By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Taqueria Y Fonda, the family-owned Mexican restaurant at 968 Amsterdam Ave. (between West 107th and 108th streets) closed on June 7th after 26 years at this location, due to rising rent and costs. “This mom-and-pop gem has been a labor of love,” Mary Lopez Veliz, daughter of the owner, Jorge, wrote in a message to the Rag. “[He] cooked, cleaned, and welcomed guests with pride every day, often working from early afternoon until 3 a.m.”
The restaurant was popular among Columbia students; it even inspired the song “Horchata” by the Grammy-winning band Vampire Weekend, whose members met at the university. Some locals thought that it was among the best Mexican restaurants in the city; two Rag readers commented to say so in an article about Eater’s list. Despite Taqueria Y Fonda’s attachment to the neighborhood, the family made the difficult decision to sell the restaurant, which is expected to reopen under different management and a new name. Veliz said there are plans for the family business to continue as a catering company and a line of bottled hot sauces. Updates about these ventures can be found on Instagram – HERE.
SLT, an exercise studio with a focus on Pilates, opened on June 5th at 610 Columbus Ave. (between West 89th and 90th streets). The opening marks a return to this part of the UWS for SLT, which used to have a location a block away at 580 Columbus (West 88th Street) that closed in 2020 during the pandemic. “In 2024, we opened SLT West 73 in the Ansonia building at 2109 Broadway (between West 73rd and West 74th streets) and while it’s been incredible to be back on the UWS, we kept hearing the same request – bring SLT back to the upper 80’s,” a representative wrote to Rag in an email.
SLT (which stands for strengthen, length, tone), combines “the most effective Pilates moves with targeted strength training to deliver a workout that challenges your entire body,” the representative wrote. The machines at SLT studios are “Better-Reformer[s], which refers to the next generation of Pilates reformer machines designed for more power and precision.” In addition to the other UWS location, SLT operates studios throughout NYC (on the Upper East Side, Brooklyn, Noho, Flatiron, and Nomad) along with several others on the East Coast. SLT offers group classes, and private training is available on request. The studio sells class packages and monthly memberships.
Zen Medica, the vitamins and nutritional supplements shop at 137 West 72nd St. (between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues) closed on June 6th after 13 years. “Through changing times, rising costs, and evolving shopping habits, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain our beloved store,” the company wrote in an announcement. Zen Medica specializes in products used in alternative medicine, such as herbal products and homeopathic remedies. “Seeing familiar faces walk through our doors, witnessing your progress, and being part of your lives has been the greatest gift,” the company wrote. Zen Medica will continue to operate as an online business. Its products and personalized consultations will be available via the company’s website – HERE. (Thanks to Sharon for the tip.)
Wolfnights, a restaurant serving wraps at 2675 Broadway (between West 101st and 102nd streets) has closed. The primary reason for the decision was concern about safety, especially following an armed robbery inside the store in 2022, a representative said. “In addition, there were repeated incidents of harassment toward our employees that went unreported to authorities but crossed a line for us internally,” the representative wrote. Wolfnights declined to provide more information about why these incidents weren’t reported. The business also has franchise locations in Midtown and near the East Village, which it will continue to operate. The UWS location opened in 2021. “At Wolfnights, safety isn’t negotiable,” the representative wrote. “We hold a clear line – for our team and our guests – and this location no longer met that standard.” (Thanks to Kate and Myra for the tips.)
Baya Bar, an açaí bowl and smoothie shop, opened on June 7th at 516 Columbus Ave. (southwest corner of West 85th Street). The menu includes tropical fruit bowls, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, toasts, and coffee. “We had over 100 people at our grand opening on Saturday,” one of the managers told the Rag on a visit to the shop. “We are incredibly thankful for such a great turnout and excited to be serving the neighborhood.” Baya Bar has many franchise locations, including one the UWS at West 97th Street, and another near Columbus Circle. It was founded in 2016 by Bill Loesch, who used to work in the finance industry. Baya means “berry” in Spanish and the shop sells many different types of açaí bowls, including some seasonal flavors. The space used to be Big Gay Ice Cream, which closed in February.
