Do we all have mixed feelings about changes in the neighborhood?

Coming into 40 days until graduation, I have started to really think about my time at Barnard and Columbia. This includes a lot of normal things like job anxiety, fearing I did not meet enough people or hang out with my friends enough, and a variety of other common senior issues I imagine the class of 2025 is all simultaneously concerned about. Among those, I am beginning to envision the campus without me there; not so much like, oh, I had a big impact on campus, but more so like, Man, what are these people going to be up to?’ This is all to say that I fear I am missing out on the new Morningside Heights experience after I’ve already finished my college experience.

Within the last year, so many formerly beloved businesses have shuttered their doors and closed forever. Key staples of my past four years: Malaysia Grill, Absolute Bagels, Silver Moon Bakery, Mel’s Burger Bar, and the Verizon store (if you’re into that). There are a lot of other places that did not impact me but have probably impacted other people. I often think about the lemongrass chicken at Malaysia Grill and would give about anything to have it again. Nevertheless, this article is not actually about the memorial of old spots more than it is about the creation of new spots on Broadway that I really could have used in the last four years. 

First, Raising Canes, which is opening next to Koronets, would have been so nice, especially considering that in freshman year, we didn’t have a single one in the state of New York. Coming from California, I just thought about eating Canes all the time, and they aren’t even that good, but you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. I would never have imagined that they would be opening one right next to the school right after I graduate! 

Also, a Tesomini is opening a bit further down the street, which would have been so nice because H Mart is actually so expensive. If you have never been, it is just like a normal TesoLife, where there are a bunch of Asian goods and snacks, but on a smaller scale. Either way, it would have saved me a lot of money, but maybe it would not have been too good for my health.

Some institutions have just opened that I am now enjoying, but I would have liked to be able to enjoy them longer. I love the HeyTea past Cathedral Parkway—I go there far more than I should. I also don’t mind the Upside Pizza, which is not too bad despite getting hit on there the other day. Qahwah House has also been the scene of some of my paper writing, and their coffee is good, though their refreshers are a bit sugary. Big fan of the Sauerkraut Fish place that just opened up three weeks ago also, but it may not be for everyone.

Anyway, this is all to say that all the institutions I like should stay, and all the ones I don’t should move out and be replaced with institutions I like. I will, of course, recognize that gentrification is not good! And we should be attempting to preserve neighborhood small businesses! That being said, they should replace the Panda Express with something that people actually would go to (maybe bring Absolute Bagels back). 

Campus via Bwog Archives