Monday, August 24, 2026

Last call for Chopt on Astor Place

Chopt is closing its Astor Place outpost after more than 10 years in business. (Thanks to EVG reader Seth for the tip!)
Friday (Aug. 28) is the last day for the fast-casual salad chain at 51 Astor Place — aka the IBM Watson Building/the Death Star — on the Fourth Avenue side at Ninth Street. 

Chopt opened here in February 2016. 

Sweegreen on Astor Place shuttered last summer. No one wants salad around here anymore? 

Meanwhile, the adjacent storefront that housed Bluestone Lane Coffee (RIP Feb. 2025) remains vacant...
at

12 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 6:51 AM

    I have to wonder why anyone in their right mind would bother opening a retail establishment in these places. Retail, as we knew it 20 years ago, is essentially dead. The rents are stratospheric, the business concepts are redundant, and the economic demographics just don't support them.

    The vacancy rate in NYC has got to be 25% at a minimum. The East Village is literally choking on empty retail spaces - both newly developed and older existing spaces. Go figure....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 11:32 AM

      No way that vacancy rate in NYC would ever be even close to 25%.
      And all those food chains are doing very well on their bottom line.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 26, 2026 at 4:03 PM

      You don't think its 25 percent? Go walk around

      Delete
    3. AnonymousAugust 27, 2026 at 6:45 PM

      No way it’s 25, it’s maybe 5% maybe

      Delete
  2. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 8:46 AM

    Any recommendations for good take-out salad places in EV?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 11:33 AM

      In EV or in THE EV?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM

      The detox salad at East Village Organics is good and only about 6$

      Delete
  3. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 10:24 AM

    @8;46. Good question. There is a Sweetgreen at Bowery and Third but their quality has gone way down along with the portion size. Tired of chains which are apparently the only businesses that can afford the rent these days. Bring back the mom and pops! Rental caps for small business rents. Down with predatory capitalism! Quick take out lunches should not cost nearly $20 or more.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 11:55 AM

    There needs to be a NYC vacancy tax on commercial storefronts like the bluestone coffee space. Someone would pay some amount to open a business there, even if it’s not what the bank would like. If the lender/landlord would rather it sit vacant until someone agrees to some fantasy amount - they should pay a monthly fee to the city for taking up the space. This is supposed to be capitalism, not welfare for banks. Let the market find the price

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 24, 2026 at 5:23 PM

    It's a bummer when locating a place which offers salad for a to go meal becomes obsolete. This is Manhattan in NYC, not Manhattan in Kansas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Patapsco JonesAugust 25, 2026 at 12:01 PM

    Nobody wants to PAY this much for Salad. The difference from what you can easily make at home isn't worth the mark up.

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.