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Openings and Closings: Duane Reade; Clara; The Cashmere Sale; Key Food; Old John’s Luncheonette; New Balance

October 12, 2023 | 10:32 AM
in COLUMNS, FOOD, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED
66
Photograph by Scott Etkin.

By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

The Duane Reade at 1889 Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets is closing on November 9th. “When faced with the difficult decision to close a location, several factors are taken into account, including our existing footprint of stores, dynamics of the local market, and changes in the buying habits of our patients and customers, among other reasons,” a representative from Walgreens, Duane Reade’s parent company, wrote to WSR in an email. The closing of many chain and independent pharmacies – due to everything from raising rents and increased online shopping, to shoplifting and pharmacy benefit managers – has raised concerns about the ability to get prescriptions filled. Prescription records from this longtime pharmacy will be available at all Walgreens and Duane Reade locations. The closest existing Duane Reade is at 4 Amsterdam Avenue at the corner of 59th Street. “Typically when a store closes, pharmacy patients do not have to take any action,” the representative wrote. (Thanks to Kimberly for the tip.) 

Photograph by Lisa Kava.

Clara, an American restaurant, is opening in two weeks on the first floor of the New-York Historical Society (2 West 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus). It will seat approximately 80 people – similar to Storico, the previous restaurant in the space, which closed in July. The menu will feature “reimagined classics of the turn of the century – with an upscale [tilt] but hopefully accessible to the community,” said chef Diego Moya during a recent Community Board 7 meeting. Lunch service starts at 11 a.m. during the week – brunch at 10 a.m. on weekends  – and dinner service will end at 10 p.m. The restaurant is backed by The Oberon Group, a sustainability-minded collection of restaurants in the city. 

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

The Cashmere Sale, the annual pop-up for cashmere sweaters, wraps and accessories, is opening at 121 West 72nd Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam) on October 12th. It will be open daily until December 18th. The Cashmere Sale was founded 20 years ago by friends in Greenwich, Connecticut, and now features 16 pop-up stores nationwide each fall. The company carries cashmere items for women and men,including scarves, hats, and gloves. All clothing and accessories are sold at discount prices. “By offering online shopping and limiting our nationwide pop-up stores to once a year, we eliminate traditional brick-and-mortar expenses and pass the savings onto you,” according to the company’s website. Last year, the Upper West Side pop-up was at 79th and Broadway in the former DSW space. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

Key Food grocery store is opening on October 12th at 88th Street and Broadway. Key Food has a few other locations on the UWS, including: 86th and Amsterdam, 96th and Amsterdam, and 104th and Columbus. The space was formerly a Duane Reade and then a JOKR grocery delivery hub. (Thanks to Jenna for the tip.) 

Photograph by Scott Etkin.

Old John’s Luncheonette, the diner at 148 West 67th Street, is expanding into the vacant space next door that was formerly the shoe repair store Foot Lights. Old John’s traces its roots back to 1951, when it was located at 66th and Broadway. The diner relocated to its current spot in 1998, but it shut down during the pandemic. In 2021, it was renovated and reopened by Louis Skibar, a former employee, who is also behind the nearby restaurant El Fish Marisqueria. “It was important to Skibar to respect and preserve the history of Old John’s by keeping key elements, such as the Art Deco lighting, mosaic tile floor ,and original ceiling,” according to the company’s website. “Many of the staff, some of whom have been there from 10 to 20-plus years, are back.”

Photograph by Lisa Kava.

New Balance, the athletic footwear and apparel store, opened on October 4th at 210 Columbus Avenue (between 69th and 70th Streets) in the space previously occupied by Intermix, the trendy women’s clothing store that closed in November 2022. While the company has three other stores in Manhattan (Upper East Side, Flatiron and Midtown), this will be its first “Uncommon Common” concept store in New York, manager Jackie Natale told West Side Rag. “Lifestyle and customer interaction are central to the store,” Natale explained, noting that the mannequins in the store are “interactive” and shown doing real-life activities such as going for a walk or sitting on a bench. While the store carries performance sneakers and gear, the concept is more of a “lifestyle brand,” she explained. New Balance opened the first “Uncommon Common” store in China in December 2022, and the first one in the U.S. in Boston earlier this year. According to a press release, the store features “a much tighter, more focused collection built specifically for the younger consumer.”

