[Photo by Allen Semanco]
We're hearing that a rent hike will make it impossible for A.K. Shoe Repair to continue in business much longer at 350 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
EVG reader Allen Semanco spoke with Albert, who took over the longtime business from his retired father.
Per Allen:
In order to afford the higher rent, he would have to increase his business, but rent plus fixed expenses plus supplies would be $7,000-$8,000 per month. Dividing that by 24 working days per month just does not compute. Albert tells me his best hope is to find a business with a lot of space that wants to sub-rent some of it for him and his equipment.
Hopefully Albert can find ideal space around here or in another neighborhood. If A.K. Shoe Repair does end up closing, then this is the second East Village shoe-repair shop to shut down in recent weeks. Alex Shoe Repair closed at the end of July at 57 Second Ave. after Icon Realty reportedly upped the monthly rent from $4,000 to $14,000.
At some point we'll do a post on the remaining shoe-repair shops in the neighborhood... what's left of them.
15 comments:
Can we finally blame De Blasio for this lack of leadership? We've seen that he's quick to react when things like Tompkins homelessness hits him. Even making a personal appearance. But the persistent closings and sad gutting and condo-ization of our nabe? Nada.
It is insane the rent can be increased that much. The property owner is killing this business for greed.
Infuriating!
The problem is more pernicious than that; the real working-class businesses like shoe repair are all being replaced by froyo-in-a-hooferies and other "concept" businesses.
I'd like to see a map of the remaining shoe-repair shops in the neighborhood; this could be important for knowing how far you have to hobble after your heel breaks.
Anon 7:28- are you really that naive? Bill D is in the developers pockets. Thats why he went to TSP. When will you get it?
Most new residents only seem to wear flip-flops anyway. No need for repairs. Just buy a new pair.
Comrade de/De/da da is not the only one in the developers' pockets.
Rosie et al. apparently are too. Isn't that why there are so many vacant commercial spaces for such a long time, such as the old Pink Berry place on St. Marks? Don't the re people get a tax subsidy of sorts instead of charging market rates? (Hint: a market rate clears the market, as you know from econ 101, so commercial spaces are soon rented out..
Bill, opponent of economic illiteracy and comrade de/De/da da.
One of the problems with shoe repair businesses is that most shoes are constructed better these days. I had a pair of Ecco's that lasted five years. I wore them every day. In the end, it wasn't the sole that gave way, but the upper, and they couldn't be repaired.
No one ever wishes to deal with the question of property tax increases and their impact on property owners and businesses. Please look at that - when a building is paying $5,000 a year in property tax per Rent Regulated apartment - and that is a low number - and the tax goes up each year - while the renewal is 0% - the money has to come from somewhere.
Re: The property tax hikes, the thing to do with that is abolish the
property tax, or in a word, to Chodorov it.
https://mises.org/library/chodorov-principle
Bill
Anon @ 11:34 AM ... You make a very good point. Now if only the landlords of these horribly tax burdened rent regulated apartments would "open their books" and let us all see how much they are suffering, maybe something could be done to help them. Poor landlords. They are probably ashamed to let anyone see how much money they are losing because they don't want to be thought of as incompetent business people, so they hide their shameful losses and cry tears that burn like the heat of a thousand suns. Let us pity them, they do not deserve such misery.
@1:06PM - you show how little you know - your wish was fulfilled many years ago.
Each year every owner is required to complete an RPIE - Real Property Income and Expense Statement and present all their expenses and income.
However, in reviewing the form the Tax Department can decide that your income should be higher - i.e. if you have Free Market apartments or a storefront you should be charging a higher rent. They then plug in their fantasy numer and calculate the property taxes based on that
So all that info is submitted annually. You spout allegations from 20 years ago.
And guess what? Small property owners used to be able to protest this "pro se" - but no longer - now all assessments must be protested only by an attorney and a special CPA.
So if you wonder why small property owners are selling out...
At 10:59 AM, Anonymous said...
One of the problems with shoe repair businesses is that most shoes are constructed better these days. I had a pair of Ecco's that lasted five years. I wore them every day. In the end, it wasn't the sole that gave way, but the upper, and they couldn't be repaired.
With nearly all my shoes, I am always getting "taps, front and back" at the shoe repairman; this prevents them from getting worn down at the heels so fast. (As a result, I have a few pairs of Doc Martens that are over 20 years old.) Also, I find that certain repairmen excel at particular things; I almost always need to get the left shoe out of a pair stretched, and the only one who can do it right is Cowboy shoe repair on Broome street.
Twenty years ago, there were at least five shoe repairmen in this neighborhood I went to regularly; the only one left is Alex on Avenue C between 6th and 7th.
Oh noes! AK saved many pairs of my favorite shoes over the years. Some of which I had totally given up on. If they are forced out, I swear on a stack of Jimmy Choos that I will never set foot in whatever benighted, misbegotten excuse for commerce goes into that space. Just as I have never set foot in that stupid juice store that took over from Ninth Street Bakery. Fie and likewise feh!
Agree with you 10:17.
There is still a shoe repair at corner of 4th Av and E. 12th ("edge of EV") but with the Hyatt's arrival, the little shops are disappearing, replaced with places where a a plate with just a schmear of cream cheese is $12 bucks.
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