By Lisa Kava and Julia Ornedo
Good Bird Organic Chicken, a kosher takeout-chicken restaurant, opened on August 19th, operating out of Polanco Social, 474 Columbus Avenue (at West 83rd Street). It is run by the owners of Polanco Social and Modern Bread and Bagel. It serves organic antibiotic-free chicken focusing on chicken fingers, crispy chicken sandwiches, chicken wraps, chicken salads, and fries. The menu is gluten free and avoids seed oils. Good Bird is open for takeout and delivery only, from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Fridays. It is closed on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays. Orders are in partnership with Grub Hub or customers can order from a kiosk inside the restaurant. “We are working on expanding the menu to include roasted chicken dinners,” co-owner Josh Borenstein told West Side Rag in a phone interview. He also said he plans to extend the hours in the future. (Thanks to Laura for the tip.)
Wink Pediatric Eye Care, an optometry practice for kids, opened on August 24th at 424 West End Avenue (at West 81st Street). It was founded by Dr. Stephanie Aguilar, a graduate of the Inter American University College of Optometry, who subsequently pursued a pediatric optometry residency at The State University of New York. The practice offers a wide range of services, including comprehensive eye exams, one-on-one vision therapy, and urgent care. The practice also prescribes and fills prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses. “We are an independent, locally owned practice dedicated to providing high-quality, kid-centric pediatric eye care in a welcoming environment,” Aguilar wrote to West Side Rag in an email. “My mission is to help children see better so they can thrive, while giving parents peace of mind regarding their child’s vision and eye care.” Metropolitan Reproductive Medicine, a fertility clinic, was previously in the space. (Thanks to Jill for the tip.)
Manhattan Karate NYC, a martial arts school, opened on September 1st at 251 West 81st Street (at Broadway). It was co-founded by Sensei Nerik, who has over 20 years of experience, and sports specialist Vladyslav Burdeinyi, who has spent years traveling to local, national, and international tournaments to train athletes. The school teaches both traditional and sports karate to students of all ages, from 3 year olds to teens and adults. It offers both classes and private lessons. “We believe karate is about much more than competition,” a spokesperson wrote to West Side Rag via social media. “It builds confidence, discipline, friendships and character.” Manhattan Karate is open Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Harmony by Karate, which moved to West 85th Street in April 2025, was previously in the space.
Spa Boutique, a nail salon, is opening in late fall at 667 Columbus Avenue (at West 92nd Street). The space was leased to the nail spa in August, according to Traded: New York. Spa Boutique has an existing salon just a block away at 692 Columbus Avenue (between West 93rd and West 94th streets). That location will remain open, a representative from the salon told West Side Rag on a phone call; the new salon will be a second location, she said. The space was previously occupied by The Pet Market, which closed in July.
ICYMI:
Aperture, a non- profit photography organization, opened on September 18th at 380 Columbus Avenue (between West 78th and West 79th streets). Read West Side Rag’s coverage of this news here.
Sweetgreen, the salad and bowl chain, at 311 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 75th Street), has permanently closed. The closure comes three weeks after it was shut down temporarily by the Department of Health for violations including cockroaches. 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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Manhattan Karate NYC is amazing. Our son has been working with Vlad for 3+ years. He really is the best. So happy to hear he has his own studio now. Highly recommended
We live in the neighborhood and my son has been taking Karate, training with Vlad for 3 years now. Can’t recommend Vlad and his staff enough–they are attentive, great with kids and serious about helping kids train and grow. (also, Ewwwww Sweetgreens…)
Great….another nail salon….
You took the words right out of my head.
Yep, and there is another one going into the old Aldo’s space on West 84th/Broadway.
Are you KIDDING? OMG. Man, I remember a kosher bakery was going to open there, but then it never opened. I mean, better a business there than nothing but nail salons are like the new Duane Reade.
Looks like Vlad and his friends are posting.
Maybe he’s just really good at what he does, and it’s probably a good thing you’re anonymous, oh keyboard warrior!
Maybe you’re right in that he’s really good. But maybe Anamous is right To me the postings look similar. In business there is what is called “gorilla advertising.’…it’s where you use no cost ways to advertise your business
I think you mean ‘guerilla’ advertising.
I wonder what style of karate. There are many. Is it a single, focused discipline like Ishinryu or Shotokan? Or perhaps a new hybrid? Nothing against hybrids. Ed Parker’s Kenpo was a hybrid. So was Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. Be water.
Vlad taught me Goju-ryu and I took out 6 of his 6 year old students
Maybe Vlad will respond
He will impale you
It looks like they are doing some work on the old HSBC bank space on 89th and Broadway. I do hope something opens there. Glad to see all openings this week
Just what we need – another nail salon…..
If the alternative is an empty store front, why this reaction?
Provides a service, offers employment, and probably allows some cash to be laundered.
New signage went up at the corner of 94th and Broadway for “94 Bagel & Deli” at the site where the Corner Cafe used to be.
Wasn’t that its name though? I do hope something opens there soon. I don’t even remember what had been in that deli’s space before the.
The place before Corner Cafe was called 94th St Blueberry Farm. Corner Cafe was there for at least 15 years. You can see all this on Google Maps–there’s a street view from 2009 that shows the Blueberry Farm and its neighbor–something called “Blockbuster.” lol
It was literally called Corner Cafe. That was not a description.
I thought it was called 94 Corner Cafe or something? I swear the street was in the name.
What was the name of the pleasant restaurant that occupied the Polanco Social space several generations back? During its tenure there were big roses painted on the white brick exterior.
Polanco is where Cafe Miro was with its mosaic facade of white tiles and a huge red rose. Associated Supermarket next door is now a condominium name Charlotte.
Poiret, a French bistro that opened in 1988, was the restaurant that added the large mosaic tile roses to the facade.
It was most recently Thyme & Tonic, but assume you mean before that.
Columbus Bakery. Saw it recently in the background of a Law & Order rerun along with Channel Video and Associated supermarket.
Thanks. Your memory is better than mine.
Columbus Bakery?
I have worked with Dr. Aguilar and she is great!
Her practice should benefit the community tremendously!
As someone who never posts – I just went to Wink pediatrics with my 5 year old son who needed glasses and Dr. Aguilar was INCREDIBLE! They ask the child’s interests on their intake form and upon entering the meticulous office they had the music ‘blasting’ from Paw Patrol and my kid was so pumped. The Dr. was thorough, kind, gentle, an UWS mother herself, and affordable if you don’t have insurance. I could not recommend her enough!