By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Lift NYC, a personal training studio, is moving from 171 West 80th Street (just off of Amsterdam) to a larger location at 2212 Broadway (between West 78th and 79th streets), the former home of Sky Locksmith & Hardware. Ashley Culver, the owner, opened Lift two years ago. She told the Rag on a call that she has been looking for a larger space because there is a waitlist for new clients. “We’re New Yorkers, and convenience is everything,” she said. “So I think [it’s made a big difference] having a little neighborhood personal training gym right across the street. The more convenient fitness is, the more likely you are to stay on top of it.”
The existing space at West 80th Street will become Lift Pilates, a studio with four reformer machines. The small group classes will allow for “a lot of hands-on adjustments and cueing,” Culver said. The gym and pilates studio are expected to open on May 19th. “Our goal is to be incredibly collaborative within the community,” said Culver, who lives in the neighborhood. “We want to be this bright light on the Upper West Side helping people get fit, but also a place that people could come and feel seen and heard and feel welcome.”
Harmony by Karate, a martial arts center, is moving from 251 West 81st Street to 78 West 85th Street (just east of Columbus Avenue) on May 10th. Harmony by Karate holds private and small group martial arts classes for children and adults. “We teach all ages: my youngest is two and my oldest is 82,” Sensei John Mirrione, founder and head instructor, told West Side Rag. Mirrione began teaching classes on the Upper West Side in 1995 at the former Reebok Sports Club (now Equinox) at 160 Columbus Avenue, before moving to the current West 81st Street location. He is now moving from that space to West 85th Street.
“I wanted more of a brownstone, sidestreet experience and when I saw this space, I fell in love with it. It’s quaint and boutique-ish,” Mirrione told the Rag. “I like a small space because in a real situation, you don’t have space, you are standing in one space, so the worst thing you can do is train someone with a lot of space.” Polaris, a hair salon, was previously in the space. That business moved in October to 405 Amsterdam Avenue, rebranding as PHS salon.
Kine Musubi, a restaurant specializing in musubi – a popular snack food in Hawaii made with Spam – is coming to 128 West 72nd Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus) this summer. Musubi, similar to sushi, is a portion of rice topped with Spam or other savory ingredients, then wrapped with seaweed. Its popularity in Hawaii reflects the Japanese and American military influences on the island. The restaurant’s co-founder, Chi Ian Chan, grew up in Hawaii and moved to New York in 2022. Kine Musubi used to have a pop-up location at Sushi Nonaka. Following the closure of Nonaka earlier this month, Kine Musubi is looking for another pop-up venue where it would operate until the permanent restaurant opens in summer. The restaurant space at 128 West 72nd used to be a smoke shop; before that, it was occupied by Box Kite Coffee.
Jewish Voters Unite opened a temporary field office earlier this month at West 96th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam) in advance of the primary election this June. Jewish Voters Unite is a nonprofit geared toward registering and turning out Jewish voters. “Antisemitism is on the ballot, and the Jewish community must be heard,” reads the organization’s website. The space was previously a Trek bike shop.
Aves, the Chinese restaurant at 102 West 86th Street, has reopened after having to make some unexpected repairs last week. The restaurant, which opened in December 2024, has recently started a lunch service every day from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Daily dinner service begins at 5 p.m. Aves will also be available for delivery in the coming weeks. “We love being a part of the community and are here to stay,” Harper Peck, assistant general manager, wrote to the Rag. “[We] look forward to being able to share our modern upscale authentic Szechuan cuisine with the Upper West Side!”
Pier i Cafe, the seasonal outdoor restaurant in Riverside Park (on the riverfront near West 70th Street), has reopened as of this past weekend. For now the restaurant is using its spring preview menu, which includes burgers, tacos, fish ‘n chips, Caesar salad, and more. In early May, it is planning to launch a revamped menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner, a representative confirmed with the Rag. The annual venue remains open throughout the summer and closes again in the fall. Hours are weather-dependent – updates can be found on Pier i’s Instagram page, linked HERE.
The Openings & Closings column wouldn’t be possible without our many tipsters: thank you! Anyone can send tips about openings and closings in the neighborhood to info@westsiderag.com.
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Please open something in the W 90’s and 100’s.
My theory and please feel free to contradict, is that there’s a lot of warehoused departments in this area. There was no supermarket near me 86th and Broadway for a long time. I was wondering where is everybody getting their food? They’re not all going to key food. They are not all getting fresh direct or else this place will be packed with fresh direct.
Too many greedy landlords taking tax deductions while leaving storefronts empty. For years. Lower rents/leases & more businesses will be attracted to our neighborhood.
This is an urban myth. There is no tax deduction for empty storefronts. In fact, the city penalizes empty storefronts by charging property taxes regardless of occupancy.
No, it’s not. It’s a common tactic. You’ve been peddling this line for years and it flies in the face of daily business practices here
Well, it’s a write off if the building is losing money and their expenses are higher than their income.
Wow, this old chestnut again? And props for throwing in the word “greedy.” Here’s what Perplexity, the AI search engine, has to say in response to the prompt “Do landlords in New York City get a tax break for keeping retail space empty?” “ Landlords in New York City do not get a specific tax break or credit simply for keeping retail space empty. There is no financial incentive or tax benefit that outweighs the loss of rental income. The only potential tax impact is that landlords may pay less income tax because they are earning less, but this is just a reflection of lower income, not a special tax break.
