More about that new Equinox opening on our block

Block resident and gym enthusiast Danielle Liberman did some impressive investigative work and shared new details on the upcoming Equinox opening on our block:

• Currently targeting a fall opening, with the official date expected to be announced 30–60 days in advance

• Reportedly larger than the Hudson Yards location (approximately 7,000 square feet)

• The club will focus heavily on athletic training, performance, and recovery rather than traditional cardio and group fitness

• Only two class formats are currently planned: PGX strength training and reformer Pilates (capped at 12 people per class, $35/class)

• Recovery amenities will include sauna, steam room, and cold shower contrast therapy

• Founding members will have access to a single-club membership for $280/month with no initiation fee, plus a $500 account credit (however, this credit amount will be revised on a sliding scale as the opening date approaches). Individuals will have 5 business days after opening to use the space and if not happy with the space, can get their money back.

• The space is also aiming to be community-oriented, with dedicated lounge and seating areas

• Pre-sale memberships are expected to launch in June with a dedicated sales office where visitors can see virtual renderings of the space 

New Equinox coming to 11th Ave & 28th Street

It looks like we’re getting a new Equinox at 28th Street & 11th Avenue (right next to Porchlight)—it’s called Equinox Terminal Warehouse and you can read about it here: https://www.equinox.com/clubs/new-york/midtown/terminal-warehouse.

They’re definitely matching the loft decor of the neighborhood with exposed beams, brick, etc. Reposted some pictures from the Equinox website above. This should offset some of the traffic at the Hudson Yards Equinox, which is incredible—particularly the pool deck—but also difficult to find a spot in around gym rush hour.

I’m not sure this is an “all access” location where you can get in with a standard Equinox membership; I think might be a “destination” (i.e., elevated membership) club, similar to Hudson Yards and Printing House. Will try to get in touch with the Related team (which owns Equinox and which built Hudson Yards) and find out more information.

Penny Linn, a needlepoint shop, opens on our block

“Needlepoint” is a type of embroidery in which yarn is stitched through canvas, and earlier this month a needlepoint store called Penny Linn opened right next to Hudson Market on 28th Street & 10th Avenue. You can read about its history here.

Created in 2020 (and born out of an idea in a Chelsea apartment), Penny Linn looks like it has a bit of a cult following among stitchers. It’s also community-minded—from the article above:

“The store will serve as both a retail destination and an experiential hub, offering customers the opportunity to shop thousands of canvases and accessories while also engaging with the brand through in-person classes, events, and community programming. From beginner workshops to designer meet-and-greets, the space is designed to foster connection and creativity.”

Great to have this on our block.

Buddha now greeting us on 30th & 10th

The pigeon has officially been replaced (long live the pigeon)! The pigeon was called the “The Dinosaur” by the way (https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/ivan-argote/), which I can’t say I totally understand.

The Buddha’s official name is the The Light That Shines Through the Universe—and it is the fifth installment in that spot after the lady, the plane, the pink tree, and the pigeon (these are not the official names but they are how I remember them).

Crafted by Vietnamese artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen, the sculpture pays homage to the Bamiyan Buddhas, two 6th-century colossal statues in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Reincarnation and radical acceptance might be two of the secrets to happiness, and if that is right, happy to have this installation around our neighborhood.

Weed shop called “Poppin” opening up on 28th & 10th

Since I’ve lived in West Chelsea, the little storefront right next to Death Ave has been at least a lobster roll place (Luke’s Lobster) and a weed place (Hudson Loud)—and I think it’s been vacant for a while now. The more things change, the more things stay the same, and the storefront is going back to its roots as a licensed cannabis dispensary called “Poppin.”

They’re going for a guerilla marketing vibe on Instagram (though I can’t figure out how to link reels) and sell the usual cannabis products like gummies, vapes, etc. Opened about 2 months ago.

Are we getting a boutique wine shop on 28th & 10th?

Based solely on this fancy sign posted on the Death Ave window, we may be getting a “boutique wine shop” on the corner of 28th & 10th. Let me know if anyone has information on this that we can share with the block.

Hudson Loud opens on 28th & 10th.

A smoke shop called “Hudson Loud” opened a little while ago on the corner of 28th & 10th, right next to Death Ave (where Luke’s Lobster used to be). By smoke shop I mean that it sells marijuana and CBD things like bongs, pipes, gummies, etc. The first legal marijuana dispensary opened in NYC in December 2022, and so I believe that this is one of the many less-than-sanctioned shops that popped up around the city since the state legalized marijuana in March 2021.

New staircase to the High Line under construction.

We are getting a new staircase up to the High Line on the southwest corner of 28th & 10th, right where Il Piccolo’s heated patio used to be.

I suppose the problem with living on a block for too long is that you start becoming resistant to change, so my feeling on the new staircase must be evidence that I’ve been here for too long. Sure our existing staircase to the High Line (top right) looks a little like the entrance to a dungeon, but that’s our entrance to a dungeon!

The signs posted outside say that construction is anticipated to be complete by this Spring, but that strikes me as extremely ambitious. It’s also not clear to me what is going behind the brick wall in the rendering, but I will update here to the extent I find out more.