One of my favorite New York movies is You’ve Got Mail. On my various trips to NY I have tracked down a few of the filming locations.
You’ve Got Mail was filmed entirely on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Shop Around the Corner is, in actuality – yes, you are reading this correctly – a cheese and antique shop. Very odd, I know. It is called Maya Schaper Cheese and Antiques. Only the exterior of Maya’s was used for filming and unfortunately it looks very different in person. The producers brought in a faux exterior that made the shop look much more charming than it does in real life. And let’s just say the owner of the shop was not as “enchanting” as Kathleen Kelly, either. She wasn’t very nice or talkative when I went in to ask about the filming. Not everyone loves a stalker, I guess. This location I found in the book New York: The Movie Lover’s Guide by Richard Alleman.
The Shop Around the Corner was actually based on a real life children’s bookstore in NYC called “Books of Wonder.” This is a really cute bookshop for kids and I would recommend visiting. I got this little bit of trivia and location off of the trivia link on IMDB’s You’ve Got Mail page.
One of the great benefits to stalking is that you often happen upon really great restaurants or places to visit. One of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat in New York I actually discovered while stalking You’ve Got Mail. Grey’s Papaya, located on West 71st and Broadway, serves up the BEST hot-dogs you will ever eat! Its other claim to fame is that it was the location where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks ate lunch in front of a window towards the end of the movie.
The Starbucks from YGM, where Joe makes a witty observation about decision making, is located on the corner of 81st Street and Broadway. Grab a coffee to go – all this stalking will make you tired! This location, as well as the next two, I found on the official website for You’ve Got Mail, which has a map of several filming sites from the movie.
Cafe Lalo, where Joe Fox first realizes that Shopgirl is actually Kathleen Kelly, is a very, very quaint little cafe on the Westside. I have NO idea how the heck they could possibly film anything inside of it, as the place is truly minuscule. It is really cute, though, and serves up some great espresso.
Another Westside location for YGM is Zabar’s grocery store, a fabulous gourmet store on the Westside that is unlike any other grocery store I have ever seen. It has possibly everything you could ever want – including an espresso bar, cooking utensils, and every cheese imaginable! Zabar’s was used for the scene where Meg Ryan steps into the “Cash Only” line without any cash to pay for her groceries.
Last, but not least, is the 91st Street Garden, where Kathleen and Joe finally get together at the very end of the movie. This location was easy to find, as the characters kiss right in front of a sign that says “91st Street Garden.” From that point, I just googled “91st Street Garden” and it turns out it was right where I thought it would be – on the Westside near 91st street. The garden is a bit hard to find, as it is off the beaten path in Riverside Park. It is also extremely small in person, so it was not what I was expecting. In December, there isn’t much to see, but I am sure it is absolutely beautiful in the spring and summer months!
The one YGM location that has always escaped me is Meg Ryan’s brownstone. Oh well, there’s always next year’s trip to NYC to stalk it.
Until next time, Happy Stalking!
Stalk It: Spend a day on the Westside! Maya Shaper Cheese and Antiques is located at 106 W. 69th Street. Watch out for the owner – she may bite! Books of Wonder is located at 18 W. 18th Street. Grey’s Papaya can be found at 2090 Broadway between West 71st and West 72nd streets. Get the Recession Special – two dogs and a drink for $3.50 – and eat in the window just like Meg and Tom! Starbucks is located at the corner of Broadway and 81st Street – don’t get it confused with the 50 other Starbucks on the Westside. Cafe Lalo is located on 83rd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. Zabar’s is at 2245 Broadway at 81st Street – bring your grocery list! Finally, the 91st Street Garden is located in Riverside Park in between 90th and 91st Streets – but be careful, blink and you might miss it!
FYI, Maya Schaper’s shop was also featured in Sex and the City. When Carrie ran into Aidan and his new baby Tate, they were standing in front of this store, which was re-purposed by production as strictly an antique shop. YGM and SATC collide!!!
Hi Sophie,
I just re-watched the entire series on DVD and was really excited when I saw Maya’s shop pop up in that episode! So cool!
Happy Stalking :),
Lindsay
Went to NYC for the 4th time in 4 years, this time with my oldest son. Walked the West Side and saw most of these. Sent cell phone pictures to my wife at every stop, especially the 91st Street garden spot in Riverside Park. Thank you for your site!
