By Scott Etkin
Frames for You, the custom framing business on 72nd between Columbus and Amsterdam, which has been on the UWS since the 1970s, has closed. The closing took place suddenly after its staff received “no communication or support from our owner,” the store’s management posted on Facebook. “We are heartsick at the situation […] We can assure you that your art is safe, and packaged correctly,” the post continued. The staff is now returning art to its customers by appointment. Some customers initially had trouble reaching the store – the contact is 212-874-2337. Originally opened in 1978, Frames for You was “a very fine framer and has been there for decades,” writes tipster Alline.
Joe’s Coffee on the corner of 73rd and Amsterdam closed on January 27 due to a rent increase. “We are so grateful for this incredible neighborhood of customers,” Joe’s posted in a sign on its door. Two Joe’s locations remain open nearby along Columbus Avenue (at 85th Street and 68th Street). “The staff there were amazing!” wrote tipster Claudia.
The Eye Man, the family-owned optometrist that has been part of the Upper West Side since 1976, is moving across the street to 2261 Broadway (the corner of 81st Street). The existing location on Broadway between 81st and 82nd Street is expected to remain open until the move is complete in mid-March. The move is driven by financial hardships from the pandemic, employees said, but they’re pleased to be moving nearby, so they can continue to serve the same community. Hedda Szmuk, who has worked at the store since 1981, says she has taken care of generations of customers. “They trust us. It’s a ‘Cheers’ atmosphere,” she said.
Vitamin Peddler, the vitamin and supplement store on Amsterdam between 77th and 78th Street, loved by many locals, is planning to move by the end of February, we reported, but they are still searching for a new location. We’ll post again when there is an update. (Thanks to Tierney for the tip.)
Café Roma, the kosher pizzeria on Amsterdam between 101st and 102nd Street, closed on January 30. “The rumor is they are looking in the ’80s and the ‘90s for a new location,” writes tipster David. Café Roma has been part of the Upper West Side for more than 25 years, originally on 91st and Amsterdam.
Classic Kids Photography, which specializes in black-and-white, hand-finished family portraits, is merging with its Upper East Side location, due to challenges caused by the pandemic, according to Sean Duggan, a photographer and Client Sales Specialist. As of February 1, the photographers in the studio on the corner of Amsterdam and 79th transitioned over to the store on Lexington Avenue between 80th and 81st Street. The business was founded more than twenty-five years ago by Julie Floyd, a former tax attorney, and has been on the UWS since 2011. Clients can “expect the same caliber of work no matter which studio they visit,” said Duggan. We’ll miss seeing the spotted Great Dane in the store window.
H&H Bagels on Columbus between 85th and 86th Street is temporarily closed for construction. It’s expected to reopen in eight weeks. (Thanks to Seth for the tip.)
Anne & Valetin, the French eyewear shop on Columbus and 72nd, is also closed temporarily for renovation. It is planning to reopen on February 7.
The fried chicken place seems like they are inching closer to opening. The sign is kinda up, there are people doing finishing touches inside, but no signage or poster on expected date of opening.
You are not the only one waiting anxiously for this place to open, my friend.
Maybe if we start standing in line early, like they do for iPhones or new sneaker collabs, we can get things going?
I don’t know…I’m getting desperate!:)
Wow. This is depressing. So many closings. I still don’t understand the “raising rent” arguments – it should be a renter’s market. I am glad I live in a building that does not have retail.
The temporary closing of H&H is odd. I am there fairly frequently and it seemed to be relatively recently renovated.
H&H has been a nightmare since losing most of their staff. The ones left are overtaxed and as a result, surly. I’ve stood in line as the bakers drop bagels on the floor while adding them to the baskets. If you’re waiting for just gales in a bag, the staff is no help. They take orders for sandwiches, then leave their posts to either pour coffee orders or make product. The place as it was, was untenable. I hope they figure out a new way to satisfy customers. If it takes new owners, so much the better.
I agree. I am in there at least once a week at the morning rush and the staff has definitely gotten worse. They should have one person dedicated to simple orders (a bag of bagels). That was what made the original H&H work – it was simple so you could get in and out quickly rather than waiting for someone to spend 20 minutes figuring out what kind of cream cheese they want on their bagel.
Also agree that the newer workers are less pleasant, move very slowly and often weren’t masking.
H&H was a disorganized nightmare for everyone involved, regardless of whether you ordered ahead or ordered at the counter. I hope they are implementing training and support as part of the renovation, because the food was uniformly excellent. Taking that first bite always made the trauma of getting there melt away…
Since H&H opened, I found the bagels to be nothing special. We all know Absolute Bagels rules the UWS, and if you’re really in the know and want the best bagels and bialys in the entire state of New York, Bo’s Bagels in Harlem is life-changing.
Broad Nosh bagels on B’way and 86 (where Williams BBQ was for many years) rivals absolute in quality. H&H is nothing like it was back when it was on 80th and Broadway. The people who work their are lovely but the bagels are not.
I actually created an account here so I could second my love for Bo’s Bagels. They are really special.
The fact that you think Absolute Bagels are something great makes all of your opinion suspect. P.S. Despite the name that is NOT H&H. The real H&H has been long gone
Agree about Absolute. They’re….fine. I don’t understand the line at all. There are better options. I haven’t tried Bo’s yet but heard they’re incredible.
ooooooooo this is good. I’ve actually never heard of ANYONE denigrating Absolute Bagels, which is consistently ranked in the very top of any article done on “the best bagels in Manhattan”. Congrats on setting yourself apart from the masses! Does anyone else on WSR agree with this sentiment? BTW we all know it’s not the real H&H of the past.
