By Lisa Kava and Natalie Demaree
The Ballfields Cafe, in Central Park (on the north side of the Heckscher Ballfields at West 65th Street), is opening for the season today. The cafe will be open seven days a week with extended hours starting in June. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, nachos, wraps, salad, ice cream, and snacks. Seating is outdoors and the cafe is available to book for special events such as birthday parties and happy hours. The Ballfields Cafe is a seasonal outpost of The Migrant Kitchen, which is open year round at 157 Columbus Avenue (at West 67th Street.)
Alo, the popular athleisure clothing brand, has signage up at 211 Columbus Avenue (between West 69th and West 70th streets.) Alo sells men’s and women’s fitness clothing, athleisure wear, and accessories. Alo, which stands for “air, land, and ocean” was founded in 2007 by childhood friends Marco DeGeorge and Danny Harris, who embraced yoga for personal health reasons. Their goal was to offer yoga attire that could go from “studio to street.” The first Alo store opened in Beverly Hills in 2016. The company now has over 130 stores worldwide. This will be the sixth location in NYC. Club Monaco which closed in September 2025 was previously in the space.
Skippers NYC, a gift shop which opened as a holiday pop-up in November 2025 at 2876 Broadway (between West 111th and West 112th streets), will stay in the space for at least another year, owner Claire Manship wrote to West Side Rag in an email. Skippers sell gifts such as candles, puzzles, toys, and arts and crafts projects. The median price for store items is $14.
“Since we moved into the space, the community has been so incredibly supportive,” she wrote. The shop, which has become a certified LEGO vendor, now has a calendar of events including painting classes, crochet workshops, comedy shows, vendor bazaars, and more. The landlord is Columbia University’s Real Estate and Commercial Operations team, Manship told the Rag. “When I asked Columbia if we could stick around for the long haul, they extended us month to month three times, and then offered us a year’s extension,” she wrote. “They have been so supportive, communicative, and kind.” Current hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The space is also now available to rent for private events.
Two Mount Sinai ObGyn faculty practice groups are relocating from 50 West 77th Street (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue), to 348 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 76th and West 77th streets.) The new space, currently under construction, is expected to be ready in June. “The 7,000 square foot gut renovated facility features brand new equipment, and will offer obstetrics, gynecology, minimally invasive surgery, and midwifery care,” a Mount Sinai representative wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “Doctors and midwives from the two practice groups will perform deliveries and surgeries at Mount Sinai West.” The practice groups are accepting new patients. The space was previously Modell’s, the sporting goods store, which closed in 2020.
Choice Brooklyn, a French-style family-owned cafe, opened a location at 2040 Broadway (at West 70th Street), on March 25th, according to the restaurant’s social media. This is the second location for Choice Brooklyn, which originally opened in Clinton Hill in 2006, owner Jack Wang said in a March 23rd video posted on Instagram. “We want to bring the best sandwich, the best pastries, the best coffee — I want to share with everybody in Manhattan,” Wang said in the video. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, artisan pastries, sandwiches, coffee, smoothies and vegan options, owners Beichen Hu and Jack Wang told the Rag. Patisserie Chanson, a European cafe and bakery, was previously in the space. Earlier this month, the bakery had signage in the window, saying they were closed for renovations and would reopen on March 11th. Patisserie Chanson did not respond to West Side Rag’s outreach. (Thanks to Anna for the tip.)
Rapawzel Dog Grooming and Daycare, opened on March 23rd at 211 West 80th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway.) The chain has multiple locations throughout NYC and New Jersey. They offer grooming and day care services for dogs and cats. They offer both on site and mobile grooming.
94 Corner Cafe, a casual dining spot at 2518 Broadway (at West 94th Street), closed in mid-March and the phone number is disconnected. The cafe originally opened in 2011, according to Yelp. It was involved in multiple civil lawsuits since opening, with the latest filed in December 2023. It is not known if the closure is related to the lawsuits. (Thanks to Robin for the tip.)
Feng Nail, a salon located at 2668 Broadway (between West 101st and West 102nd streets) closed on March 30th after the lease was not extended, a salon employee told the Rag on a phone call. The salon had been open since 2006, according to a Yelp page. There are no plans for the location to move elsewhere, the employee said.
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 intel on Stoopher & Boots?
Just when you thought the retail scene in the 70’s had hit peak dullness, here comes more athleisure to prove us all wrong. At least maybe we have hit peak athleisure?
It’s of note that all four storefronts facing Broadway on the building which housed 94 Corner Cafe are now vacant. I spoke to the junk store manager before it closed, and heard through the grapevine regarding the cafe, that the owner/manager was jacking up the rent in both cases beyond their means. The third storefront was a short lived illegal weed bodega, and I don’t recall what the fourth was.
But there is something particular that is off about this building.
One was a licensed Verizon store but that really didn’t last long. I was surprised the 99¢ store lasted as long as it did, as there is another store so nearby that has opened earlier.
Check out staples and westside market update as Westside is taking top 2 floors and staples main and lower floors.
Where did you hear this?
Skippers is a delightful gift shop with truly creative and unique items at reasonable prices. I can’t think of a similar kind of store anywhere in this neighborhood. I wish the owner well and encourage UWS folks to visit and support this venue.
I hope Columbia continues to cooperate with Skippers in its desire to stay in that location. The UWS has lost so many of the small, unique, quirky, and (usually) owner-operated shops that gave it a vibrant retail presence years ago. We’ve reached critical mass with acai bowl and coffee outlets and could use more of the sort of shop that surprises and delights, like Skippers.
So happy about Skipper I hope they stay there permanently.
If you want businesses in these storefronts there is only one thing to do- put your money where your mouth is and SHOP THERE.
It is that simple.
Don’t shop online. Period
Is there any news on Cafe Lalo replacement as Jack’s Coffee and when Raising Canes will open at 2067 Broadway, between West 71st and 72nd streets ? Thanks a lot 🙏🤗
Will Wegman’s ever open in the location that
used to be Bed, Bath and Beyond??
What’s the deal?
The other day I spoke briefly with a Dutch woman coming out of the defunct deli and short-lived weed shop just north of it on the NW corner of 104 and B’Way, and she said she was expecting to open a Dutch cafe and cheese shop there. Hope she wasn’t pulling my leg and it happens!
WSR – please get us details!
That would be a dream! I would travel anywhere in the city for a place with real Dutch goods. Hard to find in the US.
It looks like 94 Cafe were evicted by the landlord for failure to pay rent.
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/ViewDocument?docIndex=PYPUbXSDf53r6LegTJMjNA==
TOO bad about Feng Nails…. another greedy landlord. It’s been my go-to place for years and they managed to keep their prices reasonable. Who knows where we can go now for a reasonable pedicure that doesn’t break the bank. They were always kind to me.
what is opening on 90th/bway NW corner?