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Patch reports that Misha and Raj Punwani, a father-daughter team behind fourteen Playa Bowls franchises, are planning a “cozy and inviting” restaurant concept which will include lattes and coffee in addition to a brunch menu, fresh baked goods and gelato.
“We want it to be an oasis for everyone at all times of the day,” Misha Punwani told Patch.
The space, which is only about fifty feet from a Playa Bowls franchise the Punwanis opened in March 2022, is expected to open in the next six months. Baked By Melissa is between the two businesses, and the recently opened Panera is adjacent to Playa Bowls on the north side.
In the meantime, the Punwanis are busy building the same restaurant concept on the Upper East Side at 1477 Second Avenue (at 77th Street). According to Patch, the duo are combining the space formerly occupied by Zazzy’s Pizza, Nook Room and Innocent Yesterday (all of which closed this fall). The UES location is expected to open in January, but a name for the new cafe-bakery has not yet been announced.
The space that was formerly Aldo (and Coach prior to that) has been vacant for a few years, with the exception of a Variazoni store that briefly operated there. With the opening of the Punwanis new cafe-bakery concept, the block that had only one commercial business operating at the beginning of 2022 will be fully occupied once again.
Doesn’t sound like anything unique but it’ll be good to have something in that space. Nice that this block will be fully utilized soon. Now if we can just get the hobo who litters the block to go somewhere else…
I agree. How do we get rid of him?
Are you kidding? Having lived in the area for decades it sounds GREAT!!!!!!!! The previous stores located there were so depressing. I hope they do well. Now get us a great supermarket!!!!!!
there is already one that took the place of Duane Reed on W87