There’s nothing quite like people who claim to speak for everyone. “We all know” about the history of H&H Bagels. Has there been a survey of 1000 Upper West Siders with 100% knowing this history? Does every younger and/or newer resident of our neighborhood know? What a ridiculous claim?
Uh-oh. A potential hole in the bagel story.
Props to you Bubble, I mean Bronx Boy!
Hopefully, some day, Fauci will be held accountable for this.
Some of us can recall walking around the neighborhood in the first week of March, 2020 and seeing that stores were already closing, on their own, without a lockdown, because there wasn’t enough traffic to justify staying open.
The virus killed the economy. Not the government.
It was lockdowns,govt restrictions and the riots of 2020 that destroyed many businesses.
Re: “Fauci will be held accountable for this”
Surely hope you are either joking, or playing the Troll, or seeking a reply. But I WILL take your bait:
1. Dr. Fauci has an impeccable record and has a Wikipedia page dedicated to him;
2. He is medical adviser to President Biden and tried to advise Biden’s predecessor, whose name will NOT appear here; and
3. The only people who hate Dr. Fauci are Covid19 deniers. Hopefully you are not one of them.
Dr. Fauci is a national hero.
The original location of Cafe Roma is available. Also. After that location closed, I had mo idea it stayed in the neighborhood
I never understood how Cafe Roma has even been open for the last ten years. It’s always been empty except for Sunday and even for kosher pizza standards, the pizza was revolting.
Love Cafe Roma, their pizza is awesome!
Ugh—all my framed items were done at Frames For You—they did such great work. Very disappointed to hear of their closing.
Was the original H&H bagel name purchased by new owners? I thought it closed altogether years ago. Thank you in advance for the info!
I wish H&H would open a branch farther uptown. Absolute used to be my go-to, but the quality has really fallen off, the bagels have become more and more like bagel-shaped rolls. I mean, they’re easy to bite into, but is that really what we’re looking for in a bagel?
For bagels go to Zabar’s
Try Lenny’s, 98th & Bway. Terrific bagels
Sshhh. Lenny’s bagels are the best if you like chewy. Tried to find out the source/baker, but they couldn’t tell me.
Yes, Lenny’s Bagels is excellent! I have found the bagels at Absolute Bagels to be undercooked and mediocre.
To bad Frames for you is closed. But there is a great place “Goldenlights Visions” that does a whole range of custom framing, graphic design, signs/banners etc. They have done a number of items for me, and they always went the extra mile to make sure things where perfect. They are a small biz here in the area, and owner operated. They are at 2543 Broadway, between 95th and 96th, on the westside of the street.
Go by and take a look at what they can do for you with your next project.
I will second this comment. I had several art prints framed there last summer and the owner went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect. The price was reasonable, too, for custom framing.
REBNY (Real Estate Board of NY) has run this City for decades. It’s ‘way past time for this to change. And they have the nerve to complain about City taxes.
For anyone looking for a framing shop, there is also Art Care Custom Framing located at 244 W. 72nd, between Broadway and WEA (closer to WEA). They’re friendly and do great work, and I’m VERY happy that they survived the horrible conditions on this block over the past few years.
Wouldn’t it be great if H&H Bagels would add Laundromat and a bar? Just think how great it would be to munch hot bagels, drink a glass of wine and do your laundry all at the same time?
H&H bagels was a laundromat, I spent my entire life doing why wash there. I miss it so much.
tbh I always thought that Joe’s coffee location was a bit tough sell. Right across the street from Blue Bottle and sandwiched between two other Joe’s locations not all that far away.
Lenny’s west 98th for real bagels
I’m very sad about Frames for You. I’ve been a loyal customer there for perhaps 30 years. My apartment walls are filled with artwork and articles that they framed. The staff were always wonderful and I was genuinely very happy with their work every single time. I wish all those staff members well.
Thank goodness for WSR where people still argue about bagels, not democracy.
My favorite bagels are Tal at Bdwy 90-91.
Frames for you closing is heartbeaking! A wonderful shop with a talented, helpful staff of artists young and old.
Jack’s Art Gallery on Broadway between 110 & 111th is a wonderful, small family owned shop — but Frames for You will be missed.
Shame on the owner for closing abruptly without paying & notifying her staff!
Just trekked up to Bo’s on the recommendations found here, the nine block walk was worth it and then some, delicious bagels, great chewy texture and the everything was everything I had hoped for. The vibe is so much more relaxed than Absolute, no rush because of the crush of people behind you and also they take plastic.
You have to try the bialy. It is the best bialy in the USA.
I was just at Bo’s today too.
For the record,they take plastic but charge extra (which they are permitted to do). Also if there were no lines it was because of the time you went. I also went at an off hour but there were almost no bagels left, and my trek was way more than 9 blocks.
It was still worth it but we need to convince them to open an UWS location for the many fans here!
I’ll add my experience to the UWS bagel lore. I had an incredible bagel experience at Broad Nosh. I got there at the right time. The bagels were hot. I bought four. Ate two, one with some basic Philly cream cheese, the other fully dressed with smoked salmon. Incredible. Next day, still didn’t need to toast it. They were even good two days later. I did toast it but probably could have done without.
Lennys on 82nd & Columbus ave has fantastic bagels 🥯 with the Wonderful professional Anna at the helm to guide the staff & ship, an absolute jewel in the neighborhood.