UPPER EAST SIDE — Mayor Bill de Blasio's favorite coffee shop Viand and beloved neighborhood watering hole Kinsale are just two in a slew of local businesses that shuttered this year.
DNAinfo New York took a look back at some of them:
Crown
24 E. 81st St., between 80th and 81st streets
Closed March 2015
Crown restaurant’s building was sold early this year, owner John DeLucie told Eater. Crown, which was a romantic, upscale restaurant within walking distance from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, honored private events through May.
Viand Coffee Shop
1011 Madison Ave., between 78th and 79th streets
Closed April 2015
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s favorite coffee shop closed in April after business slowed down, according to the New York Daily News.
Vespa
1625 Second Ave., between 84th and 85th streets
Closed June 2015
Vespa, a small Italian eatery, served residents since the early 1990s. Before it closed this year, it was under new management, according to its website. The restaurant closed because it was not able to renew its lease.
Nature's Gifts Market
1297 Lexington Ave., between 87th and 88th streets
Closed July 2015
Nature’s Gifts Market was a small mom-and-pop store that served a variety of ready-made foods, produce and groceries that was typically jam-packed with customers. It was in business for 30 years.
Kinsale Tavern
1672 Third Ave., between 93rd and 94th streets
Closed September 2015
Kinsale Tavern, a traditional Irish pub, was one of the neighborhood go-to spots to watch the game or hang with friends and family for more than 30 years. Its owners decided to rent out the space to a new Irish pub, called The Weir, which is planning to open soon.
The Recovery Room
1446 First Ave., between 75th and 76th streets
Closed September 2015
The Recovery Room was a loud and energetic bar and restaurant with a regular crowd at night. It had a pool league and trivia night each week. In October, Mile 17, a new sports bar and restaurant, renovated the space and reopened there.
Neely's Barbecue Parlor
1125 First Ave., between 61st and 62nd streets
Closed October 2015
Owned by Food Network stars Pat and Gina Neely, this eatery that was meant to resemble a southern home with barbecue favorites. The restaurant opened in 2011, but failed to get attention and good reviews from critics, according to Eater.
Di Lorenzo Shoe Repair
323 E. 85th St., between First and Second avenues
Closed November 2015
After 50 years in the business, and 35 years at this location, shoemaker Boneventura Di Lorenzo, 81, decided to close up shop, pointing to fewer repairs and his need for retirement.
James Shoe Repair
1214 Lexington Ave. at East 82nd Street
Closed Dec. 12, 2015
James Fucile, 83, has also decided to retire from his business, which operated at the same location since 1955, according to the Washington Post. Fucile said he is moving to Las Vegas.
