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“It’s really all Chinatown now,” said John A. Zaccaro Sr., owner of the Little Italy real estate company, founded by his father in 1935…The New York Times Little Italy, Littler by the Year.
Yes, it’s true, the exciting crammed feeling of strolling down Little Italy while channeling a young Michael Corleone is long long gone. Intermixed and mingled in the old Italian family storefronts are foot massage joints, the latest faux purses, Chinese outdoor markets with exotic herbs and old ladies who spit as far as the eye can see. It’s all true.
Any Italian romance gone except for the guys trying to lure you in with prix fix meals and watery tomatoe sauce. I still like Da Nico’s. But remember Little Charlies? Umberto’s? A goner. Wait until the Noltians close in on the Chinese. Oh, that will be the day.
Fondly in red and white stripe. Dapper.
The Nolitan pieces produced by Marque Creative Design promise to bring a certain flare to the hood. Oh, when can I get my bag?
Are swung open and waiting for your business. You hear me on the megaphone, Duane Reade (DR) is open! Go on; head over, load up! Gatorade, pricey Advil, toilet paper, Q-tips, pharmaceuticals. They have it ALL. Below: Views from the heavenly gold gates, looking East on the once beloved Spring Street.
Congrats! Downtown New York officially looks like any big city.
Didn’t they do a great job preserving the building? Love the font on the signage. Who does your work?
Oh well, as you well know, John Mayer resident above this fine, fine drug store is ready to load up on the $13.99 extra large KYNG condoms (man, who names these?)…should his ladies permit. Just a hop, skip and jump away.
(Photos courtesy of Christina Dalle Pezze who risked life and limb albeit her street cred to procure the shots)
“Fredo, you’re nothing to me now. You’re not a brother, you’re not a friend. I don’t want to know you or what you do. I don’t want to see you at the hotels, I don’t want you near my house. When you see our mother, I want to know a day in advance, so I won’t be there. You understand?” - Michael Corleone to Fredo Corleone in Godfather II.
For a while now, say two plus years, I’ve watched the metamorphosis of a fairly charming block to what it has certainly become: a constant San Gennaro festival where a heavy, drunken crowd of bar hoppers and tourists line the streets. Loud people who come in search of booze and frozen yogurt.
Let’s summarize, shall we? The charming little boutiques are mere relics: Tracey Feith, Hollywould, Nancy Koltes, Find Outlet and most recently, Label . (Refresh your memory; here.)
I walk around like a zombie attempting to hold on to some part of my past. But it’s gone. Long gone. Sure, Habana still makes a mean brunch, Cafe Gitane is nice for a strong cup of espresso. However, Rice relocated, Kitchen Club bounced (making way for cupackes). You recall M+R Bar was the first causality and the remaining fell like dominos–Rialto, Connecticut Muffin and most recently Cafe Colonial. Sure, I can still grab a pint at Sweet or Spring Lounge, maybe a salad at Bread or takeout Lombardis, takeout Parisi or burritos at Iggy’s… but the truth is clear, NoLita is a shell of its former self.
Now it’s more upscale “established” brands a la Rag and Bone, the Double RL’s, the high-rent, celeb favorite cupcakaries (flour, sugar, water) commanding $200 a square foot, Cafeteria’s sleek sister Delicatessen and their pricey brunches with the $15 mojitos. There’s Pulinos pizza with long waits for seats outside along the Bowery (on this note, I won’t even attempt to discuss the Bowery’s evolution). The real estate is fancy, new and pricey; along Elizabeth Street and of course the old stable building at 11 Spring Street where the real art and graffiti was plastered is now poof, gone.
Cleaned up.
Bloomberg clean.
I roll with change but not when change becomes middling or worse, common.
Now the party is officially over with the erection of Duane Reade.
Yes, this latest travesty is ready to go. Up and addem’. A massive drugstore coupled with the harsh, unflattering lighting that I’ve always detested in all their stores. Spring Street; the charming little block I used to call home will now churn out cheap bottled waters, toilet paper and Maybelline mascara to the masses.
I get it but don’t have to like it.
I bury my memories but keep them close to the vest. The truth comes ever more clear; You really can’t go home again, you just can’t. Especially, the way things are shaping up on my beloved old Spring Street, the street I loved to walk alone.
