By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Upside Pizza and Softside Ice Cream are each opening at 2878A Broadway on the corner of West 112th Street. Upside, which has a few locations in NYC, approaches “the New York City slice joint with the same culinary rigor associated with top-flight chefs and white-tablecloth restaurants,” The New York Times wrote in 2019. Noam Grossman, a founder, confirmed in a message to the Rag that they’re hoping for a September 1st opening. Softside, a dessert spot under the same ownership, offers a rotating selection of soft-serve ice cream and has locations adjacent to Upside’s Nolita and Greenpoint locations. Upside also has restaurants in the Garment District and Midtown East. The UWS storefront was previously used for a pop-up market called Uptown Artisanal. Before that, it was Liberty House, a longtime clothing, jewelry, and gift shop that closed in 2017. (Thanks to Jennifer, Joel, Jill, Jean – seriously! – and Bob for the tips.)
Wegmans, the grocery chain, is planning to open a store at 1932 Broadway (between West 64th and 65th streets) at the former Bed, Bath & Beyond location. Bed, Bath & Beyond closed in April 2023 when the company filed for bankruptcy. The NY Post reported that Wegmans chairman Danny Wegman signed a lease for the space back in February, 2024. Commercial Observer also reported the signing of the lease. Construction is currently underway at the space. We will update when we have more information and an expected opening date. (Thanks to Ryan and Jacob for the tip.)
La Pecora Bianca, an Italian restaurant, is negotiating to open its second Upper West Side spot at 61 West 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue in the fall of 2025, according to information owner Mark Barak shared at a recent Community Board 7 meeting. Barak said that Rosa Mexicano, the longtime Mexican restaurant that’s still operating there, is currently “out of term” and he expects them to leave the space by the end of the year. But in a message to the Rag, a representative from Rosa Mexicano wrote that “Rosa Mexicano is not leaving the Lincoln Center community. We respect the integrity of our community and our neighbors and are currently working through the issue with our executive and legal teams.” La Pecora Bianca has six locations in New York City, including one on the UWS at 359 Columbus Avenue (West 77th Street). Speaking on the CB7 call, Barak said that he would update the interior designed by architect David Rockwell, including the blue-tile water wall with sculptures of divers. “It will be something nice, but it won’t be divers,” he said. Its menu is known for its pasta dishes, which are made in-house and are also available as gluten-free options.
An Indian fine-dining restaurant is planning to open at 706 Amsterdam Avenue between West 94th and 95th streets, according to information shared on the CB7 call. Gauri Shankar, who is listed on LinkedIn as the owner of the previous neighborhood Indian restaurant Ashoka (489 Columbus Avenue between West 83rd and 84th Streets), appeared on the call representing the new business. Ashoka closed in February 2023. The new space will have seating for 40 to 45 people and a small bar. This location was most recently a deli, and before that, it was home to Ayurveda Cafe, the longtime Indian restaurant that closed in 2022. A soft opening is expected to take place in approximately two weeks. (Thanks to Tim for the tip.)
Gorjana, the contemporary jewelry company, has signage up at 209 Columbus Avenue (West 69th Street), and is expected to open in the fall. Gorjana carries reasonably priced “fashion jewelry” such as everyday necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, as well as a fine jewelry line that includes gold, diamonds, pearls, sapphires, and other gemstones. Gorjana was founded in Laguna Beach, California, by Gorjana and Jason Reidel in 2004. At the time the couple sold jewelry from their apartment and by traveling to trade shows. They opened their first store in Laguna Canyon in 2007. Gorjana now has over 60 stores nationwide, including two in downtown Manhattan and two in Brooklyn. Alexis Bittar, another jewelry store that closed in May 2024, was formerly in the space. (Thanks to David for the tip.)
The 72nd Street Dog Run in Riverside Park will be closed for maintenance on Thursday, June 20, and Friday, June 21. An email notification from Devorah Roberts, special projects manager at Riverside Parks Conservancy says that “staff will be regrading the lower level Dog Run at 72nd Street, weather permitting.” The note also thanks dog owners for their patience and notes that “we will keep you posted if anything changes.”
ICYMI in this week’s Monday Bulletin, Bear’s Boomin’ Bakery has signage up at 715 Columbus Avenue, between West 94th and 95th streets. The bakery is part of Manhattan Children’s Center, a school specializing in education and treatment for children with autism. The bakery will be geared toward providing vocational training for its students. “It is extremely difficult to find appropriate job-training sites for our older learners,” MCC wrote on its website. So MCC is creating the bakery to “enable our older learners to engage in and practice real-world employment and self-management skills – the skills necessary for independent-living opportunities upon graduation.” We’ll provide an update when we learn about the opening date.
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Rosa Mexicano is one of my favorite places. I really hope they don’t close.
It is one of my favorites also. Please don’t leave the neighborhood.
