It looked sort of like they were clearing out whatever was left in the store, although it’s looked pretty barren since they closed, so not sure where it was all hiding. Not too many things for sale, but it might be on again tomorrow, so have a look!
You’d think this was some form of April Fools joke, but it looks like you’d be wrong. Bond No 9, a “NYC-themed fragrances store”, have released the Hudson Yards perfume. Much like the future development it’s named after, it is shiny, expensive, and over the top. It’s also accompanied by a $135 jar of body silk, or a $115 candle.
Another long-time area staple is being forced out. Sweet Gifts at Video Café (or just Video Café to many) will be closing its doors for good this month, and unfortunately won’t be reopening anywhere else. The place, which has been at its home on the corner of 48th&9th, is being pushed out by – no surprise – a rent hike. The closure was announced on their Facebook page, as well as on a notice on the door, as spotted by Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York.
To our extended Family that have supported us for the past 20 years. We are sorry to inform you that we can no longer serve our beloved Community. It breaks our hearts to have to say these words, but as you can see from the changes to our Community and rising rents, we can no longer continue our operations. We thank you for your support, kindness and memories that will remain in our hearts forever. I want to give special thanks to Angel, my brother; Angelina; Sandra; Julianna; Ana; Maria and Carlos, who have been there from day one. I thank them for their love and dedication in helping to keep our doors opened. Without a great team behind you, it would not have been possible. To my wife Solange, and my kids Matthew, Jonathan and Christian and to everyone that made Video Café what it was, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making a dream possible. –Luis
Back in the day, the place was primarily a video rental place that also happened to sell various other things, with signage that many locals remember fondly:
As time went on, and people stopped renting movies, the store began to transform into the sweets + gifts-focused store it is today (always keeping the DVD library out the back, of course).
It hasn’t been a good few months for long-time establishments in the area. Just last month, Stiles Farmers Market closed its doors at its main location a few streets down from Video Café.
If you want to say your last goodbye to the place, head in soon. They’re clearing out everything at 40% off, and all DVDs are only $5. I’m sure the staff there will be happy to see everyone bid them farewell.
You can see the map or the website to find out all the vendors who’ll be at the market, or just head on up and see them in person. The markets are running from now right through to Christmas Eve from 10am –7/8pm, so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to go check them out.
After what has felt like an eternity, it finally happened…Kiehl’s on 9th Ave opened its doors. The purely coincidental timing meant that it opened on Black Friday “Kiehlsfest”, so of course they had the deals going.
For those who haven’t kept up with our grippingnon-stopcoverage of the store, the place is foremost a beauty products store, with a few other stores across the city. What makes this one special though is that it also has a barbershop inside. Should be an interesting combination.
A quick heads up: it’s been announced that the incoming Kiehl’s on 9th Ave will be opening its doors for the first time this Friday the 29th, which will bring our non-stopcoverage of the place to an end. You may have noticed the new signage went up last week in preparation:
The new Kiehl’s store coming to 9th Ave is still moving along. Over the week the plywood – which went up just over a month ago– came down, revealing not a whole lot from the outside:
Our favorite event was on yet again today: the Broadway street fair. There’s nothing really to say about this that we haven’t said already, so unless you’re in the market for tacky phone accessories, plain food, or the general feeling of “meh”, you can ignore it.
Over on 10th Ave however, outside PS111, the was a small market of sorts set up, with a handful of people offering various homemade foods and other items:
All day tomorrow Domus– the home accessories and decorations store on W 44th St – will be donating 10% of all profits to the project “Passing Ellenville”, a film about, per the project’s site…
A portrait of two transgender youths in rural, upstate New York and their struggles in their gender transition process.
The filmmakers themselves will also be there from 7pm to 9pm, so you can find out more about their documentary and ask questions. You can RSVP on Facebook if you’re interested in meeting the filmmakers, but I’m sure you can also just walk in.
A new outpost of the cosmetics brand Kiehl’s will be taking over from the former bike store at 47th&9th, as the subtle plywood put up recently hints at:
This marks yet another chain1 opening up on 9th Ave, joining your Chipotles, American Apparels, etc. If this steady march frightens you, at least take some comfort in the fact that “they” haven’t yet make their way over to 10th Ave (although you could say the incoming monster developments along 10th&11th are doing just as good a job).
Back to the present, the bike store previously at the location closed down at the start of last month, semi-relocating to 10th Ave, and less than a month later there’s a new tenant. Meanwhile, spots like the former Subway store and closed sushi place have sat empty for months. Those corner spots are irresistible.
Oh, and they’re hiring.
Although Kiehl’s originally started out as a single store in the East Village a century and a half ago, they’ve since become part of L’Oréal, and so that combined with their 250+ stores should be enough to count them as a “chain”. ↩
Exciting day today with another street fair on down 8th Ave. Even though the weather was on the verge of raining the whole time, that didn’t stop hundreds of people from turning out.
These street fairs have about as much personality as a brick – they’re exactly the same every time, and it’s gotten to the stage where each block is basically just repeating the stalls from the last one. Here’s the kind of “trendy”, “unique” things for sale:
I counted at least five phone case stalls and four “light up t-shirt” stalls within the five blocks I could handle, yet probably only three different types of food available (from around 10 stalls).
Save yourself the trouble and go over to 9th Ave to the HK Flea Markets. They’ve still got some character, plus the crowds are smaller.
Despite the forecasts it was a clear day, so we stopped by the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on 39th St to see how it’s going. It was starting to wrap up, but was still fairly busy, with dozens of stalls all down the street.
