Warning: you can't actually go to any of these places unless you have a time machine.
Why? Because they've been driven away by corporate chains and high rents.
And that's upsetting, because these were some of the most amazing New York City bars, restaurants, concert halls, and vintage shops that there ever were.
So go ahead, read this list, and enjoy swimming in the nostalgia of the past, before Chase Bank and 7-Eleven take over more of NYC's soulful gems.
And then, if you want to feel a lil' less depressed, you could, you know, try these activities to reminisce about the good ol' days in New York City.
Or, you can read our first nostalgic piece on this topic right here.
1. Café Edison
meredith_nyc Cafe Edison #cafeedison #favoritediner #closed #34yearsinbusiness #broadway #cafe #edison #localsonly #diner #timessquare #taxi #mmphoto365
It's a grievous disappointment to lose this downscale dining spot for those who loved satiating themselves with borscht and pastrami in and around Broadway after work.
Not to mention it was a typical celebrity sighting spot and popular haunt of hundreds of producers, stage managers, actors, ticket-takers and musicians.
[anad]
This restaurant ran for 34 wonderful years in its ornate former ballroom rented from the Edison Hotel before they were asked to vacate the premises by the hotel's owner.
2. Love Saves the Day
Via Fanboy.com
Love Saves the Day was much more than just a vintage store. It was where Madonna bought a pair of studded boots in "Desperately Seeking Susan," and was the backdrop for many other films.
Let's face it. Love Saves the Day just emanated the vibe of the East Village for the entirety of its 42-year existence. It was hippie heaven, an oasis of the past, until the East Village morphed into a fancier and more expensive neighborhood.
"Customers are so distraught it makes it harder to close," said the store's 62-year-old owner Richard Herson in 2008 when he found out he'd have to vacate.
Love Saves the Day wasn't just a store. It was a way to put your hands on history. They carried knickknacks, collectible toys, and jolts to the past.
3. D'Aiuto Bakery
This bakery ran its business for 80 years, during which time it was a frontrunner for Cheesecake Champion of the World with their delicious "Baby Watson" pastry.
And we're not afraid to say it. Their cheesecake was better than Junior's. The sign outside this bakery that read "best cheesecake on earth" did not lie.
4. Joe Jr's
It wasn't fancy, it didn't adorn itself with frills, and it didn't charge an arm and a leg for a meal.
Joe Jr's didn't worry about matching. Their brown seats didn't match their purple backs, their wallpaper was perpetually peeling, and the floor was always dirty.
But that was a huge part of its charm. What was special about Joe Jr's was the camaraderie between the customers, cook, and cashier. The windows faced Sixth Avenue which rendered it perfect for people watching.
Plus, this restaurant had some of the best breakfasts, bialys and burgers in any of the five boroughs.
5. Roseland Ballroom
renematarocks #FBF #Rocking a #Soldout #RoselandBallroom opening for @cypresshill in the #NYC #Flashbackfriday
Sadly, the Roseland went under just before its 100th birthday.
What stars got their start at Roseland? Oh, just the likes of Beyoncé, Metallica, Nirvana, and Madonna. No big deal or anything. (Yes, we're being sarcastic. It's a very big deal.)
6. Rose's Turn (55 Grove Street)
Via Rosesturn.com
What's more quintessential NYC than the manifestation of an entire bar based on inspiration from a song?
Well, nothing. This amazing piano bar was innovated by a song from Gypsy. There wasn't anywhere in NYC more wonderful to lose yourself in music and bliss than in Rose's Turn.
What do we miss most about this place? Well, that'd have to be the live music, friendly staff, delicious drinks and festive ambiance.
7. Bleecker Bob's Records
jamesandkarla Bleecker Bob's Records in Greenwich Village was in business from 1966-2012. It was forced to close after it's rent was doubled from $10,000 a month to $20,000 a month. From our book "New York Nights".
During the days when vinyl ruled the musical world, Bleecker Bob's Records was everything. It wasn't hard to lose an entire afternoon perusing the cover art, records, and musical samplings in Bleecker Bob's Records.
And now that there's no longer a physical record store, there isn't anywhere besides the internet for music lovers to convene and bond over their obsession for certain songs.
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When the internet dominated the practice of sharing music, it took down the physical space of sharing music with it.
