[Photo of Ahmed Sankara from February 2014 by Stacie Joy]
In early 2014, word spread that hip-hop clothing shop Burkina NYC was closing up shop on First Avenue near East Fourth Street.
However, their $5 fire sale was apparently so successful, owner Ahmed Sankara decided to sign a new lease in February ... and change the name of the store to Got it 4 cheap™ (or Gifu™), specializing in selling hip-hop and NYC-branded clothing for $5.99.
Apparently Sankara couldn't make it work any longer... EVG reader Creature let us know that the shop has been cleared out ... and the space is for rent...
Burkina moved here in the fall of 2011 after 16 years on East Houston.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Burkina renews lease for First Avenue
Burkina is now Got it 4 cheap™ on First Avenue
damn
ReplyDeleteWho the hell wears "hip hop clothing" anymore anyway? 1995 was two decades ago! Although I have to admit that I'm still searching for an oversized, fake leather jacket with the unauthorized logos of all the NBA teams stitched onto it.
ReplyDeleteDamn 2.
ReplyDeleteI recall buying a MTA tee for my nephew from this place years ago, like any small, privately owned business I am sorry to see them close.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is sorry to see these "small, privately owned" businesses close, but buying one t-shirt "years ago" doesn't really help their business model. It's an easy solution, if you want to keep these types of places around, buy from them often and encourage your friends to buy there too. I feel for the guy, but if you're not adapting and not selling things people want, then you might as well be selling a room-sized computer.
ReplyDelete@ 3:36 PM
ReplyDeleteI don't wear tee shirts period. I bought one for my nephew as a gift, kids want different things as they grow up. A lot of people only seem to wear tee shirts and they must buy them somewhere. There are lots of reasons for a small business to close, rent hikes in today's EV is the usual cause but change in demographic, trends play a big part. I agree one needs to keep up with all of theses but I still have some empathy being the owner of a small business for stores like this that close, perhaps you can be a little less cut throat about it.
I own about 5 tees from this spot and very sad to see them ago. I always shop local, but the new demographic doesn't shop at all - they just get everything delivered including all their food.
ReplyDeleteA juice place just opened up in its place.
ReplyDelete