Vanishing New York Backup

VANISHED Another small-business casualty of the coronavirus shutdown, Foley's pub on West 33rd has closed for good. This afternoon, owner Shaun Clancy posted a sad video on Twitter to say,  "Foley's won't reopen. Just with everything that's going on, there's just no way that I see that we can do it." He thanks his customers and family, and concludes, "This is the end of the inning, but not the end of the game." Foley's, located in an antique barroom featuring many original features, overflows with a stunning array of baseball memorabilia. I've enjoyed a few burgers there over the years and once got an impromptu tour from Shaun's father, John Clancy , who pointed out the pistol he got from mobster Frank Costello and told about his days working at Toots Shor's, serving Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason. Foley's was a true New York original. Pour one out.

Deadline reports that the Paris Theater, shuttered by a non-renewal of its lease, will re-open -- at least temporarily. It will "become a home for the Noah Baumbach-directed Netflix film Marriage Story when the picture plays theatrical engagements in a handful of theaters in Los Angeles and New York on November 6." So you have a chance to enjoy the last "prestige" single-screen theater in Manhattan one more time. But will Netflix keep the Paris going after that? Netflix, according to Deadline, will not comment on that question, but signs point to a possibility. The Paris, along with its sister cinema the Beekman 1, 2, 3, shuttered in August after announcing non-renewals of their leases. Both buildings share the landlord Sheldon Solow.

VANISHED The Paris Theater, along with the Beekman 1 & 2, has shuttered after a combined 111 years of life. In June we heard the Paris might be closing . Then in July, I was told by employees and management that it was definitely not closing and the news was just rumor. I was not convinced and wrote, "As with all rumors and denials, take it as a warning. Go, enjoy the Paris, enjoy the movie. Because you really never know when it will be your last time." Yesterday, tipster Dan Braun alerted me via Twitter that both theaters have gone missing from the City Cinemas website . The Paris Theater page goes to Page Not Found. Their telephone message about showtimes extends only until August 15. No one's answering the phone at the Beekman either. After some further digging, Joe Wagner on Instagram has posted the goodbye note from the Paris: Dan Braun says, "Both buildings which house the Paris and the Beekman 1 & 2 share the same landlord, Sheldon Solo...

Last month we heard that the Paris theater might be closing . Now we hear it's staying alive. Deadline first reported that the theater, "the last great single-screen prestige picture palace in New York," was "expected to shutter in late July or August." Indiewire seemed to seal the deal when they reported: "sources confirm that the Paris will likely close next month," meaning July, because that "marks the end of the lease currently held by City Cinemas." They added, "alternative uses are considered likely for the street-level space at W. 58th and Fifth Avenue." The Paris is one of the last places (on the planet) that doesn't cater to short attention spans. The purple curtains stay closed while the speakers plays jazz, Louis Armstrong, big band. There are no riddles or word scrambles on the screen, and very few commercials. It's pleasant to be there. It would be a terrible shame to lose it. When I visited the th...

VANISHING When the Ziegfeld closed , the Paris became Manhattan's last single-screen movie theater. Now, according to Deadline , it will vanish. It is " expected to shutter in late July , according to the buzz on the Gotham arthouse theater circuit," they write. Located just under Central Park, next to the Plaza Hotel, "The Paris is owned by Sheldon Solow, best known for the prestige building 9 West 57th Street. It has been booked for years by Bob Smerling, who didn’t return phone calls. The presence of throwback houses like The Paris is dependent upon the goodwill of the handful of family owned real estate companies that dominate Manhattan. That theater occupies prime real estate that could most certainly be used for other purposes and draw high rents." This, after the recent loss of Lincoln Plaza Cinemas , speaks to two problems with this city: The rents and the rents. Maybe someone will step up and save this one.

When Posman Books was evicted from Grand Central in 2014 , New Yorkers were heartbroken . At the time of the closure, it was understood that Posman's spot would be left vacant for "short-term storage area during the construction of the new eateries planned for Vanderbilt Hall." The neighboring Rite-Aid was allowed to stay in business. But then (two years ago now), a new tenant moved in. Warby Parker, the eyeglass chain, moved into Posman's space. So what's that about? Why did we have to lose another bookstore? today: Rite-Aid and Warby Parker From these before and after shots, it looks like only a small portion of the space is being used by Grand Central. before: Rite-Aid and Posman's

