Gothamist77%
Goodbye classic diners, hello booze on a boat: NYC businesses opening and closing 53%
By Hannah Frishberg0%
6/23/2026, 4:00:23 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 23 faulty reasoning types, including Attempt to Sell a Product or Service, Biased Writer Voice, and Self-Serving Bias, with Appeal to Emotion as the most egregious example at 24.7% saturation with 235 hits. Analysis detected 1,895 faulty-reasoning hits from 951 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 51.6% and a BS Rank of 53% (10,428 of 21,886 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 52.40% of the article peer group.
New York City’s streetscape shifts as time marches on relentlessly.
Businesses open and close, bidding this town hello and goodbye.
One particularly lauded eatery is currently in limbo: Agi’s Counter at 818 Franklin Ave. in Crown Heights will close imminently.
The restaurant ceased dinner service on June 14 but will continue serving lunch until July 5.
“Between now and then, we'll cook some old favorites,” wrote Jeremy Salamon on the Eastern European-inspired cafe’s website.
“The tuna melts, the cheesecake, the deviled eggs, the borscht.
All the things that somehow became bigger than the little room they came from.”
Despite the impending closure, Salamon maintains hope that he can find Agi’s a new home in the future.
Here are some other entities that entered and left New York in recent weeks:
Openings
Fireboat at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6
A new nautical drinking opportunity has docked in Dumbo.
From the same team behind Hudson River oyster bar Grand Banks comes Fireboat, a decommissioned 1961 FDNY fireboat restored and transformed into a floating watering hole.
The vessel – acquired by its new owners at a 2015 city auction – is open seasonally from April through October and offers frozen drinks poured from the ships original fire cannons and hose connectors, which have been converted into taps.
It offers a wonderful view of the water and only a little wake.
The New York Historical Society’s Tang Wing for American Democracy, 170 Central Park West
The New York Historical Society has a new, 71,000-square-foot wing.
The Tang Wing for American Democracy officially opened on June 18 and features an exhibition hall of American art, a shoe museum documenting three centuries of footwear, a state-of-the-art conservation facility, and on-site storage for millions of manuscripts, photographs, maps and more.
Game of 1000 Boxes, 302 Bowery, Lower East Side
A new live game show experience called Game of 1000 Boxes has opened off East Houston St.
The venue offers private citizens the opportunity to pit themselves against friends and strangers in setups reminiscent of “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.”
The one-hour “show,” which is led by a live host, is equipped with a 40-foot LED wall and a variety of trivia and luck-based games to play.
Forever Brewing, 574 President St., Gowanus
Fermenting fans, rejoice.
Forever Brewing & Homebrew Supply — which was launched by two Brooklyn dads back in 2024 — has been selling beer and beer-making implements from its new brick-and-mortar location, which opened late last month.
The space has a full-scale brewery and taproom as well as high-quality ingredients and expert guidance for homebrewing your own beer, mead, cider, wine and kombucha.
The Museum Bar + Gift Shop, 1329 Willoughby Ave., Bushwick
Bushwick just got a high-concept new cocktail spot inspired by “natural and unnatural history,” as the bar states in its Instagram bio.
Think dinosaur skull decor and complex cocktails presented with an academic air.
The heady entity’s new permanent location opened last week in a demurely decorated industrial space two blocks from the Jefferson Street L train stop.
Previously the Museum existed as a roving pop-up, or “special exhibit” in its own terminology.
Closings
John's Coffee Donut Shop, 481 Myrtle Ave., Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill has lost an over 40-year-old staple: John’s Coffee Donut Shop, or John’s Gyro Souvlaki, as the faded awning long advertised in larger letters than the actual name.
The sudden closure appears to be due to a failed inspection by the City Health Department.
On the bright side, though, John’s former staffers have been hired by Neno’s Gourmet Mexican just a block down Myrtle, which will also now offer John’s former breakfast menu.
Kiki’s, 130 Division St., Dimes Square
Photos of an orange “SEIZED” sign in the window of this Dimes Square favorite began circulating on social media last week, much to the chagrin and confusion of fans and followers of the trendy Greek spot – especially after a sign reading “Kiki’s open across the street” appeared in the adjacent window.
Both are true: The main location has been forced to at least temporarily shutter as a result of unpaid taxes, but it’s business as usual at the nearby secondary location.
The Meatball Shop, 798 Ninth Ave., Hell’s Kitchen
The former local chain is officially no more.
“After many great years, The Meatball Shop has closed its doors,” reads the Meatball Shop’s website.
“We’re deeply grateful to our guests and team for the memories we shared.”
The eatery opened on the Lower East Side back in 2010 and eventually grew to have seven locations, but all but the Hell’s Kitchen branch had closed by the end of 2023, and now that one is also gone.
Hunter's Steak & Ale House, 9404 Fourth Ave., Bay Ridge
This classic Bay Ridge steakhouse has closed up shop after 30 years.
The old-school white tablecloth joint was a local favorite for family celebrations, and also had a more casual bar area up front.
“An Irish brogue is often overheard at the long oak bar where neighbors gather for a low-key pint,” reads the now shuttered restaurant’s website, where the homepage is now dedicated to a thank you message to its customers.
Cozy Soup ‘n’ Burger, 739 Broadway
This 54-year-old Astor Place landmark has bid New York City adieu.
“Rising costs and declining business have made it impossible for us to continue, but we are deeply grateful for the love and support this community has shown us over the years,” the classic diner announced on Instagram last month, adding “This isn’t just the closing of a diner — it’s the end of an era.”
It officially closed on Sunday, June 21.
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