78thand2nd

Second Ave. Businesses Are Getting Freakin' Killed

Recently closed wine bar Bar Vespa

A spree of business closings on Second Ave., between 91st and 95th streets, has received a lot of attention over the past year - due mainly to the impact of the Second Ave. subway’s construction, which has spurred a ton of difficulties for the businesses closest to the mayhem. 

Getting far less attention - but maybe more alarming - is a recent string of businesses that shut down on an eight-block stretch between 77^th and 85^th streets on Second Ave., far removed (for now) from the subway's construction.

During the four-month period from June through September, a staggering 10 businesses have closed on this stretch (another shut down in May - so, 11 shuttered in a five-month period).

The businesses were a mix of chains and mom-and-pop stores; they were retailers, restaurants, wine bars and pizza spots.  Some were part of a city-wide chain shuttering (Burittoville) or a nation-wide chain trimming locations (Talbots Kids) - but still, 11 is a ton in that amount of time on such a short stretch.

Not surprising, the area’s business managers and owners I spoke with pointed to a perfect storm of a struggling economy, a drop in consumer confidence and rising business costs – especially increased rents - as main causes of the closings.

The full list of closings after the jump.

Tax Dept. Shuts Down Bardolino

So far, it's been a rough year for Italian eatery Bardolino. There was the fire back in February, which hit just in time for the place to miss that Valentine's Day sales boost, and knocked the restaurant out for almost three weeks. Now, more bad news courtesy of the New York State Department of Taxation, which, according to the posted signs on the restaurant's window, has closed and seized the premises until they fork over some cash.  Any one with further info, please hit the comments. 

Fire Breaks Out On 78th, Bardolino Restaurant Closed [78thand2nd]

Facelift For Blue Moon

From the tipline: Ken writes in with some insider info on Blue Moon on 75th and 1st, which will "most likely close at the end of May for a full interior demolition and remodeling. Should take a few months."

Accident At 76th And 2nd

This pic was taken early evening by the always alert Dan, who captured the accident on 76th and 2nd around 5:45 pm. Um, the cab is pointing in a semi-north direction, yeah? The street is one way, heading south. Would love to know what happened here. Hit the comments if you know.

Anna Maria Closes, Dylan Murphy's Set Up On 3rd

Closed: Anna Maria Pizzeria on 83rd and 1st has shuttered. According to Suzanne, "they were closed for health citations late last year, they have finally shut their doors. A 'for lease' sign was spotted in the window and a note on the door saying it was closed by the city."

Opened: Dylan Murphy's bar, at 1453 3rd Ave., opened its doors last week.

UES Seniors 'Terrorized' By Bicyclists

The Los Angeles Times checks in on New York's traffic challenges and the "ambitious city plan" that will make it possible for riders to travel around Manhattan via dedicated bike lanes. Naturally, as the number of bicyclists in the city spikes -- its grown by 75% in the past seven years according to the piece -- so will the number of accidents involving bicyclists, and there are plenty of them. Last year, 271 people were killed in New York City traffic -- including 23 bicyclists and 136 pedestrians -- the vast majority by motorists, according to the LA Times, and about once a year a pedestrian is killed in a collision with a bicyclist.

Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, from the Upper East Side, weighed in with her concerns:

"Jessica Lappin, a councilwoman from the Upper East Side, hears the horror stories almost daily.

Seniors in her neighborhood feel "terrorized" by delivery people who barrel down the sidewalks on two wheels, causing elderly residents to duck and dive. "While I understand that the cyclists fear for their lives in the streets," she said, "the answer can't be whizzing by on the sidewalk at 20 mph and running into pedestrians."

Lappin added that she supported bicycling in general and -- if it was safer -- would probably bicycle herself."

New York bicycle commuters face an uphill climb [LA Times]

CB8 To Consider Traffic Conditions, M79 Bus, Ads Along Park Ave. and More

CB8's transportation committee is set to meet tonight at 6:30. On the agenda? Traffic conditions, as requested by residents, at 79th and Madison and 79th and Third Ave., as well as the traffic signals at the NE corner of East 80th Street and York Avenue. Full agenda and location, if you'd like to attend, after the click-through.

Shelter On 77th To Close?

City officials are planning to close the "drop-in" homeless shelter at 237 E. 77th St. according to today's NY Post.

"The facility provides such daytime services as counseling, job training and medical treatment and helps the homeless find permanent housing. At night, its clients get bused to shelters with beds. Anne Teicher, the site's executive director, said the city wants to phase out drop-in centers to focus instead on "Safe Havens," where the homeless get both services and a bed. Neighbors fear that the center's closing will leave many displaced homeless people wandering the streets and hanging out in Central Park.

The center, which serves 800 men and women a year, learned last month that the city Department of Homeless Services was cutting off its funding: an annual $1.2 million.

The department wants the center, open since 1983, shut by June 30."

The article goes on to say that the site's exec director is pushing for a one-year reprieve.

Mo's Caribbean To Close

If you're among the crowd who enjoys a night out at Mo's Caribbean, you may want to take in as much of the bar as you can -- the place will be no more in a month. Mo's is tossing in the towel at the end of May and will be re-born as a "classic bar and grill" according to a Mo's rep. There's no lease drama to speak of; the new spot, which will be dubbed the "Stumble Inn," will be from the same owners as Mo's. It's Cinco de Mayo folks, get down there if you're a fan. And thanks to the always alert Aubrey, for the head's up.

Duane Reade In, Gristedes Out

Gristedes on 72nd and 1st is closing its doors according to on the spot tipsters. Duane Reade, is rumored to be vacating its spot located across the street to take the space occupied by Gristedes. As one tipster put it: "No big loss, that Gristede’s was disgusting and Food Emporium is right across the street anyway." Precisely. Thanks to Aubrey and Rob for the on-the-scene intel.