Openings & Closings: Parla; Creative Health; Kossar’s; Wild Raisin Pastry; Pizza Pro

By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Parla Pizza, a restaurant serving New-York-style pizza and Italian-style cocktails, is opening on November 15 at 320 Columbus Avenue, on the corner of West 75th Street. In addition to square and round pizzas, the menu also includes pastas, veggies, and shareable plates. The bar specializes in “a curated selection of amari and vermouth along with beer, wine, and espresso,” the company posted on Instagram. This restaurant is the first Italian venture by Corner Table, the hospitality company behind The Smith, and the company’s first new restaurant in New York City since 2016. The space was formerly Saffron, an Indian restaurant that closed in 2017. It has been renovated to include travertine and terracotta tiling and a backlit bar with marble countertops. Parla will open for dinner first, expanding soon to an all-day cafe that will also serve baked goods at breakfast and lunch. (Thanks to Richard and Suzy for the tips.)

Creative Health, the health food store founded in 1987, is closing its only location, at 2801 Broadway (between 108th and 109th streets), at the end of the month. Thuck Munn, the owner of 36 years, said in a conversation with West Side Rag that sales have struggled due to the rise of online shopping. He also believes that people are cooking less and putting less importance on healthy foods. Munn, 57, is an evangelist for healthy living and still plays tennis every day. “I run like a little kid,” he said. Munn is giving out his contact information to longtime customers so he can continue to help them as a nutritionist. “Health is the most valuable thing in your life,” he said. “You [can] have money, fame, whatever. If you lose your health, you have nothing.” (Thanks to Amy for the tip.)

Kossar’s, the highly anticipated spot for bagels and bialys, has begun construction on the southeast corner of West 72nd Street and West End Avenue. There has been talk about Kossar’s coming to the Upper West Side since 2015, but fans have had a very long wait. Signage for Kossar’s went up at this location, which used to be Pier 72 Diner, in October 2022. “Hopefully we will be baking by early spring,” a representative from the company wrote in an email to the Rag. Kossar’s, which is well known for its bagels and bialys, has locations on the Lower East Side (the original), Hudson Yards, and the Upper East Side. We will update with more information as the opening date gets closer.

Wild Raisin Pastry at 947 Columbus Avenue (between 106th and 107th streets) has closed. The small café, which opened this past spring, served coffee and assorted baked goods made on-site. Its Instagram page is no longer online. (Thanks to Edgard for the tip.)

Pizza Pro at 951 Columbus Avenue (between 106th and 107th streets) has closed. The pizza place received several five-star Yelp reviews praising, both, the owner for being “super friendly” and the pizza for being “delicious.” (Thanks to Edgard for the tip.)

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