By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
The Granola Bar is opening in December, 2023, at 551 Amsterdam Avenue (87th Street), a company representative told West Side Rag. Kirsh Bakery, which closed in October 2022, was previously in the space. The Granola Bar was founded in Westport, Connecticut in 2013 by friends Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain (@granolygirls). There are now seven locations in Connecticut and Westchester, and this will be the first in New York City. The cafe is a “home-away-from-home eatery,” the rep said, offering “health-forward, quality-driven options,” specializing in homemade granolas in a variety of flavors, including cinnamon honey, lemon biscotti, maple bacon, and dark chocolate. They also serve sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls, pasta, and smoothies. The shop will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Thanks to Matt for the tip.)
Beambar, a teeth-whitening salon, opened on September 23rd at 290 Columbus between 73rd and 74th Streets. The salon takes walk-ins and advance appointments for teeth-whitening sessions, which last about an hour and cost $129 (a $99 special promotion is being run through the end of September). The gel treatment is “FDA registered,” according to the company’s website, and works by “removing stains from the tooth’s pores; it is not abrasive or damaging to the enamel.” The whitening process involves hydrogen peroxide, which is activated by blue LED lighting, Kayvon, the salon manager, told West Side Rag. Vitamin E oil is also applied to the gums. The process is DIY (do it yourself) Kayvon explained, with instructors teaching clients how to apply both the hydrogen peroxide and the oil. Results last for six to eight weeks, he told the Rag. There is another Beambar downtown on Bleeker Street, which is the flagship location. The UWS space was previously the Barber Shop Museum.
Panera Bread, the bakery-cafe chain, has opened at 2333 Broadway and 85th Street — its only location on the Upper West Side. Originally founded in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, Panera now has 2,000 locations in North America, including several in New York City. The company is still based in Missouri. The space used to be a Victoria’s Secret. (Thanks to Heather for the tip.)
Broadway Bubbles laundromat is closing its longtime location at 2785 Broadway between 107th and 108th Streets. A staff member said they are moving to a new location, but couldn’t provide specifics (we’ll follow up with more information when available).
According to a report by Patch, Bubbles will be replaced by Nan Xiang Soup Dumpling, a Shanghainese restaurant. Its original location opened in Flushing, Queens, in 2006 and has been recommended by the Michelin Guide. Nan Xiang’s other locations are typically open early (9 a.m. or 11 a.m.) till late at night. (Thanks to Ann for the tip.)
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Very excited to have Panera finally open. Wish they had more table seating but I’ll still take it. Can’t wait for the Naya next door to open.
The Variazione shop in the old Aldo space on 84/Bway has a sign in the window that it is closing.
That is the Variazione business model. They’ve had those signs up for 20 years.
Just as well. A Variazione shop recently opened at 86th and Amsterdam (SW corner), a prime space that had been vacant for many years (since Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf closed).
We are getting a lot of new Asian eateries up near Columbia. Kyuramen at Broadway and 108 has individual screened seating booths…and the ramen is excellent.
Yea Dumplings!!!
Soup dumplings, yay! But I’ll miss that Bubbles sign. So cheerful.
Word in the hood is that Bubbles is moving one block north to what was the Underground Bar.
Sorry all – I meant south.
The Underground Bar was one half of a block south of their current location.
oops. yes. south.
I heard the same thing. The new space has been going through renovations. It’s right across the street on the same side. Need Bubbles
Nan Xiang is incredible. Think soup dumplings, sui mai,scallion pancakes, rice cakes, crispy noodles, sautéed udon, HOMEMADE CHILI OIL etc.) with a Michelin star back then. We went to their original very humble Chinatown Flushing location, nearly on a weekly basis, for many years. The place was always packed even at 1am. They then abruptly “closed forever ” during the pandemic(we nearly cried in public) and much later resurfaced one block away from their original location. That new location is a very modern two-story restaurant that is far less plain Jane. It’s still great but prices have nearly doubled and portion sizes for several items have shrunk.Soon after, they became a chain and We’ve been to their locations in midtown (prices are extremely high there) and Cherry Hill, NJ. Food tastes nearly the same but never as good. They are sprouting up everywhere (with several additional outposts serving as small to-go places). I’ll happily welcome them to the UWS even though I miss everything about their original humble location.
Bubbles might be moving to the old Pomander Bookshop (and ff.) in the basement on 107 and West end, SW corner…
I love that the Kirsch space is being filled by what sounds rather like a crunchier version of its former tenant, the Popover Cafe, of blessed memory.
True aficionados of “Panera” (whatever that is) know it, and will forever refer to it, only as “BreadCo.”
Bubbles is definitely moving to the old Underground location, according to the folks working at Bubbles. Last I heard from them — a week or two ago — that they’re waiting for Con Ed approval.
Anybody know what is happening with Kossars at 72nd and West End? The coming soon signs have been up for a year, and there has been zero progress on renovating the space.
I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard that there are asbestos problems in Kossar’s space; additionally, there may be unresolved issues with the apartment building above.