This week’s edition features a department store that is at home on Broadway as it would be in Milan, a new restaurant that has diners buzzing, a spa, and a Halloween costume shop in honor of a holiday that gives everyone the excuse to dress up and go wild.

Opening
Trinity Place Department Store
61 Broadway (Entrance on Trinity Place),
917-300-1184

This beautiful new department store, which feels more like a charming European boutique, is a fresh country breeze in a city known for its humidity. The style is vintage romantic with a modern twist. Expect soft lace accents and retro patterns side-by-side with more modern pieces.

One of the store’s greatest strengths is the unique nature of its clothing; some of the items reminded me of a lovely boutique in Brooklyn in which all the pieces are handmade. You can also find an assortment of leather shoes and handbags to accessorize your look.

The store currently occupies the ground floor of the building and will soon expand to the second and third floors within the next few months. This retail location is a first for the company, which previously was internet- based. New locations will be launching in London, Paris and Milan next year.

The Exchange at The Setai,
40 Broad St., at Exchange Place,
212-809-3993

Same luxurious, yet serene surroundings, great new menu. The Exchange at the Setai, which follows predecessor SHO Shaun Hergatt, is bringing San Francisco-based contemporary American cuisine to Lower Manhattan.

Executive Chef Josh Capone is using ingredients that are both locally sourced and seasonal. The menu now features both a la carte and prix fixe options for lunch and dinner. The three-course prix fixe menus are now priced at $28 for lunch and $45 for dinner. As an experienced baker, his breads and focaccia are now made on premise. Top off your night with a dessert prepared by Alise Ciucci, formerly of Aureole.

NV Salon & Spa
1 World Financial Center, at Vesey Street
212-757-2561

The salon formerly owned by Joseph Cione has been sold and reopened as NV Salon & Spa. In celebration of its grand opening, the salon is offering a special of 10 percent off any service. Men’s haircuts run about $30 and women’s haircuts start at $45. A manicure/pedicure combination is $30 pre-discount. Come to the lobby of the building and look for the Au Bon Pain; the salon is next door.

Ricky’s
100 Broadway, betw. Pine & Wall streets,
rickysnyc.com

And for those looking for Halloween costumes, check out the Ricky’s pop-up, and do it soon, because you don’t want to fight the crowds the day before the holiday.

Closing
Daffy’s
50 Broadway

As usual, if you spot any new retailers or changes to existing establishments, please email me at TRE@downtownny.com

Openings
The King’s College
52 Broadway at Exchange Place, 212-659-7200,
tkc.edu
The King’s College, a private Christian liberal-arts school, has left its old location in a subterranean space in the Empire State Building for expanded quarters here in Lower Manhattan. They now have more classrooms, an expanded media lab, an art room and a street-level entrance. Academic programs include business administration; liberal arts; media, culture and the arts; and politics, philosophy and economics.

Grk Fresh Greek
111 Fulton St., at William St., 212-385-2010, grkfresh.com
Our newest Greek restaurant offers the following, and not particularly in this order: Meat, pitas, yogurt, tzatziki, vegetables and beverages. The shop isn’t stingy with its servings and also offers frozen yogurt, which you could eat as your entrée, like me, or as dessert, like most people. Chicken, beef, pork and lamb “yeeros” are available, as well as sides such as the Aegean slaw, rice or fries. I’ve had a chance to try both the lentil and the Greek salad and can say that both were tasty.

Starbucks
200 Water St., at John St., starbucks.com
In case you were worried you might have to walk two blocks to get your coffee fix, another Starbucks has come to Lower Manhattan, this time to Water Street. The ubiquitous retailer, which can’t seem to satisfy New Yorkers’ thirst for the ground, black stuff, now has around 20 locations in our district. Even if you don’t know the address of the nearest Starbucks, just keep walking and you’ll find one. Come in for popular seasonal specialties, such as the pumpkin spice latte, a favorite of our blog coordinator.

