By Lisa Kava and Sara Lewin Lebwohl
Rito Gelato, a gelato and sorbet shop, opened at 2341 Broadway (between West 85th and West 86th streets), on October 3rd. This is the first gelato shop for owner Fuat Turan, who also owns a bicycle store in midtown. Turan named Rito Gelato after his grandfather (whose nickname was Rito.) “My grandfather often took me for gelato as a child growing up in Istanbul, Turkey,” Turan told West Side Rag on a visit to the shop. “It has always been my dream to open a gelato business one day.” The gelato is homemade on site using a recipe from an Italian chef in Rome, Turan said. Flavors include; lotus cookie, hazelnut, cheesecake, and stracciatella, in addition to vanilla and chocolate. Dairy and gluten-free sorbet flavors include; mango, strawberry, and pineapple, among others. A former Upper West Sider, Turan knew he wanted to open his store in the neighborhood. “I like the friendly culture of the Upper West Side. It is a community where people know each other and say hello to one another,” Turan told the Rag. “It reminds me of Istanbul that way.” The space was previously a part of Broadway Farms, the existing grocery store. (Thanks to Jackie and Kim for the tip.)
Levitate Studios NYC, an aerial arts fitness center and yoga studio, opened on September 28th at 315 West 110th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Manhattan Avenue.) Levitate offers classes for adults and children, “from beginners through professional level aerialists,” owner Brenna Bradbury wrote to West Side Rag in an email. Class packages are sold or can be bought individually. Aerial arts classes use apparatus such as silks, lyra (a metal hoop), hammocks, and straps. Levitate also offers regular yoga classes as well as strength and conditioning classes. Bradbury has been practicing and teaching aerial arts for over 20 years, and has performed as an aerialist at various venues. “Between November 1st and December 15th, Levitate Studios will run a 6-week program based on age, skill level, and interest which will culminate in a performance,” Bradbury wrote to the Rag. The space was previously a religious organization called Cultivate NYC, which moved to West 113th Street. (Thanks to Gary for the photo and the tip.)
The Cashmere Sale, the annual pop-up store, re-opened on October 3rd at 2139 Broadway (at West 75th Street), and will remain open until December 18th. The pop-up sells cashmere sweaters, jackets, vests, along with accessories, such as hats, gloves, and scarves. All clothing and accessories are sold at discounted prices. The space was previously Lululemon, which closed in 2022. Hours posted on the website are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (Thanks to Gretchen for the tip.)
It’Sugar, the candy store at 1870 Broadway (at West 61st Street), closed on October 6th. The reason for the closing is that “there is not enough business at this location,” the store manager told West Side Rag on a visit to the shop. Staff members will be moved to It’Sugar’s, Times Square location, after they finish packing up the candy from the Broadway shop this week. (Thanks to Stephanie for the tip.)
YoYo Chicken, a fried chicken and fast food chain, has signage up at 934 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 106th Street). A family-owned restaurant, Yoyo Chicken’s menu is fully halal and focuses on fried chicken “in a straightforward style,” according to the website. Dishes are served on skewers or paired with dipping sauces, with seasonings ranging from mild to spicy. Side dishes include pickles, slaw, and waffle fries. The restaurant operates multiple locations in New Jersey, Queens, Brooklyn, and on Long Island. We will update when we have more information on an opening date. The space was previously a smoke shop.
The Jewel Boutique, a jewelry shop at 2586 Broadway (at West 98th Street), temporarily closed on October 1st and will re-open on October 14th. The closing is for a” family celebration.” A note was sent to customers saying “all repairs, personal belongings, and valuables are at a secure and separate offsite vaulted location.”
ICYMI: Jack’s Coffee is coming to 201 West 83rd Street ( between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway), in the space previously occupied by the iconic Cafe Lalo for more than three decades. Read West Side Rag’s coverage of this news 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.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
I’m sorry to see It’s Sugar leave the hood. We have a lot of empty storefronts on Broadway in the Lincoln Center District and it’s because the rents are outrageous. Our iconic cinema was forced out years ago and still remains empty. Duane Reade left the 63rd Street location and it was because the rents were too high and there were constant leaks in the air conditioning, causing the elevators to stall. (I asked and it had nothing to do with theft, which everyone thought when it was simply high rent). We have empty space where the brand new theatre was flooded out at NYIT when we had the water main break of 2020, in which I lost three storage bins of records and antiquarian books and never got a dime from the City, because it was too impossible to file in 90 days when I didn’t even know what my losses were. The real estate taxes are too high, and the commercial rents too high, and even the toniest neighborhoods are suffering from it. I moved to the location in 1986 when it was devoid of anything. Now the stores are competing with Columbus Circle, so we don’t need touristy shops, we need basics like food and spirits, but buildings don’t want bugs and / or alcohol, which is highly flammable. We already have a plethora of banks and brokerage. I hope someone creative can come up with a solution.
