Openings & Closings: Easyplant; Tomas Sandwich Shop; Ban Ban Shop; Lift NYC; Casasalvo

By Lisa Kava and Natalie Demaree

easyplant, a shop which sold self-watering plants at 334 Columbus Avenue (between West 75th and West 76th streets), closed on May 31st. It sold plants that came in special pots with built in reservoirs that only needed to be filled with water once a month. The reservoirs were self regulated, and the plants lived on average “six times longer than regular plants,” the website stated. The easyplant store sold plants in a variety of sizes, along with repotting kits. The two other easyplant stores in Manhattan (in Nolita and in the West Village), also closed on May 31st. “We are saying goodbye to our retail locations but we are continuing to expand our plant selection across all sizes online,” a representative wrote to West Side Rag. The shop opened the UWS location in early 2025. (Thanks to Scott for the tip.)

Tomas Sandwich Shop, a sandwich and coffee shop, opened on Sunday, May 24th at 930 Columbus Avenue (between West 105th and West 106th streets). Tomas serves sandwiches, pasties, cake, bagels, empañadas, and fresh pressed juices, along with freshly brewed coffee and espresso drinks, owner Diana Munoz told West Side Rag on a visit to the cafe. The name, inspired by a cat name, was chosen because it had warm, friendly, and memorable qualities which reflect the atmosphere the owners want to create in the shop, staff wrote to the Rag in an email. “We are excited to become part of the Upper West Side community. Our passion is coffee and the artistry behind every cup,” read the email, which was signed by the Tomas team. “We hope every cup reflects the care, creativity, and dedication that go into making it, while creating a welcoming space where neighbors can gather, connect, and enjoy fresh food and coffee.” The cafe is open from  7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Domimex Beauty Salon was previously in the space. (Thanks to Carmen for the tip.)

Ban Ban Shop, a casual, modern, Southeast Asian restaurant, near Columbia University’s campus at 2911 Broadway (between West 113th and West 114th streets) closed on Thursday, May 28th, the restaurant announced on an Instagram post. The post thanked customers for their loyalty and said the closure came with with mixed emotions. A restaurant employee told West Side Rag on a phone call that they were not renewing the lease.  Ban Ban Shop was named as one of the best new restaurants near Columbia University in a 2024 review by The Infatuation. The review praised its maki rolls and roast pork sandwich. The cafe also served customizable  “bahn mi” sandwiches, bao buns, grain bowls, rice bowls and salads. Owner Nils Noren, a Michelin-rated chef, who had previously managed the popular Red Rooster in Harlem, hopes to reopen in a new location, but there are no definitive plans yet, he wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “We do want to thank the neighborhood for letting us be a part of it and our many loyal guests,” Noren wrote. (Thanks to Julian for the tip.)

Lift NYC, an Upper West Side-based fitness company offering personal training, group strength training, and Pilates, opened its third location on June 1st at 2091 Broadway (at West 72nd Street), on the second floor. Lift has two other studios on the UWS: one at 2212 Broadway (at West 79th Street), and one at 171 West 80th Street (at Amsterdam Avenue). The newest location offers a concept called “Strength Deck” which is designed to “combine the coaching and structure of personal training with the energy and affordability of group fitness,” owner Ashely Culver told West Side Rag. Classes are capped at eight people, and are led by experienced coaches. “Each participant has their own fully equipped training station including a squat rack, barbell bench, dumbbells, and dual cable machine, eliminating the need to share equipment or to wait for stations,” Culver said.

Casasalvo, an Italian coffee shop at 473 Amsterdam Avenue (between West 82nd and West 83rd streets), has been closed since early February, and although the owner has told West Side Rag he plans to reopen, staff members at the shop’s Spring Street location have said on phone calls with the Rag that the closure of the Amsterdam Avenue location is permanent. There are multiple signs posted to the window including an “Urgent Notice” from Con Ed, a USPS notice, and a sign which reads “coffee shop is no longer open.” The phone is disconnected. When the Rag reached out earlier this spring, the cafe’s owner, Salvatore Lo Castro originally responded in an email saying he was planning to reopen in mid-March.  He subsequently wrote to the Rag that he was planning to open in mid April and was waiting for the delivery of new interior tables. He also wrote that an overdue invoice from Con Edison had been paid. In continued communication by email with the Rag, Lo Castro wrote that he was planning to reopen in May. Most recently he wrote that the Amsterdam location would open at 8 a.m. on June 1st.  As of this  morning, the location was still closed. Casasalvo was evicted from its Upper East Side location in February 2026, an Upper East Side website reported and posted on social media. Casasalvo opened on Amsterdam Avenue in 2024, and received widely positive reviews.  We will update if we receive any further information.

ICYMI: 

A temporary FIFA World Cup store is coming to the shops at Columbus Circle. from June 11th-July 19th. 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.

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