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Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago

It’s a shame that the Duane Reade closure on Broadway in the 60s will result in another vacant storefront, but that location was pretty terrible to be honest. That being said, I’d much rather it not be closing.

10
Reply
Phoebe
Phoebe
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

It’s true they are always getting ransacked🫤But their staff are the most friendly of all Duane Reade stores.
The fish restaurant made me feel like I was in the horror movie: The Menu. It was pretty and expensive and not that great. I liked Old John’s more in the past. Oh well. I’m sure they will raise their prices again. And they used to be friendlier.

1
Reply
Sam Katz
Sam Katz
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

It was incredibly convenient for me and perfectly located. It not only serviced all the residents in the neighborhood, but also those tourists at the Empire Hotel.

7
Reply
Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago
Reply to  Sam Katz

Agreed- I didn’t mean that its location was terrible, I just meant that the store was very poorly run. I wish it would remain, but that it would also be spruced up and had more staff.

1
Reply
Phoebe
Phoebe
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Why would they spruce things up? People came in regularly and smashed things up!

0
Reply
Boris
Boris
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Everyone who complained about too many Duane Reades (and other chain stores) got their wish. I don’t want to hear complaints about empty storefronts.

15
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
1 year ago
Reply to  Boris

This is what we get for raising the $ amount of merchandise you need to steal in order to get arrested. Every theft should be prosecuted, as it was in the past. Criminals don’t start with major crimes. They get away with small ones and push it further. Stop blaming this on poverty, Democrats. That’s utterly condescending to the majority of (honest) low-income New Yorkers. I am a Democrat who is fed up with my party and the NYC democratic leadership.

4
Reply
FReal Tho
FReal Tho
1 year ago
Reply to  Boris

Bingo. My building had a bank in one of the commercial spots and the space has been vacant for years following the bank’s closure. The same can be said of a nearby building that used to have a starbucks.

0
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julia davis
julia davis
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

And don’t forget the closure of Lincoln Plaza Cinema — it impacted everything nearby. It’s signage remains, but the space has never been filled. How stupid was that?

22
Reply
Frankie
Frankie
1 year ago
Reply to  julia davis

Particularly stupid and owner greedy. Still, hats off to the wonderful folks running a cozier New Plaza Cinema on weekends on West 67th.

4
Reply
Kayson212
Kayson212
1 year ago
Reply to  julia davis

Very true, Julia! And a reminder that New Plaza Cinema has taken up the banner of independent film on the UWS with screenings Fridays through Sundays at its cozy digs inside Macaulay Honors College, 35 W. 67th. https://newplazacinema.org/

7
Reply
Frankie
Frankie
1 year ago
Reply to  Kayson212

What a gem NPC is in every way!

1
Reply
John E.
John E.
1 year ago
Reply to  julia davis

Very stupid! I’d like to know why Howard Milstein refused to renew their lease. Who did he think he could rent that space to?

5
Reply
david natoli
david natoli
1 year ago
Reply to  John E.

It is an absolute shame what he did. What was once an amazing block is so diminished now. Nothing against Breads Bakery but when you consider there used to be an art house cinema, an excellent newsstand/magazine store with a fantastic foreign and domestic selection, a bakery/coffee shop and a Bank of America branch there it is truly a huge net loss.

And for what? 6 years the theatre sits empty while Lincoln Plaza Cinema limps from temporary location to temporary location.

6
Reply
Jean Luke
Jean Luke
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonathan

DR stores are so ugly on the inside and outside as well a having terrible signage that blights the neighborhood. Unfortunately the time it takes to re-lease the store and city regulations and renovation it will be at least 2 to 3 years before anything else opens in that space.

6
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
1 year ago
Reply to  Jean Luke

Jean, do you remember how great Duane Reade was in the 90’s? Not corporate, low prices, chock full of everything you could possibly need. Now you go in there and there’s one brand of paper towels, etc. No variety at all and incredibly overpriced. We have private equity to thank (looking at you Oak Hill Capital Partners).

4
Reply
Lejabe
Lejabe
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa

Sure do remember the real Duane Reade. Once Walgreens took over it was gone. DR had Tons of products low prices local newspapers and great cosmetics. Some really high-end names. Now its 3rd world dirty empty shelves and no help. UWS is sadly blighted. The DR on 3rd ave. /57th is
Wonderful. And so it goes.

0
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
1 year ago

I know Key Foods is nobody’s favorite, but it’s so much better to have one there than a dark storefront delivery hub.