Are you suggesting that there aren’t enough liquor and wine stores in the UWS? Because if you are, you might be confused as to which neighborhood you live in.
Nasty comment to Sam Katz to suggest he doesn’t know what neighborhood he’s in. This is exactly why countries go get along.
Agree
Creative Solution:
Lock up shoplifters.
Did you not read Katz post?
I certainly did.
I still stand by my original comment:
Lock up shoplifters.
Can’t lock them up because the punishment will fall disproportionately.
How so ?
And the Best Buy + Bed Bath and Beyond gone. So much empty retail. Century 21 gone, Lowe’s empty forever. I’m glad we have Target now, will have a Wegman’s soon.
Someone’s got to figure it out. I don’t understand how building owner’s can keep these spaces empty for so long.
I think that’s a great question to ask our city council. Some tax situations let you write off rent that you are not getting. To me that’s an incentive for businesses to raise rent to a level they know no one will pay. 😏
There is no tax situation that allows landlords to write off lost rent.
Stop spreading nonsense you clearly don’t understand.
Have figured it out:
Lock up shoplifters.
I will give you a bonus:
Enforce quality of life issues.
This will not help with the obscene rents.
Ok, then lower the obscene taxes.
Also the crime in Lincoln Center area is a big deterrent.
That’s such a safe area, please.
You’re kidding, right?
It was a touristy garbage store selling garbage to tourists.
It’s Sugar was just a touristy candy store, so it is sad to have more empty stores but it’s no huge loss for the neighborhood. Clearly the asking rents in that building are too expensive with the former Best Buy space still open as well.
If locals spent all their discretionary purchases at local stores instead of online, the problem would be solved, but that just doesn’t happen, nor probably ever will.
Then the stores have to sell what people are looking for, correct? And not tell a customer “We don’t have in stock but can order it for you”: I can order it myself, thank you vey much.
When I first moved to the UWS I was delighted to discover all of the little shops. I remember the day I posted that Amaryllis was closing and someone here replied, ‘don’t be an idiot you can get flowers at Fairway.’ I always shopped at local stores until I wasted several weekends running around and getting nothing but excuses: out of stock, no longer made (lie), the truck didn’t come in, let me try another distributor, and my favorite, ‘you know this was a holiday weekend, right?’ And that was PRE Covid. I’d already stopped going into DR because I’d witnessed 2 armed robberies and a violent altercation with a homeless man. I started shopping on Amazon for Dye Free Scent Free laundry detergent, which was nearly half the price online…and the rest is history.
You’re absolutely right! That’s why it is so important to support local businesses–and also force our elected officials to do something about the rent gouging in this city (and actually in big cities all over the country)
Adams’ City of Yes will only add to this displacement of local businesses and working and middle class families alike.
City of Yes is aimed at residential, not commercial, and it will ADD housing units, not remove them like when rich people merge apartments in buildings. This was maybe the one good thing Adams did, might as well take the time to understand it.
The name of the closed candy store is/was “It’sugar”, not “It’s Sugar”.
Huh?
Fixed 👍Thank you for pointing this out, Cato.
Ok, we will call it “It’ closed”
Correct, and thanks for mentioning this. While I regret losing a neighborhood source for some unusual candies, at least I won’t have to experience the “fingernails on chalkboard” reaction every time I pass the store and see the grammatical abomination of its name.
Will the hideous scaffolding — or “sidewalk shed” or whatever it’s called these days — on the block of Broadway that houses The Cashmere Sale ever come down?
I still don’t understand how nobody is able to explain why the scaffolding on Broadway btw 75 and 76th has been up for over 11 years? The Astor used to be a beautiful building and now its storefronts are all run down.
Agreed! Would love to see a true brick and mortar instead of pop-ups. The building and the storefront are primed for a great permanent space.
What’s up with Broadway Farms? It seems like there’s less inventory on the shelves every day. No meat or fish, less and less ice cream, less and less frozen foods. Are they in the midst of a soft closing?
Has been like that for years (was my corner store for 2yrs) and they don’t seem to balance stock well – there were days that I was sure they were having a fire sale and closing only to see the delivery trucks and palettes of goods the next morning. I guess it’s good for them that they sell that much….but it does make the place feel temporary.
Good luck to the gelato shop. Their sidewalk is populated by a 24/7 party of residents of the SRO above. Loud music, smoking, chairs blocking the sidewalk.
The neighborhood goes abruptly south the moment you go north of 86th.
The SRO residents took over the space & seating of Blank Street coffee shop too. The owners of that bloc-long SRO are making a lot of money while making that same bloc very hard on businesses.
I agree. Hopefully having a store there will cut back on that. As well as the colder weather. I’m all for community building and people enjoying themselves but they go well beyond that.
