By Scott Etkin and Lisa Kava

Laytner’s Linen & Home on the corner of Broadway and 82nd Street will close at the end of September after more than 60 years on the Upper West Side. “The way the world works with instant delivery on the internet, it’s hard to be a local merchant keeping inventory on hand,” owner Alan Laytner told the WSR. Alan’s parents, Joseph and Helen, originally started the business in 1961 as a candy shop, selling newspapers, coffee, egg creams and ice cream. In 1970, they started selling linen, too.

In 2018, Laytner’s planned to close but worked out a deal with its landlord to go month-to-month. “There are zero hard feelings,” said Alan, a “born-and-bred” Upper West Sider who went to City College and Columbia. He plans to reopen the business as a seasonal pop-up in the spring and fall. “I think that’s really what the neighborhood needs – 4-8 weeks to shop [at a] really good price, really good value, [and then] we don’t have to be locked into a lease for 12 months.” Laytner’s has big sales going on now and and Upper West Siders get free delivery. (Thanks to Sue for the tip.) 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th District) has opened up a campaign office at 105 W. 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam, across the street from Rep. Jerry Nadler’s campaign office (D-NY, 10th District). The UWS now falls within the redrawn 12th District, which pairs the two incumbents in a close primary contest on August 23. “We’re continuing to grow our support on the West Side, so we go where the votes are,” the Maloney campaign said in a statement to WSR. “I’m excited by the progressive energy on the West Side, as I have been on the East Side.”

“It’s a free country and a free city – they set up an office where they want,” said Julian Gerson, a campaign manager for Nadler. “Maybe they saw our huge crowds and thought ‘wow, maybe there is something to the West Side after all.’” The storefront used to have signage up for Kamin Health, a testing center, and before that was a Canine Retreat, a day care spot for dogs.

Just Food for Dogs – the gourmet, California-based dog food company – is nearing the end of its construction at the intersection on 70th and Amsterdam and Broadway, which used to be an HSBC. “We’re going to hopefully have a VERY SOFT open next week, but the real action will come in September when people are back in the city,” wrote Richard Wold, SVP of Retail Operations & Development, in a message to the WSR. Refrigerators, display cases and stainless steel stoves can be seen inside, which will be used to prepare the dog food fresh, on-site. Just Food For Dogs sells food in various Petco locations throughout NYC (the food is made in kitchens in California and shipped.) The new UWS location will be home to the company’s first stand-alone kitchen in New York, a representative told WSR. Nutritionists will also be on hand to help pet parents pick out the healthiest formula for their dog. (Thanks to Michael for the tip.)

Park West Cafe & Deli at the corner of Central Park West and 108th Street has been closed for a few weeks and appears to be shuttered. (A call to the store could not be completed.) Founded in 1983, it had counter-service for American and Mediterranean food. “The people were always friendly there and the food was fresh and homemade,” wrote tipster Larry to WSR.

Wilson, the sporting goods company, has opened on the ground floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle (59th Street and Broadway), replacing Cole Haan. The store carries athletic-lifestyle apparel as well as equipment and gear for many different sports.

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You missed the closing of Pearls (and Star Thai), on 99th and Amsterdam, which happened earlier this week.

Many more closings than openings. Very sad. Our politicos should be helping out. The only things opening are pet stores, vaping, and cannabis

How would politicos help out? Unless you have some serious and workable ideas, that’s just a throwaway line

Oh, no!!! Pearls is the only place I order from for take-out (and occasional delivery)! Or should I say ordered… Was actually thinking about ordering this week. Maybe it was mystical pre-knowledge mourning. Will miss them terribly.

I will miss Laytners..but I’m glad to know they will “ pop up in the spring and fall..good idea..not locked into a lease…not at today’s rents…I was there today and they had huge pallets of boxes coming onto the floor and they said they will try to keep plenty of stock coming in from the Warehouse until they close..

Sorry to hear you’re closing but it would be great if your pop ups offered real NY egg creams. Best of luck!

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© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.