Viewing NYC Articles by Christopher Ming Ryan

[WATCH] Maybe We Woke Up: The Saving of The Oldest Bar in Queens: Neir's Tavern

2020-01-30T16:00:00-05:00

190 year-old Neir's Tavern was saved because of a call to the Mayor on WNYC Radio. Now hear from Loycent Gordon the owner of Neir's why he chose to take over the business 10 years ago. What he loves about it and how in 72 hours time he went from thinking he was closing for good to getting a brand new ten-year lease on life. At the end, Loy has a message for all New Yorkers that must be heard.

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[WATCH] Maybe We Woke Up: The Saving of Neir's Tavern

2020-01-27T16:00:00-05:00

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[WATCH] Disappearing NYC: The Last Day at Tad’s Steakhouse

2020-01-08T16:00:00-05:00

There was a Runyonesque feel to the last day at Tad’s Steakhouse in Times Square. Guys and Dolls, the musical, was based on Damon Runyon's characters from twenties and thirties.

Tad’s broiled their first meals here in NYC in 1955 where a guy could buy a doll a steak for a buck. Riese Restaurants who owned the limping chain, decided to stop operating in the city. There is one Tad's left in San Francisco.

But last Sunday night, dreamers, lovers, and out-of-towners in fur waited in line for one final nicely nicely priced steak. It was no longer a buck, but way less than a bushel and a peck (about $10 dollars).

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Disappearing NYC: Get Lost at Mercer Street Books

2019-03-26T11:00:00-04:00

Wayne Conti has been serving up used books at his shop Mercer Street Books in Greenwich Village for the last 28 years. Wayne told me the shop was Susan Sontag's favorite book store and you can see why when you walk in. The shop is a sprawling collection of interesting books curated by a man who has great taste.

This film kicks off a new series called Disappearing NYC: Originals. Shop owners who persevere to keep open. For more stories about independent stores that make NYC great check out our page.

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[WATCH] Why Are There So Many Empty Storefronts in New York City?

2019-02-25T11:00:00-05:00

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY EMPTY STOREFRONTS?
Wayne Conti, owner of Mercer Street Books, has an idea why there are so many empty stores - especially in Greenwich Village.
Posted by Disappearing NYC on Friday, February 22, 2019

Operating Mercer Street Books and Records in Greenwich Village for almost 29 years, Wayne Conti has seen more changes to New York City's retail landscape than he would like. It's no secret that almost every block in the City has a store vacancy. Wayne has a theory why that applies especially to the Village where there are so many 4 and 5 story buildings.

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Disappearing NYC: Saving Westsider Books

2019-01-23T11:00:00-05:00

You may have heard that Westsider Rare & Used Books on the Upper West Side, across from Zabar's, was rescued by a Gofundme campaign started by an Upper West Sider.

As of this moment over 800 people contributed to the campaign and it all started because the owner, Dorian Thornley, said flippantly in a local blog that if someone wanted to raise 50K he would take it and keep the store open. Well, the wish was granted.

See how the neighborhood saved this gem of bookstore from disappearing.

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Disappearing NYC: Shalimar Diner in Rego Park, Queens

2019-01-14T14:00:00-05:00

Sadly, put Diners on the list of NYC's endangered species list.

Since 1974, Shalimar Diner has been serving up comfort food to Rego Park, Queens residents.

There's no such thing as "just a diner." To all the regulars, the Shalimar was a community. And it wasn't because of the free chickpeas on the table.

Knowing that the upcoming rent increase was impossible to afford, this last Thanksgiving weekend, the owners served their last meals. The neighborhood rushed in, ordered their favorites, and said goodbye with an outpouring of love.

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[WATCH] Disappearing NYC: Star Struck Vintage

2018-12-31T17:00:00-05:00

How Mom and Pops Stay Open in NYC...

You need more than your fingers and toes to count the number independent stores and establishments that closed in 2018 in New York City.

Here's a partial list and they include many of my favorite places: Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, Hudson Diner, Glaser's Bake Shop, Caffe Vivaldi, Coffee Shop, Tortilla Flats and a little gem of a vintage clothing store on Greenwich street named, Star Struck. The shop was owned and run by Joseph Markus for over 35 years.

I asked Joe how he managed to stay put in one place and thrive for so many decades. His answer was simple. His landlord was a decent man. So you either have to own your building or have the incredible luck of having a landlord with a heart to operate a long-standing store in NYC .

Take a last look at Star Struck.

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Meet Steve Harmon, a Photographer Capturing the Upper West Side for 4 Decades

2018-08-22T14:30:00-04:00

In the 1960's when Stephen Harmon saw Walker Evan's 1931 photograph of Saratoga Springs' Main Street he said to himself, "Nothing will ever look like this again and thank God that guy took that photo and I'm going to be that guy who takes those photos."

It required moving to the Upper West Side in 1978 for Harmon to find a neighborhood on the cusp of change to gather the motivation. Thank God he took these photographs of Mom and Pop stores gone by and of the people of the Upper West Side that according to Steve, "walked around like they owned the place."

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[VIDEO] These Are Your Last 6 Days to Go to Upper East Side's Legendary Glaser's Bake Shop

2018-06-26T11:30:00-04:00

In honor of the final week of existence for Glaser's Bake Shop, here is a story of yet another New York City gem that is disappearing. This time the store closing is not due to the landlord or the internet or changing fashions.

Glaser's has been a family business for 116 years. Herb Glaser and his brother still run the place. After spending a lifetime making dough, painting black & white cookies, and baking jelly-filled danishes, he and his brother are saying it's closing time. Fair enough.

The Glaser's own the building so it's the rare NYC retail demise where they are the calling the shots on their own terms.

We can still mourn.

Here's a last look at the interior of Glaser's. We'll never see an authentic century-old bakery like this again.

Thank you Herb Glaser, the Glaser family and the staff for keeping the tradition alive as long as you did.

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