Though I have to admit that I often like their music…
Yes, I live nearby. Everyone needs to cal 311 to report disturbance everyday. I spoke to owner of shop, he said landlord will do nothing or mgt of SRO. At night when all drunk it is scary shouting obscene threats.
I hate when restaurants make their own mystery sauce and then put it on everything. What the heck is in Yoyo sauce and why is that strange white stuff on my food? Will you give me a refund if I don’t like it or am I just supposed to take my chances?
Most restaurants honor requests for no sauce. Just a thought. Though I agree that a bad sauce is disappointing – I wish Raising Canes had better sauce as their regular one is not good but I like their chicken.
You’ll live.
Hey, you might like it. Yoyo sauce, which is not made with doughnuts, is acclaimed around the world.
A lot of the boring chicken places do it because they all sell the same repetitive and boring chicken. There’s Chick Chick sauce and Cane’s sauce and Chik-fil-A sauce and now Yoyo sauce. But there’s also Shake Shack sauce and Yasouvlaki has its own Yasou sauce. Yes this bothers me more than it should.
And it’s usually the same boring sauce. Mayo, ketchup, maybe a little hot sauce or relish.
It’s not a sauce but no one has ever replicated fine and Shapiro’s Russian dressing. It had a bite to it almost to the point that it was effervescing like soda. It wasn’t mayonnaise which by me was fine because I don’t like mayonnaise.
That was the most delicious dressing I’ve ever tasted. Greatest turkey sandwiches with that dressing!
Please get rid of all the scaffolding on Broadway so businesses have a chance.
How about social services taking a space to be a community center with facilities that offer job readiness training to complement the homeless shelters in the neighborhood? A place where these residents can go when they are required to leave the shelter for the day and need to fill time before they are able to return in the evening? A place that offers bathrooms? Food? Internet? Staffed with social workers who can offer services to help them more quickly transition into self sufficiency. It has to be a nicer option than begging on the street all day. Many complain that they are hungry. We keep hearing that Social Services needs to meet people where they are. Lower Broadway has a lot of people sleeping and begging on the street these days so this seems to me like a perfect location. Housing is important but without the corresponding services to help this vulnerable group move towards self sufficiency its really not a solution. New shelters keep opening. Where are the wraparound services that are supposedly most critical?
Jewel Boutique is a great place. Shop local!
Yes, Hermeet is a magnificent jeweler. Have you seen his jewelry that He makes himself? Exquisite and unique.
With the super high real estate taxes causing excessive commercial rents and constant scaffolding its amazing any retail space gets leased.
Sorry to hear any business go out but Sugar was an ugly retail installation with overly bright lighting.
The beauty salon on West 106th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam that was destroyed by a fire is re-opening as a cafe. Hashi Market on Broadway in the old Garden of Eden building has been tearing out the interior and has up actual “Help Wanted” signs. They are also redoing the interior of Absolut Bagels next door. Up the avenue the closed Hot Pot (which used to be Cannon’s Bar) is being worked on. Abigails on W 102 Street is going to be Olta, a Mediterranean restaurant.
Lots of action around here!
I wish even one restaurant would have good old-fashioned comfort foods — chicken pot pie, beef stew, chicken a la king, open hot roast beef sandwiches au jus. The more exotic the restaurants get, the worst they get. It’s not a big attraction to me when they offer octopus, unknown entities of seafood, etc. Alas…
Bring back the Hot Pot place on 108! It was. a true favorite. And I hope none of these new places are Pizza shops! We need bagels!!!
The new bagel store on Amsterdam Avenue doesn’t make good bagels. They’re too large and not chewy enough.
I saw a sign saying “Telio” at the old Abigail’s location. Is Olta going to be run by the owners of Telio?
Welcome back Telio!! Hi-ho Telio.
We missed you!
I might be wrong about the name…
I don’t know who owns the two-story building where Silver Moon used to be, but it looks as though all the storefronts are empty. I think it merits being torn down and replaced by lots of affordable apartments plus storefronts. I can dream, at least.
Who would shop at the storefronts? This is an Amazon/Fresh Direct/Chewy delivery neighborhood through and through. Garden of Eden couldn’t survive because people shop on line. Same with everything else.
People say they want storefronts but they shop on line. It is easier and cheaper and those are core UWS values. So, buh-bye storefronts.
I shopped at Garden of Eden for years and so did many of my neighbors. There were always customers in the store and checkout lines during lunch and dinner rush. I don’t know why they closed, but it’s not fair to claim no one shopped there.
They were very good. And kind. At the close of the day they gave out their food to the homeless.
It looks like there’s maybe some work happening in the years-long vacant spot at the NE corner of W 86th St and Columbus Ave. Anyone know of anything?