By Lisa Kava and Natalie Demaree
Sweet Peanut Records, an independent record store, is opening this summer at 463 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 82nd and West 83rd streets). It will carry new and used vinyl records, some CDs, cassettes, and audio equipment, owner and Upper West Sider Hunter Brammer wrote to West Side Rag in an email. Brammer previously worked in finance but spent many years collecting and selling vinyl online as a hobby. “I have finally made the jump into doing this full time and hope to build a community and partner with other businesses in the area,” he wrote. Sweet Peanut will buy old record collections and will do house calls for larger collections. “We pay fair market value, then clean, grade, and price everything before it goes on our shelves.” Sweet Peanut is actively buying collections now in order to stock the store before opening. Anyone looking to sell old records can contact Brammer at Hunter@sweetpeanutrecords.com. Once the store is open, he plans to host events for new album releases, along with album focused conversations with guest speakers. Europtica, an eyewear boutique which consolidated with its Columbus Avenue location in March, was previously in the space. (Thanks to Meg for the tip.)
ENT & Allergy Associates, a clinic specializing in allergies, asthma, audiology and voice disorders, is moving from 620 Columbus Avenue (at West 90th Street), to 2431 Broadway (between West 89th and West 90th streets), in late June, a spokesperson for the clinic wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “The move is part of our continued efforts to enhance the patient experience and support the growth of our services within the community,” the spokesperson wrote. ENT & Allergy Associates is a national chain with 14 other locations in NYC. Face Values and Beyond, a home goods and beauty store and spin off of Bed Bath & Beyond, which closed in 2022, was previously in the space. (Thanks to Steven for the tip.)
Étude 72, a boutique fitness studio specializing in Gyrotonic, Pilates and strength training, opened in April at 133 West 72nd Street, Suite 501 (between Amsterdam Avenue and Columbus Avenue). The studio offers private, duet, and small-group sessions by appointment. It is open seven days a week and sessions can be booked online. Studio owner and instructor Rebecca Correia was formerly a professional dancer. She began to offer private training sessions during COVID in Suite 304 of the same building “so clients could exercise in a safe environment,” she wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “As demand for my services grew, I saw an opportunity to expand and better meet that demand. I carefully selected all of my trainers, who are all senior level instructors.” Alliant Associates Office, an accounting firm, was previously in the space.
Metro II Hair Studio, a full service hair salon, at 952 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 106th and West 107th streets), is temporarily closed for renovations, according to a sign in the window. The salon closed on May 17th and plans to reopen on May 24th.
Ghemo, a Georgian wine restaurant and bakery, has delayed its opening from its original planned date of May 20th, until “some time next week,” owner Guram Kharshiladze, wrote to West Side Rag in an email. The restaurant will be located at 201 West 106th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.) Read more about Ghemo 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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Wow! I never thought I would see the day that we would get something cool on the retail front. A record store is a great addition. Looking forward to supporting them.
Viva la vinyl!
That record store is going to do a number on my bank account. I’ve been saying for years a record store is the only thing the neighborhood is missing!
I was just down in the village at Generation Records and boy, these are going for 35 dollars plus.. I remember the mid to late 70’s paying a buck at Scrooge in Bayside Queens !
there is a record store on 72nd.
Westsider Records has a nice staff and a very laid back atmosphere so you can look through everything w/o anyone bothering you. They even transferred all of my home videos to digital. 😊
Edit: I’m excited about the new record store too!
72nd St seems to be the global center of pilates studios.
Lol seriously.
Also thrilled to have a new record store! Does anyone remember a teensy used record store somewhere above 86th street between Riverside and Broadway? I stumbled across it once like 15 years ago coming home from the park, and it’s like Narnia, never found it again.
Ooo can’t wait for Sweet Peanut Records to open. Sounds cool!
A record store is going to be awesome. Exciting that it’s an independent business too.
Because there are lots of chain record stores still around? And if there were, why would that be an issue? All chains were once small businesses too – they were successful and grew. Living the American dream. Creating economies of scale so they can sell you products at a more reasonable price. Yeah capitalism!
Wow! A record store is opening! I seriously cannot wait! I still use my stereo. This is welcome news! Cannot wait!
Given that vinyl outsold all other formats except streaming as of two years ago, and that CDs are also making a comeback, the timing of this opening could not be more propitious. I only hope he is able to keep his prices reasonable: you can buy vinyl at Barnes & Noble and a couple of other places, but it is astronomically priced.
Welcome (!) to the neighborhood!
There used to be Your Friendly Neighborhood Record Dealer on the east side of Broadway between 87 and 88 (I think). Mom thought it was a front for drug dealing!
Huh, read this this morning and thought, “a record store? that’s a doomed business,” only to come back and see that nearly every comment is about how exciting the record store is. I stand corrected!
Is Broadway Farms reopening? There is still a For Rent sign out front.
Glad something is opening up in the old Food Emporium space. Hopefully there will be something in the old Gristedes space as well.
I just bought a new “record player”, and I have 100 45s from the 50s. Can’t wait for this new record store to replenish by collection.
Add me to the list of those excited for the wrecka stow (IYKYK)! There used to be so many shops down on Bleecker, but they’ve mostly closed. I remember when you could find good used vinyl for maybe $10/$15 but even the first pressings from the 70s go for $35 now. (I guess because vinyl is hip again. )
I hope that they will also participate in Record Store Day(s). I prefer to support independent record stores, but have gone to Rough Trade the past few years because it’s been hard to find participating shops.
Can’t wait to check out Sweet Pea Records!!
Sorry but I seriously think we have a PR blitz going on here in the comments for the record store.
Nah, just real people who like records.
I can assure you that I am a real person. The excitement expressed is probably testament to how starved we are for unique and interesting businesses in the neighborhood.
I have no affiliation with the record store; I’m genuinely excited by this! There’s nothing like listening to music on vinyl through a good sound system. It sounds so much better than compressed mp3s through earbuds. Listening to records makes you slow down and be present in the moment. You have to get up and flip the record; you can’t just easily skip ahead; and you can look at the liner notes/album artwork.
anyone know what is going into the old Starbucks storefront on the corner of 93/bway? I believe it’s been vacant since before the pandemic. Exciting to see some activity!
Is it me or are Georgian restaurants trending?
I am a current client of Etude72 and I highly recommend giving it a try. The space is beautiful and instructors are highly skilled and so much fun!