Sabor de Mexico
76 Nassau St., at John St., 212-227-0843,
sabordemexicogrill.com
Sabor is serving up fresh, traditional Mexican fare with salsa and sauces made from scratch every day. I like a Mexican joint that offers a hot sauce by the name of “firecracker,” but if you don’t like your burritos burning hot, other milder options are available. The restaurant serves classic Mexican foods such as fajitas, tacos, quesadillas and one of my favorites, tortas, or Mexican sandwiches. Sabor also offers several sides including cilantro lime rice and guacamole plus a small selection of beers and Mexican sodas. Catering services are available.

I’m holding on to summer like a screaming toddler holds on to the bag of candy mom just bought at the sweet shop. I’m going to put my fingers in my ears and tell fall to take a hike while I sip a cucumber lemonade chiller from one of our new bars in Lower Manhattan. In this edition of “Lights On,” we also have a shop that sells miniature baked goods and another branch of a popular Mexican food chain. Can you guess which chain? The lines forming outside their doors every day around noon give it away.

Sit back and enjoy the last dregs of summer. You’ll get a fresh cup soon enough. And as usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a longtime establishment, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Manhattan Proper
6 Murray St., betw. Church St. and Broadway, 646-559-4445
This venue, with its black and white décor, multiple flat-screens and a menu that goes beyond typical pub fare, is serving an upscale version of the restaurant/bar to the folks around Murray Street. Executive Chef Rachon Banks has created a menu that mixes cultures and cuisines. Start with a salad, or try an appetizer, such as the chicken wings, the bacon-wrapped dates or andouille sausage sliders with rosemary creole mustard. Sandwiches include a variety of burgers, such as the truffle burger with manchego and a balsamic reduction, and a chicken club with basil mayo. For dessert, order the sweet potato pie or the triple chocolate brownie. A wide selection of draft beers and wines is available as well as seasonal cocktails, which currently include the “truth serum” (we know this will be strong), signature proper peach tea and the cucumber lemonade chiller.

Chipotle
275 Greenwich St., betw. Murray and Warren sts., 646-412-3981
Chipotle is a solid, dependable destination for an always-quality burrito. You know what to expect. And fans in Lower Manhattan must be asking for more because Chipotle keeps bringing new restaurants to our district. This outpost may help alleviate long lines at other locations, or Chipotle will just have to open even more restaurants. Either way, westsiders can enjoy the build-your-own burrito bar without walking quite as far. This Chipotle marks the fourth location to open south of Chambers Street. We welcome it.

Baked By Melissa
110 Fulton St., at Dutch Street, 212-842-0220
Teeny-tiny is in. As long as Melissa lets me buy four to five of these miniature cupcakes at a time, all will be well. The treat shop comes to a portion of Fulton that’s looking forward to several new openings, including a Greek restaurant I’ve been anticipating for a while. We have Red Mango for yogurt; now we have Baked By Melissa for treats of a more bite-sized nature. The cupcakes come in a wide variety of flavors, including a flavor of the month, which for August has been “snow-covered pretzel.” Other flavors include the chocolate chip pancake, red velvet, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, tie-dye, cookie dough and peanut butter cup. Choose a flavor from the store or you can create your own flavor for orders of 300 minis or more.

Sometimes I have a big group of new store openings, sometimes I have one exquisite standout. This week’s column features the lovely and distinct florist, home furnishings and accessories brand Bloom. New Yorkers may recognize the name because Bloom has another outpost in Midtown. The new store is in a large, light space adjacent to the Conrad New York Hotel in North Battery Park City and is a smart, inviting addition to the new retailers in this community.

As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Openings

Bloom, 255 Murray St. (at West Street),646-414-6269, www.bloomflowers.com

Harvard Professor Elaine Scarry, in her book On Beauty and Being Just, proposed that beauty is an aid to justice. The idea is that the beautiful object stops us, pulls us out of our self-absorption and focuses our attention on the wider world, thus prompting a concern for others. A trip to Bloom won’t necessarily make customers more ethical, but it will infuse their homes with vibrant beauty and perhaps start them on a new path that begins in their living rooms toward seeing the world in a brighter way.

Bloom offers the standard floral services, including arrangements for the home and special events such as weddings or corporate gatherings; it also offers landscaping design for everything from a backyard patio to a rooftop garden.