VANISHED/DISPLACED Our neon-loving friend Tom Rinaldi writes in: "I was dismayed to see (first) that Bosco's coin shop on E32nd St has closed and moved to the holding area for displaced antique shops known as the 25th St Antiques 'Showplace.' I was then further dismayed to see that Olde Good Things, in the same building, has been similarly displaced. I was then still further dismayed to see that the gorgeous (to me anyway) building formerly inhabited by both shops appears to have been completely cleared of tenants." * UPDATE: Bosco has moved to the Manhattan Art & Antiques Center, on 2nd Ave between 55th and 56th Sts. 2014 I was sorry to hear this. I always liked walking past Bosco , usually by chance, and looking into the fantastic, jam-packed window, filled with coins, antique political buttons, trinkets, all of them described on hand-lettered cards. It was one of those odd little survivors, the kind of place you come upon and wonder how it mana...

VANISHING Ed writes in: "I’m sad to report that while having dinner this evening at Sapporo between 6th and 7th, I found out they’re closing at the end of the month. I’ve been going there for years and the staff is exceptionally close and dedicated. They were told a few days ago they’ll all be out of work in a few weeks. I spoke with the cashier and she didn’t have a clear idea of what was going on. She knows that all the restaurants in the adjacent buildings are being closed down. Maybe the owner is selling the buildings? Sapporo is always packed and a great affordable place to eat. I’m so sad." A phone call to the restaurant confirms that today is their last day --they will close for good at 5:00 p.m. photo: Manhattan Sideways Sapporo Restaurant opened on West 49th Street in 1975. On their website they say they were "the first to bring Japanese ramen to New York City." Robert Sietsema wrote about it for Eater , calling it "a kind of diner for Jap...

The online petition to save Lincoln Plaza Cinemas now has over 11,000 signatures. Paper petitions are also circulating and gathering names. Every day, customers ask what they can do to protest the closure. But the closure is coming--in just a couple of weeks. Milstein Properties has not offered a new lease. Before the new year, Dan Talbot passed away . He'd been running Lincoln Plaza with his wife, Toby, since 1981. This week, West Side Rag talked with Toby. As it stands, she will not be part of Howard Milstein's plans for the site, which reportedly include upgrades and a new movie theater, possibly something run by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Possibly not. On her wish to keep the theater going, Toby said: “Of course I would like to continue running it. And one of the things that grieves me — grieves is hardly even a strong enough word — is that the people who’ve been working with us — and I say not ‘for’ us, but ‘with’ us, some for 35 years — are so devoted...

VANISHED Reader John writes in: "I have heard today that the restaurant Café SFA , which was located on the 8th floor of the flagship store Saks Fifth Avenue, closed on January 1, 2018." photo via Style Cannoli He explains, "It was in operation for at least 25 years and was a staple for the 'ladies who lunch' in Midtown. Many celebs and royalty passed through the doors over the years. It was also known for its view of Rockefeller Center and the rooftop gardens, as well as the Plaza and tree during the season. For many years, the ladies came in for the 1/2 sandwich and soup special. And before they were laid off in 2013, there was an older seasoned staff of waiters and waitresses there that added to the great service as well as a sense of continuity that the clientele appreciated. I think it qualifies as a type of place that will not be seen again and is a dying breed." A call to Saks confirms that Cafe SFA has closed. The space will be reopening a...

On Friday, Deadline Hollywood broke the news that the art house Lincoln Plaza Cinemas will be forced to close in January. It opened in 1981. Operator Toby Talbot said that she and her husband, Dan, “did everything we could to ask for the lease to be extended.” But the building owner “is looking to get everything he can. He’s looking to make money.” On Saturday, the theater’s regular customers were all talking about the news. Ivan, the young assistant manager, stood in the doorway of the small office across from the concession stand and commiserated. The clientele of Lincoln Plaza is made up mostly of local senior citizens--people on fixed incomes--and mostly women. It is, in many ways, a gathering place for midtown and uptown women over 65. All day Saturday, they gathered around Ivan. Interior. Movie theater lobby. Day. The lobby is busy but not overcrowded. People sit on benches and stand in line. They read the paper and do the Times crossword puzzle. Some buy popcorn and r...

