RIP Rizzoli, J&R Music, Pearl Paint
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RIP Rizzoli, J&R Music, Pearl Paint
Three iconic Manhattan retailers announced this week that they have closed, or will be closing shortly. Shakespeare& Co. also seems to be in danger.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/ny...quel.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/ny...&rref=nyregion
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/ny...quel.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/ny...&rref=nyregion
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I'm amazed at J&R. I though at least here there would be enough people who want to check things out and buy them live.
The bookstore story - well I'm always reminded of one of the original Star Trek episode in which Kirk has a (gasp!) real paper book - which was unknown to anyone else. (I'm the same luddite - I can;t read books electronically - hard to cuddle up in bed with a Nook.)
The bookstore story - well I'm always reminded of one of the original Star Trek episode in which Kirk has a (gasp!) real paper book - which was unknown to anyone else. (I'm the same luddite - I can;t read books electronically - hard to cuddle up in bed with a Nook.)
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Me, too. Although I can buy the gadgets online, I went to the store to buy some appliances, phones, etc. Staff always helpful and very knowledgeable.
A few more steps along the route to a bland, could-be-anyplace retail scene: More international luxury chain stores, interspersed with banks, chain drugstores, and nail salons.
A few more steps along the route to a bland, could-be-anyplace retail scene: More international luxury chain stores, interspersed with banks, chain drugstores, and nail salons.
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The owner of Pearl Paint, has had legal and financial problems over the years. Very often you could not find commonly used items on the shelves, and if you asked the staff, they would attribute it to a cash flow problem. Although it was a shade more expensive and the stores are always in disarray, we go to Utrecht. We also go Blick which is fine and Friedman which is well-organized but even more money
As for J & R, I worked downtown for thirty years and hated going into J & R. The staff was condescending and the return policy was onerous. After 9/11 I went to J & R after they re-opened as part of my patriotic duty and they still made it a miserable experience. Still I am surprised it went out of business.
And I will ask the my usual question to all those who lament the closing of NY store restaurant, "When was the last time you went there?"
Rizzoli's is the same story of developers with power and money.
As for J & R, I worked downtown for thirty years and hated going into J & R. The staff was condescending and the return policy was onerous. After 9/11 I went to J & R after they re-opened as part of my patriotic duty and they still made it a miserable experience. Still I am surprised it went out of business.
And I will ask the my usual question to all those who lament the closing of NY store restaurant, "When was the last time you went there?"
Rizzoli's is the same story of developers with power and money.
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J&R isn't folding. It has closed its store for redevelopment (and it still has an online presence).
That said, although J&R was convenient to me (half-way between work and home), I much prefer Adorama (18th and 6th) for electronics.
That said, although J&R was convenient to me (half-way between work and home), I much prefer Adorama (18th and 6th) for electronics.
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Ah so! The sky is falling, except it's not: two of the three stores RIP'ed in the title are not actually dead.
I remember a lot of stores that are no longer with us, too, as did my parents, and my grandparents, and all the generations before them. I bet even cave men sat around grunting "Remember that guy who used to barter bone toothpicks in the shadow of the big rock? Gone!"
And yet the average person in the developed world has more selection online than s/he could have accessed in an entire lifetime pre-Internet, and best of all: no one needs to spend their vacation in New York running from store to store searching for that book/record/appliance/scarf/you-name-it that's been on their shopping list for years. You can spend your in-person time on that which really should be seen in-person.
I remember a lot of stores that are no longer with us, too, as did my parents, and my grandparents, and all the generations before them. I bet even cave men sat around grunting "Remember that guy who used to barter bone toothpicks in the shadow of the big rock? Gone!"
And yet the average person in the developed world has more selection online than s/he could have accessed in an entire lifetime pre-Internet, and best of all: no one needs to spend their vacation in New York running from store to store searching for that book/record/appliance/scarf/you-name-it that's been on their shopping list for years. You can spend your in-person time on that which really should be seen in-person.