18
Reply
Cathy Bernstein
Cathy Bernstein
1 year ago
Reply to  Sarah

Sarah – have you been to Key Foods?

It’s actually really great with fresh food and reasonable prices.

Please support our new stores.!
Shop there!

20
Reply
Crw
Crw
1 year ago
Reply to  Sarah

I regularly shop in the new key food on the corner of 96 in Amsterdam and it’s actually very clean has every product including an excellent kosher package food..

Unlike Gristedes, or D’Agostino very well priced for Manhattan and has a variety of brands and selections in each category of packaged foods. . I’ve purchased meat, fresh vegetable and dairy there with no complaints, fresh and helpful staff.

21
Reply
Nina
Nina
1 year ago
Reply to  Crw

I liked the 97th street store, but the aisles were so narrow. The new one is great!

0
Reply
Chris
Chris
1 year ago
Reply to  Crw

It’s the only normal supermarket in the neighborhood.

3
Reply
Paul
Paul
1 year ago
Reply to  Sarah

Key Food locations are independently operated and can vary dramatically from location to location.
Look for this one to be a bit more upscale and expensive than the one on Amsterdam and 86 (which says it’s remaining open).

11
Reply
Brett Mann
Brett Mann
1 year ago
Reply to  Paul

Paul – 88th is owned by the same guy who owns 86th. And while it IS more upscale, it’s NOT more expensive. So far this first wk, same exact prices as 86th, with almost identical items on sale in the flyer, plus many more.

1
Reply
Sal Bando
Sal Bando
1 year ago
Reply to  Paul

It’s funny how they have names. The Key Food on 96th and Amsterdam is “D’Corner.”

4
Reply
Anya Schiffrin
Anya Schiffrin
1 year ago

I thought everyone might be interested to know that when I was a little girl, the Key Food on Broadway (and 90th ? or 91st? West Side of the street) had a birds’ nest in the dark red neon key that was part of the signage. My sister and I liked looking up and seeing the birds fly in and out or an odd branch sticking out of the sign. I know it’s absurd but every time I pass Key Food I look for the old sign. I think this was the 1960s but maybe early 1970s. Anyone else remember this?

18
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Fred Rosenberg
Fred Rosenberg
1 year ago
Reply to  Anya Schiffrin

More recently— within the past couple of years— Harry’s separate store for kids’ shoes had a nest for years that was nestled inside the “O”…

0
Reply
Lllll
Lllll
1 year ago
Reply to  Anya Schiffrin

I remember. And I was a kid in the early 90s.

0
Reply
katofnyc
katofnyc
1 year ago
Reply to  Anya Schiffrin

Funny Anecdote….I lived across the street from that store and my living room windows looked out over Broadway. When the D light went out in the store’s sign it read KEY FOO – for years!

9
Reply
rteplow
rteplow
1 year ago
Reply to  katofnyc

Haha! I remember the neon outage also, except I could have sworn it was the “Y” and it said KE FOOD. But your memory is funnier.

0
Reply
neighbor785
neighbor785
1 year ago

I wonder how much of the reason for the Duane Reade closing was theft.

Of course, it seemed years ago that the Duane Reade chain had overexpanded.

7
Reply
B.B.
B.B.
1 year ago
Reply to  neighbor785

Those great barns of DR stores are going way of the Dodo.

Born in an era when DR expanded beyond its traditional FiDi area those huge stores served a purpose as business model changed to include housewares, hardware, groceries and more. Then came rise of the Internet.

There’s nothing one can find at DR, CVS, Walgreens and similar stores often for far less money. Amazon and other online are killing such stores. People actually order household staples such as toilet paper from Amazon.

Meanwhile DR and other such stores are stuck with those big barns of places that they rented years ago. Now as those leases expire or come up for renewal it’s often just not worth bothering. Store sales per square foot just don’t justify rent.

It isn’t helping matters that much of what leaves these stores isn’t paid for (theft).

Unlike Cosmetics Plus, Love’s, Ricky’s and some others DR won’t totally vanish. However their retail footprint in city likely will continue to shrink.

0
Reply
sky
sky
1 year ago

Still no chance for a market at Belnord Hotel where old Westside Market used to be? We need one badly between Zabar’s and Fairway/Citarella.

