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Two food retailers coming to big Upper West Side project

Crumbs Bake Shop plans a Columbus Village store

Hungry Upper West Siders will have two more choices for food once a controversial development called Columbus Village opens.

Cupcake maker Crumbs Bake Shop will open its sixth Manhattan outpost, and second location on the Upper West Side, in the massive complex spanning three contiguous blocks on Columbus Avenue between 97th and 100th streets. The development is embroiled in a lawsuit over the legality of its construction and the lack of an environmental review.

Also in the works is an Associated supermarket. The chain will open a 13,200-square-foot Columbus Village store at 801 Amsterdam Avenue.

The president of the upscale Crumbs Bake Shop, which also has stores in East Hampton and Beverly Hills, said the Columbus Village store will be about 500 square feet.

"We think that area has untapped potential. There are plenty of people up there that would probably like to have nice local bakery and there's a void in the marketplace," said Jason Bauer, president and CEO of Crumbs. "That area is only going to get better with everything going on there -- it hasn't really been focused on before."

The bakery will sell its signature cupcakes and cookies as well as coffee and tea. Best sellers at its other stores include a cupcake named for the Howard Stern show's Artie Lange, featuring vanilla sponge cake with chocolate butter cream filling, covered with vanilla frosting, chocolate fondant and chocolate and vanilla sprinkles.

Another future tenant at 801 Amsterdam Avenue is community health services provide Ryan Center, which already operates on 97th Street. It will take more than 20,000 square feet, said the organization's president and CEO Barbra Minch.

Associated and Columbus Village leasing agent Winick Realty Group declined to comment.