Customers will find unique home furnishings and accessories in the store, such as an oblong-shaped glass terrarium with a Venus Flytrap among amethyst crystal rocks inside, but that’s just the beginning of what owner Kimberly Perrone offers. She can design a whole room around just one flower, a unique vase, a pillow or a natural object such as a plant that can live outside of soil. In fact, finding such exotic pieces is one of her specialties.

Perrone calls Bloom a lifestyle environment and says florals and botanicals are key to the brand. Her style could be described as architectural and minimal but still elegant and luxurious in feeling. She pays special attention to color and shape, favoring monotones and hot brights and generally avoiding pastels. She uses organics when appropriate, such as petrified driftwood or a seashell made of ground shells.

Perrone had worked in the fashion industry, but decided she wanted to own her own business and began looking for something that felt right. She discovered Bloom, what she called a “sexy luxury brand in flowers,” and decided to purchase it. “I thought it was a great opportunity. The market hadn’t been approached the way it could have been. There was no real floral brand of this type.” She began expanding her services and hasn’t looked back.

Bloom also has a thriving e-commerce business, with many items available for purchase online, including flowers (seasonal and a signature collection), gift baskets and candles. But if a customer has a specific idea about the perfect container for a particular flower, Perrone will find it.

She thrives on bringing beauty into a space; it doesn’t just change the environment, it changes the way one views the environment, she said. Everyone could use a little something beautiful in their life—and, for that matter, justice, fairness and impeccable style.

Closings

Blockheads, Courtyard,250 Vesey St., 4 World Financial Center

Diamond’s Hallmark, 7 Hanover Square

The Country Kebab,76 Fulton St.

Openings:
Aroma Espresso Bar
100 Church St. (betw. Barclay St. & Park Pl.), www.aroma.us.
Coffee shops abound, but it’s hard to find a place that serves an outstanding cup o’ joe and fresh, made-to-order food. You won’t find pre-made sandwiches wilting in a cooler here. The coffee bar emulates the Middle Eastern concept of organizing the space around a u-shaped workstation where baristas make their caffeinated creations out in the open instead of behind a counter, said manager Gal Danay. “Customers feel like they’re part of the coffee-making experience,” he said.

The bar is large and airy and has plenty of seating for both groups and the individual who wants to settle in with a book and a hot chocolate. Speaking of the hot chocolate—try it. It comes with a large chunk of chocolate praline at the bottom and a spoon to stir it as it melts. Enjoy this treat because, eventually, you’ll have to go back to work.

Chipotle
281 Broadway (betw. Reade & Chambers Sts.), www.chipotle.com.
Chipotle is a place that does satisfying Mexican food fast the way you want it. They now have another location for us to enjoy in Lower Manhattan, which brings the count to four within a half-a mile of one another. The chicken is always juicy, the condiments are plentiful and if you’re looking for a a healthier version of the burrito, you can go for some tortilla soup or mix up a custom bowl. There’s something comforting in knowing you’ll always find a hot and fresh meal here and the portions are big enough to take the leftovers home for dinner.

Financial District Wines & Liquor
120 Nassau St. (betw. Nassau & William Sts.), 212-933-1092.
Don’t let the construction, cranes and drills on Nassau Street stop you from hitting this new wine and spirit shop. FiDi Wines & Liquor is spacious and bright, features a diverse selection and what they describe as the lowest prices in Lower Manhattan. Customers are already dubbing the shop a favorite. One recent patron declared on Yelp: “If you live or work in the Financial District, FiDi Wines & Liquor really is a neighborhood gem.”

They kicked off their grand opening with a party that included a DJ, free tastings and a stilt walker. Assistant manager Norman Bent says the stilt walker was the consummate professional and didn’t come close to knocking over any bottles. They know how to throw a party, so give them a call to see how they can help with your event.

