Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place



Late last week we started hearing rumors that Trash and Vaudeville was leaving its home of 40 years at 4 St. Mark's Place.

Store owner Ray Goodman confirmed the move yesterday, telling us that if all goes well, Trash and Vaudeville will be selling its rock 'n' roll fashions and accessories from its new space at 96 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue early this fall.


[96 E. 7th St., site of the new Trash & Vaudeville]

"I love St. Mark's Place. There's no doubt it. There's something magical about it. This just isn't any block," Goodman told us on the phone. "The decision wasn't something that I took lightly. From a business perspective, we saw a shift in the clientele. The block is not as conducive for fashion shopping as it once was. Now it seems as if it's all food — fast food — and bongs. Even stores that aren't bong stores sell bongs."

He said that the changing business environment on the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was just one of many factors that played into the decision to relocate.

"The retail world is so different today," he said. "So much of it is done online."

And increasing rents are always a culprit.

"The rent is creeping up," said Goodman, who is a minority partner in the ownership of the historic Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place. "Rent was a factor, but it wasn't the sole reason."

It also didn't help that the block will likely see protracted construction in the years ahead. For starters, the owners of the St. Marks Hotel directly next door filed plans late last fall to add six additional floors to the existing structure at 2 St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue.

"I'll be in the middle of a construction zone for the next five years," said Goodman, who figures the Trash and Vaudeville storefront would be covered by a sidewalk bridge throughout the duration of the project. "Business is tough enough."

In addition, directly across the street, The Real Deal reported that real-estate investor Arthur Shapolsky is in contract to buy three properties at the corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place: 23 Third Ave., 27 Third Ave. and 3 St. Mark's Place for some unspecified new development.

And there's just the history. "It has been 40 years. Maybe it is time to do a little facelift. Just try it," he said. "I wanted to make it to the 40th year. We made that."

During the heyday of punk, everyone from the Ramones to the Dead Boys did their shopping at Trash and Vaudeville.

"Me and Dee Dee would go there and try out the display clothing," Marky Ramone told The New York Times in 2013. "Joey had a problem finding pants to fit him and would always buy them there. He was 6-foot-5 ½ with a 36-inch waist."


[Photo from 1980 by Michael Sean Edwards]

Goodman believes that the block housing the new Trash and Vaudeville has a better retail variety. He cited the array of restaurants, as well as Big Gay Ice Cream, and shops such as Turntable Lab and Village Style, the vintage and consignment shop.

The new Trash & Vaudeville will incorporate three spaces at No. 96. (The address was previously home to Salon V and Angelo Lambrou's custom bridal gown boutique, both of which relocated to other parts of the city.) Overall the new storefront will have less space than on St. Mark's Place.

As for the business future of St. Mark's, he recalls opening the shop in 1975. "There were a ton of stores for rent," he said. "St. Mark's Place has always been a bit of a roller-coaster. I think it could come back with the right mix of retail."

Despite the relocation, Goodman, who lives on St. Mark's Place, hasn't given up on the neighborhood. He said that he looked into other areas to move the store, but nothing felt right.

"We're still in our natural environment. We're just a little further east," Goodman said of the new location, adding, "I love the East Village."

51 comments:

  1. Don't worry everyone, it's just the Vaudeville part that's moving. The Trash part will always be on St. Marks Place since trash is all that's left there now. St. Mark's Place, home to bong shops, tattoo parlors, and fast food joints, the last few things that online shopping has not killed off yet. If only NYU would turn into an online University, maybe then could have our old neighborhood back.

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  2. Former East VillagerJuly 28, 2015 at 4:59 AM

    Congrats on 40 years.

    I am proud to have bought so many of my mainstay clothing items and shoes from you, including the shoes I got married in.

    I'll see you in your new home!

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  3. Given changing tastes and styles, 40 years is a helluva long time to stay in the clothing and accessories business. I'm happy that you are staying in the 'hood.

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  4. Giovanni said:

    the last few things that online shopping has not killed off yet.

    This is why I avoid buying from Amazon if at all possible; they are the devil—and worse, most people don't see that they're the devil.

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  5. Trash and Fro Yo has a ring to it.

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  6. Who cares what the owner thinks... how is JIMMY feeling about it? He IS Trash and Vaudeville

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    1. I know, right?

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    2. Jimmy is the life and soul of that place.

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    3. So true. Jimmy IS Trash and Vaudeville.

