By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava
Teddy’s Collection, a curated selection of home goods and gifts that have a positive social impact, is planning to open late this summer at 324 Columbus Avenue between West 75th and 76th streets. Stefanie Fischel, an Upper West Sider of more than 20 years, is starting the business after spending her career working in management consulting and finance. She is sourcing only products from companies that donate proceeds back to charity – for example, elephant figurines that support elephant conservation – or are minority-owned. “There’s always been this social impact part to what I wanted to do in my career,” she told the Rag. So far, Fischel has found dozens of little-known suppliers by searching on the internet, at trade shows, and through word-of-mouth. “I have navigated dealing with multi-million-dollar deals in financial services. Opening a small business, I’ve learned, is 10 times harder,” she said. The “Teddy” in Teddy’s Collection refers to her 85-pound rescue dog. Boisson, the non-alcoholic beverage shop that closed in April, was previously in the space.
Hamilton Deli, the longtime food shop at 1131 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 116th Street) has closed. Signage posted on the storefront by Columbia University Facilities and Operations says that the closure is due to “personal reasons” and that a new deli and juice bar, Hajis, will open in the same space in July. Hamilton Deli was established in 1991. We will post an update about the new opening when we have more information. (Thanks to Laurie for the tip.)
Spear Physical Therapy is opening a location this fall at 2273 Broadway (between 81st and 82nd streets), a spokesperson for the company confirmed to West Side Rag. Mattress Firm, which closed in November 2023, was formerly in the space. Spear has many locations across the five boroughs, Westchester, New Jersey, and Long Island. On the UWS, Spear already has clinics on West 92nd, 75th, and 67th streets.
Indoor dining at Friedmans West, the American comfort food restaurant at 35 West End Avenue (between West 61st and 62nd streets), will be suspended temporarily beginning July 9 for renovation. The project, which should take four to six weeks, will give the space “a fresh new look” to have it match the aesthetics of Friedmans’ other locations, a representative confirmed to West Side Rag. During this period the restaurant will remain open for take-out, delivery, and outdoor dining, weather permitting. Friedmans has a few other locations in the city, including one on West 72nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West.
PC Richard & Son, the electronics, appliance, and mattress retailer between West 86th and 87th streets on Broadway has signage in the window that they are moving to 2220 Broadway at West 79th Street this summer. WSR first reported that this longtime location of the family-owned business was moving in June 2023. The space that PC Richard is moving into used to be DSW, a shoe store that closed in 2022. To help offload inventory, the current location is holding sales in every department through July 21st. (Thanks to Karen for the tip.)
Fresh Bites Marketplace, an upscale “bodega-style” deli opened on July 1 at 2280 Broadway (at West 82nd Street). Fresh Bites is one of approximately 14 delis in NYC owned by a group of seven brothers (the Alkandi brothers), including Eats on Columbus Marketplace, which opened in January 2024 at 501 Columbus Avenue (West 84th Street). Fresh Bites will be similar to Eats on Columbus, co-owner Wally Alkandi, told West Side Rag. Fresh Bites serves fresh sandwiches, salads, juice, and smoothies for take-out. They also feature a selection of organic fruits and vegetables, and offer catering services. Like Eats on Columbus, a 10% discount will be given to police officers. “We are so grateful that we are able to do business on the Upper West Side,” Wally Alkandi told the Rag. ”We love the area and will do our best to accommodate our lovely neighbors.” Geox, the sneaker store, which closed in 2017 was formerly in the space.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And help support the Rag by clicking on the purple button below.
Any idea if the Hajis deli is related to the famous one in Harlem that invented the chopped cheese??
That one has two js (Hajji’s) so if WSR is spelling Hajis right here, probably not, sadly.
I didn’t even know Friedman’s West existed! Good to know it does.
@Sam Katz – me either
NOOOOOO!!! Someone PLEASE tell me HamDel closing is a cruel joke.
Spear physical therapy is growing like wild fire. I had a mixed experience there. Therapists are generally nice and competent (though there is a range – try to get a recommendation). After your initial one-on-one intake meeting, they are working with multiple clients at once with assistants keeping an eye on you. Personally, I didn’t mind this as I didn’t need someone staring at me the entire time and they would usually be good about answering questions. But others really don’t like not getting their full attention.
Sometimes I also felt like the therapists were spending more time socializing than doing their jobs. But this was largely the exception to the rule.
They now have locations at 75th, 82 and 92 along Broadway.
Spear is the worst PT I’ve ever had. A profit-making factory with little personal attention, multiple clients assigned to each inattentive PT, and my sessions weren’t fully covered by insurance. Why do people go there? There are MUCH better places on the UWS. It must be the marketing. Terrible place.
Totally concur. Out of an hour long appointment (two visits to 75th Street), my therapist spent about 5 minutes with me. I spent more time waiting for her to give me another exercise than the actual exercises and she didn’t observe anything. Also the complete lack of privacy was off-putting. The amount of socializing among the therapists was off the chart.
Totally covered by insurance, but I would never return to Spear. Ask friends for recommendations for private therapists.
Quantity is not quality.
Leon — totally agree with your assessment. Just yesterday I was in and I saw a gaggle of therapists chatting and I thought oh they have no clients now. Nope –ten minutes later I saw one of them break away and ask a guy doing reps “how did that feel?” Then a bit later another guy had to ask one of the therapists –did I do this right? because she wasn’t even paying attention. They were in the middle of the room talking about holiday plans.
Feel like that’s how a lot of PT places operate. Had the same experience at Brick on Columbus. But…it worked! (I know someone who had a successful outcome at Spear as well…hopefully they know what they’re doing…)
I don’t think they’re all the same. My privately owned PT facility seems to choose quality over quantity. There are small private rooms in which your therapist spends a full hour with you watching you do the exercises to be sure you’re doing them correctly, This is augmented as necessary with ultrasound, therapeutic massage, gym-type equipment, etc. Progress is measured and recorded at each session. No complaints here.
Please share the name of this fantastic sounding place!
Very similar experience
A shoppy shop selling curated gifts and home goods that have a positive social impact? Good luck with that.
Well, if they have good products, let’s hope it does well. It is a worthwhile retailer to support.
“Fresh Bites” sound like a dog food shop.
What’s the latest on the opening of Taïm on Broadway and ~92nd? It seems to be stalled for months now… looking forward to it!