J&R Jr.
23 Park Row, 2nd Fl. (at City Hall Park),
www.jr.com.
Above the computers and the laptop cases and the office supplies of J&R Electronics lies a sweeter venture more concerned with nurturing our youth than expanding a business. Children’s store J&R Jr. opened on the second floor above the electronics retailer and is busily entertaining Lower Manhattan’s kids. The store sells everything from car seats and strollers to the tiniest grand piano you’ve ever seen. They held their grand opening the day before Valentine’s Day and entertained a packed house. I stopped by the store a few days before it opened and felt a bit of an expectant lull or pregnant pause, if you will, kind of like a delivery room at the hospital. Stop by and welcome J&R’s newest addition.

Vintry Fine Wines
230 Murray St. (at North End Ave.),
www.vintryfinewines.com.
Vintry is so pretty it looks more like a work of art than a shop that sells wine. Their architect knew what he was doing. The space’s curvilinear lines are reminiscent of waves or straw-colored sand dunes softly stretching out to the water and beckoning you to stroll through the store’s vast selection. The shop has something for the wine connoisseur and the casual sampler who is just looking for a great bottle to go with dinner. Vintry is owned by Peter Poulakakos, whose father Harry is the restaurateur responsible for such establishments as Harry’s at Hanover Square, later reborn as Harry’s Café and Steak. Customers have come to expect a lot from this family and Vintry is sure to deliver.

Closings:
Waterstone Grill, 79 Pearl St.

Without vision, a people perish. Or, in my version of this proverb for the column: Without glasses from the right eyewear shop, one might not be able to find one’s way to the spa…or to the restaurant for ribs. In this week’s edition, pamper yourself with a facial, indulge in barbecue and get lost in art while you wait for your new custom frames. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a longtime friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Openings
Maxwell Medical
99 Wall St., 10th Fl. (at Front St.),
212-952-9355.
Curated art shows meet fashion frames at this eyewear shop across from the Shake Shack in the Goldman Sachs building’s restaurant alley. The current exhibition, David L. Nicholas’ Night Vision II, features large-scale and panoramic color photographs on the walls. The artwork accentuates the shop’s selection of eyeglass frames and both work in tandem to create a unique shopping experience.

General manager Carlos Venegas said the exhibit space is currently booked up; it’s easy to see why artists would want to showcase their work here. Frames sit atop pedestals and under glass domes that receive just the right amount of light from the fixtures above. Come for the eyewear, stay for the artwork.

Affina Beauty & Spa
125 Church St. (betw. Murray & Warren Sts.), 212-233-8822.
It’s appropriate that Affina Beauty & Spa is located on Church Street, because a trip here could be a heavenly experience. The interior looks like your ultra-hip friend’s loft with warming influences from grandma. Manager Shine Guo said the spa’s employees designed the space themselves. It features a relaxing pale gray, blue and white color palette, dangling lights in whimsical shapes and floral artwork.

Think of the manicures and pedicures offered here as an introduction—an opportunity to get your feet wet. The spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and hot stone massage and several different facials, su    ch as the derma acne facial, which clears up skin and prevents future breakouts from occurring. Check back because the spa will soon be offering laser hair removal—because no one wants to pluck for the rest of her life. Receive 20 percent off services until April 1.

Blue Smoke
255 Vesey St. (at North End Ave.), 212-889-2005.
Danny Meyer’s eatery has been getting a lot of press, so diners will be pleased to hear that Blue Smoke is finally serving its full menu full-time. The restaurant features many barbecue favorites, such as Texas salt and pepper beef ribs, pulled pork and Kansas City spareribs, and some unexpected treats, including chicken gumbo and bourbon pecan pie.

Vegetarian and gluten-free menus round out the options for people with allergies or restricted diets. Just because Blue Smoke is a barbecue place doesn’t mean you have to indulge, but I would.

North End Grill
104 North End Ave. (at Vesey St.), 646-747-1600.
North End Grill, the other new offering in Battery Park City from Danny Meyer’s restaurant group, is also operating at full capacity. Chef Floyd Cardoz, formerly of Tabla and a competitor on Top Chef Masters, is bringing his spin on high-end American cuisine to a lovely space overlooking the Hudson. Appetizers include Louisiana shrimp with fennel and radish or a torchon of foie gras with quince paste and grilled brioche. Entrees include Nova Scotia halibut, diver sea scallops, a Berkshire pork chop or duck breast and leg with leeks and tangerines.