Thrilled with Wegman’s opening up in the old Bed Bath and Beyond space!!!! I will be devastated if Rosa closes. It’s the best Guac in town.
Yes,, great news about Wegman’s. It’s a bit of a walk from my apartment but it will be worth it.
It’s 3 subway stops for me but that is doable.
While I am thrilled we are getting another Italian restaurant in the ‘hood, I don’t want Rosa Mexicana to leave. There is the space left by Ed’s Chowder House still available on West 63rd Street at the Empire Hotel, and the space left by the NY Sports Club on West 62 Street, between Broadway and Columbus, and the empty space on Broadway on the east side of West 62 where the movie theatre once was located, and space on Broadway where Duane Reade once was located at West 63rd Street, and several other locations nearby. I hope they are ALL filled by restaurants and bars. It’s quiet and tourist laden and as a longtime resident recuperating from broken bones, I welcome all! And I’m very thrilled about Wegman’s and can’t wait to find their cheese bread here!
Yes strange that Milstein, the landlord of the former Lincoln Plaza movie theatre, is OK with a vacant space for years
Further north, when I last walked by, the former Scaletta space was still vacant after the landlord would not renew the lease in 2019.
It is a crime what Milstein did to the Lincoln Plaza Cinema. Beloved community asset for decades. To let the space sit and rot is sickening.
The entire block has been ruined. All empty aside from Breads, a good, but chain bakery, where once stood a fantastic magazine/newsstand with periodicals from all over the world, a small Cafe/bakery that just screamed “nyc”, a Bank of America branch and one of the best art house cinema’s in the city.
we need cafes, restaurants, good stores, a UPS store in the high 80s/low 90s and broadway. Plenty of space available
I miss Big Daddy’s. I know it isn’t up to the high brow tastes of others here but it worked really well for families.
Stores selling housewares like Laytners and Bed Bath and Beyond are sorely needed in the UWS. There is no where now.
There is Home Goods on Columbus just north of 97th, but I don’t think their selection is as good as was that at those two.
There’s a UPS store on Broadway between 97-98.
There’s a small but efficient UPS store at 86th & Columbus.
Will any large store like Mortons or Wegmans EVER open in the 90’s or 100’s? I’m sick of seeing everything good open in the 60’s and 70’s.
We have Trader Joe’s on 93rd.
There is a Morton Williams at Bway and 115th, but that might be too far for you.
Adding: there is Whole Foods on Columbus just north of 97th.
Boy do I wish that Wegeman’s was coming to the Old Gristedes/Gap corner on 86th and Broadway. That would have been SOOOOO perfect. Will anything ever happen in those spaces on 86th and Broadway.?
That space would not have been big enough for Wegmans.
I am very confused about the grocery store landscape on the West Side, especially 59th-75th Street…..?
It was my understanding that the grocery store business was really tough in Manhattan – narrow margins, high rents, competition from delivery like Fresh Direct plus so many young affluent residents who eat out and/or get food delivery rather than cooking .
The Food Emporium closed, Gristedes closed, West Side Market closed.
Grocery delivery expanded including Fresh Direct, Instacart and Amazon.
Currently 59th – 75th there is Whole Foods (Amazon), Brooklyn Fare, Gourmet Garage, Morton Williams, H Mart, Trader Joe’s, Williams, Fairway, Pioneer, Citarella…..
And now Wegman’s on queue….
Hoping that BB can explain what is happening and the economics
Don’t forget Jubilee
And Target too
Fantastic – the new Indian – and the bakery – will be at both
Does anyone know what happened to Leo Organics? Noticed it’s now closed
Wow! In the space of a few months, Lincoln Square has gone from being a Supermarket Desert to Supermarket Heaven. Morton Williams, H Mart, and now Wegmans!.
honestly i’d like an affordable supermarket, these are all super pricey. rip western beef
We, at around 75 – 86 streets, would gladly swap with your abundance of supermarkets and grocery stores. We are in need of options here. We have instead an abundance ice cream stores.
Our only option is Fairway….At least for many years we had the (not the best) option of West Side Market. I don’t know the business models, but I would think the plethora of grocery delivery services changes the playing field to ever see large grocery stores as we’ve had in the past.
Rosa Mexicano should have been forced out years ago for blocking the sidewalks, illegally obstructing walkways with tray tables and supply carts, for operating as if it owned that corner of the block. And this does not address its singularly awful food offerings.
Thank you for all you do and catching us up on what’s going on in our neighborhoods.
How about some of these stores opening up in Morningside Heights? Fairway near W 125th & the Hudson River has never been replaced. It’s a food shopping desert up here for good stores.
Love Rosa. Best margaritas hands down, good food and awesome staff.
Please do not close.
Love the idea for the Bakery. What a fabulous initiative. Can’t wait to support it!
[…] signage for the new Wegmans supermarket has gone up at the former Bed Bad & Beyond space at 1932 Broadway, between West 64th and 65th […]