Summer for the City, Lincoln Center’s annual outdoor performance series, returns June 11th and runs through August 9th. In addition to a wide range of performances (including dance, theater, and opera) there will also be more than two dozen food trucks appearing over the course of the series, primarily located in Damrosch Park on the southwest side of Lincoln Center’s campus. Vendors include: Jerrell’s Betr Brgr (plant-based smash burgers), Mothershuckers (fresh shucked oysters), Maya’s Snack Bar (paletas, chamoy, and fruit), Charles Pan Fried Chicken, and more. Kwame Onwuachi, the chef behind Lincoln Center’s acclaimed restaurant Tatiana, will also have a food truck, Patty Palace, serving Caribbean patties. The vendors will be open Wednesday through Sunday night during the festival, opening an hour before that night’s show and closing once the performance is over.
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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Evolving shopping habits? I assume this means people are shopping for vitamins, supplements, online. Shame
I wonder how extra loud “Summer at Lincoln Center” will be, and for how long?
It seems to take 2+ weeks of neighbors and plaza pedestrians screaming at LC for them to learn that their behavior (usually starting around 4PM) is widely detested, and a giant “screw everyone” performance.
For the love! These cranky comments that are basically “the problem with this city is… it is a city.” You want quiet evenings? You want clean streets- move to where there are less humans. Try the burbs and settled in deep. Enough with complaining that the city is so much like a city.
The music at 6:30 pm last night was so loud and blaring I just went home. I felt sorry for the apartments near the disco ball area.
don’t worry, if people can afford to live in that area, most likely they are in the Hamptons when things get a bit noisy in the summer lol. They will be just fine! Your sympathy is needed elsewhere!
Imagine being upset that a performing arts center is hosting performing arts events
Mikey,
The performances spaces all of the are Lincoln Center are indoors.
That the Center has chosen to be obnoxious to its neighbors starting only 3 years ago can’t be validated by claims like yours above.
It’s appalling that every year of this (so far), LC has had to learn what an appropriate volume is for public performances.
Furthermore, again and again, LC has chosen to blast music in the vicinity of the Performing Arts Library, a rent paying tenant of the campus, like the Met Opera, NYC Ballet, and Philharmonic. This noise doesn’t stop 2 weeks after the season starts.
Before I read, “but the Band Shell, and Summer Swing”, that’s in a City park.
Seriously? People dancing and having fun a couple of times a week for max 6 weeks _ it’s done by 9pm. You need to move to the burbs
It’s the volume of the thumping bass, not the times per week.
I am an elderly retiree who lived across the street from Lincoln Center for 22 years, and have no idea what you’re complaining about. We went to dozens of outdoor performances over the decades, and continue to do so. It’s a joyous celebration of the community and city. Long may it thrive!
LOVE Summer for the City!
So? That doesn’t abrogate my point.
Read the writing on the wall… time to move out buddy. Nobody lives here for the quiet evenings or nights. Not its selling point. Actually the reverse.
I’m guessing you’ve not lived in NYC for more than a few years.
Summer For City is a nuisance. It attracts homeless people and pot smokers. It will drive tourism away. Bad idea.
Bah, humbug!
Love LC’s summer events. Look forward to them every year, and I am a neighbor.
Bettin’ your residence doesn’t face the plaza.
Agreed. Summer for the City is wonderful. I’m lucky enough to live across the street from Lincoln Center and want to thank LC for a wonderful addition to the neighborhood every summer.
Mom and pops close. Açaí opens. What’s wrong with this picture?
Mom and Pops should raise their prices. If they truly are pppular places, customers would pay a little more. – Adam Smith
Ahhh… that implies that as rents rise and prices rise so do salaries. That is not true for myself as a teacher no anyone else I know. You e only got half the equation there.
Is açaí addictive or something? I like a fruit smoothie from time to time but I eat a salad when I want actual nutrition.
Rent gouging. Elected officials who do nothing to work for rent control for small businesses. All we get is corporate with employees underpaid and mostly indifferent.
Rent gouging? So, building owner should be told what they can charge for rent? No thanks Comrade.
Summer at Lincoln Center is one more reason to ‘summer’ outside of Manhattan.
