By Gus Saltonstall
Jacob’s Pickles might be moving within the neighborhood out of its longtime home on the Upper West Side, but a new bar from the same owner will take over the space, an employee confirmed to West Side Rag on Tuesday.
In May 2024, Jacob Hadjigeorgis, the owner of Jacob’s Pickles, the popular restaurant at 509 Amsterdam Avenue, between 84th and 85th streets, announced that he was moving the southern-comfort-style eatery to a new location at 688 Columbus Avenue, between 93rd and 94th streets.
The new space, which was the former home of the Mexican restaurant Gabriella’s, will allow Jacob’s Pickles to double the size of the restaurant.
At the time, Hadjigeorgis said that he was hoping Jacob’s Pickles would open in its new location in September of 2024. He also did not specify what would happen to the restaurant’s longtime storefront at 509 Amsterdam Avenue.
Jacob’s Pickles is still operating out of its Amsterdam Avenue outpost, but West Side Rag learned multiple major updates this week on its future plans.
Starting with the timeline, Jacob’s Pickles is expected to open in its new location at 688 Columbus Avenue in March or April, according to an employee, who did not share his name.
Additionally, signs recently went up within the 509 Amsterdam Avenue space for a new restaurant and bar called Velvet Cowboy.
The same Jacob’s Pickles employee confirmed that Velvet Cowboy will be new restaurant and bar also owned by Hadjigeorgis that will be taking over the space after Jacob’s Pickles completes the move to its new home.
The Amsterdam Avenue space will be renovated before Velvet Cowboy opens, and there is no timeline for when the new restaurant will open, the employee added.
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If you thought you were escaping the noise after Jacob’s moved you’re wrong, you’ll just have yet another bar in its place. The noise meanwhile will be spread north up Columbus to places that are now peaceful.
Mark, would you feel better if the place remained vacant? Man, people are never satisfied!
I live on the same block as Jacob’s Pickle, E’s Bar and Tiki Chick. They are the most polite, fun and most importantly, quiet neighbors. I love coming home late at night and having the sidewalk lit up with those twinkle lights and barely a sound coming from the insides. I’ll miss the families lining up for a table at Jacob’s. Every Saturday and Sunday feels like a little party outside my apartment but I hope the new restaurant and bar are just as popular!
I call it pickle alley
I’m glad you like the atmosphere but I don’t believe you one bit about the noise. How about the outsides?
They’ve removed most of the outdoor seating.
Mark Moore – have you considered a farm upstate to escape the noise of the largest city in the US?
That’s like the argument that the air in NY is already dirty so why are you worried about more air pollution? The answer is the same: Yes, you’re right, and that’s why I don’t need any more.
Noise or air pollution, same thing, we already have a lot thank you. I remember the noise when that place was Gabriela’s and nobody needs that again.
I’m with Mark, we need more empty storefronts and fewer businesses!
(this is sarcasm if not obvious)
Can’t wait for JP to liven up the 90s! We need more foot traffic and businesses open later to combat the wave of vagrants roaming around. It’s become a weirdly deserted area after dark.
Who is “JP”?
Jurassic Park
Jacob’s Pickles. Seriously?
Has Jacob’s Pickle paid for the outside seating that they have effectively made “permanent” as if it is part of the “sidewalk”?
They have far overreached their space – as they had when the sheds were in place.
How are they allowed to get away with this?
I’m sure the new restaurant will maintain that illegal outside area.
I’m happy to see outdoor dining (whether I like the restaurant or not), but whoever moves in there had better stick to regulations and not assume they can take over areas they’re not entitled to. I suspect one reason Jacob’s Pickle is moving might be partly because of new sidewalk dining regulations because the new location has a lot of outdoor space. We shall see.
Noooo! We thought it was over. The noise, the entitlement, taking over a complete block. Cannoy walk down the street. The crowds thinking they own the street and never even been in the neighborhood before or will be again.
Another business getting away with shady goings on here
As mentioned ad nauseum, perhaps an empty storefront would satisfy your needs?
Two things can exist at the same time we can have 1) a business occupy the storefront 2) a business that doesn’t claim the sidewalk beyond their frontage as their own.
I agree. They need to learn to be better neighbors and control the crowds. They do not own the sidewalk and space near the restaurant. It is not fun when you have to walk but here.
Velvet Cowboy: Dynamite name for a gay bar, which we haven’t really seen in a while. Re Throwback Thursday: There used to be a gay bar in the 70s on Amsterdam Ave. Does anyone remember name?
Oh it’s a gay bar? Great news, we need more of those. Glad another one is coming to the UWS as the one closer to me (Suite) really isn’t it imo
Ruskay’s?
Candle Bar?
To Amelia Weiss – maybe you are thinking of the Candle Bar, which was on Amsterdam between 74th & 75th. It closed in 2015.
Please open a bar further north in the 90’s or 100’s.
Hopefully the new restaurant will donate some of the sidewalk to the pedestrians, including the 1000 students who go to school on that block.
I moved to New York for some peace and quiet, and you’re telling me someone wants to open a restaurant???
I noticed at least one (Mark “Moore”) person mention that Jacob’s Pickles is a nuisance in terms of noise.
We live in Manhattan, NYC. New York, New York, the city so nice they named it twice. Median rent is in the upper 3000s, if not 4000s at this point.
If you don’t want to be here, and evolve *with* the city, then Leave. Seriously, get out. Somebody else is more than glad to take your place. New York is a place of opportunity. Those who stand in the way will be shown the door.