Vanishing New York Backup

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...

Everything we love will become salvage. The Demolition Depot just announced they're selling the interior of Glaser's Bake Shop, closed earlier this year after 116 years on the Upper East Side. via Instagram While they were unable to save the antique floor tiles, this could all be yours: "Elements include the beautiful, turn of the century wood showcases, having ample storage below, marvelous, upward sliding glass doors above and decorative fluted Ionic pilasters. The upper section of open cabinetry has original silvered mirrors, original milk glass upper panels, and marble counter top. Also available are Schoolhouse pendant fixtures, pressed tin ceiling, a vintage refrigerated case, and contemporary display cases." Black-and-white cookies not included.

VANISHING Since 1981 there’s been a little vintage jewelry shop on the corner of 77th and Lexington called Sylvia Pines Uniquities . By the end of June, it will be gone. It won’t be vanishing because the Internet killed it. It won’t be vanishing because no one buys Victorian handbags or Art Deco necklaces anymore. It will vanish for just one reason: The rent has more than tripled . On a warm evening, Sylvia Pines’ daughter, Judy Freedman, is behind the counter, taking care of a customer who has been shopping for three hours straight. The customer, a local doctor with a passion for antique beads and opera glasses, points to rings, necklaces, and handbags, wanting to see it all. “Is that real coral?” she asks. “No,” Judy replies. “That’s fake.” “Good,” says the customer. “I don’t want it. How about that handbag?” Judy gets on a step-stool and pulls down a pink and white beaded bag. The customer runs her fingers over the beads and the two women talk bags. “Judith Lieber,” Jud...

VANISHED Reader Bill Marden writes in to say that the Pedal Pusher Bike Shop on Second Avenue between 68th & 69th has closed. photos: Bill Marden He says: "Store had been in current location for nearly 50 years. Suddenly closed in early March 2018. A nearby dry cleaner told me that the bike shop closed due to a recent rent increase (big surprise) . Besides selling bikes, the store was well known for its bike rentals to groups and its repair services. They'll be missed." The clothing shop next door is sitting empty, too. More high-rent blight.

VANISHING By now you may have heard the sad news that Glaser's Bake Shop is kaput. Or will be soon. On Friday, they posted on their Facebook page : "It is with a heavy heart, the bakers and coworkers at Glaser's Bake Shop regret to inform you on July 1, 2018 Glaser's Bake Shop will be closing it's doors to the public after 116 years of service. After many years of daunting hours and hard work, the third generation of bakers have come to the difficult decision to hang up their bakers hat and move towards retirement." Co-owner Herb Glaser told Eater that it's not easy to run a retail bakery, "especially in today’s climate." A PIX11 reporter said, "it's been really tough to maintain a family-owned business in this changing landscape." And to AMNY , he said, “We struggled with it for quite a while. But we realize what’s involved keeping [the bakery] going, and we just can’t anymore.” On Saturday, the bakery was packed, ...

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 Reader Steve wrote in awhile back to tell us of the demise of Finnegans Wake: "The corner has been sold for condos and it will be closed next July. It’s a tragedy." So I went by for a drink. Or two. In business since 1972 and located on First Avenue at 73rd Street, the place is just as Steve described, "a real neighborhood Irish pub filled with great locals that skew a bit older." Indeed, New York magazine says, "Those without an AARP card or a solid knowledge of the surrounding neighborhood may feel a bit out of place, but Finnegan's certainly offers a quaint alternative to the usually far-younger postgrad mob." Perfection. The bartender, a very friendly guy, informed me that a 33-story tower is coming. (The news originally came out in July. The Post lays the blame on the " Second Avenue Subway real estate boom "-- so say a prayer for Heidelberg and the rest of Yorkville's German soul.) The bartender also no...

I went to the Carnegie Deli recently to experience it before it shutters forever this New Year's Eve after 79 years in business. It's closing not because of the rent, but because the owner is tired of it all. Someone wants to buy the place and keep it going, but the owner is not interested . It's closing. Period. So I went. If you've tried to get into the Carnegie you know it's almost impossible, thanks to the hordes of tourists mobbing at the door day and night. Tourists have always dined at the Carnegie--I did when I was a teenage tourist--but today the city suffers under mass tourism and there are many places--parks, museums--that are no longer enjoyable because of them. So I got there at 8:00 in the morning, the moment it opened. Only a few diners were inside. It was quiet, the speakers playing light music from the 70s and 80s. Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond. Their images hang on the walls, in the famous sea of autographed head shots. What wi...

Mimi's Pizza Restaurant shuttered this summer due to a rent dispute with the landlord. Owned by the Vanacore family for 59 years, it was a beloved part of its Upper East Side neighborhood. photo by Andrew Fine Now, in a sickening sort of irony, a pizza restaurant chain is moving in. La Famiglia is taking Mimi's spot, replacing real family with fake family. According to the Famiglia site, "you can find Famous Famiglia locations across leading airports, shopping centers, casinos, travel plazas, military bases, theme parks, universities, and busy urban centers." via Twitter @JRMcGrail

VANISHED At 84th and Lexington on the Upper East Side for 59 years, Mimi's Pizza is no more. On Sunday they wrote on their Facebook page : " It is with a heavy heart that after 59 years, today is our last day of business. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are forced to close our doors. We want to take this opportunity to thank our loyal customers and neighbors on the Upper East Side for your friendship and patronage. This is an extremely difficult time for our family, but we hope to see you in the future." Andrew Fine shared the news and a photo on Twitter, announcing today's auction of the pizzeria's equipment: "Mimi" is short for Dominic, the original owner, according to this little film about the place: Mimi's is considered a local institution. Paul McCartney was a regular. Bobby Flay used to roll out the dough. It will be missed. *Update: The Daily News followed up on this story and reports the closure ...

