Live in New York long enough and the streets become a cemetery of bygone businesses.

Anonymous city storefronts act like unmarked graves for places where you once ate, drank and spent money. Something always came before, and with the way this market is looking, something will always come next. And while it sometimes it comes with better design, fresher ingredients and higher-quality liquor on offer, it basically always comes with higher prices. The only constant is change.

Gothamist is tracking the comings and goings of New York City commerce. Here are some of the best and brightest stores that have recently opened or shuffled off this mortal coil.

OPENINGS

Rain Delay Records, 1084 Bedford Ave., Bed-Stuy

Rain Delay Records opened in a quaint space in Brooklyn this March. The vibe within is clean and organized, with white walls and light wood shelves. Rain Delay both buys and sells records, with a focus on hip-hop, jazz, and world music. Cassettes, too. “Long live physical media!” declares the store's Discogs profile, where this physical shop sells online. If you can make it IRL, they’re open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Arthur, 132 Franklin St., Greenpoint

Arthur is located in the former site of the Parisian restaurant Fulgrances Laundromat, which lasted six years before closing in late 2025. The new bistro, which opened on April 10, has maintained the shuttered eatery’s French influence as well as its predecessor's green facade: The word “Laundromat” is still painted in white above the front door. Menu highlights include a garlic-heavy beef tartare, a butter-washed gin brioche martini, snail skewers, and tipsy oysters served with rosé and creme fraiche.

Candor, 664 Fulton St., Fort Greene

Brooklyn’s got a new candy shop. Cat Cirino, a 10-year resident of Fort Greene and former consultant, opened Candor late last month. Inside is an array of international sweet treats, nostalgic delights and gummies galore all in a high-design space that is, architecturally speaking, surely only appreciated by adult patrons.

Sama ’Za, 370 W. 51st St., Hell’s Kitchen

Sama’ Za is the spot for those who prefer their pizza with a heaping of nostalgia. This new sit-down Hell’s Kitchen pie joint successfully looks and feels like the site of a '90s birthday party. “Sama 'Za is reminiscent of your childhood Pizza Hut experience, complete with crystal lamps, red and white checkered tablecloths, and plastic red cups,” the eatery’s Resy profile proudly declares. There are house shots called “Slime!” and “Thin Mint” and pies include the V.C.R. (vodka sauce, cheese and “‘roni”). For dessert, enjoy either soft serve or a blondie.

Cocktail Omakase, 217 Eldridge St., Lower East Side

New York City’s love affair with omakase (Japanese for “I’ll leave it up to you,” meaning the chef decides what’s served) continues. This 12-seat eatery offers a curated, one-hour tasting of four beverages and four bites. Diners can pick if they want a high, low or no ABV experience, although no matter what they pick, at least a drink or two will be non-alcoholic. For those hankering to stay in the cozy, secluded-feeling space, an interior cocktail bar called Bar 7 awaits just beyond the coat rack, offering meal-sized portions of the bite-sized samples and a full bar.

CLOSINGS

Baresha, 180 Varick St., Hudson Square

To outsiders, Baresha may have seemed like any other old-school counter-serve pizzeria and deli. But as it was across the street from our office, it held a special place in the hearts and bellies of WNYC/Gothamist staffers. Baresha not only made notably good pizza and sandwiches, they were also just the kindest people: friendly neighborhood folks who fed this radio station through countless early mornings, elections, storms and more. When it became known they’d be closing on Saturday, March 28, the newsroom placed one last order for some delicious mourning. Baresha will be missed.

Mayfield, 688 Franklin Ave., Crown Heights

Crown Heights has changed immensely over the course of Mayfield’s 13-year existence, but throughout that time the contemporary American restaurant managed to remain reliably good spot for a quality dinner or weekend brunch until the end. The end ended up coming on Feb. 28, brought on as a result of pandemic-related financial issues. A fundraiser asked patrons to “Help Mayfield close without crushing debt.” “We’re heartbroken,” the owners said in an Instagram post, “but we’re also exhausted.”

Elmo, 156 Seventh Ave, Chelsea

Since 2001, Elmo has served as a space to eat and be merry for members of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, becoming a neighborhood landmark. But after a quarter-century, the building that housed Elmo and its underground lounge, Coby Club, was recently sold. “Our lease expires with that sale,” reads the top of the now-closed eatery’s website. “The new owners will soon bring a residential building to our neighborhood.”

Emphasis, 6822 Fourth Ave., Bay Ridge

For more than two decades, Emphasis Restaurant Cafe kept Bay Ridge fed on Greek diner classics all day and well into the night. Until, that is, when a letter posted in the window let patrons know that, “after 21 wonderful years” Emphasis would be closing up shop on Jan. 9. The reason to throw in the towel was, arguably, the most humane one possible: Owners Gus and Dino weren’t priced out, nor did they lose their lease — they were simply ready to retire.

Norma’s Corner Shoppe, 59-02 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood

For 14 years, Norma’s Corner Shoppe offered an inspired array of breakfast sandwiches and biscuits. Norma’s fans will now need to trek to the Hudson Valley to enjoy them, for while the eatery’s Wappinger Falls location remains open, the original Ridgewood shop closed on March 29. Norma’s was opened with the help of a Kickstarter back in 2012 by two single moms and trained pastry chefs who “emptied our bank accounts, and took a chance on this little corner” according to the Instagram goodbye post, which ends with a thank you to Ridgewood: “I never imagined I’d be able to raise two children in NYC as a single mother and give them the life I did without your support.”

The Country Mouse Boutique, 570 Forest Ave., Staten Island

The Country Mouse Boutique has been selling children’s clothing, toys and Communion dresses from its West Brighton storefront for 53 years. But after a half-century in business, it’s closing up shop on April 30, with all merchandise significantly discounted in the final days. Janine Detore, who has owned the shop since 2008 and makes many of the pieces herself, told SILive.com that rising taxes were the reason for the closure. “We have such a big, good clientele that I’m really going to miss it,” Detore told the outlet, adding that she’ll most miss “the people that supported me all these years."