By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
UpDog Studios, an exercise studio offering vinyasa yoga, mat pilates, and barre classes, is opening at the end of the summer or early fall at 2672 Broadway on the second floor (between West 101st and 102nd streets). This will be the second location for UpDog, which also has a studio in Harlem at 145th Street. UpDog is owned by husband and wife team Nicole Pavone and Jordan McLaughlin, former dancers and musical theater performers who share a love of fitness. They opened the Harlem location in March 2023 and are excited about their expansion to the Upper West Side. “We have created a warm and welcoming environment for our community to practice in at our Harlem studio and hope to bring that same community to the Upper West Side,” Pavone told West Side Rag. Class packages or monthly memberships can be purchased. They offer classes for all levels from beginner to advanced. Robofun, a STEAM education program, was previously in the space. (Thanks to Lisa for the tip.)
Epilogue Books, a pop-up shop for used books, opened on June 25th at 2305 Broadway between West 83rd and 84th streets. The books have been sourced from many places, including public schools and library book sales, a representative shared with WSR, in hopes of keeping the books in circulation instead of going in the trash. In that same environmental spirit, a portion of its proceeds will be donated to One Tree Planted, a nonprofit that plants trees around the world. The pop-up’s inventory includes a curated selection of the owner’s favorites (the owner asked to remain unnamed), and also features a wide selection of coffee-table and children’s books. Epilogue will run this summer only and is planning to close at the end of August. The space was previously a Blue Mercury cosmetics store, which closed in April 2021. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week. Weekend hours are still to be determined – updates will be posted on Instagram. Donations of books in good condition are being accepted. (Thanks to Tziona for the tip.)
Lionheart, a gym with group classes and personal training, is expanding into the basement below its current space at 237 West 105th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. The expansion will double the gym’s existing footprint, creating space for new equipment including two squat racks, a leg press machine, dumbbells, and more, according to info the company posted on Instagram. The construction is likely to take a couple more months, a representative confirmed to WSR, and the exact opening date is still unknown. We can provide an update when it’s closer to being completed. The basement space is where Abbey Pub used to be, the longtime bar that closed after nearly five decades in 2018. (Thanks to Tracy for the tip.)
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Bookstores are always welcome.
So excited to see UpDog coming to the neighborhood! I am really looking forward to trying them. The expansion of Lion Heart is also great news!
We’ve had an excellent used bookstore three short blocks from Epilogue for years and many of us contributed to keeping it alive just a few years ago.
Given that, I wonder how and why Epilogue chose this location for a pop up.
Curious that Epilogue would situate close to Westside Used Books as well as Barnes & Noble?
Lots of vacant space in the 90s – and no book stores there.
BTW the NYPL/St. Agnes Library volunteers are still doing their used book sales (check library for schedule) which contribute to library funding – amazing inventory!
And check out the terrific volunteer-run used book shop at the NYPL/Webster branch on York & 78th Street.
Yes the Webster bookstore is great–but you still have to trudge across town carrying (or wheeling) books.
Regardless, I have to wonder why open a popup store with books that were no longer circulating. If the books were going to be trashed earlier wouldn’t they still be fodder for the trash bins?
Do prisons no longer take book donations?
None of the books I saw at Epilogue looked like ex-library books. Many libraries have book sales of donated books. I encourage people to stop by. They have a wonderful selection of books! Very excited to have this in the neighborhood, even if only for the summer.
Glad to see Lionheart expanding.
Jose is an excellent coach and trainer …
Bring back the Abbey Pub! Pub Grub and drinks -a great place to hang with friends. Do we really need another gym or exercise facility?
Totally thrilled that a yoga studio is opening up. The neighborhood has needed one for a long time. Can’t wait to try out a class at UpDog.
Downtown near Strand bookstore, there was an area called Book Row on Fourth Avenue that had many, many bookstores. There’s even a book about it! ” Book Row: An Anecdotal and Pictorial History of the Antiquarian Book Trade” By Marvin Mondlin, Roy Meador . The stores did not see one another as competitors because they didn’t always have the same stock. They would refer customers to each other’s stores. Book Row flourished from 1890s to the 1960’s. Having 3 bookstores in a small stretch of the UWS is pale in comparison, but I’ll take it!! Sad Epilogue will be leaving in the fall, which is the most romantic time to peruse in a bookstore, IMO…