8. CBGB
cbgb_ramones #ramones #joeyramone #johnnyramone #markyramone #deedeeramone #ramonesfans #ramonesmania #ramonesforever #cbgb #punk #cbgb_omfug #cbgb_ramones
CBGB had an enormous impact on the global musical community. A lot of the bands who got their shot at this club went on to revolutionize the rock and roll of the 70s.
Everyone who made it big at this club did so because they were doing something they believed in and were honest about who they were. And they were backed by this incredible community.
,9. Electric Circus
Speaking of gargantuan impacts on music lovers globally, let's discuss Electric Circus. Electric Circus used to be an essential spot for music lovers to assemble and jam.
It gained its reputation for incredible music and, okay yeah, drug overdoses, but it was the starting ground that propelled bands like The Velvet Underground, Sly and the Family Stone, Dr. John, The Allman Brothers, and Deep Purple to light streaked fame.
[anad]
And yeah, now this one-of-a-kind gem became a Chipotle and that Chipotle looks just like every other Chipotle.
10. Smith's Bar
clint.smith.737 Club Yuh Northeast Regional HQ. I really do enjoy this place. #nyc #smithsbar #bestcheapsteakinnyc
The recent disappearance of this eclectic, live music, dingy dive bar sends a storm cloud through our hearts.
If you ever found yourself sad, you could high tail it to Smith's Bar and bask in the mournful melodies of blues music all around. Misery loves company, and drinking to the blues jams in Smith's Bar reminded us all that we're not alone.
Sure, the food was only average and the drinks slightly above average, but Smith's Bar's main draw was its ambiance. So let's raise a glass to remember this very, very special dive bar.
Update: Back in February of this year, Smith's Bar was thankfully reopened, after being closed for almost 6 months. You can read the full story here.
11. The Famous Ray's Pizza (Roio's)
Via Breakfast in Toronto
Okay, okay, sure, it did re-open a few years ago under a new name (Roio's) for legal reasons, but it's not as good. We're just biased toward the original Famous Ray's Pizza which devastatingly shut down a few years ago.
We're devastated about it because this place reeked history. And because the pizza was huge, thin, cheesy and covered with grease.
And it didn't cost our entire paychecks.
12. Howard Johnson
Via Tumblr
This Times Square diner was an essential window to the grit and grime of NYC.
It was a landmark of Times Square and stood as a representation of the rough and tumble Times Square of yore.
With its low prices and abundant seating, there was nothing like it for years in Times Square.
It was built in 1955 and was sold in 2005 for more than $100 million. Now it's an American Eagle.
13. Scruffy Duffy's
Via ThousandBars
This place was incredibly important to many as an after hours chill spot, and even a spot to fall in love.
The buffalo wings were spicy, the crowd would rage, and the music would blast. At Scruffy Duffy's were no fewer than thirteen television screens which broadcast a multitude of sporting events on any given night. There were strobe and laser lights, moose heads, and traffic signs.
And when the bartender would pick up a mic to announce the score of a game or competition, the crowd would just lose it.
14. Beefsteak Charlie's
Beefsteak Charlie's is the ancestor of Applebee's, TGIFridays, and other chain bar-and-grill restaurants all over the planet. It grew to over 60 locations in the early 1980s, but each location still emanated the joint's history.
Founder Charles Chessar opened the restaurant in 1910, and his restaurant's specialty was its steak sandwich. It was most often frequented by horse racing and sports enthusiasts. And we miss it a lot.
15. 9th Street Bakery
This wonderful establishment was satiating customers with their delicious chocolate babkas for 87 years before their rent spiked 38%.
So the Kucherenko family, longtime bakery owners, were forced to vacate the marvelous premises. And we all lost the chocolate babkas and seven-layer cakes.
[anad2]
Max and Lena Wolkirmerski started their business in 1913 with a pushcart on Orchard Street and eventually made their way to 350 9th street where their bakery stood for 87 years.
16. Big Nick's Burgers and Pizza
Via Diners.org
"Big" Nick Imiriades slung pizza in this UWS joint for 51 years before skyrocketing rents forced him out.
And Big Nick's wasn't just a spot to get delicious pizza. It was a cultural landmark. It was an institution, and almost everyone who spent any time on the Upper West Side in the 90s will have some sort of anecdote about the diner pizzeria combo, the gargantuan size of the menu, or their interaction with Big Nick.
It wasn't just a diner because the pizza was amazing, and iconic. And there was no where else in the city to enjoy an omelet and fried pickles and a large pizza for delivery at 3 in the morning.
Check out 19 Places New Yorkers Miss Like Crazy Now That They're Gone.