Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

Posted last April (and then apparently again in July) that Indian restaurant Calcutta Cafe (2735 Broadway, between 104th & 105) closed. It’s been vacant every since, but that’s about to change.

Some recent signage in the window indicates another Indian restaurant — named Amla — is moving in (and giving away free gift certificates to celebrate).

Thanks to MUW reader Kris for sending in the photo above. As you can see, they’re offering $25 and $50 gift certificates as an opening incentive.

Kris wasn’t sure exactly when this sign went up, so I suggest if you’re interested you contact the restaurant ASAP at orderamlaonline@gmail.com.

Neither Kris nor I are 100% posative what the dates on the lower half of the sign signify. I think that’s when each of those contact options (i.e. phone, fax, web) go live, but it’s hard to tell with the ridiculous font they’re using.

Calcutta Cafe was apparently not very good (Kris called it “awwwwwwful” and Jonathan, from the April post last year, called “lousy), so Amla doesn’t have very big shoes to fill.

No word on a specific opening date, but I would think sometime before the end of April is a solid guess.

In relocation news, long-time UWS resident (since 1959) Nick reports Ritz Camera (2400 Broadway, at 88th) is downsizing and moving across the street to the former T-Mobile spot at 2409 Broadway.

Nick (the same Nick who posted that great vintage UWS film clip a couple of weeks ago) notes the relocation marks the end of an era. Assuming the current Ritz space isn’t taken over by another camera store, “this will be the first time in about 60 years, possibly more, that there will not be a camera store on that corner.” More from Nick:

Ritz has been there about 10 years. Before that, it was “West Side Camera”, run by a bunch of Israeli fellows. They were great. The store at that time was only half the size it is now; when Ritz moved in, they helped themselves to the next store front north as well.

And before THAT, before “West Side Camera”, was the original place and it was merely “Camera Store”; They had a neon sign that said just that,  “Camera Store”. We in the neighborhood called it “the camera store”. It was a very narrow little shop at the very corner of 88th St & Bwy, and you entered the place on the 88th St side.

Inside was just a long counter behind which stood two distinguished looking German fellows, and behind them were a line of glass cases with beautiful cameras in them; Leicas and things like that. I remember the place well!  I bought film from them.

When the owners died, and the place was being cleaned out and dispersed I remember a couple of trash cans outside on the side walk full of old lenses and filters and leather camera cases.  I took a lot of that stuff home!

Nice little piece of neighborhood history from a life-long Upper West Sider.

The T-Mobile space that Ritz is moving into is significantly smaller than their current space, which seems like an inevitability. Given the state of digital photography and the commoditization of all things relating to it, I’m surprised a specialty store like Ritz can even stay in business at all.

UPDATE 4/26: Looks like Ritz’s new space will open 5/1

UPDATE 5/16: Ritz may have lost their lease to make room for a new TD Bank

Finally, a reminder that tonight marks the second day of the MTA’s FASTRACK maintenance on the 1/2/3 lines. There are major service changes between 10:00 pm and 5:00 — click here for full details.

Filed under: Food & Drink, Going Out, Manhattan, New York City, News, NYC, Openings/Closings, Restaurants, Seniors, Shopping, Transportation, Upper West Side, Upper West Side Blog, UWS 4 Comments »
Tags: 2400 Broadway, 2409 Broadway, 2735 Broadway, Amla, calcutta cafe, camera store, Indian food, Indian restaurant, New York City, NYC, Opening, relocation, Ritz, Ritz Camera, UWS. Upper West Side