Roosevelt Island Cards n' Gift Store Going Out Of Business - Closing June 30

A sign in the window of the Roosevelt Island Card n' Gift Shop announces that the store is closing and out of business as of June 30

As previously reported, the Card n' Gift Shop lease had expired and Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related offered the store smaller premises.

Apparently, a deal could not be reached.

UPDATE 4:40 PM - A reader know as Long-time RI Veteran observes:

Thanks once more to RIOC & David Kramer & Related, the heart of the Island's Main Street loses yet another service now -- no newspapers, no greeting cards, school supplies or sundries. I cannot believe that the folks in the original WIRE buildings will now have to go to Gristedes or Duane Reade to buy to get their daily papers.

Will M&D Deli or Wholesome Foods start selling newspapers?

That RIOC & David Kramer could not figure out even a smaller, temporary space in any of the other commercial spaces they cleaned out, and still cannot rent to offer or make a decent deal with our newsstand operators is shameful & embarrassing. Mr. Kramer complains about not being able to rent the empty spaces -- well, what is he & RIOC going to do next?

Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Update On Vacant Storefront Windows, Pop Up Art, Urgent Care Facility Opening, Newstand Status And Trellis Construction - Also Goodbye Nonno's, Hello New Pizza From Piccolo Trattoria

During last night's March 19 meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Real Estate Advisory Committee (full audio web cast here and here), RIOC Director Howard Polivy provided this update from Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related.



According to Hudson Related:

• The new vinyl in vacant windows should be installed by the end of the week and should add to the attractiveness of the corridor experience.
• The new art work in the old hardware store is getting installed this month and should also add to the attractiveness of the arcade area storefront windows. We are talking with RIVAA about changing the art work monthly, to keep it active and engaging as long as the installation runs.
• We are looking into potentially getting another pop up art installation in one of the other vacant spaces, something that a resident brought up at the last meeting. This is in very early stages.
• We should be done with our work at the Urgent Care space by the end of this month and turning over possession to the tenant who will be moving forward with the renovation work. We expect the Urgent Care to open this summer.
• We are working on a renewal with Island Newsstand. We will know if they are staying or leaving by the end of this month. They are working out business plans before getting back to us.
• Trellis is in the process of redesigning their bar area so they do not need to remove the structural wall they were previously proposing to remove. We are waiting to hear back from them when they will restart their work.

Also, as reported March 3, Nonno's Pizzeria was sold to long time employee Oscar and a partner. Yesterday the Nonno's Pizzeria sign was removed and up went

the sign for Piccolo  Trattoria.

I spoke with Oscar last night who promises a new menu in the next couple of weeks.

Good Luck to Oscar and Piccolo Trattoria.

Roosevelt Island Retail Update - New Ownership Coming For Nonno's Focacceria Says Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related

There will soon be a new owner of the Roosevelt Island Nonno's Focacceria.

I asked Hudson Related Main Street Retail Leaseholder representative Arriana Sacks Rosenberg:

I am told that Nonno's Focacceria is changing ownership. Alphonse is selling to one of the employees. The change in ownership is pending Hudson Related's approval and a lease extension.

Is that true?

Ms Rosenberg replied today:

Yes, Nonno’s is changing ownership, not to one of his employees. The ownership and assignment has been approved and we are finishing up the documents.

I followed up:

Is the new owner of Nonno's an experienced pizza store owner with NYC stores?

I was told the new owner has a store in Philadelphia but not NYC.

Can you tell us anything about the new owner?

Ms Rosenberg said:

They don’t own any stores in New York right now, but the new owner and his partner have experience in this market in New York.

Nonno's first opened on Roosevelt Island January 2, 2008. As reported at the time:

Image Of Nonno's Focacceria Grand Opening

I never in my life thought I would write these words but here goes.

I tried to get into a Roosevelt Island restaurant this afternoon for lunch but it was too crowded. Every seat was occupied and there was a long line at the counter for the opening of the much anticipated and long awaited Nonno's Focacceria at 455 Main Street (212-753-2300 or 2307).