The shows are often great and the dancing and food are fun… you don’t have to go.
Damn! I love Taqueria y Fonda.
I don’t believe Wolfnights. That place was never busy because there aren’t a lot of customers for $17 wraps. They’re just making excuses.
Those wraps *were* amazing though! At those prices I could only justify eating there a couple of times per month but I really enjoyed them every time.
Came here to say this. I walk by multiple times every week and I never see anyone in there — and I was never tempted to go in myself.
I walked in there multiple times for lunch, saw the prices, and got pizza instead.
Those wraps were delicious, and so big, they were basically 2 meals. Plus there was no plastic packaging waste, unlike most takeout. I will miss them!
Agreed. There isn’t the lunchtime foot traffic on 102 and Broadway to sell niche sandwiches like “Grilled chicken wrapped in date and pumpkin seed dough with fried pickles, feta, melon, mint and yogurt sauce”
@Westender spot on about the combos! Unnecessarily weird and failed niche.
that sounds like the Dire Wolf. sandwich which I liked
That Wolfnights excuse sounds like the robbers were coming from the inside.
Wolfnights. Wanted to like it more, but some of the offered wrap combinations (I’m not the build your own type, you tell me what’s good) were ultimately pretty bizarre and not appealing. And, it was often empty. It’s curious that on the way out, they essentially chose to blame the neighborhood for the closure.
They probably have investors they have to appease. It would look bad for them to admit that they just failed.
Really sad about Taqueria Y Fonda, an end of an era. I remember ordering their massive burritos 20 years ago when my husband was in residency at Columbia. was absolutely one of the best mexican restaurants in the city.
Very sad to hear Wolfnights rationale for closing — all the more reason to turn out in large numbers for the democratic mayoral primary and vote for common sense tough on crime democrats!
I’ve loved Taqueria for all of those 26 years, ordering 1-2 a month. Very sad to see a local legend go. Never provided enough of their coveted red sauce so I’m looking forward to their bottled sauce line.
Ate at Taqueria Allende on FDB at 114th recently and felt like I was cheating. Glad to have a new favorite.
Would love to know more about the unreported issues Wolfnights faced as I live on that block.
Taqueria y Fonda R.I.P. It was a treasure. Everything a good local should be. Casual. On the slow side. Simple and delicious and a value. It was the best breakfast in the neighborhood after the beloved Rosita’s closed.
Loved Rosita .. That was a great breakfast for sure
I liked Wolfnights and went there a lot, but it was kind of an odd niche place and never seemed busy.
Ugh, two more closings in the 100’s. So sad about the Taqueria. There are so many vacancies in W90-110.th. The city really needs to lower crime in this area.
More bad news about mom and pop stores-Casa Hardware on Broadway between 105th and 106th is closing.
They were always so friendly and helpful and OPEN ( just like Silver Moon) during the pandemic when so many other things were closed. Nice people, will miss them.
That’s part of the building that used to have Silver Moon, right? The other ground floor storefront is currently empty (was last a Harris campaign office). The remaining businesses are the second floor Tae Kwon Do school and a pottery studio, I think.
My guess is the building owner is forcing out tenants when their leases expire, to sell off the lot to developers. It’s one of the few (only?) remaining two-story buildings left on that stretch of Broadway, and I can imagine the owner salivating at selling it to people building a 20 story luxury condo building.
That would be a big improvement.
🙄
CRAP
So sad about Taqueria. It really was excellent food, a small family shop with a friendly and personal atmosphere. Such a loss for this neighborhood. 😢
The Mayor, Brewer, Council members really need to figure out what the problems are with W96-W110th and fix them. Is it crime, dirt, high rents, lack of new construction and developments? The movie theater opening would really help.
Mystery solved:
1. Rollback Bail Reform
2. Lock up shoplifters.
3. Enforce quality of life crimes.
It looks like Empellón Taqueria, Waterline Square,
645 West 59th Street has finally closed. Not a beloved restaurant. Antone know whats coming?
Too bad about the affordable Mexican restaurant near Columbia! I remember being quite pleased with the food and the price! Always crowded with students and no frills seating, but great food for a great price! that is hard to come by these days….