By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
MACC Wine Bar at 51 West 106th Street (at Manhattan Avenue) has closed temporarily and will reopen the week after Thanksgiving as MACC Grab and Go Deli. Wascar Then, the owner, grew up nearby and raised his family in the neighborhood. He opened MACC Wine Bar (which stands for Manhattan Avenue Community Cafe) in November 2019. The restaurant had a varied menu, including tapas, salads, bowls, and hearty main courses. “I wanted to offer many food options as I was humbly trying to please everyone,” Wascar told the Rag.
Since the pandemic, however, Wascar noticed the area became quieter. “I love this neighborhood, but it is not high traffic enough for a full-service restaurant to be successful.” So he is reinventing the Wine Bar into MACC Grab and Go Deli, which will be open for breakfast and lunch and will offer pastries, subs, empanadas, quesadillas, wraps, sandwiches, and salads. Customers can order at a counter and either take food to go or sit at a table area inside the cafe. “The young adults, they want their food quickly,” Wascar, who has an 18 year old, said. “Everyone is on the go, they want things to be easy.” (Thanks to Rob for the tip.)
Zabar’s has signage up in the former Laytner’s Linen and Home space at 2276 Broadway on the corner of 82nd Street. Laytner’s closed at the end of September 2022 after more than 60 years on the Upper West Side. How the storefront will be used by the iconic market is still undecided. “After the holidays are over, there will be a discussion on future plans for the Laytner’s space,” a manager at Zabar’s wrote to WSR in an email. Zabar’s currently doesn’t have any locations outside of its existing one on the corner of Broadway and 80th Street. We will update when we have more information. (Thanks to Yvonne and Emily for the tip.)
Just Salad, a healthy chain serving prepared and custom salads, is opening a location on Broadway between 110th and 111th Streets. It replaces a Starbucks. Founded in 2006, Just Salad puts sustainability at the front of its brand. It labels the carbon emissions of its menu items and offers reusable bowls. Just Salad has an existing UWS location at 2056 Broadway between 70th and 71st Streets. (Thanks to Nancy and Tracy for the tips.)
Oaxaca Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant known for its variety of tacos, has closed its location at at 424 Amsterdam Ave on 81st Street. The phone is disconnected and WSR tried calling the restaurant’s other locations (Upper East Side, Murray Hill, and Brooklyn), but all of those phones seem to be disconnected as well. The windows are covered with brown paper. (Thanks to Liz for the tip.)
Lux 88 Nails and Spa has replaced Dashing Diva Nail Salon at 590 Columbus between 88th and 89th Streets. The new salon is offering 20% off all services including various types of manicures and pedicures, waxing treatments, and massage. (Thanks to Sharon for the tip.)
A Pizza Hut is coming to 940 Columbus Avenue, between 106th and 107th Streets. The original Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Kansas. The chain now has 16,000 stores across 100 countries. This will be Pizza Hut’s only location in New York City south of 158th Street. It replaces Mighty Catch, a Cajun seafood restaurant and bar.
So happy to have Pizza Hut (The Hut?) coming to the neighborhood. Finally, pizza that’s both edible and overpriced.
There’s already a Pizza Hut at the Associated supermarket located 100st and Manhattan Ave. It’s called Pizza Hut Express.
Somehow I don’t think V & T is at any risk of losing business to Pizza Hut.
Actually, a small Pizza Hut just opened in a corner of the Associated Supermarket on 100th St, btw CPW and Manhattan Ave.
I knew Mr. Laytner, the original. This was over 35 years ago. It was a small store and you were waited on by the owner as you were in so many of the independent stores that lined Broadway in those days–a thing of the past with all these darn chains.
He sold me a beautiful set of lace shower curtains which I had for many years. For years I searched for a replacement set but never found them not even in the later incarnation of Laytners.
Oaxaca had gone way down in quality over the last 5 years. Not surprised they closed.
I almost had a heart attack when I saw “Closing..” and “Zabar’s” in the same sentence.
Me four LOL
Same!! LOL
Ha-ha!.. Me too!
Me three
I recall reading somewhere that Zabars also now owns the property where DSW, etc., were.
Yes that’s true. You can see evidence of that on the Banksy. Zabars asks help protecting it
Also Bake My Cake has closed in the Columbus Ave shopping center across from Whole Foods. There was a sign on the door yesterday. They had some great red velvet cakes.
As I recall in the early 70s Laytners was on the same side as Zabars just down the street .A small shop filled with excellent products.
Yes, it was. Right next to Burger King (when it was on the corner of 82nd & Broadway)
A pizza hut just opened in the associated grocery on 100th street between Central Park West and Manhattan ave
The idea of Pizza Hut in Manhattan is just funny. Are you opening up a Einstein Bros Bagels next door, too?😂
I moved to the UWS in the early 70s, unpacked late on a Saturday, and went out to pick up some food. Zabar’s, the closest grocery, was a single storefront. I I remember thinking: “Wow, they have nice grocery stores in this neighborhood. “
Bring back the OG.
H & H westside of 78/79 Broadway the aroma was amazing and bagels unmatched ( sorry absolute) so missed
H& H bagels on Columbus is no comparison to the original
…And let’s not forget across the street Pizza Town best pizza on the westside in the day,…
Looking forward to the Bialy & bagels place opening soon, any updates?