A Plan to Expand the Union Square Business Improvement District

Toy store chain Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy protection last September, and it has been downhill ever since. Today, the company informed 33,000 employees it would be selling or closing all of its 700 U.S. stores, according to published reports. In addition, Toys “R” Us said today it would close its 75 remaining stores in the U.K., CNN reported, after failing to find a buyer to save it from insolvency administration, which is similar to bankruptcy. (It already closed 25 stores in Britain.) Stores in New York State include a Babies “R” Us at 24-30 Union Square East and a Babies “R” Us at 139-19 20th Avenue in College Point, Queens.

A new Panera express shop has opened at 110 University, the first retail shop to open in the pedestal of that high-rise apartment building since it was completed three years ago. The format is entirely new, will be 40% smaller than the average Panera café at 2,000 square feet and will be designed toward to go-customers with dedicated shelves for rapid pickup, a digital menu, tracking screen technology with detailed order statuses, and very limited seating.

It’s coming this fall, as part of a revamp once the Q train is redirected onto the new 2nd Ave. line.

34 Union Square East will become a 12-story residential building. Designed by INPUT for MSH Equities LLC, the 124-foot-tall structure will yield 29 condominium units with an average scope of 1,013 square feet. The project will also include 1,555 square feet of ground floor retail.

First it was the mysterious India Pavillion, which survived for many years even though no one ever ate there. Then it was Mauricio for a couple of years. Now Da Andrea is thriving in the spot on West 13th formerly occupied by those two long gone establishments. People sure seem to like it.

It turns out that the ground floor of the glamorous 15 Union Square West will contain not only a bank but also a Skechers shoe store. Just what we needed around here.