A Popular Japanese Snack-Packed Dollar Store Is Opening Its First NYC Location

A Japanese discount store is coming to Flushing

The popular Japanese retailer Daiso, known as a Japanese “dollar store” is making its East Coast debut in the Flushing mall the Shops at Skyview Center. Featured among its discount products will be lots of Japanese snacks, including noodle soups, condiments, candy, and baked goods. The brand has close to 4,000 locations worldwide and also sells beauty products, accessories, toys, stationary, home decor, and more. It’s set to open on March 8.

A new vendor hits Urbanspace — and more coming attractions

Cappone’s Salumeria will open a new location for slinging Italian cold cut sandwiches in the Urbanspace at 570 Lex food hall on Thursday. A new franchise for the fast-food chain Checkers is in the works at 23 St. James Pl. on the Lower East Side. And signage has also arrived for a new cafe at 141 East Third St. in East Village, called Bin 141. The signs tease breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails, coffee, and vegan treats.

Chocolate and beer and Harlem

Tonight, Harlem beer bar Harlem Hops is co-hosting a “taps and truffles” event with Harlem Chocolate Factory featuring chocolate and beer tastings with a focus on stouts. The event take place tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Harlem Hops at 2268 Seventh Ave., between 133rd and 134th streets.

A bake sale featuring top culinary school talent

Pastryland, the charitable offshoot of the International Culinary Center’s Pastry Plus program, will host a bake sale for the nonprofit Hot Bread Kitchen, which provides culinary training and helps grow new businesses in the food industry. The event will take place on Saturday, March 9 and will featured baked goods from chefs at Union Square Café, Bien Cuit, Bâtard, Patisserie Chanson, and others. Tickets, which start at $15, can be purchased here.

A eulogy for Sidewalk Cafe

As previously reported, restaurant and live music venue Sidewalk Cafe shuttered over the weekend, and Grub Street has now published an ode to the “grubby, unremarkable, and undeniably special” place. Jason Diamond writes that it was a “place where weirdos and dreamers could try to make a piece of this city their own.”