5
Reply
Karen
Karen
1 year ago
Reply to  sky

The Belnord Hotel is on 87th ST. I think you mean the Hotel Belleclaire

5
Reply
BB
BB
1 year ago

When is the Morton Williams supermarket on Broadway opening?

8
Reply
DreamOn
DreamOn
1 year ago
Reply to  BB

The 12th of Never.

8
Reply
Jay
Jay
1 year ago

Happy that Old John’s is expanding! Best diner in the area and always felt in need of a bit more space.

11
Reply
UWS Dad
UWS Dad
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay

Agree! Seeing the name in the article title had me worried, so was glad for the pleasant surprise!

9
Reply
Janie
Janie
1 year ago
Reply to  UWS Dad

Ditto! Momentary panic at the thought of this UWS standby disappearing. That said… We (4) had lunch there 2 months ago were very disappointed. Then, last week we went 2x – lunch & dinner – and both times that food was inferior to the fare we’d previously enjoyed. Fries were clearly the “bottom of the barrel” – reheated and over cooked bits. The roast chicken was over cooked and a foccacio for club sandwich???? Why. And why couldn’t that be swapped out for rye. My dining companions’ orders were also wrong.

Disappointing, but we’ll consider trying them again. If, however, other diners are less than satisfied with their orders, send them back! That’s the only way to modify bad cooking.

2
Reply
uwsmom
uwsmom
1 year ago
Reply to  Janie

Have been disappointed in the revamped old john’s. Love that it’s there, but w=ish they had kept more traditional diner fare. Do some upgrading, but also keep the old school.

3
Reply
Deb Stanton
Deb Stanton
1 year ago

I must say that the Duane Reade near me, really needs some Adult Supervision. Employees there actually talk on the phone while ringing up your purchases…..in fact, they are mostly ALL on their phones ALL the time! The same lovely people were working there for a long time, people whose names I. knew and who always said hello and were typical cordial employees. But the people working there now, save for the two over worked managers, are just incredibly unengaged! They clearly really dont want to be there. But TALKIN on their phones while they are ringing up purchases???? that’s a first for me!

11
Reply
nycityny
nycityny
1 year ago
Reply to  Deb Stanton

I have been disappointed with Duane Reade employees for years. A friend and I have a shortcut whenever an employee anywhere is below par – we say they are very “Duane Reade.”

I much prefer self-checkout at CVS when I need to visit a drug store. Why doesn’t Duane Reade have self-checkout as an alternative to their indifferent employees?

3
Reply
mpipik
mpipik
1 year ago
Reply to  nycityny

One word: Thefts

2
Reply
Cathy Bernstein
Cathy Bernstein
1 year ago
Reply to  nycityny

Try CVS on West 77th and Broadway.
Super friendly, and I actually changed my hair products based on a sales person’s recommendation there, and I am absolutely thrilled!

OK, if I was reading this, I would be wondering what the product is and it’s to tone down the red in my hair. I’m a brunette with red..

The sales person recommended Pantene – Silver for grey and white hair ( called Silver and glowing) to tone down my brassy Brunette color and wow…. Amazing

We have to have a few light comments with all of the bad news of the world

4
Reply
Jen
Jen
1 year ago
Reply to  Deb Stanton

I had exact same experience. As a matter of fact I kept replying to the guy thinking he is talking to me. Then when he started talking to me, I didn’t respond thinking he is still on the phone and he got mad!

4
Reply
neighbor785
neighbor785
1 year ago
Reply to  Jen

Duane Reade employees on their phones, cops on their phones … when the IRS comes to my house, I’ll just be on my cellphone.

5
Reply
Kirsten
Kirsten
1 year ago

That Duane Reade store always had issues: water leaks, broken escalators, lack of air conditioning, etc. not surprised it’s closing

5
Reply
Carol Brewer
Carol Brewer
1 year ago

There is a DReade a few blocks from my apartment I bought most of all my supplies from band aids to makeup for years . Twice I caught criminals stealing and the security guard did nothing. The place got unsafe to me so when Covid started I bought everything on Amazon. I didn’t want to interact with the disregard of the customers security. It was disgusting. They lost my business. Except for a few grocery stores I buy everything online now. They want to stay in business they need to rethink their policies. Cheaper to hire an off duty cop to arrest them .

