An air of sadness hung about Le Petit Paris Wednesday after the owners announced they will close late this month. The boutique and Parisian cafe has brought a bit of France to Midtown for the last five years, but it's been struggling for at least two. Owners Tassina Placencia and her husband Ruben plan to close the family business at 1221 19th St. on Sept. 26. The economy and fewer customers — including state workers making less money because they're furloughed many Fridays — have contributed to the problem, Tassina Placencia said Wednesday afternoon. "It's not what it was," she said during a break from serving customers who lined up at the counter. "No one's buying coffee anymore. You

A trendy Midtown boutique called Beyond Gotham is expected to close in mid-September — another victim of the poor economy. Signs advertising a closing sale have already been taped to the windows of the store, which sells women's clothing and accessories at 1215 18th St. Located on a popular block in the Handle District, the boutique was going strong until about two years ago. Female customers who would buy new jewelry every time they had Christmas parties, weddings and other special occasions to go to aren't making those purchases now, said an employee. "Women are the first ones to stop buying for themselves in bad times," she said. Rebecca Polstra and the store's other owners had orig