Monday, November 7, 2022
Wegmans watch on Astor Place
Monday, August 22, 2022
Wegmans is hiring on Astor Place
Our first Wegmans store in Manhattan, the supermarket will be located at the corner of Astor Place and Lafayette Street.The store will have all the traditional departments: Bakery, Produce, Pizza, Deli, Meat/Seafood, Sushi and more for customers to enjoy while experiencing the great Wegmans service they know and love.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Astor Place Wegmans watch, automatic sliding doors edition
Monday, November 29, 2021
Happy holidays from Wegmans
Monday, August 30, 2021
Astor Place Wegmans watch, work-permit edition
- Looks like the subway entrance is safe for now (the area is covered in the No Work in Area portion of the plan). Guess it's covered by landmarks protection.
- The first step in the process is demolition. Almost everything is being removed, including escalator railings, storefront window displays, bathrooms, flooring and wall coverings.
- Given that ceiling tiles and the 1990s furnishings are being removed, it seems like the goal is to restore the space to its previous grandeur.
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Wegmans makes it OFFICIAL, will take over the former Kmart space on Astor Place
Start spreading the news: We’re coming to Manhattan in 2023! #WegmansManhattan
— Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) July 29, 2021
Learn more: https://t.co/vcOcIRi9d3 pic.twitter.com/zcZHErxqW2
The Manhattan Wegmans, scheduled to open in the second half of 2023, will be located at Vornado's 770 Broadway, the former site of the Astor Place Kmart.Wegmans opened its first NYC store in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in October of 2019"We are so excited to bring Wegmans to Manhattan. This is something we've been dreaming about and working toward for a long time," said Colleen Wegman, president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets. "The community's response to the opening of our Brooklyn store had an excitement and energy that you can only experience in New York City. You can feel that energy returning to the city, and we are thrilled to be a part of it."
Friday, July 16, 2021
Breaking: Grocery store said to be replacing the Kmart on Astor Place; Wegmans mania ahead?
The transaction was a joint negotiation among Transformco, Vornado and the new tenant, sources said. The regional grocer that will be taking over the NoHo location has not been disclosed.However, those sources said the new tenant will be a "first-class regional grocer."
There were a lot of feelings about Kmart closing
I hated this place but damn if it wasn’t there exactly when you needed it most. https://t.co/NowUTx0nbz
— Hannah Vanbiber (she/her) (@HannahVanbiber) July 14, 2021
The last time I was in here (ca. 2000), I had just left Other Music when I stepped in a pile of dog shit so massive it rendered my shoes unsalvageable. I left my shoes sitting in the pile, walked barefoot across Astor Place, into this K-Mart & bought a pair of fake Chucks for $15 https://t.co/qufptWM0dI
— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) July 14, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart, you were literally the worst. https://t.co/6GPcz3oW6M
— Jason Selvig (@jasonselvig) July 13, 2021
I once held the door open for Chloë Sevigny here. A part of my history. https://t.co/veASuznu20
— Angel Lopez (@Ariessoul329) July 13, 2021
This plus the death of the Kmart Penn station for the late aughts FIT girlies … end me https://t.co/l29yY3sNPH
— carina hsieh (@carinahsieh) July 13, 2021
rip to this alternate dimension of a place that inexplicably didn’t carry marshmallows https://t.co/iLKASo4kXh
— aloe fullee (@alliefulls) July 13, 2021
On hot summer days, I would stroll through this K-Mart while waiting for friends, who were running late—to not have to wait in the NYC heat/humidity. Rest In Peace to iconic relic. https://t.co/AqiddjKt1K
— BG (@TheBGates) July 13, 2021
I used to lowkey walk through here to kill time when I went to school in the area from 4th - 8th grade
— Toxic Crew (@ToxicCrewNY) July 13, 2021
RIP TO A FUCKING LEGEND https://t.co/x16XSymSIQ
When this moved into the East Village, it felt like end-times. https://t.co/zYO8UQLB6q
— Charles McNulty (@CharlesMcNulty) July 13, 2021
Don’t usually have sympathy for large chains but am deffo a bit emotional as this is where I repeatedly tried on items from the Adam Levine clothing line and cried about gender in the dressing rooms. I mean truly, THIS is where most of my gender CRISIS happened. https://t.co/YLwWg4sQKl
— Futaba Shioda (@FutabaShioda) July 12, 2021
roaming the aisles of this kmart in 2012 with my girlies texting our rolodexes “whats the address of that st mark’s deli that doesn’t card againnnn (:” https://t.co/ERMlEflDvV
