Walker Malloy has listed 267 Amsterdam Avenue for lease; thanks to ‘Upper West Sider’ for notifying us. The space, located between 72nd and 73rd Streets, has been occupied by Utopia Restaurant for over 30 years.
Utopia has long been known for its extremely fast and friendly service. Coffee and water refills have always been lighting fast, and they’ve sometimes even given me a newspaper to read while dining in for breakfast.
The landlord is asking $40,000 per month. Here’s the flyer.
We spoke to the owner of Utopia who told us he was surprised to see the space on the market, as he wasn’t given any warning about it (and also has eight years left on his lease). He also told us he recently received a letter from the landlord’s attorney. When the pandemic hit, like many business owners, he stopped paying rent. But he tells us he’s been good friends with the landlord for a long time, and as he’s also protected from eviction until October 1st, he’s hoping they can work something out.
Friend stopped in at Utopia and asked and they said this wasn’t true.
Please let this not be true. The Cottage, La Caridad, and now Utopia? I can’t take it!
$40,000 a month? Who can afford that except a bank? No wonder it’s $15 for a sandwich.
Well if anything ever opens up there again i would tend not to patronize them. Just me
COVID-19 special.. 2 pieces of rye bread, a squirt of mustard and a $20 bill. Costs $40 with the rent
What ARE these landlords thinking? There were already so many empty spaces on the UWS even before the pandemic. Who do they think they are going to get to rent now? They need to give their current, loyal customers a huge break and beg them to stay, otherwise these storefronts are going to stay vacant for years and the neighborhood would go downhill.
Landlords don’t care – rent or tax write-off, they get their money either way.
No such thing as tax write off if you don’t have a tenant. Landlord’s income goes down so they pay less income tax – same as if you quit your job and you would pay less income tax since your income is less.
Real estate taxes and other city and state charges are the same whether the storefront is empty or full.
Please stop spreading this “tax write off” nonsense.