The Side Streets Never Sleep
Nicknamed “The City That Never Sleeps,” it makes sense that there are so many spots on the side streets of Manhattan that are open around the clock. Whether they are home to the classic red vinyl booth and milkshakes that end a sleepy but happy New Yorker’s evening, or the strong cup of coffee that begins a commuter’s morning, the twenty-four hour businesses of the side streets pulse with energy no matter the time of day.
As we browsed the many 24-hour places of our beloved side streets, we realized that the majority of them were gas stations, large drug stores chains, ATMs, parking garages, and the bodegas that so frequently inhabit the corners throughout New York. The other large portion was, of course, made up of diners and late night eateries. While we could find a multitude of bars that remained open until the legal hour of 4am, among the restaurants that do not close, there is a significant variety. We were pleased to munch on a donut at The Donut Pub on west 14th, and bite into a pieorgi at Veselka on east 9th Street at anytime time we chose.
While eating at all hours of the day and night is a necessity for New Yorkers, so is the ability to exercise whenever it is convenient – even if it is three in the morning. It should come as no surprise to learn that there are 24-hour fitness centers around the city. And for those of us who crave a massage or facial in a peaceful sanctuary, the doors at the Juvenex spa never shutter.
After dividing our collection of 24-hour spots into two main categories, we were left with a handful of odds and ends, some whose continuous hours of operation make sense, while others amazed us, including Nuthouse, a hardware store that never turns its sign around to “closed.” And for all of our Best Buy needs, their east 14th Street location is open non-stop Tuesday through Saturday. Finally, as we browsed through the side streets, one last time, we found that there were also a small number of places that are only open for 24-hours on the weekends. We include them here as “honorable mentions.”