Yes, YGM is certainly a favorite with the women of my extended family, and when they visit from the Midwest we make sure to visit Cafe Lalo. The cappuccino, sandwiches and desserts are excellent, and it is a great place indeed. The locations for YGM in your post will no doubt define and inspire their next visit, probably in the fall when the colors change and the night air is brisk.
YGM is a favorite and this is a great site! I visited Cafe Lalo twice and loved each visit. Being from the midwest it’s just not around the corner. 😉 Can’t wait for my next NYC visit to tour the other notable sites! Thank you!
I am taking my wife on a You’ve Got Mail 3 day date for our 20th Anniv…..rented a brownstone, reservations at Lalo’s and grocery shopping at Zabar’s etc…
I absolutely cannot locate the Starbucks on 83rd and Broadway…even through Google Streetview….
See link http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
Help!
81st and Broadway
I’m going to New York for New Years and first on my agenda when I arrive December 28th is to stalk YGM… I can not wait to go visit all the sites. I love this movie and watch it at least 3 times a month. Thank you so much for all the information. You helped me greatly on my mission! 🙂
My wife and I and our youngest son went there for the Ball Drop as well. Very cold that night!
Thank you for posting this. I’ve lived on the UWS for years and pass many of these sites every day. (I went to the Riverside Park dog run yesterday!)
Today my friend (a recent NYC transplant) and I are taking a walking tour of the You’ve Got Mail movie sites, starting with lunch at Grey’s. We’ll be documenting throughout the day on my Tumblr.
I especially intrigued by the brownstone’s location, as I live very near that block.
Just a P.S to my earlier post. I should have watched the DVD extras. It would have saved me a little time in finding Meg Ryan’s brownstone. Nora Ephron states on the DVD that she thinks that W. 89th is the street the brownstone is located on. In one of the scenes in the film that features the brownstone, you can see “W. 89” stenciled on one of the garbage cans. The opening scene suggests the brownstone is west of West End Ave. Some other hints are: In the film you can see a building a few doors down from the brownstone that has a green awning over the sidewalk. The awning is still there. The tree in front of the brownstone has been replaced since the film, and is smaller. There is no “intercom” next to the brownstone door, and the door is a little different. All other features of the brownstone are identical to the film. The design of the pillars at the bottom of the steps was the first feature that helped me in my search. Happy hunting!
Thanks a lot !! I LOVE this movie and Meg Ryan.
This movie is magic and make me feel nostalgic (but I’m nostalgic everyday lol)
Fred
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I found Meg Ryan’s brownstone from the YGM film……..100% sure. I hate to admit, but I’m a sucker for some romantic comedies, although The Matrix is still my favorite film. I visited New York recently and although I did not visit any YGM filming locations, I’ve wondered about where some of the scenes were shot, and happened to stumble across your site. I like a good challenge, and I figured I could find the brownstone without even traveling to New York. I found it using Google Earth with the new “street view” feature, and by carefully looking at all the scenes from the film that show the brownstone. The opening scene with the “cartoon” likeness of the city gave me a hint as to its general location.(although I think the film-makers purposely made this part not real accurate to disguise its location). I’m not sure if I should make the location known since it will probably drive the current residents of the brownstone crazy, if crowds of tourists start showing up. Plus it would ruin the fun of your quest to find this last shooting location.
you did an AMAZING job! as a huge fan of You’ve Got Mail, I’ve always wanted to do something like the tour you did. i actually stumbled upon Maya Schaper because i noticed it was in a scene on Sex & the City (TV episode, not the movie). now i really need to check it out!
xo alison
I too loved that movie. You are not alone in your thoughts regarding the owner of Maya Shapers she is a huge “B” but nonetheless I love her store. Thanks for the info on Cafe Lalo, I will be going this Saturday.
do you know the waterfront restaurant in YOUVE GOT MAIL? I think it’s at or near a yacht club, maybe east side in the 30’s?
you’re so lucky to see the filming location… I like this movie it is one of my favorite movies.
Hi!
I’m Roberta (“Bi”, for friends!) from Italy (Palermo, Sicily).
I really love this movie, it’s one of my favourite too!
Thanks for the info about shop! 🙂
If you want, come to visit my web site!
Bye bye!
Bi
Thank you for the help on You’ve Got Mail filming locations. I am staying on the upper West Side while writing a book and was really wondering where all these scenes that I loved had taken place. Thank you very much for your help! Brenda Lewis