By Gus Saltonstall
For months, it has looked like the longtime Upper West Side grocery store Broadway Farm was on its way to closing. Inventory had dwindled, sections of the store had been closed off, and there had been offhand remarks from employees that the business would soon be shuttering.
On Tuesday, that day has come, as the store was fully closed during standard hours.
“CLOSED,” read a white sign with red lettering on the front door.
A different sign previously posted to the door read, “Dear Customers, We apologize for the inconvenience and the appearance of the store. We are in the process of renovation, but we are still open for business. Thank you, Management.”
When West Side Rag walked by Broadway Farm on Monday, the grocer was still open, meaning that the “CLOSED” sign was added sometime Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
Broadway Farm did not return multiple calls from the Rag on Tuesday. We were also unsuccessful in getting more information from management when we wrote about the situation at the beginning of January. However, the Rag did speak to three cashiers at the time — all of whom said different things about the future of the store — with one saying the store would be closing, another saying it wouldn’t close, and a third saying new management would be taking over the grocer.
While it remains unclear if Broadway Farm is permanently closed or temporarily closed for some sort of renovation or management change, Tuesday is seemingly the first time the grocer has been fully shuttered during standard operating hours.
“This is so sad,” a woman who did not provide her name said Tuesday about the sight of the closed Broadway Farm.
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“I do declare. A farm on Broadway? Enforce composting if you must. But pigs carousing on Main Street? Chickens in the coop? Higgledy-piggledy nonsense. The heights from which this once-great city…what’s next, a renaming to the Big Apple Orchard? Free Apples for all!”
—Bill Williams
+1. The man has a sense of humor.
What are you smoking?!
What
I think opening of Key Food on 88th Street was the fatal blow to BF which had been on a downward spiral since the pandemic.
Ugh. Another grocery store closing.
I’m guessing the answer to that question is forever.
I just walked by Broadway Farm and a beveerage company was trying to deliver a bunch of stuff and seemed puzzled the store was closed.
I’ve loove to be West Side Market go into that space, although I read somewhere that WSM might go to where Staples is now???
The owners of WSM did, in fact, buy the Staples space. However, there are no immediate plans for WSM to open a location there – though it could happen in the future. My guess is that they are waiting until Staples’ original lease naturally expires. But I have no idea how many years they may still have on that lease.
“This is so sad,” this unnamed woman put it so beautifully. Speaks for so many of us, about so many aspects of life these days!
I’d like to hear more from her, maybe a regular feature entitled “This is so sad,”
Even when it was originally in the Victoria’s Secret space, many people referred to it as “Ripoff Farms.” Their prices were always (mostly) ridiculous. Still, it was one of the two groceries closest to me, so I did purchase things there, particularly “last minute.”
That said, when I spoke to the current owner a few weeks ago, he told me that he was seeking to sell the store, and would remain open until he did – but would not spend large amounts of money to keep it fully stocked in the meantime. But I think the cost of maintaining it simply became too high for too long, and he gave up keeping it open. I am guessing he is still looking for a buyer.
Very sad story. So many places gone. The people who worked there were lovely and it was so convenient. This is a huge loss. Some prices high but so is the rent. Loved the rye breads! All the old, special places gone with nonsense popping up.
Still grieving Mama’s pizza from 106th & Masterdam