By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Blossom, the longtime vegan restaurant at 507 Columbus Avenue (between West 84th and 85th streets), is closing on August 25th, the company announced. The tough conditions for restaurants that have lingered since the pandemic – including high food costs and customers dining out less often – is the reason cited for the closing. “We love all of our regulars that have been coming to see us for all these years, and we’re as sad as they are,” said Kiley Etling, a general manager, on a call with West Side Rag. Many staff have been with Blossom for over a decade, including its chef, Crescensio Sanchez, who has a near 20-year tenure. “[We’re] very much a family,” she said.
Blossom’s original restaurant opened in Chelsea in 2005 and at one point it had three locations in New York City. It opened on the Upper West Side about ten years ago. “My vision for Blossom was to create a place with outstanding food, not just for vegans, but for everyone to enjoy,” Ronen Seri, co-founder, wrote on the company’s website. The restaurant will maintain its normal hours until the closing. Updates will be posted on Instagram. (Thanks to Jenna and Seth for the tips.)
Le Petit Parisien, a cafe at 170 Amsterdam Avenue at West 68th Street, closed on August 4th and is looking to relocate. The cafe, which served French-style pastries and sandwiches, opened in May last year, replacing another cafe, Boule & Cherie. “We love the neighborhood. We didn’t want to let the place go,” said owner Alex Chezaud on a call with West Side Rag. The reason for the closing is a rent increase, he said. The new location, which is likely to be outside the UWS, is expected to be ready in the next couple of months. Le Petit Parisien has three other cafes – in Harlem, on the Upper East Side, and the Lower East Side – that remain open. (Thanks to Mike and Yael for the tips.)
Central Park Farm Stand, an outdoor market featuring produce and eggs sourced from farms in New York State, owned by minority groups (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), is running on Saturdays through November 30th at West 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, along the border of Central Park. The initiative is sponsored by the Corbin Hill Food Project, a Harlem-based nonprofit that fights hunger, and the Central Park Conservancy. The Farm Stand is part of the Conservancy’s effort to engage with the community near the northern part of the Park. “[Corbin Hill’s] whole model is providing a food ecosystem, connecting BIPOC farmers with urban centers, like Harlem and South Bronx, so it just was a natural fit,” Shatic Mitchell, director of civic engagement at the Conservancy, told WSR on a call.
The Farm Stand debuted in July. “Every week we’re pretty much selling out,” said Mitchell, and any excess food is donated to local pantries. With three or four booths each week, the Farm Stand is similar to a farmers market in that the produce is sourced from local farms, but the tables are staffed by Corbin Hill, not the farmers themselves. This makes it easier for the farms to participate, Mitchell said. Hours are 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays.
The Avenue, an Irish pub at 480 Amsterdam at the corner of West 83rd Street, has closed the business confirmed to the Rag. The bar hosted weekly events including jazz, karaoke, and trivia. It opened in May 2023. Taco Tavern used to be in the space. (Thanks to Sharon for the tip.)
UpDog Studios, a boutique fitness studio offering vinyasa yoga, mat Pilates, and barre classes, opened at 2672 Broadway on the second floor (between West 101st and 102nd streets) on August 3rd with a “light” summer schedule. A full schedule will be released in the fall, studio co-owner Nicole Pavone told WSR. UpDog also has a studio in Harlem at 145th Street, which Pavone and her husband Jordan McLaughlin opened in 2023. They are former dancers and musical theater performers who share a love of fitness. Class packages, monthly memberships, or individual classes can be purchased. “We are excited to bring the UpDog community to the Upper West Side and look forward to sharing our love of Yoga, Pilates and barre to the neighborhood,” Pavone told the Rag.
ICYMI: Alice’s Tea Cup, the Wonderland-themed cafe at 102 West 73rd Street (and its two other NYC locations), remains open after the business changed ownership. It is in the process of restructuring its debts. “No location is shuttered or shuttering and the party goes on,” Lauren Fox, who founded the tea shop with her sister Haley, told West Side Rag in a message. “After 23 years, Alice’s Tea Cup finally found the right people to pass the baton to and the group is led by Jeni He who plans to be faithful to the core concepts and brand, and grow Alice’s Tea Cup beyond the current locations.”
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Kudos to the quick awning upgrade at Alice’s Tea Cup — looks good
Nah, it’s ugly shinny vinyl.
There has long been a farmer’s market on 110th and Manhattan Ave on Saturdays.
Isn’t the Morningside Park Farmers Market (110th Street & Manhattan Avenue ) still operating on Saturdays? (this one is not part of the City’s Greenmarket program)
So there will be two Farmers Markets on 110th on Saturdays?
The market at 110th and Manhattan Avenue is still going strong on Saturdays and has grown quite a bit over the years. The one at Malcolm X and 110 is new.
The farmer’s market in the article is on Malcom X Blvd and 110th — 3 avenues away can be a significant distance for some.
The stretch of Amsterdam between 66 and 70th has been a dead zone for businesses for decades.
With only a couple of exceptions nothing has lasted.
It is not an enviting stretch to shop along. Somehow seems rough.
Agreed. There is not a lot of foot traffic in this area. People are not going to be in this area unless they live in the vicinity.
Businesses have been opening and closing on this stretch for years.
Unsurprising about The Avenue. The food and service was always subpar.
Does having a segregated farmers market mean that farmers who don’t identify as BIPOC are allowed to only sell their produce at the “other” market? Can shoppers of all races buy from either? How about an inclusive market where the organizers just work extra hard to represent a more diverse farmer base? One that reflects our community? Love the idea of changing the rules so more can participate but why segregate? Inclusion shouldn’t have to result in exclusion. Make the pie larger.
