Gothamist: Talk About Restaurant Turnover

Constant Dater

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:15:42 -0500

I liked 222 7th Ave.'s Cuchina Cusco incarnation. 12 East 22nd Street is similarly cursed. In the past 5 years or so, it has been Banana & Caviar, Rocco's, and one or two others I can't recall. 220 Park Ave. S. (18th St.) is now a Haru (which I predict will last), but it's also been 3 or 4 different restaurants in the past 5 years. I think part of the problem with the above two addresses is rent. These are both good locations, with lots of foot traffic, etc., but I'm sure the rents are astronomical. That would leave a new restaurant little wiggle room to get its sea legs. If it's not immediately profitable, it's a goner. And with the turnover, I'm sure the rent goes up, and so the cycle continues . . .

famdoc

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:08:05 -0500

What WAS the name of the first joint at 222 7th Ave. in the Slope? It operated, seemingly smoothly, although seldom crowded, for several years in the 80s and early 90s. Perhaps the first slope restaurant to serve out of doors.

David S

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 14:40:56 -0500

On the southeast corner of 23rd St and 10th Ave is a place so cursed that after two or three restaurants tried to use the space in the last 7 years, it has been empty for the last three. I don't think it's the neighborhood, though. Don Giovanni's, next door, does really well and the Empire Diner (which should really just go out of business- who knows how they are able to keep it going) on 22nd and 10th is still around. New restaurants open in the area all the time. Who knows? Sigh.

UESsider

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 12:59:48 -0500

There's a place on E 86th st between 1st and York that everyone in the neighborhood believed was cursed: it was an Italian joint, then a salon, then a gourmet food store, a pizza place and god knows what else. Now it's an orthodox place that advertizes early bird specials and seems to be okay - it's lasted a couple of years now. Maybe you can beat the curse!

stickychicken

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 12:52:43 -0500

1711 2nd Avenue between E88th and E89th, which now houses the Cinco de Mayo Taqueria, changed its face 4 times in the course of the two years I lived nearby. It was a Cuban place, then BBQ place, then fish and steak house and now a taqueria.