Perhaps I don’t want to go home. Or I just can’t go home.
Ah yes. A classic showdown. My friends, only time will tell where the nabe’s loyalty lies in the epic battle of cupcakes. The tourists lack of loyalty is an entirely different matter. To the left out of Brooklyn comes Little Cupcake Bakery @ 30 Prince and Mott (the old mainstay Kitchen Club) and of course, the celebrity heavy endorsed Billys Bakery @ 260 Elizabeth. Let the battle begin!
Much like Marc Jacobs stakes the West Village will Christiane Celle of the flowy skirts of Calypso and Clic gallery in Nolita stake her claim in a bakery, Lafayette Espresso Bar and Marketplace merging with Oro Bakery & Bar in a “250-square-foot storefront” which per the NYT Diners Journal “will serve made-to-order juices, espresso and drip coffee brewed to order, and sell sandwiches and salads, as well as an array of local artisanal food products like Brooklyn Brine pickles, Anarchy in a Jar preserves, vegan Cavemen Cookies and homemade granola.”
Let’s hope for the best people.
Please: More N33 over some of the snotty places we know all too well.
Since 1995, the boutique Label has been operating out of 265 Lafayette Street. Not anymore. Time is up and up. Make way for a sale and pending 2011 move.
Racked posts an “End of an Era” Sale (July 27th thru August 1st). Truly the end of an era as a giant Duane Reade opens down the block and Cafeteria’s offspring, Delicatessen serves up its $10 Heinekens. See ya.
(image: New York Magazine)
I still have my faded pink corduroy jean jacket, see photos.
Remember Cinema Nolita, kicked to the curb by Shave NY? Awww, what a nice place to rent a film when you were tired of going out.
Duane Reade; New York’s “Friendly” Pharmacy is coming to Spring Street. Not only is it landing in a historical building–originally a bank designed in 1924 by Cass Gilbert–it’s taken over a neighborhood front which has managed to fend off much of the Broadway flagships. Until now. The deal is for roughly 12,000 square feet after a failed jean company, Parasuco Jeans left the space.
A DR executive spoke (to Rew Online) “They’re absolutely committed to shedding their old frumpy image and showing that they’re the sexiest, hippest, greatest drug store around,” the source said. “Yet they’ve always called themselves New York’s drug store and this space is so ironically New York and classic downtown.”
Oh well, at least John Mayer has a place to score his condoms. Or wash down your pain killers with a cold frosty Spring Lounge bar.
A friend on the streets mentions: they’re putting on the finishing touches and the shopping carts are unloaded, ready to roll. There goes the neighborhood again and again and again.
(Image: Christina Dalle Pezze on the scene last week + today where the “Coming Soon” signage was already stripped down).
Spring Lounge: An Homage and Stepping Out On Spring Street Alone.
It remains to be seen.
Quite sadly, Lyell, a fantastic place for clothes is going away. Living on Spring Street, I often hopped over and picked up a few enchantingly cool items. Not to mention, I scored one of Emma Fletcher’s own vintage red Hawaiian shirts in a $5 box –to which I still wear seasonally. Urban Outfitters put together a cool list of Emma’s favorite things. One day, I hope Emma rejuvenates her chill, inspiring-boho line down the road. In the meantime, Farewell, sweet Lyell. Lucky the girl who visits the sale but hey, you can still purchase her duds (a line entitled Fletcher by Lyell) at the Urban.
Lyell 173 Elizabeth St, New York, NY
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From the Lyell site:
So after seven years and with a lease that is running out,
I have decided to say goodbye for now. Lyell is my heart and soul. I couldn’t have come as far as I have come with out all the loyal support that I’ve received over the years. However, it is time now to take break.
As of today we are starting our closeout sale with all styles now
40-60% off. This includes new styles that have just arrived and even more coming over the next couple weeks. The sale will continue until we run out of stock over the next month.
Love
Emma
Attention New Yorkers. This looks to be an interesting collaboration between Unis and Sit + Read. The vitals: To coincide with the launch of its Spring 2010 line, Unis is proud to offer an exclusive collection of furniture and housewares from Sit and Read. The collection includes a limited series of vintage chairs reupholstered in remnant fabric from the Unis Spring collection. 226 Elizabeth Street Thursday, April 22, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Grab your Habana corn across the street after the preview.