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    4. Jimmy was only there for the last half of T&V's existence...he may be the poster boy NOW, but he sure as hell wasn't back when it was REALLY thriving. We all Love Jimmy, but as someone who worked there...it really does need a change. Only thing I buy there now are shoes and stretch jeans.

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  7. I used to do all my shopping on 14th Street. When 14th Street was still 14th Street.

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  8. The only place I go to on that block is "Grassroots" - My friend Chloe works there. Just drop my name and she'll charge you an extra dollar.

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  9. Oh man, that's tough. Glad they will still be in the neighborhood, it's shitty how everything good shifts east though. Will end up in the water.

    Interesting that he cited "Big Gay Ice Cream". The people waiting on line there are the fucking worst, suburban narcissists "OMG look at me getting THE BEST ice cream" and their cones literally come with fucking training wheels. Stop waiting on line douchebags. At least the owners of it seem like good cats.

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  10. I remember that in the first season of MTV's "The Real World," Eric shopped there in search of a pirate shirt and leather pants....and he found them!

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  11. Most of the businesses -- the mostly food shops, restaurants, or bars -- that open in East Village today! don't even last 40 months or even 40 weeks. East village today! is now Trash and Wooooo!ville.
    As for online v brick-and-mortar shopping, physical stores provide emotional benefits that improve shopping experience, thus Why Street Stores Still Matter in the Age of Online Shopping.

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  12. if you aren't longing for the heroin junkie times, you must fucking suck according to half the readers of this blog. it's absurd.

    the guy moves one block away and cites the more appealing foot traffic on that block like people who go to big gay ice cream. WAHHH SUBURBAN FUCKING ASSHOLES EAT ICE CREAM.

    get the fuck over yourselves.

    -A

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  13. came to nyc in 1978, immediately went there and bought a few pairs of skinny black jeans (and a pair of skinny red corduroy ones) there in order to fit in with the local punks and new wavers. as an 18-year old kid arriving from massachusetts, t&v was an eye opener! glad they are staying in business, sounds like they made the right choice.

    i'm now a little too old and pudgy for skinny jeans, so not like i'll probably be back there soon but i wish them the best. having a gray-haired 55-year old guy shopping in there probably wouldn't help their image, LOL!

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  14. When is the move taking place? Someone should definitely take photos inside the store, for documentation purposes at least...

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  15. I love T&V there, but that's not the greatest thing about the building.
    It's the place where Off Off Broadway began: http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/watering-the-off-broadway-garden-7137900
    Gotta keep the building no matter what shop is inside.

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  16. More waiting on line for special food? Yeah have fun with that.

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  17. Just as a side note, this is also where Julie Bovasso lived/created her theater, Tempo Playhouse, in the mid 1950s. She produced and performed the American premiere of Jean Genet's The Maids there and won the first Best Actress Obie award in 1956. (for those of you who might not recognize her name, she played John Travolta's mother in Saturday Night Fever. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Bovasso

    I hope whatever takes T&V's place, it's not a chain or a luxury apartment. I have my doubts....

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  18. PS Fabulous Fanny's is moving too

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  19. And where is Jimmy in all of this? Seems kind of rude to do this article and not mention him at all since he's the reason I believe people love going there!!

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  20. I love this store, which turns shopping into a rockstar experience. Spent my tax return one year on some awesome gold shoes. Jimmy makes you feel like an absolute star.

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  21. st marks has been killed off, like most interesting progressive culture in the ev. bad money chases out good...now we have sports bars with TVs!! oh boy, how futuristic!

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  22. That spot would make a great Ramen shop. Call it maybe... "I Wanna Be Ramened" or "Hey Ho, Let's Go (Eat Ramen)". Kinda' catchy, no?

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  23. Sad, but that block not what it used to be - as long as Jimmy is there and the place remains releavant I guess its cool. Not too many if any brick and mortar great alt clothing stores anywhere these days. Some great indie designers online though like Toxic Vision and Gotham Division Clothing.

    toxicvision.bigcartel.com
    gothamdivision.com

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  24. welcome to 7th street. we are glad to have you.

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  25. I say this not to throw stones at anybody, particularly not a small business, but everyone seems to be hell-bent on finding some boogeyman to blame for this rather than just the simple fact that it's not the 80's anymore. Fewer and fewer people want to dress like Bon Jovi, Rancid or the Misfits did in their heyday. Styles move on. It's just the nature of these things and always will be. Time doesn't stand still.