VANISHING? The Italian restaurant Il Vagabondo has been on East 62nd Street since 1965--and longer than that as a bar. It has the only in-restaurant bocce court in town--it was built in 1910. And now we hear it might be closing. 1968 Restaurant critic Gael Greene tweeted today that Il Vagabondo will be forced to shutter in the spring because the "townhouse it didn't own was sold": I called the restaurant and the woman who answered was unaware of any upcoming closure. That's not always solid, but let's hope this one is just a rumor. For more on this classic red-sauce joint and its bocce court, watch this .

Back in June, I first shared the news that The Palm Restaurant, after 90 years, would likely be closing . Last month, The Real Deal confirmed and Eater posted photos of the ruined interior, its priceless murals destroyed . Now reader Dave J. sends in a photo of the recently raised "For Rent" banner: It's very large and rather self-satisfied. It proudly crows: "1st Time Available in 90 Years." That's not actually a good thing. That's a bad thing. That's a thing that means a 90-year-old treasure has been shuttered...so a cupcake shop or fro-yo chain can move in. Also, the windows have been papered over. So no more bloggers taking pictures of the destruction inside.

VANISHED Back in June, thanks to a tipster, I first reported the intel that the original Palm restaurant was gone for good . Earlier this week, The Real Deal confirmed that the owners have sold the building for $5.9 million. But will it be preserved? Will the historic, priceless murals be cherished and maintained for the next generations? Don't hold your breath. Yesterday, Eater posted photos of the restaurant's interior , its wonderful murals painted over, destroyed. One of the buyers, Steven Kachanian (of the apparently not ironically named Klosed Properties ), told The Real Deal, “We’re working with some high-end tenants looking to do some major work to the property." This was the original Palm restaurant, 90 years old, gorgeous, storied, beloved, its walls covered in caricatures hand-drawn by some of America's most celebrated cartoonists . This was a one-of-a-kind treasure, never to be reproduced. You can't buy this kind of uniqueness, it has to grow ...

VANISHED? This past April, the nearly 90-year-old Palm Restaurant closed for renovations . Now we hear speculation that The Palm may never open again. A tipster who wishes to remain anonymous shared the following in an email: "There are very strong rumors that the original Palm Restaurant is not merely closed for renovations. I have heard from a very reliable source, who is in touch with people who work at other Palm restaurants in the city, that the building is not salvageable. What was supposed to be less than a one-year renovation may actually be a tear down. This would be another major loss for NYC." I've shared rumors here before -- the takeover of El Quijote , the destruction of Caffe Dante , the murder of Manatus --  and I don't do it lightly. Unfortunately, while owners deny and neighbors say "no way," the rumors usually turn out to be true. If this is the case for The Palm, it will be another tragedy on the scale of Chumley's...

Reader Jean-Luc tells us that the Pisacane fish market on 1st Avenue between 52nd and 51st street is shutting its doors tomorrow--"A huge loss for the neighborhood and city." Last summer, another reader told me this closure would be coming down the pike. The owners had listed the building for sale, at $6,800,000 , to be "delivered vacant." At the time, I went in for a visit. I was told they were not closing, and had another 10 years. This now seems not to be the case, though I have not confirmed it. I was also told that the business is 160 years old--with 60 years in one location and 100 years in this one. Or maybe vice versa. In any case, the place has been around a long time. What I hear from both readers is that the small business has been struggling with inflated property taxes and utility bills -- both of which can kill a mom and pop, even when they own the building.

NOT VANISHING A year ago, I broke the news that Jim's Shoe Repair was being kicked out of its space on E. 59th Street, where it's been since 1932. Landlord S.L. Green gave the space to Walgreens so they could expand their giant Duane Reade. News spread, we started a petition and wrote letters , and Jim's got help from the powerful law firm Bickel and Brewer, whose Storefront affiliate gives help to community individuals and businesses in need. Now there's good news. Third-generation Joe Rocco told me, "Duane Reade has agreed to give us the lease back," and it's good for several more years. A year ago, Joe and his family thought it was over. They were looking for a new space. But today, "We're all excited. The combination of our loyal customers all staying behind us, and the help from Bickel and Brewer made it happen." "Hopefully, it starts something," says Joe. "Hopefully, people in this city will see that these ol...

When the Subway Inn was forced out of its long-time home in December, after attempts to save the 77-year-old dive failed to sway the hearts of World-Wide Real Estate Group, the Salinas family vowed to reopen nearby. It looks like the new place is progressing well. the old Subway Inn today--sign removed The beautiful neon sign was removed from the old spot and is being put back together in the new location at 1140 Second Avenue at 60th Street. Subway Inn Facebook page The bar is being rebuilt. Subway Inn Facebook page Michael Hirsch sends in this photo of the "coming soon" sign. The final product will include Atomic Wings at the back: Check out this film by Zagat about Subway Inn's fight to stay alive: