By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Shakespeare & Co., the bookstore, is opening in March at 2736 Broadway at the corner of West 105th Street. Shakespeare & Co., founded in 1983, already has a location at 2020 Broadway (70th Street), and one on the Upper East Side. “We plan to carry exciting new titles, an extensive backlist of classic titles, and offer a great selection of books for children and young adults,” a manager from the Upper East Side store wrote to West Side Rag in an email. The space was formerly Steps, a discount women’s clothing store that closed last year. (Thanks to Aaron, Dave, Sally, and Erin for the tips.)
Harry’s Shoes, the longtime UWS favorite for footwear on Broadway and West 83rd Street, is closing its children’s department. A manager told West Side Rag there is no set date; they will close once the inventory is all sold. Harry’s formerly had a separate outpost nearby just for kids, but that shop closed in early 2022 and its inventory was brought into the main store. Harry’s has been in business in New York City since 1931, at its current location since 1975. (Thanks to Nina for the tip.)
Brunch, a diner-like restaurant at 2201 Broadway (between West 78th and 79th streets), has opened. It’s been a long wait: Signage for the restaurant has been up since, at least, the summer of 2022, and it took more than a year to receive their gas connection, Robert, the owner, told West Side Rag. Robert runs other restaurants downtown, but he is familiar with the UWS having previously lived in the neighborhood. He described the menu as offering “comfort food” – including pancakes, eggs, sandwiches, salads, and more. They are aiming to ramp up slowly, and do not offer delivery, he added. The space was formerly the diner, New Wave Cafe, which closed in the summer of 2020. (Thanks to Carol for the tip.)
Mizu Hibachi, a Japanese restaurant, has opened at 940 Amsterdam between West 106th and 107th streets. The large menu includes ramen, noodle dishes (udon or soba), sushi rolls, bento box combos, and more. The space has been vacant for the past few years, but used to be a Yasha Ramen. (Thanks to Erin for the tip.)
Village Square Pizza at West 93rd Street and Broadway is closed temporarily for maintenance, according to a sign posted on the storefront. The chain, which started out in the West Village and has a few locations in New York City, opened this UWS location just a few months ago.
Marinara, the pizza place at Broadway and West 97th Street that opened in the summer of 2023, has also been closed for the past couple months. A notice from ConEd is posted on the storefront indicating that the gas supply has been shut off. Marinara has a few locations in New York City, and the chain’s other Upper West Side location at West 83rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue remains open. We’ll post an update when there’s more information. (Thanks to Bobby for the tip.)
A combined store for Auntie Anne’s, the pretzel shop, and Carvel, the ice cream shop, has signage up at 2568 Broadway (between West 96th and 97th streets). The space was formerly a Dunkin’/Baskin Robbins, which moved a block north to 2600 Broadway, on the corner of West 98th Street, in January 2023. Auntie Anne’s and Carvel are owned by Focus Brands, a restaurant company that has some 5,000 stores under its umbrella. (Thanks to Robert for the tip.)
Bravo West Pizza, at 2345 Broadway (between West 85th and 86th streets) has closed. The storefront’s landlord is alleging that it was driven out of business by food carts that park along this street, according to Patch. The landlord’s lawsuit is asking nearly $1 million from the city, due to its alleged failure to stop unlicensed food trucks from operating, and Bravo’s continuing losses of at least $62,000 per month, Patch reported. There has been a pizza parlor in this storefront – World’s Famous, then Mama’s Famous, then Bravo West – since at least 2011, according to Google Maps. (Thanks to Ilene and Nina for the tips.)
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For one heart-stopping moment, I thought this article was going to say that Harry’s Shoes was closing. Whew!
Me too, I thought the same
Bravo West served a decent slice, heavy on the cheese if that’s what you liked. But the atmosphere was always lousy.
It just wasn’t an inviting place, ever.
Mimi’s, just opened at 88th? Tried a slice there twice. Very disappointing.
I disagree 100%, a born and raised UWS’er, I have had Mimi’s twice now and it’s DELICIOUS PIZZA!! I am not a pizza snob, but I know pizza and it’s amazing, compared to others on the UWS
I agree with Jon! Its better than any other pizza on the West side.
I think this landlord has a great argument. I always buy my pizza from the pizza food carts that are proliferating all over the city. LOL
We went to Brunch on its second day and recommend it totally. The food, presentation, and service were impeccable. It is an intimate space that I hope doesn’t become too loud when busy, one downside of Sarabeth’s. In all, a good addition to the neighborhood.
Re: Shakespeare & Co’s new store. Any day a bookstore opens on the UWS is a day to celebrate. I’m also happy to see a “diner-style” restaurant opening in the space formerly occupied by New Wave Cafe, which was a dependable source of comfort food.
Cafe 82 is THE best diner on the UWS and has the nicest waiters! We’ve gone there since it opened and it’s just a delicious now as ever!
No not the pizza place!!!! There are no food trucks that park right on that block although there is a Halal Food Truck on 87th and Broadway. Around lunch time the Tamale sellers set up at the corner at 86th and Broadway but they leave after about an hour. I would not think they would impact those that want pizza. Now there is no easy place to get a slice in the 80s.
I’ll bet that Panera Bread drew much of the lunch crowd that used to get pizza at mid-day. But Bravo West can’t sue the City for allowing Panera Bread to open.
I’ve been waiting for Brunch to open for what feels like forever. The fact that its website still says “Thanks for all the inquires about our launch date. We are working to launch” and they have no social media accounts makes me worry they won’t last long.
Brown Harris Stevens is moving out of 79th street office, across AMNH.
