I'll admit it, retail in the 90's has been pretty dismal over the last few years. Broadway is a wasteland, and Amsterdam and Columbus have not been much better. The 90's has been a location to pass through, on your way to the 80's.
There have been some lonely exceptions, to be sure. Genarro Restaurant has been feeding my family since we moved to the neighborhood in '98. Mani Market is a local joy. We have a great farmer's market on Fridays. And that's been about it.
Until now.
Put the Whole Foods on 97th and Columbus into the category of IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...the new store is busy every day and PACKED on weekends. It's bringing people in from all over the upper westside (my guess is those people who don't live in walking distance of Fairway, so north of 86th into the 100's).
Whole Foods is a game changer for the neighborhood.
In addition to Whole Foods, there are some other bright spots popping up. Upper 90 is a soccer and sports shop that just opened on Amsterdam and 94th. Filled with knowledgeable and friendly soccer coaches, this feels like a throwback to the mom and pop places of my youth. It's the antithesis of the anonymous sports behemoths at a mall near you. The people at Upper 90 seem to want you to stay, chat, watch soccer on their big screen tv and have your child get excited about their sport.
There's a new dog grooming salon opening on Amsterdam as well (not opened yet as of this writing). But it's exciting to see these kind of services in what had been the wasteland of the Upper West Side. Edgar's Cafe just opened a second branch on Amsterdam and 90th as well.
These may be tiny indicators, but I'm hopeful about our pocket of the world. It's a great place to live and raise your family, and more people will get to see why it's so special.
Now, if we can only convince Danny Meyer to look Northward....
Did I mention that Whole Foods has tables where you can buy your food and sit?
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It's true, Whole Foods has added to our grocery store choices in the area. So many people are shopping there, and like Union Square, I hope it brings even more business to the Friday morning greenmarket.
Other bright and new spots in the W. 90s -- The Hummus Place (B'way b/t 98-99) and the Green Cafe (B'way b/t 97-98) where they will make your salad to order. Between those two new restaurants, Cafe Viva (100% vegetarian pizza/pasta restaurant), and West Side Health Food with an excellent veg/fruit juice bar, I have many healthy eating options nearby.
Perhaps the vacancy rate will decrease once the rehabilitation of West 96th Street Subway is completed.
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