A new Mediterranean restaurant called Dagon is opening this Sunday on the east side of 91st Street and Broadway, in the former home of Big Daddy’s. Dagon has an Israeli chef, according to Marta, who is doing marketing for the restaurant. They have not yet released a menu, but some of the items they’ve shown on Instagram look appetizing. The “Moroccan Cigar” shown above has ground lamb, potato, dill & amba, the restaurant says (Amba is a tangy mango pickle condiment.) They’ll be operating with 25% capacity inside and have an outdoor setup too, Marta tells us.
Tartinery opens this Friday on the third floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle. “Featuring elevated takes on Paris’ most iconic dish, the tartine, an open-faced sandwich topped with fresh, seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, Tartinery also offers bountiful salads, grain bowls, pastries, Irving Farm craft coffee, fresh juices, and smoothies. Later this Spring the location will also offer a curated selection of wine and beer.” They also have various breakfast foods.
A new “gourmet deli” is opening in the former home of Amsterdam Gourmet Deli on the corner of 79th & Amsterdam, which closed in July. Thanks to Upper West Sider for the tip.
Trollbeads, a jewelry shop known for its “bead-on-a-bracelet concept”, has closed its location at 226 Columbus Avenue near 71st Street. Thanks to Jackie for the tip.
Never understood how Trollbeads stayed in business. Who shopped there?
Not exactly surprised it closed.
Why be so negative? Did you ever shop there? We should want all UWS stores to be successful.
Instead of bead, if the store sells Trollbread, tons of customers could line up in front. I miss bread with ham, egg, cheese in it.
Salmon pate from tube on nut&seed StoneAge bread would be even yummier. Sliced boiled egg can sit on top of open sandwich.
there is one answer for stores that stay open year after year that are always empty. figure it out.
Rhymes with honey maundering
I decided not to mention laundry but you are so correct. At at one point on 72nd St there was a store that was dealing drugs and finally got caught. That was in the late 70s or early 80s.
There have been other stores around 72nd St that never seem to have customers but survived for years. I have been told it is very hard to prove laundering because you need to actually count the number of customers and see the income.
totally.
Wondering if anyone knows how the amount amount of outside dining space is determined?
Have seen a few restaurants that have more outside (sidewalk and/or street shed) seats than regular seating.
Also how do street sheds get dismantled
when restaurants close?
It is worth noting there are some unintended consequences of street sheds – for example with multiple street sheds on one block, pedestrian visibility is a concern at night.It is impossible to see the street If no one is around, it is scary at night.
Trash/garbage impacted too.
Oh please! Everyone is doing the best they can. Are you just looking for things to complain about???
Hi Kat,
I think it is a reasonable question.
Actually my family has supported numerous restaurants through take out and contributed to 20+ restaurants through GoFund Me.
kindness counts- in actions and words.
I know the food at Dagon will likely be “better” by all definitions, but I still prefer Big Daddy’s and think that’s what the neighborhood really needed. It was a good family-friendly restaurant. But I’m glad the space got filled and wish Dagon luck.
Totally agree. Big Daddy’s was a big loss. But as you said, I wish Dagon well and I’m glad to see something new come in.
I wish Dagon would publish its menu already.
I think Dagon must be opening at 91st Street, since 90th on the east side is banks.
Dagon is on 91st street, not 90th
You’re right. Fixed.
WSR, not sure why you won’t print this. Once again, using your own favoritism on what gets posted when it should be an equal opportunity for all residents but I’ll try again:
Trollbeads is an international company and has a following. Myself and others enjoyed going in and the manager Tea was always lovely and dedicated to customer service. The store was suffering from lack of customers from COVID and near 72nd street that is having continued troubles with the homeless. That’s what happened if you knew the store.
Unfortunately the closing of Trollbeads, whether people liked it or not, is that it will be yet another empty space on what is quickly becoming a very empty stretch of Columbus Avenue. It is dispiriting to see one after another close recently.
Some of the posters here seem very blase about retail struggles and vacancy but personally I can’t imagine why any resident of the UWS or NYC in general would not want vibrant retail befitting of the premiere city certainly in the US.
Right at the beginning of Columbus Ave, highend restaurants like Cafe Fiorello, Bar Boulud across Empire Hotel are looking packed on weekends. I wonder if customers are having extra discount membership for 30+ bucks plate. And they are well groomed. Yelp has excellent reputations.
Cannot wait for Tartinery to open yum!
There are far more Trolls in the comments on WSR than there ever were at Trollbeads.
I am so sorry to hear this. I am a customer-at-a-distance, so I never could add to the physical traffic count at the location, but I benefitted from Tea’s lovely personality and love of Trollbeads. I had hope to visit this September to meet Tea and enjoy the store.
Wow the negativity. I would hope we would want businesses on Columbus Avenue to thrive.