I look forward to going back later today.

A great big WELCOME to Roosevelt Island for Nonno's!!

Regarding the Card & Gift Shop, Ms. Rosenberg noted:

As I mentioned in the meeting at RIOC, we are working on a deal with Island Newsstand for a new lease. Nothing has been finalized yet.

and whether M&D Deli has changed ownership, she added:

It has not changed yet, but we are working with the owners on this. With any assignment, there will be a major renovation of the store.

More information on Roosevelt Island retail from Ms. Rosenberg available at this previous post from the January 29 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting.

Latest Info On Roosevelt island Main Street Retail From Master Leaseholder Hudson Related - Trellis Renovation Delay, Possible Move Of Card Shop To Smaller Space, New Day Care Tenant, No More Summer Eleanor's Pier On Waterfront & More

 Image Of Trellis Diner Behind Construction

Here's the latest on Roosevelt Island Main Street retail store news.

Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related's representative Arianna Sacks Rosenberg briefed and answered questions from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors and members of the community during last night's RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting (audio web cast of meeting will be here).

The meeting began with RIOC Director Howard Polivy establishing the ground rules for the meeting and introducing Ms. Rosenberg.



Ms. Rosenberg reviewed progress made  to date including signing 9 new leases with these tenants:

• Wholesome Factory,
• New York Public Library,
• Island Wines,
• Subway Sandwiches,
• Main Street Sweets,
• Urgent Care Medical Center,
• the Trellis and Gallery RIVAA renewals and

confirmed the signing of a new lease with a Day Care Center at 568 Main Street.

Ms. Rosenberg said they are talking with other retailers including restaurants and "non profit types" for the 6 existing vacant spaces.

Among the other issues discussed were:

• Is the rent sought by Hudson Related too high for potential Roosevelt Island tenants? Ms Rosenberg said no.
• Ugly empty storefront windows - asked Hudson Related to make windows more attractive with signage or temporary installations
• Card and Gift Shop lease expired and being offered smaller space at 615 Main Street (former Boy Scout Storage Space) and 507 Main Street (former Chiropractor's office)
• Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Main Street Retail Committee input.

• Ugly Trellis plywood construction shed,
• Concern that Hudson Related leasing program is waiting for completion of Cornell Campus,
• Bleak view down Main Street Arcade,
• Deterioration Of Main Street Arcade, new paint is chipping,
• Benches at Roosevelt Landings should be turned around facing street instead of facing building,
• Fresh new sidewalks for Northtown, remove the Z Bricks,
• Trellis renovation construction problems caused by discovery of unknown structural wall,
• Perception by some that Hudson Related Main Street retail improvements were being done for the benefit of their Southtown buildings

• Neither H-R, Trellis or Island House owner knew about the structural wall before demolition began and
• New Day Care tenant at 546 Main Street is a woman who has operated day care facility in Roosevelt Island apartment but may not be currently doing so.

We also learned the unfortunate news that Hudson Related is not bringing back the Eleanor's Pier waterfront restaurant this summer.



I hope RIOC has some plans for bringing another restaurant or food service of some kind to the Pier this summer.

Where Can You Find Passover Cards On Roosevelt Island? Not At The Duane Reade Or Gristedes.

Ever try buying Passover and Easter Cards at any Roosevelt Island retailer? I did yesterday. First I went to Duane Reade. They had Easter Cards and left over St. Patricks Day cards still on the shelf

Duane Reade Greeting Card Rack

but no Passover Cards. Then I tried Gristedes which also had a selection of Easter Cards

Gristedes Greeting Card Rack

but none for Passover. I was about to give up on my quest for a Roosevelt Island Passsover Card when I entered the Candy Store to buy a newspaper and there it was. A store on Roosevelt Island that had at least some Passover Cards.

Roosevelt Island Candy Store Greeting Card Rack

Thank you to the Candy Store.