Showing posts with label Russian Souvenirs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russian Souvenirs. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Wax on: Mr. Moustache Coffee Shop signage arrives on East 14th Street



Today, workers put up the sign for the incoming cafe at 227 E. 14th St. — say hello to Mr. Moustache Coffee Shop.

We hope to find out more about the shop soon. This space here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue housed Russian Souvenirs until last July.

Thanks to EVG reader Cristine for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Russian Souvenirs will become a coffee shop on East 14th Store

Monday, March 14, 2016

A souvenir Russian Souvenirs sign heads to Queens


[Photo from Feb. 27]

Last week, we noted that the former Russian Souvenirs shop on East 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue will become a coffee shop. (Still haven't heard anything else about the new proprietor.)

And workers removed the Russian Souvenirs sign the other day...



Anyway, we always liked that sign.

And just like that on Saturday, EVG regular Bayou ran into the sign waiting for the uptown Q at Union Square... heading out to Jackson Heights...



Apparently the sign was salvaged by someone who grew up near Russian Souvenirs ... and she hopes to be able to track down the store's owner.

The shop specializing in Russian tchotchkes closed last July. The proprietor said that his rent had increased.

Back on East 14th Street, the mobile phone center that opened in the early fall next door is already out of business... that storefront is for rent...



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Russian Souvenirs is no more on East 14th Street

The former Russian Souvenirs will become a coffee shop on East 14th Store

Monday, February 29, 2016

The former Russian Souvenirs will become a coffee shop on East 14th Store



The plywood arrived last week outside the former Russian Souvenirs shop on East 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The work permits say that a coffee shop is in the works...



Unfortunately, there isn't any other information at the moment about who the tenant will be.

Curious what will become of the former signage. I always liked this one. (Maybe it will become the Russian Souvenirs Coffee Shop? Ha.)



The shop specializing in (Russian, duh) tchotchkes closed last July. The proprietor said that his rent had increased.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Russian Souvenirs is no more on East 14th Street

Monday, August 24, 2015

Former Russian Souvenirs shop for rent on East 14th Street



The unique Russian Souvenirs shop closed last month on East 14th Street, a victim of a rent hike, according to the proprietor. The space is now for rent here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.



The ACE Moving & Storage storefront is gone as well … with a mobile phone center on the way in…



We didn't spot the listing for the Russian Souvenirs space online just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Russian Souvenirs is no more on East 14th Street

Thursday, July 16, 2015

[Updated] Russian Souvenirs is no more on East 14th Street



One of the more unique shops around has apparently closed. An EVG reader reported that the shop on East 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was cleaned out on Monday.

EVG East 14th Street/IHOP Way correspondent Pinch confirmed that the shop now mostly sits empty.



Unfortunately, we have no idea why the store closed. Rent hike? A retirement? (The owner, the rather cantankerous Alex Bogatyr, is up in his years.) The market for Russian knickknacks waning?

The store has been around for years. Jeremiah Moss wrote about the shop back in 2009:

The walls are covered with paintings of dour-faced bearded men, sunsets, and lonely forests. In the back, there are racks and racks of clothing and fabrics. And all around, everywhere you look, the shelves are stacked high with tchochkes.

And!

If you do decide to shop here, be ready to bargain. Alex is a haggler, and he's a serious man. A professional who knows his wares, he will not give you service with a smile, nor with a sneer. This is old Leningrad on 14th Street, not Bed, Bath, & Beyond where the robotic staff are programmed to utter a monotoned hello to you every five seconds.

Updated 5:53 p.m.

From the comments… author Romy Ashby stopped by …

"I went in to visit with him yesterday at about 5 PM. He was having a sandwich and we talked. He said that a rent hike is the reason he's leaving. He had me write my name and number in a notebook full of names and numbers, and he said he will call if he finds another place."