Time goes by. So slowly.

Until recently, one of the corners of my block had always been a shuttered Tae Kwon Do studio. I moved to my street almost two years ago, and at the time I was like, “Aw, bummer. If that were open, I’d totally take up Tae Kwon Do.” Which made me realize just how much of my life is dictated by my immediate surroundings. Or at least by convenience. I mean, I probably never would have actively sought out Tae Kwon Do as a hobby; but if there was a functioning studio less than a block away from my apartment, well you can bet your ass I’d be in there punching and kicking up a storm. To whit: I used to be an avid kick boxer. When there was a gym a few doors down from my apartment. Nope, not anymore. And I really loved it, too. Just not enough to travel to do it, apparently.

But anyway, a month or two ago, I noticed some activity over on that corner—sure enough, a wooden construction barrier went up shortly thereafter! And almost immediately, the development of that site became one of my daily obsessions. Without even realizing I was doing it, I would walk past it multiple times a day, hoping to catch the door in the wooden wall open so that I might be able to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside. And then I would. And it would reveal nothing. (Wood and beams and dry wall and flooring don’t reveal much to my completely construction-ignorant eye.)

But still, every day I’d hope for some little clue. And thoughts like, “Oh, I hope it’s something good like a great bar or an awesome new restaurant or some sort of unique store or blah blah blah,” would roll around inside my head, only to be replaced by more persistently pessimistic realizations along the lines of, “Oh, it’ll probably just be a Duane Reade. Or a Starbucks. Or a bank. Yeah, I bet it’ll be a bank. There isn’t really one in a radius of a couple of blocks. Yep, I bet it’s going to be a bank. Dammit. Why does every prime retail space seem to get snatched up by a stupid bank these days...” You get the idea. And my heart would fall just a little bit, after its brief flight imagining the other, more attractive possibilities. See? I don’t use the word “obsession” lightly.

So last week, the wooden barrier came down, and I noticed them installing some very bank-like glass doors. I think I sniffled a little as I pondered whether it would be a Chase or a Citibank, or perhaps a branch of the slightly more friendly Washington Mutual.

But wait! Just the other day, as they were installing the roll-down metal security grates, I peeked in and noticed not cubicles or teller stations, but check-out lines and display cases! I sucked in my breath. This could be promising... Definitely not big enough for a full-scale grocery store... Looks like it could be something a little more...special. A health food store maybe? Or wait—dare I hope for fear of jinxing it—some sort of gourmet or specialty food store, ideally with really good coffee, bagels, and the like? I mean, it would be so nice not to have to walk the two blocks I normally do to satisfy my coffee and bagel cravings...

I’m giddy with anticipation. And at the same time, primed for the ultimate disappointment I’m convinced I will experience when the doors open and the shop’s identity is finally revealed.

Welcome to the life of an obsessive New Yorker.