By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Gertrude, a small café on West 96th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, is closing on April 21st. Named after a street in Melbourne, Australia, the specialty coffee shop and micro bakery opened in August 2020. “I’ve lived in the neighborhood for 10 years and I’ve always wanted to do something like this because I felt there was a big gap in the market. But the economics for small business in New York is very challenging,” said owner Shweta Khare, on a call with West Side Rag. Gertrude sources its beans from Parlor Coffee, a roastery in Brooklyn that focuses on responsible agricultural practices. “[Customers] feel the pain as much as I do, because people have been so invested in the business,” said Khare about regulars’ reactions to the upcoming closing. Khare also mentioned the importance of supporting local small businesses: “I think it’s upon all of us to make sure we order from companies directly, don’t use the [delivery] platforms, step out of the house and pick up your order. It’s all the stuff that keeps our neighborhood alive.” (Thanks to Meg for the tip.)
Pier i Café, the seasonal outdoor restaurant in Riverside Park (along the riverfront near West 70th Street), re-opened on April 7th. The current hours are 11:30 a.m. until sunset, but they might vary depending on the weather (check Instagram for updates), and will change again in the summer. The menu includes seafood specials like lobster rolls and calamari, as well as salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The café will remain open through the summer and close again in the fall.
Maya Kron Wellness, an acupuncture and wellness center, opened on March 25th at 240 West End Avenue (Suite 1B) after a “soft opening” in January. Maya Kron is board-certified in Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and has a special interest in working with people who have experienced spinal cord injuries, she told WSR in a phone call. The center also offers cupping (a method to loosen muscles by placing small cups as suction devices on muscles) and herbal medicine. Kron also specializes in women’s health and wellness. She will collaborate with chiropractor Dr. Chang Yong Lee of Begin Chiropractics, who is already in the space, but they are two separate businesses. Kron originally had a practice downtown and relocated to Denver, Colorado, during COVID. “I am so excited to be back in NYC and to open my practice on the Upper West Side. I have strong ties to the UWS community, my brother and his family live here,” she told the Rag. “I am eager to contribute to the health and well-being of the residents of this dynamic neighborhood.”
ICYMI: Han’s Fruit and Vegetable Market, a family grocer of nearly 50 years, is closing its store at 2501 Broadway (at 93rd Street) on April 29th. Moon Nam Han and Ok Kum Han opened the store’s first location at West 92nd Street and Broadway in 1978 after moving to New York City from Korea. Joo Han, the second-generation owner, has run the business since 1998. “Oh my gosh, the Upper West Side customers have been the greatest source of my life,” Han told the Rag. “They’ve been such a big part of my life over the past 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of kids grow up in front of me.” You can read WSR’s full story on the longtime market – HERE. (Thanks to Hannah for the tip.)
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Wow, I never knew Gertrude’s existed and it is right around the corner
Great coffee, unfortunately the space was too small for a coffee shop.
Yeah, exactly. We certainly need more coffee shops that aren’t Starbucks, but if I’m paying a premium price I want to be able to sit down. Every time I walked into Gertrude every seat (all like, 4 of them) was taken so I went elsewhere.
When Pier i Cafe opens, I know that spring has truly arrived!
So happy that Pier i is open! UWS pedestrian is spot on.
Stopped there for an iced coffee yesterday – it was my regular end-of-bike-ride haunt last year, and the server remembered me (props to Alison!). I feel I have finally arrived!
I’m SO SAD about Gertrude closing! We were so happy to finally have an independent, higher-end coffee option in the 90’s, and we LOVE their baked goods (my fave is the vegan tahini blondie – yum.) It makes me sad that people continue to go to places like Starbucks and don’t patronize these small businesses. The owner said it perfectly about supporting local and stepping out of the house to pick up. That area of 96th Street is so sad now, we were sad to lose Plant Shed, Trek bikes too — now it’s just a blight on that block 🙁
Plant Shed moved around the corner – it’s on Amsterdam and 95th.
They are obviously going to be knocking down those buildings on the north east corner of Broadway and 96th, which is why Trek closed. There are no residents above and all of the commercial space is empty too. Just a matter of time before the next luxury condo building arrives.
Gertrude was a lovely little shop in the the middle of chaos.
If you’re looking for a new shop, it’s a few blocks down, but I highly recommend Fillup Coffee!
It’s especially disappointing when you realize Starbucks charges just as much but for an inferior product
All of these closings are so depressing.
Gertrude’s was a special place with a friendly staff and excellent coffee. Live music Sunday mornings was a real treat.
I am still so sad about Han’s
I will say that maybe part of why their business is worse since the pandemic is the opening of all the dispensaries, as they stay open later and you can buy drinks and snacks, which is why I usually go to Hans
Also. I was surprised to read in the original article that the grocery stores in the neighborhood are not doing as well also. But I think it is also that since the pandemic people really got used to grocery delivery like instacart and fresh direct.
And I think the meal delivery services too. I know more people using them now than during the pandemic.
Anyway.. Thrilled about Pier 1
Kamsahamnida Han’s. You will be missed.
I’m so sorry I hadn’t know Gertrude existed! What a great loss for the neighborhood.
I don’t think they did much to market themselves or have an active presence in the community. The few times I tried to go in the afternoon I was reminded that they closed at 3pm. I don’t know about anyone else, but I need afternoon caffeine after 3pm. I know for a fact the rents are very reasonable in that entire strip of buildings so I wonder if their closure is due to something else outside of “the rents too high”. Maybe they’re moving back to Oz.
Regarding Gertrude closing.
From Investopedia.com
“Data from the BLS shows that approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more. These statistics haven’t changed much over time, and have been fairly consistent since the 1990s. ”
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1010/top-6-reasons-new-businesses-fail.aspx#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Bureau,to%2015%20years%20or%20more.
Majority of all new business ventures will not last a decade.
Business and economics courses in college have been teaching these numbers for ages and they have remained fairly consistent.
Many small businesses either fail to plan, have a weak business plan, and or suffer from lack of investment capital.
According to a Yelp review a new café called “Greenlane” will be opening in this space with expanded seating.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gertrude-new-york
Very saddened by the closing of Gertrude, the owner and staff are all amazing and it’s been such a great addition to the neighborhood. I live next door and loved being able to hear the live music on the weekends and will miss that. The owner mentioned to me that a new coffee shop is going in in its replacement. Fingers crossed it will have a nice welcoming feeling like Gertrude does.
[…] It will take over the small storefront currently occupied by Gertrude, the coffee shop that’s closing this month. Green Lane has a location on the Upper East Side and previously had one in Greenpoint, […]