By Scott Etkin & Lisa Kava
Goldfish Swim School, which offers small-group swimming lessons for kids ages 4 months to 12 years, is planning to open at 1871 Broadway (between West 61st and 62nd streets) in the first quarter of 2026. The 30-by-70-foot pool will be built in the basement, where there used to be an auditorium for the New York Institute of Technology, which closed in 2020 due to a water main break. “It’s a massive project,” said Katie Lee, the franchise owner, on a call with the Rag. Since the pool will only be used for teaching children, it will be 4.5 feet deep. The street-level space will serve as a waiting area with stroller parking and a snack bar.
Goldfish opened its first swim school in 2006 with the goal of teaching kids to be safer in and around water. Lee used to swim competitively with one of Goldfish’s co-founders, Jenny McCuiston, and helped her open the company’s first school in Birmingham, Mich. Lee then stayed involved as a franchise owner and now operates approximately 30 Goldfish schools. About a year ago, she brought the first one in Manhattan to the Upper East Side. “We take into account markets that are underserved, as far as pools are concerned,” said Lee. “And that’s why we’re so excited to be in the city, because every kid needs to know how to swim. Whether their circumstances are in a major metropolitan area or out in a rural area, they need to know how to swim.”
TP TEA, a bubble tea shop, officially opened on July 6th at 330 West 58th St. (between 8th and 9th avenues, near Columbus Circle). TP TEA was founded in Taiwan in 2005. This will be TP TEA’s second location in New York, the first being in Flushing, Queens, a representative told West Side Rag. There is also a U.S. store in Seattle, Wash. “Chef Shui Tang from Taichung, Taiwan is widely credited as the original creator of bubble tea in 1987,” the representative wrote to the Rag. “He has since earned global recognition for his commitment to tradition, innovation, and high quality tea beverages.” TP TEA uses fresh and in-season ingredients in their tea. All tea is made to order and brewed on the same day without the use of preservatives or artificial coloring. TP TEA also manufactures its own cane sugar. The new shop will host a three-week “giveaway campaign,” featuring prizes and TP TEA gift cards. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sundays until 7 p.m. Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt store, was previously in the space. (Thanks to Cris for the tip.)
Rocket Club, a math tutoring program, opened on July 7th at 522 Amsterdam Ave. (between West 85th and 86th streets). The program has classes for kids from Pre-K through 7th grade that take a research-backed approach to making math fun. “Every member has a dedicated lead instructor who designs a personalized curriculum, tracks growth, and cheers them on as they build Common Core skills through real-world math topics,” CEO and founder Alex Hodara wrote in a message to the Rag. Families can book an informational call and schedule a diagnostic – HERE. Rocket Club previously had pop-ups on the UWS and a location in Lincoln Square. This is its third permanent location in NYC, with other outposts in Tribeca and on the Upper East Side. The space was previously an AT&T store.
Sushi Tokyo, a kosher Japanese restaurant, has opened at 660 Amsterdam Ave. (between West 92nd and 93rd streets). The restaurant used to be based in Chelsea and recently relocated to the Upper West Side. “For years, we had requests from our customers to come up[town]. We did a lot of the events, and parties, and deliveries on a daily basis from Chelsea to the Upper West Side,” one of the owners said on a call with the Rag. “For years, we wanted to open here and now [we have] a good opportunity. We are very happy to be here.” The restaurant is open for pickup and delivery, and also has a small section for dining-in, though this will be expanded within the next two months once a renovation is completed. Sushi Tokyo was founded in 2008 and has four locations in the city, plus a seasonal location in the Catskills during the summer. The menu includes a wide variety of sushi rolls, maki rolls, tempura rolls, sashimi, and more (all certified kosher). The restaurant is closed on Saturdays. The space used to be Izzy’s Smokehouse, a kosher BBQ restaurant, which closed in January. (Thanks to Avi for the tip.)
2nd Street, a secondhand clothing shop at 2519 Broadway (southwest corner of West 94th Street), has opened for buying-only ahead of the store’s grand opening, which is planned for July 18th. During this pre-opening period, people can sell their clothes at the shop at a 20-percent markup, i.e., for more cash back than they would otherwise get when selling their clothes there. 2nd Street’s selection will include men’s and women’s clothes and accessories, with an emphasis on luxury brands and streetwear. 2nd Street was founded in Japan and now has many locations in the U.S., including one already on the Upper West Side at West 112th Street and Broadway. During the pre-opening, hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Once the store fully opens for buying and selling on the 18th, hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with buying ending an hour earlier. The space has been vacant for several years but was most recently a Capital One bank. (Thanks to Noemie for the tip.)
ICYMI: West Side Kids, the toy store that has operated at West 84th Street for 44 years, is closing this summer. The store has limited inventory remaining, but it will be open from Tuesday through Saturday through the end of July, and then will operate on a day-to-day basis until a final day is selected. “Our landlord has always been very supportive and fair,” wrote owner Jennifer Bergman. “We are not closing because of them. We are closing because we don’t have enough business to pay the bills. Although many of you have been incredibly loyal, the truth is most people really do prefer to shop online.” Bergman’s mother, Alice, started the business in 1981 and the business recently moved from 498 Amsterdam Ave. to 201 West 84th St. Items from Mrs. McCarthy Mercantile, a section within the shop, will be 50 percent off and holiday items will also be on sale starting next week.
