UPPER WEST SIDE — Big changes came to the Upper West Side's restaurant and business scene in 2014, with the opening of the first new independent bookstore in years below West 112th Street and the relaunching of Tavern on the Green with a "very Brooklyn" menu.
More chain drug stores and big box stores moved in, notably Marshalls and a new CVS, but a number of locally-owned shops and cafes put down roots in the neighborhood as well.
Trendy mini-chains Meatball Shop and Parm opened, along with newcomers Bustan and Tessa, adding variety to the neighborhood's dining scene.
Bakeries continued to pop up as well, with two French bakeries launching on Broadway between West 77th and 76th streets: Maison Kayser and Mille-Feuille. Higher up in the neighborhood, Macaron Parlour opened on Columbus Avenue near West 87th Street with its creative twist on the French delicacy. And if that wasn't enough French food for you, there's now an entire store devoted to French mustard.
DNAinfo New York took a look back at the noteworthy restaurants and businesses that opened and a few that the neighborhood lost.
Notable New Restaurants:
Tavern on the Green
Central Park's West Drive, near West 67th Street
The Central Park landmark was gutted and underwent a $28 million renovation, aiming to shed its reputation as a party hall with lackluster food. It opened to the public in late April. Chef Katy Sparks was replaced in November by Jeremiah Tower.
Bernheim & Schwartz
2911 Broadway, near West 114th Street
The new cavernous beer hall opened in the fall and aims to serve both locals and Columbia and Barnard students.
Meatball Shop
447 Amsterdam Ave., near West 81st Street
The hip mini-chain opened in July with a to-go ice cream cart stationed outside its door.
Parm
235 Columbus Ave., near West 70th Street
The popular Italian eatery opened in the space formerly occupied by Lansky's Deli this December.
Tessa
349 Amsterdam Ave.
Upscale newcomer Tessa opened in April, with the aim of reviving the block with its industrial chic decor and Mediterranean menu, and drawing Beacon Theatre-goers.
Wine and Roses
286 Columbus Ave., near West 74th Street
After winning a legal battle to take back the space from her investors, Jennifer Klein reopened the Columbus Avenue wine bar in July.
Mille-Feuille
2175 Broadway, near West 77th Street
After the closing of the 51-year-old neighborhood staple Big Nick's, the French bakery, known for its macarons, opened in the summer.
Maison Kayser
2161 Broadway, near West 76th Street
The French bakery and restaurant opened this fall on the same block as Mille-Feuille. Maison Kayser is a larger operation with table service and a wider selection of bread.
Savoury
489 Columbus Ave., near West 83rd Street
The owners of the Indian restaurant Swagat opened a more upscale version in March.
Orale Mexican Kitchen
768 Amsterdam Ave., near West 97th Street
The Mexican restaurant, specializing in street food and known for its extensive happy hours, opened this March.
Awadh
2588 Broadway, near West 98th Street
The upscale Indian restaurant opened in June.
Blossom du Jour
449 Amsterdam Ave., near West 82nd Street
The to-go restaurant opened in late May serving all vegan fare with a comfort food twist.
The Milling Room
446 Columbus Ave., near West 82nd Street
The team behind Corvo Bianco, the Italian restaurant that opened in 2013, revamped the restaurant and brought in a new chef this fall to reopen as The Milling Room.
Prime Burger
217 West 85th Street, off Broadway
A new kosher burger joint opened in April, run by the owners of the kosher Japanese steakhouse Prime KO.
Bustan
487 Amsterdam Ave., near West 84th Street
The new Mediterranean restaurant Bustan, featuring dishes drawn from Israeli, Greek and Spanish cuisines, opened in late February.
Dig Inn
2884 Broadway, near West 113th Street
The to-go spot offers salads and healthy main courses for those looking for a quick farm-to-table-style lunch or dinner. It opened in February.
Macaron Parlour
560 Columbus Ave., near West 87th Street
The macaron shop known for its inventive flavors, including "Cheetos" and "S'mores," opened in early February.
Notable New Businesses:
Book Culture
450 Columbus Ave., near West 82nd Street
The independent bookstore, long a staple in Morningside Heights, opened a sister store in late November.
The Yard
157 Columbus Ave., near West 67th Street
The neighborhood got its first co-working space in late November. The 30,000-square-foot space can accommodate 400 people looking for a place to work besides their apartment or Starbucks.
Row House
555 West 59th St., near West End Avenue
The new rowing gym opened in early February and offers rowing classes with a similar atmosphere as spinning classes, the owners said.
Maille
185 Columbus Ave., near 68th Street
The French mustard company opened its first U.S. emporium in the neighborhood in time for the holidays in early December, selling $99 jars of mustard among other condiments.
Voilà
221 West 79th St., off Broadway
A make-your-own artisanal chocolate shop opened this December, promising to be accessible to all ages.
Coming Next Year:
Pure Barre
412 Columbus Ave., near West 80th Street
The exercise studio, which emphasizes strength and toning through ballet techniques, is opening next year. The studio already has a space at Columbus Circle.
SoulCycle
2465 Broadway, near West 91st Street
The spinning chain is opening a new outpost next to Equinox.
Lowe's
2008 Broadway, near West 68th Street
The home improvement chain is opening a new store in the space formerly occupied by the Food Emporium — a site neighbors hoped would become a new grocery store.
Closings:
Ding Dong Lounge
929 Columbus Ave., near West 106th Street
The 13-year-old Manhattan Valley dive bar and concert venue, known for its late-night parties, closed this summer.
Loi
208 West 70th Street, near Amsterdam Avenue
The Greek restaurant run by Maria Loi, known as the "Martha Stewart of Greece" closed July 2. Loi promised to reopen somewhere nearby in the future. The West 70th Street space is set to become a new steakhouse called Lincoln Square Steak.
Casa Pomona
507 Columbus Ave., near West 84th Street
The Spanish tapas restaurant, plagued by problems related to a burst pipe, closed this year and was replaced by upscale vegan restaurant Blossom on Columbus. The vegan restaurant launched in early September after relocating from a space lower down on Columbus Avenue.