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  26. Agreed. I haven't wanted to dress like Nikki Sixx in decades.

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  27. St Marks Place was never the same after the closing of Bowl and Board, Dojo etc. but Trash and Vaudeville truly was the planted flag that said you has arrived on the block Lou Reed was talking about. Sorry Sally, no more trashy clothes, no more $80.00/mo. apartment. EV is being homogenized to resemble a midwest mall. Funny, they don't protect the the kids with this social upheaval, only the developers pockets and the politician's BS. Curbing expression and free thinking is how you arrive at fascism. Addressing it at the seed corn, around schools and universities is their final solution. Good luck with your new store.

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  28. I currently live in this building and the owners have opted not to renew our lease (or any lease in the building). Curious as to what this space will become. 4 St. Marks is a registered, historical site (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton-Holly_House) but doesn't mean they wont make way for another fro yo place. It's a beautiful building and I hope the new owners preserve it.

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  29. It was great being your across-the-street neighbor when I lived at 7 St. Mark's place in the mid-90s. Along with Trash & Vaudeville, there was Ian's and Religious Sex. Those were great times. St. Mark's place is a foreign land to me now.

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  30. Thank you Ray for 40 years of rock'n'roll realness! This store is an East Village landmark and the block won't be the same without it!! So happy T&V will be living on and can't wait to check out the new space.

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  31. Sad to see Saint Mark's losing its coolest store, but stoked to see the new spot in the East Village! Keep rockin' Ray!

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  32. At 10:17 AM, Don said:

    I remember that in the first season of MTV's "The Real World," Eric shopped there in search of a pirate shirt and leather pants....and he found them!

    Leather pants at Trash and Vaudeville? Who woulda thunk?

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  33. So glad they're not closing!

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  34. Another iconic location packs it in....so sad to see it close...


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  35. Ray hired me to work there when I first moved to New York back in the early 80's

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  36. Jesus H Christ, is there anything left on that block that's from the pre-shit era? Grassroots Tavern and Search and Destroy, that's all I can think of.

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    Replies
    1. Search and destroy is hardly from the pre shit era..they are one of the reasons vintage shopping in that neighborhood has changed so much..have you seen the price tags in there?

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  37. Ken from Ken's KitchenJuly 28, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    7th St makes more sense for T&V than St Marks these days.

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  38. While my site is not as active anymore, we did do an article on T&V a few months ago. Got a good snap of Jimmy. Fantastic guy!

    http://www.bawrk.com/woof/discover-trash-and-vaudeville

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  39. Former East VillagerJuly 28, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    Anon 4:31,

    Sockman

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  40. I used to get some locally screened shirts there in the 80s (the ones with news collages on them). Now I couldnt fit in anything there LOL. It was a good run and a good legacy. Shame about St Marks Place. Hope you have a new generation of success on 7th St

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  41. I used to go into that store any time I needed something, but I never bought anything. I tried, but it just didn't suit me. I'm glad they're moving to 7th Street -- maybe their clothes will suit me better now.

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  42. Trash and Vaudeville was the first clothes store I went o when I first came to New York with Ian Dury in 1978 (or was it 77) I could not believe my eyes, as they carried a lot of vintage back then and had an amazing selection. No credit cards back then I spent all my cash on the first visit. When I returned with The Clash we were all regular customers. A very influential shop.

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  43. T & V what an awesome run. Loved you pre Jimmy days. When 8th W to St. Marks was shopping Mecca for me. Going to T&V before I went to a Rocky Horror performance at 8th st Playhouse, or heading East to West to check out friends at Flip after stopping off at T&V to say hi to Kenny K, Jenn and so many more. Kim's Video was there the.75 pizza place and Dojo cheap eats there was an Italian restaurant in what became Ian's across the street that was amazing and Aztec was on E 9th. Times changed Coney came and so much fun always issues with Bowl and Board for sitting outside after a show. Gap went up at the end of the block Aztec closed Downtown Beirut went to open elsewhere as DB2. Cat club changed it's name Canal jeans moved from Canal st to Broadway. Unique became less unique and life continues. Great memories but truthfully going on St. Mark's is no longer a treat hipsterville over priced everything trying to hold on to the lure of the past as it become anystreet USA common place occurence in NYC. There is no longer a cube to meet by and spin when stupidly drunk and all the things that brought people there once they live there it becomes a complaint, so life goes on and T&V moves so here's to new memories

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