OBAO
38 Water St. (at Pearl St.), 212-361-6313
This second Obao outpost, on Water Street, calls itself the “casual extension” of the flagship location in Midtown, which earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2011 and 2012. The Water Street location, like its predecessor, specializes in blending Thai and Vietnamese cuisine but at a pace fast enough for its Financial District patrons. Start with the caramelized pork belly, move on to the massamun chicken or pho, add a side of sautéed bean sprouts or Chinese broccoli and end with a green tea panna cotta.

Closings
Bolton’s, 95 Wall St.
Syms, 42 Trinity Pl.
Café Doppio, 55 Broad St.
Hidden Treasures, 32 Warren St.
Twin Café, 275 Greenwich St.

Without vision, a people perish. Or, in my version of this proverb for the column: Without glasses from the right eyewear shop, one might not be able to find one’s way to the spa…or to the restaurant for ribs. In this week’s edition, pamper yourself with a facial, indulge in barbecue and get lost in art while you wait for your new custom frames. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a longtime friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Openings
Maxwell Medical
99 Wall St., 10th Fl. (at Front St.),
212-952-9355.
Curated art shows meet fashion frames at this eyewear shop across from the Shake Shack in the Goldman Sachs building’s restaurant alley. The current exhibition, David L. Nicholas’ Night Vision II, features large-scale and panoramic color photographs on the walls. The artwork accentuates the shop’s selection of eyeglass frames and both work in tandem to create a unique shopping experience.

General manager Carlos Venegas said the exhibit space is currently booked up; it’s easy to see why artists would want to showcase their work here. Frames sit atop pedestals and under glass domes that receive just the right amount of light from the fixtures above. Come for the eyewear, stay for the artwork.

Affina Beauty & Spa
125 Church St. (betw. Murray & Warren Sts.), 212-233-8822.
It’s appropriate that Affina Beauty & Spa is located on Church Street, because a trip here could be a heavenly experience. The interior looks like your ultra-hip friend’s loft with warming influences from grandma. Manager Shine Guo said the spa’s employees designed the space themselves. It features a relaxing pale gray, blue and white color palette, dangling lights in whimsical shapes and floral artwork.

Think of the manicures and pedicures offered here as an introduction—an opportunity to get your feet wet. The spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and hot stone massage and several different facials, su    ch as the derma acne facial, which clears up skin and prevents future breakouts from occurring. Check back because the spa will soon be offering laser hair removal—because no one wants to pluck for the rest of her life. Receive 20 percent off services until April 1.

Blue Smoke
255 Vesey St. (at North End Ave.), 212-889-2005.
Danny Meyer’s eatery has been getting a lot of press, so diners will be pleased to hear that Blue Smoke is finally serving its full menu full-time. The restaurant features many barbecue favorites, such as Texas salt and pepper beef ribs, pulled pork and Kansas City spareribs, and some unexpected treats, including chicken gumbo and bourbon pecan pie.

Vegetarian and gluten-free menus round out the options for people with allergies or restricted diets. Just because Blue Smoke is a barbecue place doesn’t mean you have to indulge, but I would.

North End Grill
104 North End Ave. (at Vesey St.), 646-747-1600.
North End Grill, the other new offering in Battery Park City from Danny Meyer’s restaurant group, is also operating at full capacity. Chef Floyd Cardoz, formerly of Tabla and a competitor on Top Chef Masters, is bringing his spin on high-end American cuisine to a lovely space overlooking the Hudson. Appetizers include Louisiana shrimp with fennel and radish or a torchon of foie gras with quince paste and grilled brioche. Entrees include Nova Scotia halibut, diver sea scallops, a Berkshire pork chop or duck breast and leg with leeks and tangerines.

