Our Urban Odyssey
what’s your story?

There goes the neighborhood

Watchers, please report… Are you slowly seeing the shops close down where you live? This has been happening for awhile on the Upper West side as monster condos replace our (admittedly  ugly but affordable) rent-stabilized buildings and mom and pop shops. Where comes condos cometh Whole Foods, Victoria’s Secret, Barnes and Nobles and the dreaded Bed Bath and Beyond… But besides being yuppified, the economic wave is hitting Broadway bad. I don’t mourn those fancy-pants baby clothing boutiques. I do mourn the  Moroccan trinket store. We just got word that Morningside Bookshop is closing down too and on the way there to bid them goodbye, happened to see a for lease sign on the fair-trade store where we’ve bought our furniture and lots of other household items. The owner was nearly in tears explaining how sudden it happened. That was depressing. When we got to the bookstore, half the room was empty where there should have been books, and the cashier (who is usually very moody) had her head down in her hands as she sat on the rug, staring at the floor.  I swear I saw someone sleeping on the floor by the cash register in a sleeping bag.

The only burgeoning street to my eyes continues to be Dyckman street. But so many people hang out there that you don’t need a store to give the neighborhood life. Plus with salsa and merengue playing, life always sounds good. So, report! What have you been seeing around your way?

Share on Facebook