[EVG file photo]
Casey Rubber Stamps on East 11th Street is one of the neighborhood's great little shops.
And The Guardian filed a feature on owner John Casey's business here between First Avenue and Second Avenue the the other day. Among other topics, Casey discussed how he has been able to beat the odds in today's NYC rental market/business environment. And he doesn't sound as if he has plans to leave anytime soon.
“Landlords will kill you,” Casey says, chuckling. He has had a few run-ins with his landlady this past years, but that’s all sorted out now. “Bureaucracies will kill you. Typical hates of any small business.”
The rising rents are certainly a cause of concern for Casey, but the small-business owner, who learned most of what he knows on his own, hopes to stick around. Despite the headaches of running a small business, Casey can’t imagine closing down or selling out, even if someone walked in and offered to buy it at a good price.
“Why would I? What am I going to do? It’s like winning the lottery,” he says. “What would I do tomorrow morning? Get new friends?”
14 comments:
Suggestion for improving this blog.
Do a lot more of these articles on small businesses in the EV, including write ups and maybe interviews, and a lot less (like no more stuff) on the birds on Ave. B.
Bill
The birds are just as much a part of the fabric of this neighborhood as the small stores are, and just as worthy of inclusion in this blog. They live here all the time, and don't expect their daddies to pay for them. They don't woo, kick over trash cans, dress like idiots, or act like assholes. Their roof ravers consist of building nests, quietly raising their babies, and eating pigeons and rats. They're another piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is the East Village, so why such animosity for these lovely creatures, Bill?
Nothing against the birds, but stores are more important and more interesting. Who feeds you, stores or birds? Where do you shop for other things? How many people do the birds employ? etc. etc.
Bill
How is that a criteria for something interesting to read about?
I get your point, but isn't it really, really easy just to scroll by the posts that don't interest you?
This is a blog about the East Village. The entire East Village. I have never set foot in Casey Rubber Stamps and am not interested in what it sells, but does that mean I can claim it shouldn't be written about? No, nor would I dream of doing so. There are plenty of places in the EV I don't patronize that show up in these pages, and that's just fine by me. And since they don't feed me, nor do I shop in them, does that mean the blog should no longer feature posts about lost pets, Kita the Wonder Dog, closed gas stations, NYU, tossed Christmas trees, Citibike, vampire landlords, Santacon, Tompkins Square Park, neighborhood luminaries who pass away, holiday tree lightings, Con Ed, photos of the city, updates on things being built/torn down, Mulchfests, local politicos, and all the other parts of the quilt that make up the fabric of the neighborhood? You want a blog about places to spend money, go start EV Shop.
Actually if you want to know about where to shop in the EV, we at EVCC have just the ticket for you. "The Get Local Guide". A directory of small businesses in the hood. You can get a hard copy at most local retailers or just go The East Village Community Coalition web-site and find it there. It's very cool, we put a great deal of effort into it and we think it can be a way to keep money in the community. While it may appeal to tourists if they are in the know, it is really intended for those of us who live here and want to shop in the hood. We also sponsor the East Village Merchants Association, so check them out to and give them some love. Places like the Fragrance Shop, Dinosaur Hill, etc.
Gojira,
You misinterpreted what I meant, maybe my fault. I think the commercial vide of the EV is what makes it special. For example, walk around Carroll Gardens and other interesting parts of Crooklyn. They are nice but have an almost purely residential vibe, even if they have stores and other commercial establishments. I shop at only a few places in the EV, buy I like seeing other stores and occasionally visiting them even if I never buy from them. The stamp store is a case in point.
The EV has much more than just a residential vibe.
Bill
Then start your own blog, man. No one is under any obligation to cater to the preferences of "Bill."
Also, "Crooklyn"—seriously?
No one has to cater to mine or anyone else's preferences. But since commercial establishments are such an important part of the EV, why not have more posts about them? It would be interesting to have views aired about local restaurants, cafes, etc., and interviews with store owners.
One post in ten years about the birds on Ave. B is enough, thank you.
Crooklyn, obviously you have no sense of humor. Spike Lee made a movie about it.
Bill
Spike Lee made a movie about a little girl growing up with her four brothers in Bed-Stuy, charmingly named Crooklyn. He did not make a movie "about" "Crooklyn." I get the sense you've never seen it …
No one else seems to share your opinions about the birds, either. We like the birds. If you want to know more about the EV's commercial establishments, there's always Yelp.
Hey,
Casey is cool... But the birds are fucking awesome... Keep it up evgrieve!
Are you for real, Bill? There is an incredible variety of stuff posted by EV Grieve... Yes, bird sightings and your beloved retail offerings, but Gojira neglected to mention all the music posts--totally awesome!
And I recently needed a stamp made and happily had it done at Casey's.
... But I probably enjoy the comments the most, so thank you, Bill, and EVG for sorting through the tons of posts from Anons like myself and letting them be posted!
Great shop! I love that store and it's useful.
Oh shucks, looks like my comment here yesterday didn't take. Apologies if the moment has past:
I'm cool with the birds, but in addition to all of the Openings and Closings, I'd love to read more about what's Staying, so thanks for this update on the Stampers. More like this one, please.
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