It took a little while longer than expected, but the long awaited Upper West Side outpost of Birch Coffee finally opened this past week at 750 Columbus (at 96th). The store opened with a soft launch on Tuesday, featuring a full coffee and pastry menu. I believe beer offerings went live today (six taps, two [...]

Posted last month that the Banana Republic at 2360 Broadway (at 86th) might be closing. At the time, an employee at the store denied that was the case, despite the fact there was signage in the window indicating the space was for rent. Less that a month later, it’s confirmed — BR will indeed be [...]

Just got back from the “UWS Work From Home” Meeting/Networking/Social Event. I thought I’d be there for an hour, but was there for five instead… so I’m a little late with tonight’s “Openings/Closings”… Posted last week that French tea company Le Palais des Thés was getting ready to open their first U.S. location at 194 [...]

UPDATE 3/14: Looks like the full name is Maria Bonita Mexican Restaurant & Steakhouse UPDATE 4/4: Maria Bonita getting closer to opening UPDATE 4/17: Maria Bonita is open UPDATE 5/5/13: Looks like Maria Bonita has shuttered Catching up on some opening/closing news that’s been building up during my brief hiatus… Mentioned a few weeks ago [...]

UPDATE 2/1: Mama Mexico space slated to become Maria Bonita Well that didn’t take long. Posted a follow-up this morning on the sudden closing of Mama Mexico (2672 Broadway, btw. 101/102) and the rumors about its future are already flowing in. MUW reader Marc sent in this tip, which seems plausible:

UPDATE: Rumored Mama Mexico Buyout With Reopening Under New Management UPDATE 2/1: Mama Mexico space slated to become Maria Bonita Posted yesterday that UWS restaurant Mama Mexico (2672 Broadway) was mysteriously shuttered over the weekend. Apparently this isn’t the first time it’s happened.

UPDATE 1/11: UWS Mama Mexico Had Sordid Past Of Tax Evasion & Alleged Labor Law Violations UPDATE 1/11: Update #2: Rumored Mama Mexico Buyout With Reopening Under New Management UPDATE 2/1: Mama Mexico space slated to become Maria Bonita Bad news if you’re a fan of Mama Mexico (2672 Broadway, between 101st & 102nd) — they’ve [...]

A round-up of some of the most popular posts from the past week: Homeless Man Found Squatting In Ann Curry’s Vacant UWS Townhouse UWS Wine Bar “Wine & Roses” Served With Eviction Papers In NYS Civil Court Upper West Side Photo Of The Day: Double Rainbow Over The Neighborhood “Boarding School Bandit” Pleads Guilty To [...]

Cascabel Taqueria opened last month at Broadway & 108th and seems to have become a popular Upper West Side spot pretty quickly. The Broadway location is an off-shoot of the original on the Upper East Side, and that’s the one that Zagat references in their list of top NYC Mexican restaurants. Since I believe the [...]

Jalapeno, a new Mexican restaurant on Columbus between 68th and 69th, has been open for a little over two weeks now, according to restaurant staff.  The space that used to be Elite Café is bustling, with a new design including walls of windows opening to the street and a menu including multi-regional dishes.  The restaurant, [...]

Crain’s reports that Mama Mexico, the popular Mexican restaurant with a location on Broadway and 102nd, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The Upper West Side restaurant recently received press when it was shuttered around December 17th for non-payment of taxes.  While the restaurant opened one week later, its struggles seem to continue with the [...]

Eater reports that Mama Mexico, the always-crowded Mexican restaurant with tableside guacamole at Broadway and 102nd, closed down late last week due to a seizure for non-payment of taxes.  The closing comes as another in a series of troubles for the eatery, after an August class action lawsuit accused the business of withholding wages and [...]