I suggest you read the article and the links that give the background to this initiative, I assume you are joking referencing segregated shopping requirements (I hope)
It’d a gross misunderstanding if someone reads the articles and wonders if anyone of any race can shop at the article.
But I agree with Ida completely that it does seem segreationish that they’re bringing produce from BIPOC-owned farms to areas like Harlem and the South Bronx. I think it’s great that areas that don’t have farmer’s markets are getting them, and that businesses that maybe wouldn’t be able to afford to send people to big cities to sell at farmer’s markets now have the opportunity to do so.
I’d get it if they brought in produce from a variety of farms to set up markets in Harlem and that they sold produce from BIPOC-owned farms at a variety of markets as well.
Granted, a community organization can do what it wants, but it seems limiting to both the farmers and the neighborhood residents.
Exactly. Let’s find ways to help under represented by providing extra resources to overcome barriers that might make it more difficult to participate in events that could help their businesses or get them more notice.. But the minute you build walls or boundaries that prevent others from participating, ESPECIALLY when you base it upon race or any other protected classification, and regardless who you say you are helping as a result, you foster division, resentment, and take a huge step backwards if your goal is inclusion and equal opportunity. Would love to see the organizers spotlight new entrants and all they are doing with their farms to bring fresh produce to our communities. Learn about their stories as a way to inspire others. Offer financial assistance if that is the help they need that lets them show up. Stop basing it solely on race. It really doesn’t help.
Blossom is a huge loss for the UWS. I hope we can get more vegan restaurants in the neighborhood. Peacefood is great, but other than that, it can be surprisingly hard to even find vegan options at most sit down restaurants on Columbus and Amsterdam.
Agree 100%! Nearly every other neighborhood is ADDING vegan places, not closing them! The UWS needs to catch up!
Yes I agree it’s a big loss. Chama Mama has some vegan options but it’s not to be able to go a vegan place. Blossom seemed to be doing pretty OK too so not sure what happened. Big loss for the UWS.
Try Thyme & Tonic.
I wish I liked Peacefood. I tried so hard so many times–going all the way back to when it opened and continuing for several years afterward–but regrettably had to give up on it. I was never able to find much of anything that wasn’t ruined by too much sweetness.
I love Peacefood. Don’t think I’ve ever had anything “sweet” that wasn’t a dessert. Fluffy quinoa, soups, bok choi,
I just ate at Blossom! I’m not even vegan but I love their food and often refer vegans/vegetarians there. This is a big loss.
Does anyone know what’s opening on the southeast corner of 84th and Columbus? Scaffolding recently came down and it looks like they’ve painted the outside.
The NW corner of 84 and Amsterdam really has housed an impressive number of tenants in the past decade, none of which has found success. Just off the top of my head:
Tin Soldier
JG Melon
Taco Tavern
The Avenue
I believe there’s another one in there I’m forgetting. Oddly, they nearly all have seemed to be roughly the same level of “ok” that probably explains the curse that hangs over this corner space.
JG Melon was at 480 Amsterdam at 83rd St. I think Racoon Lodge was the longest tenant within my memory.
Maybe “Soldier McGees”?
A branch of Raccoon Lodge was also in that location, but that may have been more than a decade ago.
The Avenue was FANTASTIC! Great food, atmosphere, super friendly & helpful staff and great events. I’m so sad it’s gone.
The Avenue was obnoxious with their outdoor speakers blasting the off-key karaoke singers all night. I have seen the police arrive for noise complaints multiple times. Good riddance. No successful bar on that block has to be that desparate for customers.
I don’t know I ordered Berger at blossoms just had it delivered last week $22.00 Came with soggy fries
“The tough conditions for restaurants that have lingered since the pandemic – including high food costs and customers dining out less often – is the reason cited for the closing. ”
Yet there are activists who insist that restaurants NEED outdoor dining sheds. 🙄😂
Odd that the Avenue couldn’t make it, while several similar type establishments (St. James, Dead Poet, Gin Mill, Jake’s dilemma) have been in that area for decades.
I guess they must be much better than Avenue very simple.
Or have locked in lower rents on long term leases?
So it must be the rent, not the food, drinks & service. I guess you know best.
I understand.
Ugh! So many closings.
“It opened on the Upper West Side about ten years ago.” This is not quite right – I remember Blossom being here much longer – had to look it up.
“After the success of Blossom Restaurant, Elizabeth and Seri quickly made the move to grow, opening Cafe Blossom two years later on the Upper West Side.”
That’s around 2007… Then they closed that Cafe and opened the latest one…
https://www.amny.com/news/rooted-in-chelsea-a-vegan-business-model-blossoms/
The place where Boule Cherie and Le Petit Parisien used to be is cursed. Nothing lasts there for more than a year or so. And of course it’s due due to landlord greed.
Le Petit Parisien will be sorely missed. So many rregulars went there for lunch almost every day! Best cappuccino on the UWS. Where can we go? Very sad.
Yup – Le Petit Parisien was doing fine business, despite being pretty pricey. What more do they want? Nail salon? Venture cap pet vet? It was actually a decent well run quiet cafe set back from street where if not too full you could sit in or out. Dang.
And so comfortable!
Does anyone know what’s happening in the vacant space at the southwest corner of 86th Street and Broadway? Renovations seem to be underway, thank goodness. We desperately need those 3 vacant corners at 86th Street and Broadway to be restored to life!