OBAO
38 Water St. (at Pearl St.), 212-361-6313
This second Obao outpost, on Water Street, calls itself the “casual extension” of the flagship location in Midtown, which earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2011 and 2012. The Water Street location, like its predecessor, specializes in blending Thai and Vietnamese cuisine but at a pace fast enough for its Financial District patrons. Start with the caramelized pork belly, move on to the massamun chicken or pho, add a side of sautéed bean sprouts or Chinese broccoli and end with a green tea panna cotta.

Closings
Bolton’s, 95 Wall St.
Syms, 42 Trinity Pl.
Café Doppio, 55 Broad St.
Hidden Treasures, 32 Warren St.
Twin Café, 275 Greenwich St.

Now that it’s January and we’ve eaten far too much and feel disgusted with ourselves, I thought I’d mention a health food restaurant and some non-food openings in Lower Manhattan, including a medical facility that specializes in pain management.

Lower Manhattan has a lot of new openings on the horizon, particularly in Battery Park City around the Goldman Sachs building. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a longtime friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

Openings
Maxwell Medical
99 Wall St., 10th Fl. (at Front St.),
212-952-9355.
“You should never wake up with pain.” That’s Maxwell Medical’s mantra, and they take it seriously. I violate this rule every day, so I stopped in for a massage and was rewarded with a pain-free neck and shoulders the next morning. The multidisciplinary medical center specializes in physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, sports medicine and manual therapy (a more specialized form of massage therapy). They’re against medicine, as far as pharmaceuticals are concerned, Marketing Director Erum Hussain said. The idea is to find out what is causing a patient’s pain and treat it through therapy instead of medicating. The staff also incorporates diet and exercise consulting into their treatment plans.

T.J. Maxx
14 Wall St. (betw. Broadway & Nassau St.), 212-587-8459.
This retailer is open and ready for bargain hunters. Walk through the brass gate on Nassau Street between Wall and Pine streets, take a trip down the escalator and peruse designer handbags, clothing, shoes and home décor at discount prices. In other words, you’ll get the max for the minimum price. I stopped in recently and found a wide selection of everything you need to stay warm, including coats, hats, scarves and some cashmere items for people tired of warm but scratchy wool.

Pier 15
(at South Street Seaport)
The stretch of waterfront south of the Seaport has a new place for visitors to sit, stroll and enjoy views of the East River. Pier 15 features an upper and lower deck with benches and grassy lawns that I predict will become very popular in the spring. The lower level contains two glass-paneled buildings; one will house a restaurant and the other will house a maritime museum. The way the deck was designed, with steps leading down to the water, gives you the feeling you could dip your toes in, but you can’t—and in this weather, you wouldn’t want to anyway.

Basics Plus
85 John St. (betw. Gold & William Sts.), 212-791-6870.
Founded in 1989 at the corner of University Place and 13th Street, the first Basics Plus store sold everything from keys and hardware to an expanding line of household products. The retailer recently opened a new location in the Financial District focusing on housewares. It’s known as “the corner store that carries everything,” and customers can find well-known kitchen staples such as Cuisinart and simplehuman there or try out eco-friendly cleaning products such as Mrs. Meyer’s and Totally Bamboo.

Beans and Greens
245 Murray St. (betw. North End Ave. & West St.), 212-786-4760.
Beans and Greens’ grand opening presages a host of new retail offerings in Battery Park City, which is growing so fast it’s hard to keep track. You won’t find produce treated with pesticides at this organic eatery; their menu features organic Stumptown Coffee and organically farmed greens and dairy products.
The café has several different stations where patrons can choose their toppings, including a yogurt bar, an omelet bar and a salad bar. Or choose a chef-inspired entrée salad such as the sweet greens salad with dried cranberries, candied walnuts, veggies and grilled chicken.

North End Grill
104 North End Ave. (at Vesey St.), northendgrillnyc.com.
Blue Smoke
255 Vesey St. (betw. North End Ave. & West St.), bluesmoke.com.
I mentioned a host of new openings in Battery Park City and would be remiss if I didn’t point out these two highly anticipated restaurants. They’ve just opened and are serving limited menus at the moment, but I’ll have more details in my next column.

Closings
Milk Street Café, 40 Wall St.
Duane Reade, 147 Fulton St.

Visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com, where you can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services.