Ziegfeld Cinema
Forced to close after 46 years. I still want to know what happened to the artifacts from the Ziegfeld Museum.
St. Mark's Bookshop
Finally shuttered after a long fight to save it. 39 years old. I miss it every day.
Left Bank Books
The cost of doing business was too high. 24 years old.
69 Bayard
The landlord hiked the rent on this 80-something-year-old Chinatown classic.
Gene's Coffee Shop
Just a regular little place that had been around for decades. Evicted.
The Stage Restaurant
After being forced to close after the Second Avenue explosion, after fighting eviction from their landlord, Icon Realty, and crowdfunding for support, The Stage officially shuttered. 35 years old. Still heartbreaking.
Surma the Ukrainian Shop
Nearly 100 years old. The owner decided to sell the building.
Maria's Mont Blanc
After 34 years, shuttered in the midst of fighting the landlord.
Rebel Rebel Records
Forced out by the landlord so the boutique chain Scotch & Soda could expand. 28 years old.
Mimi's Pizza
A little place, but much beloved. 59 years old. The reason for closing is unclear.
Troll Museum
Evicted from the Lower East Side along with its proprietress, Reverend Jen.
Tekserve
29 years old. The rent was too damn high.
Rocco's Calamari
Suddenly shuttered after 39 years.
Bleecker Street Records
Over 20 years old, shuttered after a massive rent hike forced a move.
Lanza's
This beauty is 112 years old. It was seized by the marshal and remains closed "until further notice," but it does not look good.
Bookcourt
After 35 years, the owners have decided to retire.
Carnegie Deli
At 79 years old, this New York classic will be gone by the new year. The owner has decided to sell the building.
Previous Years' Vanishings:
2007
2008
2009: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4
2010
2011: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4
2012
2013
2014
2015
20 comments:
The island of Manhattan. It drew dream chasers by the millions and artists by the hundreds of thousands, far and away the most interesting, creative and diverse place in the United States, glorified in film, TV, painting, music and writing. Closed due to greed, chain stores, bros and hos, along with the most destructive city administration(s) in the island's long and fascinating history. Approximately 350 years.
I was a fan of Academy Floral, which used to be in the corner 107th St and Broadway. If the sign in the window is to believed, it had been there for decades. It moved to Broadway and 100th for a while and then disappeared. The Bank St Bookstore is there now.
I admit - this was not the closest florist to my house and so I didn't frequent it. Maybe it's odd that I miss it.
Da Silvano
Evergreen Diner on W 47th Street is closing:
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161229/times-square-theater-district/evergreen-diner-closing-west-47th-street
A classic diner. Mobbed at lunchtime but a quiet alternative to the noisy faux-irish pubs when you were stuck working late in midtown.
Stunning to see all the great NYC locations gone for good in a list format, they sure do add up. One year the Bronx Zoo used all the lawn space near the seals pond to make a cemetery composed of extinct animals (it had a huge impact on anyone who cares and after that I started seeing efforts to Save The Rain-forest), maybe someone should do that with all these truly great NYC establishments that we have lost over the years.
Have A Happy New Year to all us Preservationist out there!
Other Music closed, which is still rather gutting to me as I was a regular shopper there for almost all of its 20+ years in existence.
We desperately need the Small Business Jobs Survival Act - http://takebacknyc.nyc/sbjsa/
I vow I will not vote for any candidate for mayor or city council who does not support SBJSA.
I miss Tip Top Gift, the martial arts & sundries store at Fifth & 9th, Bklyn, which closed in January after 35 yrs. Next to Smith Tavern, close by a longstanding diner & across from the Record & Tape Center, it was one of the stores at that intersection that defied (against all odds) the onset of expensive new businesses. Neergaard, Square Stores, DD Discount, liquor store, none of them aimed at more affluent newcomers, and all of them gamely hanging around. Tip Top got driven out by rent. The Record & Tape Center is month to month, but is still, miraculously open for business.
Oh, but nothing will replace the counter at The Stage. Just about my favorite perch in the city.
Steel Gym, on 23rd Street.
Saw a couple of things at the Ziegfield -- by then, already pretty much the last of its kind. Highlight -- of course -- was Apocalypse Now as it was meant to be seen -- huge and loud.
Funny coincidence - I'm currently reading a book about the Upper West Side, written in 1979 (the year I moved here); there's an entire lengthy chapter devoted to long-time residents bemoaning the way the city was changing and losing all its character.
A perfect example of plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
City Quilter closed this year, a beloved store with beautiful fabric.
I'm in mourning for BookCourt, my local independent bookstore. Wonderful place. At least they were closing because the owners were retiring, and owned the building, which they sold. So went out on their own turns.
Also, Tekserve: I bought a succession of Macintosh computers, hard drives, printers, etc., from them over the last 20 years. Wonderful place, great ambiance, with those great old radios, Coke machine, and wonderful service. The store was the subject of a recent episode of "American Pickers," in which the store and the owners' apartment provided great stuff to be resold to others.
Da Silvano.
Only since 1975....but if a 'hotspot' can't stay open, is there hope for any small business, long-term?
what about Il Vagabonde!! on 61 st - - with a Bacci court in there - - closed this summer after what must have been 70 years or so (?) last time i was there Jake la Motta was eating there- 2 years ago
Though it's hardly cool or iconic, the Associated Supermarket on West 14th was, for me, the one closing that hurt the most. Sure, it wasn't as nice as Whole Paycheck but it was convenient and cheap and close enough for a quick food run. Since they've been priced out of the hood, I find myself myself spending an extra $50 a month for food. Not a problem for my wealthy new neighbors, but for me? Ouch.
I just learned about another shocking closing -- the Chelsea gay bar G LOUNGE on West 19th Street -- after 20 years in business. Their last night was New Year's Eve. This really breaks my heart. I just discovered their open art night this year, where go-go boys would model for any and all artists who showed up on Tuesday nights. As a neighborhood artist who misses the creativity and energy that seems to get rarer every year, this place was a godsend. I met lots of great people and created tons of new art. But now... sigh.
https://www.queerty.com/20-years-business-nyc-gay-bar-g-lounge-will-shutting-doors-20161218
Lee's Art Supple
The Four Seasons Restaurant as originally furnished and accoutered
XES Lounge at 24th between 6th and 7th... they had the best happy hour in Chelsea.
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