By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Cafe 77 is opening at the New-York Historical Society (77th Street and Central Park West) on November 7th. “It will serve coffee, tea, and house-made, locally sourced pastries as well as a selection of grab-and-go snacks,” a representative of NYHS wrote to West Side Rag. The cafe will also serve breakfast items, such as eggs, avocado toast, overnight oats, and yogurt, the chef told WSR on a visit to the space. At lunchtime, they will serve made-to-go sandwiches and wraps for takeout. “The cafe will be open to the public and shares space with the NYHS store, located at our 77th Street entrance,” said the representative. Daily hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Frame Coffee, a cafe, has opened at 305 Amsterdam between 74th and 75th Streets (on the second level, above Hummus Place). Frame has another location on the Upper East Side, but the new Upper West Side cafe has a different menu of pastries, including a wider variety of “croffles” (croissant waffles). Frame’s coffee comes from Coffee Project New York, a wholesaler and cafe chain that sources much of its beans from cooperatives and family farms that improve the living conditions of their workers. The space used to be a massage parlor.
The Wolfe opened on October 24th at 425 Amsterdam Ave (between 80th and 81st Streets) in the former home of Spaghetti Tavern. Named after author Tom Wolfe (“Bonfire of the Vanities” and “The Right Stuff”), The Wolfe is open daily starting at 11am and serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include burgers, tacos, salads, flatbreads, and shareable appetizers/snacks (such as artichoke and goat cheese croquettes, and bavarian pretzels with mustard.) A weekend brunch menu will be launched on Saturday, November 4th, a representative from the restaurant told the Rag. The Wolfe is part of Stout Hospitality Group, which operates 13 bars and restaurants in NYC, including Amity Hall Uptown at 982 Amsterdam.
Chipotle, the Mexican fast-food chain, opened at 2575 Broadway at the corner of 97th Street on November 1st. This location – Chipotle’s fourth on the Upper West Side – features a “walk-up window that allows guests to conveniently pick up digital orders,” according to a company spokesperson. Carne Asada will be available at this location for a limited time. It is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. The space was formerly a Walgreens, but has been vacant since at least 2019.
Moon Kee, a Cantonese restaurant, opened earlier this month at 2642 Broadway between 100th and 101st Streets. The cuisine is inspired by the street restaurants of Hong Kong, according to the company’s website. The menu includes noodle dishes, fried rice dishes, and traditional Cantonese fare, such as General Tso’s chicken. The space used to be Empire, a Chinese food restaurant. (Thanks to Karen for the tip.)
Allure, a restaurant and bar in the Belleclaire Hotel (2175 Broadway at West 77th), is opening on Thursday, November 2nd, and diners can make reservations from Friday onwards. The menu, by executive chef Joshua Vasquez (formerly at Hawksmoor, Casa Cipriani, and Asiate), is “globally inspired with strong Mediterranean and new American cuisine touches,” according to the company’s announcement. There is also a creative cocktail list. The renovated space features a glass atrium and 17-foot marble bar. In temperate weather, Allure will have outdoor dining on a patio with a retractable awning. Allure is backed by City Nights Hospitality, which also runs Ascent Lounge in the Shops at Columbus Circle, and 48 Lounge in Rockefeller Center. The space can be reserved for private events for up to 150 people.
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This is the second such article I’ve noticed recently that contains only notices of openings, no closings. Yay!
These big spaces need to be broken up. Now.
The problem is — they are almost always restaurants, cookie places or coffee bars. Meanwhile, the retail locations (like Century 21 at W 66th St, Duane Reade at Columbus/76th, and DSW at 79th/Broadway) remain empty for years. Stores are what make a city.
The DSW space is being renovated to house P.C. Richards, relocating from its present location on 87th. Announced months ago.
Perhaps used to, but with so much purchasing being done online now, retail struggles
America’s shopping habits have changed. Entire malls have closed and are being torn down or repurposed.
This is not unique to New York and the fact that new businesses are opening is good news.
How much of the old Walgreen’s space does Chipotle take up – I haven’t been by. That was a huge space with retail on two floors. I assume they aren’t using all of it?
They’re using half of it, the other half being remodeled for a medical office of some sort. WSR reported on it a while back and construction seems to be underway.
The space has been broken up. The Chipotles is in the half? one third? of the top floor fronting 97th Street. They are not using any of the lower level.
I was wondering the same thing!
They’re definitely using the entire first level. Maybe they are using the lower level for storage, staff break room, manager’s office, etc.?
That is a huge space for those purposes. The upper level is much bigger than a normal Chipotle footprint. I guess the owners took what they could get, which is probably smart.
We don’t need or want another chipotle. Had them in Fort Lauderdale and they were always closing because of e-coli.
They hire young people that do not wash their hands.
And the food is not that good.
How about White Castle or Chic Filet and please NO bare burger.
Horrible.
We are so excited for the Allure opening! It will be nice to have another fine dining option on the UWS.
It would be great to know what all these new coffee places plan to charge for a small drip coffee (and how many ounces in their “small”)– just as a frame of reference.
$3.5-4
Wasn’t there a new restaurant opening in the Irish pub that was once on 72nd and Amsterdam (SE corner by Citibank)? I remember a discussion about them serving Mexican food, but I can’t find any updates.
That was a good Irish bar. Place must be vacant at least ten years, and on a corner with so much foot traffic.
A few months ago there was mention of the Israeli restaurant, TAIM opening in the old Cleopatra’s Needle space on Broadway and 94th. But no mention since. Can anybody follow up on what happened with that? thanks.
It’s happening!! Construction seems to be progressing, I walk by daily.
I miss the massage place…
FWIW: Jack’s Weed Shop, ooops, I mean Jack’s Convenience, on Broadway btw 108 and 109 has re-branded as Joe’s Organic Market.
They renovated half the store the past month or two, adding a grill and deli cases. The other half the store remains the same brightly lit coolers of beverages and such. From the outside it looks thoroughly non-organic. Whatevs.
I assume there is no change of ownership since the store never actually shut down. Nevertheless, they have “Grand Opening” balloons outside.
Also, the old Suba Pharmacy storefront seems to be getting closer to opening. No idea what’s going in, but the door was open very very late one night last week and I could see three guys applying what seemed to be finishing touches to installing new waist-high glass cases.
And also, renovation of the two storefronts on 106th west of Calaveras Corner seems to be well underway.
Anyone know when the Morton Williams near the pottery barn in the high 60s and Broadway will open?