I for one am glad to see this, as this community has long been under served on the UWS.
It’s not a rumor. A chain bakery/adult store based out of San Francisco is moving in. “Down on the Muffin” offers trans-friendly and gender fluid pastry, They also sell rubber and leather goods for more daring individuals.
“If you want to fit in your chaps, take it easy on our ginger snaps”