» Upper West Side Openings & Closings: Pecan Cafe, Sugar & Plumm Purveyors Of Yumm, Classic Kids Photography, Blockheads Burritos, Syms/Filene’s Basement

Upper West Side Openings & Closings: Pecan Cafe, Sugar & Plumm Purveyors Of Yumm, Classic Kids Photography, Blockheads Burritos, Syms/Filene’s Basement

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

The depressing east side of Amsterdam, between 78th & 79th, is starting to come back to life.

Pecan Cafe (387 Amsterdam), first mentioned all the way back in February (with a follow-up last month), has finally opened their doors for business (thanks to MUW readers Gaby & Andrew for the photo).

I walked in today and it has a pretty sleek/minimalist interior. The opening represents the second NYC location for Pecan; the original cafe has been open in TriBeCa since 2005.

Pecan’s website doesn’t have the details of the new UWS outpost yet, but at least you can get a rough idea of the menu.

While Pecan is definitely not a diner, its opening serves to partially fill the food void created when Shining Star — located a few doors south on that same block — closed last year. That former Shining Star space, as well as the multiple empty storefronts directly adjacent to it, is slated as the future home of Sugar & Plumm, Purveyors Of Yumm (scheduled to open in 2012).

On the northeast corner of the block, progress is being made at Classic Kids Photography (395 Amsterdam), which has been in the works since September (this is the former home Ottomanelli Brothers).

The windows were all papered up, but I could clearly hear construction going on inside when I walked past it today. They also have two new signs up indicating they intend to open soon (see below). This will be their second NYC location — they currently have a studio on the UES. Their website shows they have other locations throughout the country.

Elsewhere… if you’re looking for cheap burritos, the 50% off grand opening special at the new UWS Blockheads ends tomorrow.

In closing news, if you missed the post earlier today, Syms/Filene’s has upped the discounts for their liquidation sale — the entire store is now 20% – 40% off.