Maybe they’re channeling Nanny Bloomberg!
A new sweet shoppe opening on the Upper West Side has residents turning sour — complaining that neighborhood kids will develop tooth decay and juvenile diabetes.
The owners of Sugar and Plumm Purveyors of Yumm plan to open the combination candy store, bistro and bar on Amsterdam Avenue between West 78th and 79th streets sometime this summer.
“I’ve talked to neighbors who are upset about the childhood obesity epidemic, and it’s at the crossroads of lots of schools — a lot of young people go by there,” said David Schatsky, 50, of West 79th Street, who created a Web site to highlight the opposition.
Some residents have affixed critical stickers on the windows of the new shop, slamming its sugary, high-calorie menu.
“Vandalism like this is illegal and unsightly and is not OK, folks,” Schatsky posted.
He says there are plenty of other places for people to go to pig out on sugary snacks in the neighborhood.
But he pointed to the new bistro owner’s recent tweets as evidence that the owners don’t take health issues seriously.
“Eat a square meal: a box of chocolates,” read one.
“A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands,” said another, while a third asked: “Have you tried our Waffle & Bacon Milkshake yet? It is heaven in a glass.”
Schatsky, an environmental consultant, said there is “something about the attitude of ownership that some people, including me, find offensive.”
Some neighbors agreed.
“It’s inconvenient. This was the last way to get to my house without passing some sugar haven,” said Cory Nangle, 41, who lives on West 77th Street, walking with her two children.
But a spokesman defended the eatery’s offerings, saying the menu would include salads and many healthful items.
“We continue to receive such overwhelmingly positive support, excitement, and welcoming feedback from our neighbors. We look forward to Sugar and Plumm becoming an integral part of the landscape of the neighborhood for generations of Upper West Siders to come,” said the rep said.