Photo via real estate listing.
Upper West Side openings include a delightful gift store, a new French cafe and a 24-hour food market.
The Danish design and gift store Flying Tiger is planning to open an Upper West Side location at 424 Columbus Avenue (80th-81st), according to Barbara Adler of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. That would presumably be the old Bellmarc real estate location. The Flying Tiger on Broadway and 21st street has some very quirky and inexpensive items, from gorrilla erasers to ponchos-for-two to fake-grass toothbrush holders. Yes, you have to see it to believe it. As Buzzfeed says: “It’s like Ikea and the dollar store had a baby.” A Flying Tiger employee told us that they are expecting an Upper West Side store to open this year, but didn’t have details on timing.
Albertina’s Fine Foods, which we wrote about last month, has opened on Broadway between 69th and 70th street in the former Tani shoe shop. It’s open 24/7 and already looks packed, Gretchen tells us. “Currently, the store is serving just pre-packaged food and coffee, but hot dishes and food ordering will be available sometime next week as the staff is undergoing training,” according to the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District.
Remember that “Korean coffee shop” that was rumored to be going into the old home of Green Cafe on the West side of Broadway between 98th and 97th streets. Well, it’s actually going to be a Margot Patisserie, a French “bakery cafe” that is apparently an expansion of the cafe by the same name at 74th and Broadway. (The phone number at the bottom is the number for the 74th street location. Thanks to Robert for the photo.
Another bluemercury cosmetics store is set to open at 184 Columbus Avenue, in the former home of Comptoirs des Cotonnier, Adler says.
And Adler confirmed that star chef April Bloomfield is set to open a diner at 78th and Amsterdam and will be featuring her food at the New Taste of the Upper West Side food festival. See our sidebar ad (at right) to learn how to get discounted tickets to the food fest.
Glad another French bakery cafe is opening right across from Earth Cafe and the sort of disappointing Paris Cafe. 3 in one block. Wow.
LOVE Flying Tiger. What a charming store. This will be fun.
I love the store, too! This is great news.
No word on NY Brat Factory on 106/Amsterdam? The sign has been up for months, but it appears my dream of good local brats and brews is fading faster than Ted Cruz’ presidential aspirations.
Margot Patisserie on 74th is a great neighborhood spot, for anyone who’s never tried it. It’s tucked into the ground floor at the Ansonia, the smell of their soups will knock you out, and for something sweet it’s a delicious alternative to standing in line at Levain.
Another Blumercury! Who’s buying all these overpriced cosmetics?
I love Margot Patisserie on 74th! Can’t wait til it open on 97th.
It sure ain’t the Avon lady.
Bluemercury will soon learn that over-saturation within a 30 block radius is a recipe for failure. There’s already a location on Amsterdam between 76 & 77 hidden under the scaffolding that takes up almost the entire east side of the block, Broadway between 83 & 84, and Broadway at 92 street. Remember when there were 4 Gap locations on the Upper West Side? Where are they now? Gone.
Anyone wanna discuss the sudden proliferation of competing UWS chain store salad establishments, especially on Amsterdam between 74th and 77th?
I believe Macy’s owns them so this is one of those corporate expansions – that will surely not end up well.
Salad is the new FroYo
Sure. I love that both Chop’t and Sweetgreen are here! They both offer fast, healthy, reasonably priced meals. I didn’t say cheap – reasonably priced for what they offer. I like having the variety. They are both good, and slightly different.
Albertina’s says it’s open 24/7 but was empty and locked at 8 p.m. on March 2. Is it in trouble?
Entered CARDIOLOGY today on Amsterdam and 86th
only to discover that they will no longer be in business after Sunday March 6th! Lots of products on sale! They will be sorely missed and GOOD LUCK to the owner!
walked by Albertina’s this afternoon (3/3) and took a picture of the storefront from the sidewalk. a korean woman rushed out the door and yelled at me to not do that. i wasn’t even close to the door or anything. so i don’t know why she got her panties in a bunch. the place appears to be a generic deli (even though the sign claims “Fine Foods”) with an all-korean staff.
I thought the same thing. I walked 7 blocks to check it out around 10pm and it was dark, locked, CLOSED… although the “open 24/7” sign was very prominent. I was so pissed. What gives??