OPENINGS:
Well-known Sicilian chef A.J. Black has opened Il Tesoro Ristorante and Bar at 1578 First Ave. at East 82nd Street. The Italian restaurant, which uses seasonal ingredients in preparing delicate homemade pastas, slow-roasted meats and inventive desserts, will also include a "whole animal tasting" menu, starting at $75. With this menu for an animal or fish of the day, the restaurant says "nothing goes to waste from the animal, and all is respected in the art form of gastronomy." The restaurant, which has outposts in Florida and Martha's Vineyard, has taken over the the popular Primavera Ristorante, which had been a neighborhood staple for more than three decades before closing last year.
Kolb Art, a fine art and high-end furniture shop that has a wholesale location in the Bronx, has opened on the corner of Second Avenue and East 72nd Street. The company has been around since 1940 and is a "leading publisher and distributor of fine original artwork and limited edition giclée prints," according to its website.
COMING SOON:
Maurice Badler Fine Jewelry Ltd, is opening a 954-square-foot flagship store at 485 Park Ave., between 58th and 59th Streets, on Nov. 12, according to Winick Realty Group, which represented the 50-year-old family-owned business. The shop will also keep its long-time storefront on Fifth Avenue and 47th Street.
TD Bank is having its grand opening for its corner space on East 72nd Street and Third Avenue on Nov. 11. It's taking over the former space of a Bath & Body Works.
Panera Bread is coming to 120 East 86th St., near Lexington Avenue. Construction is currently underway for the chain store's first Manhattan location.
A 7-Eleven is moving to at 1412 First Ave. near East 75th Street next to the new 2nd Ave. Deli's location. The chain is taking over a space that had been occupied by the Vitality Health Foods store.
Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto, Cesare Casella's popular Amsterdam Avenue Italian restaurant and gourmet shop, is opening an outpost at 903 Madison Ave., between East 72 73rd Streets. Casella acknowledged having the lease to the New York Post, but declined to discuss plans.
Pookie & Sebastian, a women's clothing shop known for its jeans and tops, will be opening its fifth Manhattan location and third Upper East Side spot at 794 Lexington Ave. is expected to open in February 2012. The store is immediately moving into the 1,170-square-foot space with a 1,250-square-foot basement and paying $17,000 a month for the 10-year lease, Sierra Realty Corp, the managing agents for the building, recently announced. The shop, located between East 61st and 62nd street, had been a Sterling Optical before closing last year.
ON THE HORIZON:
Robert Marc, the luxury eyewear shop known for putting spectacles on such celebs as Robert Downey, Jr., Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, Adrian Brody and Matt Damon, will be opening at 1225 Madison Ave., between East 88th and 89th streets, according to Faith Hope Consolo and Joseph Aquino of Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group. Next door, custom-fit swimwear stylist Malia Mills will be moving in, the Elliman team said. The are expected to open in the spring. Robert Marc, which has another location just a few blocks away at East 92nd Street will keep that store open as well.