8
Reply
caly
caly
1 year ago
Reply to  Carol Brewer

I got fed up with making the rounds of CVS and DR and never finding anything on my list, so I started ordering from Amazon this summer and the makeup and toiletries came in ziplock bags instead of their original packaging. I have no doubt that people are stealing from DR and CVS in bulk and selling it all on Amazon. : (

6
Reply
neighbor785
neighbor785
1 year ago
Reply to  Carol Brewer

I was just grousing to a friend about how people just get everything online / delivered and don’t go to places. But I hear you about the bad systems in stores, esp. chain stores. I too have seen people sweeping merchandise into big plastic bags at a chain drugstore and waltzing out the door. So bad.

4
Reply
Matthew Evans
Matthew Evans
1 year ago

The Key Food on 86th street is actually on Amsterdam

3
Reply
West Side Rag
Admin
West Side Rag
1 year ago
Reply to  Matthew Evans

Thanks

1
Reply
Terence
Terence
1 year ago

Jim Davis, chairman of New Balance, sent a $396,500 check to “Trump Victory” in September 2016, according to federal campaign finance records. BUY HOKA ONE instead.

11
Reply
uwsmom
uwsmom
1 year ago
Reply to  Terence

Is that true?!

0
Reply
Terence
Terence
1 year ago
Reply to  uwsmom

from Wikipedia page on Jim Davis: Politics

Davis has donated $500,000 to Mitt Romney’s Super PAC, Restore Our Future.[9][10]

Davis donated almost $400,000 to the Trump Victory Committee in September 2016.[11] In an interview given to Wall Street Journal reporter Sara Germano on the day following the 2016 presidential election of Donald Trump, a New Balance senior executive suggested support for Trump due to his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Widely reported social-media reaction documented numerous New Balance owners destroying or disposing of their shoes—with many pledging lifetime boycotts of the company.

0
Reply
Boris
Boris
1 year ago
Reply to  Terence

I would buy more New Balance products if I opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Making a contribution to a politician that supports my views makes sense.

0
Reply
Amos
Amos
1 year ago
Reply to  Terence

Now look up how many companies and their CEOs gave money to the “Justice for Palestinian” groups who were cheering Hamas last weekend …..

1
Reply
peter
peter
1 year ago
Reply to  Terence

Yea, but he gave us Garfield.

5
Reply
Ian Alterman
Ian Alterman
1 year ago

Finally, an honest response from a retailer. Duane Reade cites several reasons for closing. Among them, but not even first, is shoplifting. Meanwhile, spokespersons for every other large store that is closing blames the closing entirely on shoplifting – a convenient excuse that also feeds into a false (or at least partially false) narrative of a “crime-ridden” UWS. Thank you, Duane Reade, for the nuance in your honesty.

7
Reply
bart Johnson
bart Johnson
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Alterman

Ian it’s pretty clear you have never been in that store. There is a TON of shoplifting in that place. Literally everything is padlocked it’s insane.

5
Reply
neighbor785
neighbor785
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian Alterman

This concept that the Big Problem Here is people in Rikers is very bad. The big problem is crime. It is insane for the city and state to turn a blind eye to the consequences of theft, whether it be from stores, public transit (fare evasion), or other things. We cannot have a Compliance Optional system of law and flourish as a city.

5
Reply
RAL
RAL
1 year ago
Reply to  neighbor785

Duane Reade is the worst for shoplifting – and prices. Avoid it like the plague now

1
Reply
Debby
Debby
1 year ago

I was in the new Key Food on Broadway this morning. It’s about twice the size of the Amsterdam & 85th one, and has a bigger selection of products. And of course it’s modern and bright, unlike the Amsterdam store. KF say they’re keeping the older store open–hope that’s true, would hate to see people lose jobs and customers lose access.

7
Reply
Chris
Chris
1 year ago

is there a Key Food at 104th and Columbus? I haven’t seen it. Maybe under another name?

0
Reply
angela
angela
1 year ago

The Duane Reade pharmacy at 4 Amsterdam is very poorly run. Medications are rarely in stock. And the pharmacist does little to rectify the lack of medications. It is such a bummer to see that the 63rd and Broadway pharmacy will be closing.

3
Reply
lisa
lisa
1 year ago

If CB 7 or Council Member Brewer happen to be reading this….

The closure of this Walgreen’s/Duane Reade will mean more Amazon ecommerce delivery.

Some residents may go to Target a few blocks away – but unlikely many people will go to Columbus Circle or Amsterdam Ave across from Mt. Sinai/Roosevelt.

Personally I found the staff there to be very helpful

1
Reply

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