Landlords can sometimes petition for a reduction in property taxes if they can prove the property’s value has diminished due to prolonged vacancy, but any reduction is typically much less than the lost rental income and does not make leaving a space empty profitable. This is not a guaranteed or automatic benefit, and the process is complex.”
I have several friends who own restaurants on the UWS. They remain in business but have had to deal with massive rent increases by landlords. It’s been a struggle. Real estate taxes & other expenses have increased over the years but not to the extent that justifies 100% rent hikes. Sure, landlords can charge what they want to Chase, Verizon, McDonald’s, etc. but small businesses can’t survive in such an environment.
Landlords do keep properties vacant searching for the high-end tenant who can pay top dollar rents for long-term leases with lucrative escalation clauses, etc. — that’s why the neighborhood is filled with banks and chain drug stores and fast-food chains and other types of national businesses that expand into NYC. That is a business decision, so let’s not cry crocodile tears for the landlords over their intentional vacancies. We’d all be better off with occupied store-fronts leased by local businesses owned by local residents that create neighborhood-friendly environments. But that is not an environment that appeals to commercial property owners, for whom the dollar is king.
Since you’re so bothered by “intentional vacancies” perhaps you should buy commercial real estate and lease your space to whichever business willing to pay you the least in rent.
Virtually every empty storefront in NYC has a sign to lease the space. Unfortunately, many spaces have no takers at any price. And a landlord will not simply lock in a tenant for many years at any price simply to fill the space.
Nobody is happy about empty space but ranting nonsense is not helping matters.
Please create a business friendly environment.
The 70’s and 80’s are more business friendly? What ae they doing differently other than having higher rents?
Tenants with higher income.
Brunch at Pier I? Interesting!
It’d be wonderful if there was some kind of transportation to help seniors/handicapped to get down to the river to enjoy the cafe, pier, etc. It’s really a shame that they’re stuck in the upper park area. How about a tram?!!!
Jan – I was down at the river today at the Pier I Cafe – gorgeous! I had the same thought you express here: Wish there was away for people that have mobility challenges to get down there!
That’s a nice idea. Perhaps a golf cart – with very good brakes – that could do pickups from the eleanor Roosevelt statue and/or Riverside/70th st ramp
Call the MTA. They’re a user-friendly transportation organization known for their efficient and proactive use of capital funds in service of their customers. A tram service
to the waterfront would be a great, $1 Trillion addition to their portfolio, which I’m sure they can finance from their miscellaneous petty cash.
How about a jitneythat goes up and down the hill?
Hard to see the MTA being able to build a small, mostly seasonal addition when they hardly have the money to fix what they already own!
how is it possible that you missed the dripping sarcasm in peter’s reply… it’s literally RIGHT there
Good one!!!
There are some ramps and somewhat wheelchair friendly paths on riverside boulevard (starting around 70th street and downtown) entrances. Better than the stairs at 72 and other locations.
I think both ramps going down to that area (from 72nd and 68th or so) are too steep to safely navigate in a walker or wheelchair. What if there were a couple of times a day when some sort of cart could bring folks down and back up?
It’s all ramp accessible. Restaurant, nearby bathrooms, or bathrooms further north. Easiest/best graded paths are from entrance around 66th street in the most newly built area above the volleyball courts.
It’s really not user-friendly for the elderly and disabled that’s why I think a jitney would be great.
I’ve been waiting for a Spam restaurant to open.
Dreams do come true.
Good one
I actually tried them last summer. I belong to a canoe club with several team members who are from Hawaii as outrigger is a Hawaiian sport. I don’t eat meat but she made tofu ones and it is really tasty. Hopefully the owner offers veggie options.
And definitely don’t use the wifi.
The Democrat party has abandoned the Jewish community.
The Republican party never liked us to begin with.
Why have democrats elected over 30 Jews to the House and Senate while republicans have elected 3?
The highest ranking member of the party is a Jew from Brooklyn.
The highest-ranking member of the Democratic party I assume you mean Chuck Schumer. A man without convictions and will sway with the wind. The Democrats have no leader.
I think Schumer is terrific!
Now you just moved the goalposts, which I’m not surprised by.
I’ll be here all week, remember to tip your waiter,
Right, right, the party of neo-Nazis and “Jews control the weather” conspiracy theorists is totally the way to go.
What is a Jewish platform for voting? I almost don’t want to ask. . .
Likely getting as many people as possible to register as democrats to prevent a vile antisemite from becoming mayor
This Jew votes Republican!
That’s sad.
I love Lift! Ashley really helped me understand alignment and how to properly lift weights which translates to my dog and groceries! Can’t wait for the new Pilates space!!!
Julie Sorrentino on 80th Street is also great with Pilates, she has been on the UWS for 30 years! I highly recommend you try her!
Any news yet on the Organic Deli on Amsterdam? We are giving you the tools make some updates!
Two words I never thought I would see in the same sentence: “Organic and Deli”
Please cover the new Teso Mini at Bway & 106th.
Excited for the musubi shop!
Hawaiian resto sounds interesting! We need more food diversity up here. Downtown has us beat.