Just saw on the work permits that a “coffee shop” will be going into the old Telio space. Would have been great to have a restaurant option, but better than a weed store.
Where was Telio? I can’t place it
Telio’s pizza place was where Village Square is so the larger Telio’s space was just to the right. Telio was a great neighborhood place. The owner was a great guy.
Broadway between 92 & 93rd
Yes! Carvel! So exciting. Flying Saucers. Fudgie the Whale! Cookie Puss! If only the old commercials with Tom Carvel could come back!
Rejoice!
And once a year, Cookie O’Puss!
Carvel coming is awesome but what made me really smile was the fact that this place also being Auntie Anne’s means we will have CINNABONS nearby. I think fresh baked too, not just boxed so that’s really cool. It’s a rare treat these days but I do love a real Cinnabon now and again.
I was going to say this, too! Cookie Puss and Fudgie the Whale as portrayed by Tom Carvel are for the ages.
Love Carvel. But will this location also sell those delicious Brown Bonnett ice cream cones? Happy childhoold memories being raised in Queens and Carvel was our go-to always!
Hopefully this store will have a large Carvel™ selection. I’ve seen other “auntie annie/Carvel” combos that are so minimalist they don’t even have Flying Saucers.
I don’t know whether to be over the moon about Carvel or terrified that I’ll find myself there much too frequently. I have great Brooklyn memories of going there with my Grandfather, who shared my love of brown bonnets. And Fudgy the Whale was an often requested birthday cake.
Does anyone know what’s happening to 2560 Broadway? 96th street corner. The Ancott?
The retail below is all out. The lights look like they’re never on. Curious…
Full demolition.
They cleared all retail and tenants. The Plant Shed building adjacent also empty and gutted. My guess would be tear down for another development like the new one on the SW corner.
Affordable housing, so great! Oh, wait …
Carvel! We can use a Carvel.
Excellent ! Carvel is opening up in the neighborhood. I first moved here in 1983. They used to be a carvel Broadway 95.
The best cakes and soft serve.
So sad about Harry’s kids shoes
Note how many places are being shut-down by the onerous rules around gas line repairs? You used to be able to repair the lines. Now ConEd and the City make you replace nearly the whole gas system.
So disappointed to hear about Harry’s. I have shopped there many times for my son. Since the pandemic they often didn’t have what we needed, even basics like sneakers or school shoes. They mentioned each time that they had difficulties with inventory. I wonder if there was more to it than that. Items seemed to be readily available through other retailers. Bummer!
Happy to hear that Carvel is opening. Soft serve ice cream has been missing since Ben & Jerrys discontinued it.
Can’t believe Shakespeare & Co is coming to that corner. So exciting! It’s right near Plowshares Coffee and Mama’s Too Pizza, so all you southerners (ie, those of you who live in the double-digit UWS streets), come on up this spring, buy a book, grab a cup of joe or a slice, and head over to Strauss Park.
And Silvermoon Bakery! It’s a very good corner!
Silvermoon made our wedding cake!
I remember that there has always been a pizza place on 85th and Broadway since the 1990s, or am I hallucinating?
In regards to Harry’s. Why are they closing the children’s department? Are parents buying shows online?
Hard to see the current Shakespeare and Co as the same business as that founded in 1983. It’s had new owners for a while now and is a very different store.
IMO the proper place for an Auntie Anne’s is a highway rest stop, but I can’t deny pangs of nostalgia for Carvel!
Sad all those pizza places are closing.
Strange about Harry’s kids. When my daughter was young you nearly had to book an appointment to get served.
Thrilling news about Shakespeare & Co. I admit that I never stepped into Steps in my 20 years in the neighborhood. I will definitely be a regular customer.
I can’t believe Harry’s is still there. I used get shoes there even though I knew I was paying more. That was years ago. I went there recently and they very little inventory. I left without buying anything.
I’m glad my kids are adults because there is nowhere to shop for them in the neighborhood anymore. And with kids, especially for shoes, but even for clothing, you need to have them try it on or see it in person. Gone is Chikdrens Place, Gap on 84th and broadway, Gymboree, kids are magic, etc, etc. It’s really awful. There are so many kids on the UWS and so few places to shop for them.
This evening I asked the staff at the 84th st Marinara about the 98th st location and the manager said it would re-open in 2 months. I hope it’s true!
That sounds about right. Since they need to do some gas system repairs, and Con Ed is slow rolling everything, 4 months is actually fairly reasonable.
The soon to be Auntie Anne’s/Carvel used to be just a Dunkin. The new location of that Dunkin, on Broadway just north of 98th Street, is a combined Dunkin and Baskin Robbins.
Oh no!! Bravo West Pizza was my go to slice place!!! Always good, despite the slightly grumpy manager. Looked as though there were a lot of regular customers too. I’m so sorry they’re gone.
Was a food truck the issue or the multiple women with coolers on each of the corners who seem to run subscription lunch businesses that can’t possibly be licensed?? I’m all for people being enterprising and making a living, but this activity has to undermine the local food shops and is going on in plain sight on a daily basis.
Mizu is excellent.
Just had a very tasty and generous bowl of ramen for lunch.
Here’s hoping they succeed!
Auntie Anne’s?? How vile. The yeasty smell pumped out of these stores makes the odor Subway spews seem like Balthazar. Can’t we have actually nice things?
Sadly, it’s the way society has gone….and they complain about the high cost of McDonald’s. Health conscious eating–at home–is a thing of the past. You are what you eat, but many people won’t figure that out until it is too late.
You two must be fun at parties.
that Bravo pizza joint was there in the early 80’s when I lived in the Hotel Bretton Hall – so it has been a pizza joint since …. recorded time almost lol