Other Progress Reports in this series: Northeast Tribeca, Southeast Tribeca, Southwest Tribeca (and BPC).

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i-PLAZA NAIL & SPA
Coming to the western storefront of the Zinc Building (on Greenwich between Canal and Watts) is a sister to i-Plaza Nail & Spa six blocks down Greenwich. I called the current one to ask when the new one might open, and I was told it could be as soon as two weeks from now.

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AMERICAN FLATBREAD
As reported here first in May, popular Vermont-based pizza chain American Flatbread is opening at 480 Canal (at Hudson). More details surfaced at June’s meeting of CB1’s Tribeca committee, including this: “Tribeca Rooftop’s Billy Reilly, the franchisee, brought American Flatbread’s Clay Westbrook to discuss their plans and talk up the brand (local, sustainable, mostly organic, community-minded). What was notable: The restaurant plans on opening at 7 a.m., serving coffee and breakfast (the first American Flatbread to do so); downstairs will be used for parties; they wanted to serve liquor till 4 a.m. […] Someone asked if Reilly would accept 3 a.m., and he did. Reilly also said that they plan on having outdoor seating and that this is ‘hopefully the first of many American Flatbreads in Manhattan and New York.’ It’s at least six months from opening.” Indeed: It’s now not scheduled to open until the second half of 2012.

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KAFFE 1668
A second outpost of Kaffe 1668 is coming to 401 Greenwich (just north of Beach). I popped by the original location to ask about an update—and to buy a mocha—and I was told that the owners are “determined” to open it by late January.

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403 GREENWICH
September’s meeting of CB1’s Landmarks Committee included the news that a seven-story building made of blackened steel—with no retail on the ground floor—will take the place of the squat brick one at 403 Greenwich. The back story: “Two years ago, a plan had been presented to build what was billed as the Glass Atelier, entirely made of glass, on this site and the one next to it. […] Leaving the adjacent building alone, the new developer hired architect Morris Adjmi to come up with a design that’s not as far out as the Glass Atelier, but still awfully attractive.” You can see a rendering here.

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AAMANNS/COPENHAGEN
We’ve known since July’s CB1 Tribeca meeting that Sanne Ytting and Danish chef Adam Aamanns are opening a restaurant at the corner of Laight and St. John’s Place, across from Albert Capsouto Park: “Aamann, founder of the Aamann mini empire, is ‘famous for his open-faced sandwiches’—smørrebrød, as they’re known in Danish. (Try pronouncing it like this.) The restaurant will have a core of 100 smørrebrød recipes, with 12 on the menu any given day. […] The room, meanwhile, appears to be a showcase of Scandinavian design.” In October, the Crown Prince Couple of Denmark came for a sneak peek—the smørrebrød are indeed delicious—but the actual opening is now scheduled for “the New Year.”

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SHINOLA
In November, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bedrock Brands, which is an investor in Steven Alan, bought 177 Franklin, which had been on the market as a private residence. It’ll house Steven Alan corporate offices. Where it gets really interesting: “Steven Alan […] said Bedrock would use the ground floor space for the launch or rather relaunch of a once-famous American brand: Shinola [….] Bedrock has filed for trademark rights over the Shinola name for a multitude of products from shoe polish to cosmetics, handheld electronic devices, jewelry, leather goods, clothing, toys, and sporting equipment.”

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137 FRANKLIN
In August, I posted this from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center: “A new seven-story condominium began construction in summer 2011 at 137 Franklin Street. Located at the corner of Varick Street in Tribeca, the building will occupy a longtime empty lot across the street from Finn Square. Architecture firm StudioMDA, also based in Tribeca, plans to erect the new, red-brick building to conform to its historic district surroundings. Contractor Avo Construction anticipates a late 2012 completion of the building.” That seems unlikely, given that work appears to have paused. There is now a StudioMDA sign on the fence, so perhaps it hasn’t stopped altogether…? (Bonus: While looking at the press clippings on Studio MDA’s website, I came across this PDF with photos of what goes on inside Tracy Anderson’s fitness studio on Greenwich. Kinky!)