— Vassileia Kazee (@vassileiafoxy) July 12, 2021
RIP I once went in here deeply drunk after doing $2 shots at The Continental thinking it would be the easiest place to find a public bathroom, couldn’t find it until I had substantially pee’d in my pants, and then bought new jeans and changed into them and threw my old ones away. https://t.co/l5omUaoYfr
— Jesse, Alternatively (@shartlito) July 12, 2021
Fun fact, this location was my FIRST job. I am in shock right now! https://t.co/6cEPy91dF0
— who? (@yeahokgurl) July 12, 2021
Wait, I need to return the Martha Stewart sheets I got there in the '90s! https://t.co/IBJl0acTvJ
— Robert David Sullivan (@RobertDSullivan) July 12, 2021
I once had a date and decided to wear a NuBra but couldn’t figure out how to stick it on and started sweating on the 6 train and one of the boobs migrated down to my rib. The Astor Place Kmart bathroom is where I finally tore the thing off and stuffed it into my purse. RIP. https://t.co/Wgd1ewrXW0
— Joyce Wu 吳 元 欣 (@oneandonlyjoyce) July 12, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart. You outfitted generations of freshman NYU students in the span of a week and then did seemingly no business the rest of the year. https://t.co/5reqxCNqgT
— Kirby Pate (@KPateNews) July 12, 2021
As a real piece of shit 18 year old, I used to steal 10 packs of Double A batteries from here for my Walkman that I had spray painted white and written "iPod" on in magic marker. https://t.co/Jc2nR6IwXo
— Easy Miyake (@popopopolio) July 12, 2021
Through thick and thin my faith in New York was always underpinned philosophically by the existence of the Astor Place KMart. This one hurts https://t.co/qw9uJNbgi9
— kelly farber (@kelfarbs) July 12, 2021
RIP to this incredible and bizarre place. Saved me so many times. She held out and gave NYC her all❣️ https://t.co/kwLtz9GtZ5
— Marlene Lenthang (@marlenelenthang) July 14, 2021
where my friends and i killed time between school and driver's ed 😢 https://t.co/G5jOTLeYaW
— Hannah Bloch-Wehba (@HBWHBWHBW) July 12, 2021
seeing fran lebowitz doing irritated pre-storm shopping at the astor k mart before hurricane sandy remains my favorite celeb sighting, RIP to this big box legend https://t.co/ajNnWHGPbI
— Virginia K. Smith (@vksmith) July 12, 2021
We're losing all the local businesses that made New York great. If this becomes a bookstore I'll cry. https://t.co/eBVg8KdDPh
— Matt Nedostup (@nedostup) July 12, 2021
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Speculation watch: What's next for the Kmart space on Astor Place?
Facebook is in no rush to expand its footprint. Only a quarter of its New York City offices currently have workers in them, and the tech company does not have plans to rent the building's lower floors that housed Kmart, a Facebook spokeswoman said. Vornado declined to comment about the future of its Astor Place site.
Monday, July 12, 2021
Attention Kmart shoppers: The Astor Place location is now closed after 25 years in business
Per The Real Deal:
Vornado ... recently paid roughly $46 million to Kmart – whose department store occupies about 30,000 square feet on the ground, mezzanine and lower-level of the building – in what appears to be a buyout of the retailer’s lease, according to city property records. Observers said it's unlikely that Vornado boss Steve Roth would take such a risk without a replacement tenant lined up, and speculated that Facebook could be looking to make a splash with a high-profile storefront, a la Microsoft's store on Fifth Avenue.
Despite its current open status, the location suffers from the company's misfortunes and corporate misguidances. Employees express frustration that deliveries to the store have slowed. They cite the absence of blankets, pillows, and towels within its once-popular home department. Employees notice that its once-steady foot traffic tends to come and go.
After years of missed payments and unpaid bills, Kmart's relationship with many of its longtime vendors has evaporated. It has led to empty shelves and unusual selections of off-brand merchandise. ... Kmart is no longer a profitable and dependable outlet for suppliers.
• Are Kmart's days numbered on Astor Place?
Monday, March 1, 2021
It's March!
Friday, December 4, 2020
Christmas is 3 weeks from today: Time to buy St. Patrick's Day gear at the Kmart on Astor Place!
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Good news if you're done with summer
EVG Fall Holiday Decoration Correspondent Goggla spotted Halloween items out at the Kmart on Astor Place... not to be outdone, the Rite Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street trotted out the Thanksgiving decor...
