The banner’s been up for a week or two now announcing the incoming Turco II – the “sequel” to the original Turco at 43^rd & 9^th:

The new spot is taking over from a Verizon store that closed down some time ago, just two and a half blocks up between 45^th & 46^th.

It looks roughly the same size as the original:

At first, the banner just read “Turco”, possibly signaling they were moving there. Last week they cleared any confusion up by slapping a “II” on it:

There’s no such thing as too many gyros.

Brooklyn Fare is coming to W 39^th St. Today, crews were setting up and stocking the inside, gearing up for their opening soon:

The restaurant/​supermarket hybrid will be the first Brooklyn Fare in Manhattan, with a $225 multi-​course dinner, and “a lot more seafood” that the original. It won’t be cheap. The Wall Street Journal ran an article about the incoming restaurant back in March of 2012, which more or less explains what you can expect.

A quick update on the progress of the incoming Pie Face to 8^th Ave (previously). Workers were in the store today, setting up the drywall:

The new store is coming along quickly:

It doesn’t look like they’re wasting any time on the new fitout. Won’t be long now before we get another try at the prize wheel!

Blue Dog opened a new store on W 50^th St this week, between 8^th & 9^th Ave, and to celebrate are giving out free coffees, as discovered by Midtown Lunch.

Get in today or tomorrow for your free coffee!

(Insert some form of dog pun)

Luna Sur, the Latin bistro near the corner of 53^rd & 9^th, has been closed for the past few nights:

The spot had noise complaints filed against them back in June, so were on the docket for the community board meeting. Apparently the complaints had been addressed though, so it could be unrelated.

They were also starting a new “Fierce Fridays” promotion on Friday, but ended up being closed, so this has been a very sudden closure.

Hot on the heels of the new Pie Face on 9^th Ave, Midtown Lunch reports that another branch of the Australian pie company is coming to 8^th Ave:

The new store is taking over from the 8^th Ave Candy Store, bringing pies and coffee to the area.

Pie Face has a store on 9^th Ave, one on 7^th Ave, and soon this one on 8^th Ave. There is no escape.

Well there you go. As discovered by Midtown Lunch, The Kati House on 36^th is closed for good. They were shuttered for alcohol violations a few weeks back, but during that time the health department apparently came to have a look, and what they found wasn’t good:

When the police and marshals closed it down, the DoH wanted to come back and take a look. Still powered on at time of inspection, the fridges were way too warm and mold was found within some foods. As in it was apparently stirred into ingredients. The gauges? Not functional. Ewww.

Midtown lunch has more if you’re interested, but it sounds like it’s probably best for everyone that they’re moving on.

Seafood lovers rejoice: Claw, on 9^th Ave, reopens today after briefly closing for renovations.

The spot has seen some fairly negative reviews in recent times, so hopefully the renovations help improve the situation.