The Upper West Side's restaurant scene continues to evolve, what with Ditch Plains opening on West 82nd Street and the Columbus Grill being reincarnated as the Columbus Tavern, but one stalwart has gone without fanfare. Niko's Mediterranean Grill, on the corner of Broadway and West 76th, was "forced to sell" its lease after 50 years in the spot.
In a letter posted on the door, owners explained it was a "difficult and painful" decision and implored its residents to continue patronizing their other restaurant, Big Nick's Pizza & Burger Joint, just up the street. Jeremiah's Vanishing New York also recounted this anecdote from a reader observing the closed space:
"When I was looking through the windows an old woman came up and asked if I lived on the block. I told her I did years ago and was surprised that this place was closed. She said she was too. Then I jokingly said, 'Well, you can look forward to another Starbucks on the block.' She spat out, 'They put a fucking Starbucks in there and I'll fucking firebomb the place!'"