Look for the Christmas trees by Labor Day.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Change is coming to Kmart on Astor Place
An EVG reader shared this photo showing that a Coinstar coin-cashing machine has arrived in the basement level at the Astor Place Kmart.
Just in case you needed to unload some change.
There's also one over at the PayOMatic at 303 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Attorney.
And we'll lose the Coinstar machines — in 2023 — when the Food Emporium becomes a Target on Union Square. You know what that means!
[EVG comments screengrab]
Sunday, February 9, 2020
The Astor Place Kmart has your holidays covered!
If you're looking to knock off all your upcoming holiday shopping with one trip, then look no further than the Astor Place Kmart.
Aside from the expected Valentine's Day (this coming Friday!) gifts ...
Goggla reports that the St. Patrick's Day goods (no beer display!) ...
... and Easter (April 12) items are all ready...
We'll check back next month for the Thanksgiving display.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Holidays at Kmart; pint of beer Halloween costumes, plastic Bennington pines
We have a dispatch from Goggla from the Kmart on Astor Place. She points out the (going fast?) beer pint Halloween costumes.
Fine, but Halloween seems so July.
"If you're over Halloween already, they are stocked with Christmas trees."
These are 6-foot Bennington pines in the boxes...
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Is Facebook leaving Astor Place?
Facebook is reportedly in talks to lease space at the revamped Farley Building (the former James A. Farley Post Office) across from Madison Square Garden, according to Lois Weiss at the Post.
The company had also been said to be looking at Hudson Yards.
So why are we writing about this? To the Post!
It’s unclear what will happen to Facebook’s current NYC offices, including 758,000 square feet at 770 Broadway and 266,000 square feet at 225 Park Avenue. So.
Both Farley and 770 Broadway are owned by Vornado and its chairman Steve Roth, who has been wining and dining tech companies for years in an effort to lease them the top floors of the post office.
Roth, whose reps didn’t immediately return a request for comment, could cut Facebook a deal for Farley that also lets it off the hook for its current East Village lease, which expires in 2025.
Oh!
As you may recall, Kmart downsized its space at 770 Broadway, the landmarked building on Astor Place, in early 2018. There were reports in late 2017 and early 2018 that Vornado bought Kmart out of its lease on the second floor, which was revamped from low-price to high-tech for Facebook.
The smaller Kmart still has 82,000 square feet in building, including most of the property's ground-floor retail space as well as basement level.
Also, as you'll see in the top photo, Kmart recently unveiled a new logo on the building.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Kmart staying on Astor Place, minus the 2nd floor (for Facebook?)
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Attention Kmart drinkers...
Word from a tipster... if you were headed over to Kmart on Astor Place to stock up on various beers and tall boys of Bud Light Lime Straw-Ber-Ritas... Uh-Oh!
The refrigerator signage notes:
Attention Kmart Shoppers!
We are currently unable to sell alcohol while our license is being renewed.
We apologize for the inconvenience and will be to usual ASAP.
Thanks to Steven for the photos and headline!
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Here's more about Facebook's takeover of Kmart's 2nd floor at 770 Broadway
[EVG photo from January]
As you may know, Kmart recently vacated the second floor at 770 Broadway, the landmarked building on Astor Place.
The three-level store had recently condensed its wares to the main floor and lower level — reportedly to allow for Facebook to expand its presence (by 78,000 square feet) in the building.
The Commercial Observer has more on the deal, announced during landlord Vornado Realty Trust's fourth quarter earnings call yesterday.
Per the Observer:
The deal grows Facebook’s total footprint at the building to 513,000 square feet, Vornado Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steven Roth said on the earnings call.
The space was made available for Facebook after Vornado bought Kmart out of its lease on the floor, which Roth said had 18 years remaining at rents of $33.50 per square foot. Kmart still has 82,000 square feet at 770 Broadway.
Yes, but do they still have pajamas?
Previously on EV Grieve:
Kmart staying on Astor Place, minus the 2nd floor (for Facebook?)
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
The holidays live on at the Astor Place Kmart
Kmart on Astor Place may be in a state of flux, downsizing from three floors to two... but it looks as if they won't be giving up on offering early opportunities to prep for the holidays.
Goggla spotted this St. Patrick's Day (St. Partick's" per the sign) display, complete with red plastic cups, Corona, green bow ties and other things that you'll find lying on the street come March 18.