By Lisa Kava
Be Fit, a gym and fitness center, moved from 2726 Broadway (at West 104th Street), to 2681 Broadway (at West 102nd Street), on January 5th, owner Fernando Salome told West Side Rag on a phone call. The new location has two floors with cardio equipment, dumbbells, kettlebells, squat racks, and cable cross machines. It offers 35 group fitness classes per week. There are ADA-compliant bathrooms and showers on the first floor. Be Fit’s new location also features a smoothie bar serving fresh smoothies and healthy snacks, Salome told the Rag. “Our new spot is beautiful and spacious with great lighting,” he said. A supermarket was the last tenant in the space. (Thanks to Andrew for the tip.)
Haven, a restaurant serving seafood, salads, and burgers at 226 West 79th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue), has been temporarily closed since late December due to a gas leak in the building. The leak is unrelated to the restaurant, a representative from Haven wrote to West Side Rag in an email. Repairs have been made and are awaiting a Con Ed inspection, but Haven has a tentative grand reopening date of Friday January 16th. (Thanks to Gavan for the tip.)
Farinella Pizza at 1796 Broadway (at Columbus Circle), recently closed. “As far as I recall they were open right up through Christmas,” tipster Chris wrote. The website is no longer active. Farinella was known for its thin crust rectangular pizzas and variety of toppings. Signage is in the window for Angelina, a bakery and coffee shop with locations in Hell’s Kitchen, Times Square, and Grand Central. Angelina serves cakes, tarts, croissants, and gelato. They also serve sandwiches, salads, and focaccia. (Thanks to Chris for the photo and the tip.)
Craft Pilates, a Pilates studio, will open in February at 644 Amsterdam (at West 92nd Street). It is a “reformer Pilates studio,” owner Maayan Irvine wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “The studio has nine reformers [a staple in pilates apparatus], which allows for personal attention, hands-on cueing, and an emphasis on form,” Irvine wrote. Craft will offer group classes from beginner to advanced. It will also offer private and duet sessions, as well as pre- and postpartum classes. There are memberships, class packages, and drop-in sessions available. A special promotion will be offered at opening (a package of three classes for $75). This will be the second studio for Craft Pilates, the original is in Park Slope, Brooklyn. (Thanks to Kim for the tip.)
Auntie Anne’s, the pretzel company, along with Carvel, the ice cream company, are “coming soon” to 2818 Broadway (at West 109th Street), according to both websites. This is the second Auntie Anne’s/Carvel location on the Upper West Side. The first location opened in 2024 at 2568 Broadway (between West 96th and West 97th streets.) We will update when we have an expected opening date. (Thanks to Robby and Gary for the tip.)
Ghemo, a Georgian wine restaurant and bakery, has signage up at 201 West 106th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.) According to the restaurant’s Instagram they do catering and events. We will update as we learn more about Ghemo, its menu, and its expected opening date. (Thanks to Tasha for the tip.)
ICYMI: West Side Rag has received numerous tips over the past few weeks about the possible closure of longtime grocery store Broadway Farm at 2341 Broadway (at West 85th Street). Read our 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.
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Any idea of what’s coming to the storefront on the southeast corner of Amsterdam & 99th Street?
The addition of Carvel’s to the neighborhood is very exciting. We seem to be a bit saturated with ice cream places and prices at the first Carvel seem very high, but still a good thing.
I am sorry that Farinella is closing as I root for all businesses to succeed. I am fairly sure that no native New Yorker ever ate there – it always seemed to be full of tourists.
Booooo!!! No Auntie Anne’s/Carvel! We don’t want that up here! The block already has a Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins to boot. That intersection already has an issue with garbage and the 109th Street block is notorious for rats and is putting in a lot of effort to improve it. This is the last thing they need.
We’re trying to improve the area up here, not make it an airport food court of junk.
Please tell me this is not for sure!