When the old (but not oldest) Ziegfeld theater closed in 2016 after 46 years in business, many New Yorkers grieved. We wondered what would happen to all its odd character when it became an upscale corporate event space. Well, now we know. Recently, the new Ziegfeld Ballroom opened for events. Here's what it looks like: "Drawing inspiration from the 1930’s luxury cruise liner the SS Normandie," reads the new company website , "the Ziegfeld Ballroom features a color scheme of silver and greys to reflect its art deco heritage." Another inspiration appears to be the corporate hotel conference rooms of, well, Midtown. Gone are the plush, blood-red walls of old, the sky-high ceiling, the antique sconces, and that circular banquette where one could rest beneath a sprawling chandelier while breathing in the aroma of fresh popcorn. What became of the artifacts from the Ziegfeld Museum that once lined the stairways and halls? I heard that some are on ...

I like paper. I like pretty much anything on paper. I like how it looks, feels, and smells. Some people go around smelling old books . Lagerfeld makes a perfume that mimics the odor of books, called Paper Passion . Book smell, say researchers at the University College London’s Centre for Sustainable Heritage, is “a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness.” It is the smell of decay. Stationery stores don't have the full-bodied aroma of a used bookshop, but they're a close second, especially an old, cluttered stationery store like Phil's on E. 47th Street . "One of the last old fashioned stationery stores," as they say on their site , Phil's carries vintage stationery supplies: "Airmail envelopes. Onion skin paper. Many Boorum & Pease record and columnar books. Old typewriter and printer ribbons. Rolodexes. And more!" "DON'T BE FOOLED BY IMITATIONS! Genuine means pro...

VANISHING Mon Petit Cafe, a 1980s-era French bistro on Lexington and 62nd Street, says adieu . The climate for small businesses in New York, they say, is "a crushing force." Wall Street Journal From their Facebook page : "It is with very heavy hearts that we inform the community that Mon Petit Café has closed after 32 years in business . We are so deeply grateful to all of our customers, many of whom have been with us since we opened our doors in 1984. It has been our family’s (and extended family of staff’s) way of life to run our little restaurant and serve favorites like croque monsiers, quiche and steak au poivre every day (closing just on Christmas day every year). MPC’s owner Daniele raised her children behind these windows and managed even to stay afloat in 1990 after the passing of her husband/business partner. Her eldest, Alessandra, stayed on and eventually filled the empty shoes of co-owner with her mom. Nevertheless, the climate for small busines...

VANISHING The historic Waldorf Astoria hotel is about to vanish. Not physically, but spiritually. It was purchased last year by the Chinese corporation Anbang Insurance Group. They plan to take 1,100 rooms and convert them into condos. The remaining few hundred rooms will be upgraded into a "high-end, boutique hotel that appeals to international (and Asian) travelers," according to The Real Deal . The hotel will close March 1, making February 28 the last night you can stay there for the next three years. And, of course, it will never be the same. Prices will certainly rise (it's reasonably priced right now). As Kim Velsey recently wrote in " The Death of New York’s Grand Hotels " for Surface magazine, "a condo and a hotel...occupy vastly different positions in the emotional terrain of a city." So I said goodbye to the old Waldorf by spending the night. I checked in at 3:00 p.m. and didn't leave the hotel until 10:00 the next morning. Chec...

Yesterday, we watched the Carnegie Deli sign get taken apart . Today, Tweet Ulrich tweeted this heartbreaking shot of it being carted away. The building is coming down. Mega-developer Extell is buying it . On and on and on it goes.

Yesterday, workers removed the gorgeous neon sign of the shuttered Carnegie Deli. photo by Jonathan Walland The 79-year-old deli closed at the end of December-- for reasons no one fully understands . Its famous Walls of Fame were recently stripped and its contents auctioned: photo: Ken Jacowitz photo: Ken Jacowitz photo: Ken Jacowitz

VANISHED I'd never been to Le Train Bleu, the quasi-hidden restaurant atop Bloomingdale's, so when the Times reported it was closing at the end of 2016, after 37 years, I went. Le Train Bleu, as James Barron explained, was "the nickname for a famous French train that carried passengers coming from London and Paris to the Riviera. The engines were blue. The restaurant, in Bloomingdale’s flagship store, mimicked the train’s dark-green interiors, with velvet on the walls, along with mahogany paneling and a Victorian-style ceiling." Bloomingdale’s will be renovating the sixth floor, and that means no more Le Train Bleu. You got there by elevator or escalator, winding your way through the housewares department, and climbing a set of carpeted stairs to an odd little corridor. The dining room looked like a dining car, long and narrow, framed with tables. I sat by the window, with a view of some plastic shrubbery and a bunch of brutal luxury apartment buildings...