By Gary Martin
Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com
Listen to Rag Radio’s interview with Gary Martin — HERE.
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Missing so many old haunts and sigh as another one bites the dust.
As long as it doesn’t reopen as a data center…
I still miss Big Nicks
Broadway Restaurant
I am only the fourth comment (at this time), yet now there are two for Big Nick’s. Arguably the most missed place on the UWS by far.
Charivari
Cafe la Fortuna, P & Gs, and another vote for Big Nicks.
The original H&H Bagel
Yes! I miss going to H&H Bagels so much. We’d go to a movie at the Loew’s on West 82nd and walk down to H&H to grab whatever flavor was hot just out of the oven. They were open 24 hours and there were always fresh hot bagels.
Quarter Moon Saloon, Raccoon Lodge, China Club, Baird Jones Parties, Jacque Torres, Mama’s Pizza, Jackson Hole. God I’m old
The Boat Basin is sorely missed by my old Half-Day Summer Friday happy hour crew.
Nothing like hitting Big Nicks after a show at The Beacon back in the 80’s and 90’s.
Those were the days:)
Honorable mention to Tower Records on 66th & Bway and Shakespeare on 81st. Grab some bagels at H&H and you were all set.
I miss Francesco’s. So many great meals, the best pizza, and all the staff we spoke to for so many years. I wish we could have told them goodbye.
have never been. My liss
A dilemma — so many UWS businesses biting the dust……
Fine & Shapiro. Doesn’t get more established than that!
Shelter Bar, Marvin Grdesn, Ruppert’s, Teachers 1 and 2
Anyone remember a place called Sabor in the early 2000s? I think it was on Broadway in the 80s but don’t recall exactly where. They had a dining room with windows that opened out to the street and tasty food and sangria.
Popover Cafe
The wonderful Menash? A treat just to walk around in it
Soutine (but Epices is a good replacement)
Dallas BBQ
Popover Cafe
Scaletta
Old John’s – original
Harry’s Kids Shoes
Tower Records
Scaletta, now there’s a story I wonder about. It closed eight years ago, yet its blue sidewalk canopy and yellow sign remain. How come?
Apparently the landlord would not renew the lease?
Interesting that the landlord can manage with this sizeable vacancy for so many years….
https://www.westsiderag.com/2018/03/23/scaletta-ristorante-to-close-after-30-years-saying-landlord-pushed-them-out
I miss the Tip Toe In on West 86th, and of course Berman Twins on Broadway/94th.
Really miss West Side Kids
Alice was ahead of her time in starting west side kids… her daughters tried to make a point of continuing but the internet was the final straw!!! So it goes!
I miss going into stores and not having to see merchandise locked up and armed security guards.
Tangled Vine
Vai
Edgar’s
The Neptune Room
Rain
Barbao
Lalo’s
Ocean Grill
radio clinic inc.
Amsterdam’s and The Saloon
I’ve forgotten the name of the butcher that used to be on the east side of B’way between 69th & 70th (or was it 68th and 69th?). It was before Citarella added a butcher counter. The butchers really knew their stuff. And they’d order special cuts for you. I remember a crown roast of pork and a saddle of lamb. And everything about the shop was just wonderful. I was heartbroken when they left.
Nevada Meat Market
Thank you, Steve. How could I have forgotten?
So sad to see all these places go.
All State Cafe was my home away from home when I first moved here.
Vinnie’s Pizza
Boulevard BBQ
Bertha’s Burritos
Burritoville
Kinoko AYCE Sushi
Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana
Grand Sichuan 74
Ying Chen
Meskerem Ethiopian
Taqueria Y Fonda, Thai Market, Drip (I think that’s what it was called? It was a coffeeshop in the late 90s where you could leave your information in this book to be matched with another patron and go on a date), Venue – this multilevel dance club that was in the 80s on Amsterdam, Cafe Mozart, Popover Cafe. the Cottage (chinese food).
Rack n Soul, 109th off Broadway
There are so many!
La Rosita’s
Dynasty
Happy Burger
Pizza town
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
Lenny’s Bagels
Empire Szechuan
China Red
Vinnie’s pizza on Amsterdam, and Napoli pizza on Broadway.
Vinnie’s had the most incredible Sicilian, and Beacon Lanes, 10 bowling lanes and a classic bar!
This is really going back, but does anyone remember the Cherry Restaurant on the east side of Columbus at 76/77th? Saturday morning breakfast.
Museum Cafe, west side of Columbus at 78th.
The narrow little shoe repair shop on Columbus near 74th (?).
What was the bar between Amsterdam and Columbus on 74th, I think. Bruce Willis bartended there.
Talk about being old! Still so many fond memories of living on the UWS, 1979-1984.