ICYMI: Strand, the bookstore, opened two weekends ago at 2020 Broadway (between West 69th and 70th streets), replacing another bookstore, Shakespeare & Co., which closed earlier this summer. This is the second Strand location on the UWS – one at 450 Columbus Ave. (between West 81st and 82nd streets) opened in 2020. There are racks of used, discounted books outside the store, as well as an expanded children’s book section and a prominent section of New York books. A cafe at the front is still in the works, along with seating. Founded in 1927, Strand is best known for its multi-story, longtime location at East 12th Street. (Thanks to Sheridan for the tip.)
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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Toilet Paper Tea—talk about a major fail on selecting a western-suitable brand!
When I first read the name, it sounded ‘off’ and I didn’t process the reason—thanks for bringing it to the fore! Yeah, poor name choice, indeed!
Signage is up for Saperavi, a Georgian restaurant, at Boka’s former location of 410 Amsterdam ave.
Great – Georgian cuisine deserves more attention, and it’s far enough from Chama Mama – which I recommend – that it won’t be a threat.
The Upper UWS is ready for a toy/gift store.
I’ve been shopping at Stationary and Toy World since 2012. The store is packed to the ceiling with toys and gifts, gift wrap, school and art supplies, etc. I also used to shop at Paper House, but since they downsized not so much.
https://stationeryandtoy.com/
Stationary & Toy World is located at:
125 West 72nd Street
(between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) on the Upper West Side
(212-580-3922).
Edit: Just to add, that I’m in no way associated with the store. I just appreciate the fact that I can still do one-stop-shopping and see exactly what I’m buying in person. : )
I USED TO GO THERE WHEN MY GRANDKIDS WERE LITTLE. VERY WELL STOCKED WITH TOYS.
I’ll add that the staff at Stationery & Toy World is very helpful
Second this
I hope the swimming school can expand to include exercise in shallow water for seniors. Not that 4.5 feet is shallow for me — I’m only 4’10”! But I have never been a good swimmer, and I could really use some soaking on my old bones and arthritis. It is supposed to be very good for you to stretch in water. It would be terrific if that was also in the works. The irony is, of course, the brand new NYIT theatre was wiped out by water — when the100 year old water main at 62 and Broadway broke and flooded the area for five hours. I lost three storage bins and thousands of dollars worth of antiquarian books and magazines, family archives, work archives, and the entire value of my record collection. And the City never paid a dime, because they only give you 90 days to file, and I didn’t even know what I lost in 90 days, between working full time, rehearsing for a show, and cleaning out the bins.
Goldfish’s business model caters to children from 4 months to 12 years. Do not believe any of their locations nationwide deviate from said plan.
https://goldfishswimschool.com
Location on UES (80th and Second) is well used with not just neighborhood children but those coming by bus load (summer camp?)
Good suggestion. I’m sure that to make this work financially then need to be operating the pool as many hours a day as possible, so if that is how they can make money, they would consider it.
This is a nice addition to the neighborhood. Unfortunately my kids are now too old for something like this – JCC classes for kids fill up so quickly so good to have alternatives.
I hope they have adequate family changing spaces – the ones at the JCC get incredibly crowded at busy times.
Agreed that it would be great to have another place other than JCC for water aerobics.
There is that kosher sushi place on the east side of Amsterdam between 93rd and 94th, right? Or did that close?
There’s also kosher sushi at the new kosher supermarket Six60one. Three places within two blocks
That place is nasty
It’s still there . It’s takeout only and has a full Chinese and Thai menu too
Huh. I love their sushi. Good to know. Thank you
A 70′-long pool? You’d think they’d go an extra five feet to make it consistent with normal club, school and college pools.
It’s probably the largest-sized pool they could fit into the space.
The Strand’s Cafe will be much smaller than Shakespeare and Company’s, not even half its size, with maybe a few tables near the counter.
It’s sad that people abused the space by working on their computers and taking zoom calls for hours at a time. Many times people with food and drink couldn’t sit because of the “work from home” people, sitting there for an 8 hour shift. There will be fewer tables, but every table will be used for people who need to eat and drink.
Well, then again, it is a bookstore and not a cafe.
I am truly sad about WS Kids. I shopped there when my children were little.
Hi here’s a selling tip for 2nd St. You will get more money if your clothes and shoes are designer or name brands favored by genZ and trendy fashionistas. Glitz and glam bring in more money. If you a going there to buy their prices are good unless you choose name brand items. (Try using Housing Works 97th B’way)
Would be interested to hear about others’ experiences at 2nd Street at 94 Street. I brought in 2 silk jersey DVF vintage wrap dresses in excellent condition that are now too big for me, and they offered me $5 each, $6 with the 20% bonus. Although I bought these a few years ago, these dresses now retail for $600+ each.
I took them up Broadway to donate at Housing Works, where the person at the donation desk realized what I had brought in and was extremely appreciative.
Notice how most of these businesses have scaffolding in front. This is why businesses close. No one sees them.