Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

It's full-on Easter time with Christy and Charles at Exit9, 51 Avenue A...

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy

Exit9, in the gloom of dusk this Halloween season, at 51 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street...

At the East Village Queer Market

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Local vendors took part yesterday at the East Village Queer Market, a special Pride event "spotlighting queer makers and gay-owned businesses producing consumer goods."

Milk Money Kitchens, 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street, hosted the Market. The sponsors were the East Village Independent Merchants Association, 3rd and B'zaar and Exit9.

While this was a one-day event, there is an online shop here for more Pride-related items. 

EVG contributor Stacie oy stopped by for part of the afternoon... 

Details about the East Village Queer Market on Avenue A tomorrow

Photos by Stacie Joy

Look for a special Pride event tomorrow (Saturday!) at the East Village Queer Market, an event spotlighting queer makers and gay-owned businesses producing consumer goods.

A handful of local vendors will be participating tomorrow in this "celebration of Queer Makers" from noon to 6 p.m. at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. Find more details here. You can also shop online here.

The sponsors are the East Village Independent Merchants Association, 3rd and B'zaar and Exit9, with co-owner Charles Branstool pictured below. 

Exit9 reopens on Avenue A after fire next door

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Exit9 Gift Emporium reopened yesterday — just two days after the two-alarm fire destroyed neighboring business Essex Card Shop late Monday afternoon here on Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the shop yesterday, where she found a thankful co-owner Charles Branstool in the retail space in the base of the 13-floor Ageloff Towers... 

"I feel incredibly grateful and lucky to have been spared such an unthinkable tragedy. It was difficult to comprehend the surreal events as they unfolded....watching Exit9 remain virtually untouched while witnessing the destruction of my neighbor's family business," he said. "Thanks to the solid construction of the Ageloff Towers, the fire could not spread so easily. The outpouring of love and support from this community has been both humbling and heartwarming." 

However pleased Branstool was to be back open, his thoughts remained with his neighbor to the south. Essex Card Shop relocated next door at 47 Avenue A in June 2020. However, like Exit9, the Card Shop has been an Avenue A mainstay for more than 20 years.

"Let's not forget the real tragedy here is the loss of Essex Card Shop. My heart goes out to Muhammed and Jay and their family. I can't imagine what trauma they must be experiencing at this moment," Branstool said. "If there's one thing this community has taught me is that we know how to be resilient. Let's help them rebuild." (He then mentioned their GoFundMe effort. "Every little bit helps during times like this.") 

Given the dramatic photos at the scene on Monday, it's incredible that Exit9 remained intact, free of any water damage. A faint odor of smoke hung in the air. (There's an air purifier running in the shop.) A fire official told Stacie that the solid cement ceiling and brick walls in the storefronts served as a firebreak and prevented further damage to the building. 

"As for Exit9, she is a survivor. We just needed one day to rest and freshen up. We've cleaned up our floors and shelves, and a HEPA air filter is scrubbing the air," he said. "New Valentine's Day windows have already been installed. A fluffy feather baby cradled in a giant white heart, so things are already looking up for us."

Exit9, now in its 27th year, is at 51 Avenue A. Store hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with Sunday hours of noon to 6 p.m.

For further reading on EVG: 

• Downtown Yarns hopes to reopen in a week

• Assessing the fire damage at Essex Card Shop

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Exit9 owner Charles Branstool has (a very limited supply of) upstate-grown pumpkins to give away to participants in the shop's pumpkin carving contest this month. It's all taking place on Instagram... and you can read all about how to take part right here. 

Exit9 is at 51 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street if you want to stop by for any other reason.

Tuesday's parting shot

Part of the winter window display at Exit9 Gift Emporium on Avenue A...

Welcome to Phase 1

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is doing a segment on NYC retail shops reopening for curbside service under Phase 1.

Network correspondent Ron Allen was spotted on Avenue A interviewing Exit9 Gift Emporium owner Charles Branstool ... (thanks to Stacie Joy for the photos!)



This segment is expected to air tonight during the broadcast that starts at 6:30.

Meanwhile, Gothamist put together a helpful guide here on NYC's four-part reopening, which started today with Phase 1.

The transplant was a success? A doctor recommend Halloween procedure at Exit9

Halloween evening also included a return performance of the Exit9 Gift Emporium's window theater, in which passersby were treated to "an insane doctor’s gruesome medical malpractice" ... Stacie Joy took in the performance...





...and the cast and crew following the curtain call...

Doctor's orders: Halloween night at Exit9 on Avenue A

The folks at the Exit9 Gift Emporium at 51 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street are once again hosting a Halloween night Window Theater.

Here's what to expect via the EVG inbox...

THE DOCTOR IS IN…SANE!

Gore-hungry East Village tricksters (and their parents) will bear witness to an insane doctor’s gruesome medical malpractice. On Oct. 31, the window of Exit9 Gift Emporium will be converted into an operating amphitheater as the demented doctor performs live surgery before your very eyes.

The doctor will start seeing patients at 7 p.m. on Halloween. Revisit the scene from 2015 right here.

Hot night at Exit9

Tonight, local artist Steve Ellis was on-hand at Exit9, 51 Avenue A ... where he debuted his Ignited Lighter Project, a collection of lighters featuring an array of downtown personalities... in celebration of Lower East Side History Month.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the shop tonight between Third Street and Fourth Street...


[Steve Ellis, left, with Mistress Formika]


[Angel Eyedealism and Exit9 owner Charles Branstool]


[Sean Eden from Luna]

The lighters are $5, and will be for sale at the store until they run out...

Next Tuesday, Exit9 will host a month-long art show titled "LES History, More History." Find more details here.

Just what the doctor ordered on Halloween night

Last night at Exit9 on Avenue A, Dr. Frankenchef and his nurse, Ghoulia Childs, performed a live surgery in the gift shop's window between East Fourth Street and East Third Street… EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for part of the procedures…