Tuesday, June 14, 2016

After 15 years, Artikal is closing on 12th Street



Tomorrow is the last day in business for the 15-year-old Artikal Handcrafted Millinery at 510 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The building is part of the East Village portfolio that Raphael Toledano bought last fall.

"They refused to even offer me a lease renewal," Artikal owner Holly Slayton said via email. "I am looking for a new location close to my house. I am a single mom so my location two doors away is ideal."

So far, Slayton said that she hasn't had any success finding a new space.

Slayton is also a resident of another Toledano-owner building, the first one that was reportedly inspected for high levels of lead dust.

She says that she has been working with local elected officials and community groups on measures to help protect small businesses against "predatory landlords."

Other businesses to close or relocate from Toledano-owned buildings include Podunk - the American Tearoom on East Fifth Street and Hakata Hot Pot and Sushi Lounge, which split space on St. Mark's Place.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear this, my bet is the landlord will make this a basement apartment for 3 times Artikal's rent.

Gojira said...

There's a double-wide empty storefront at 528 East 11th Street that has long been without a tenant, if Ms. Slayton is interested she can respond to me here and I'll get her the contact information. It's an HPD building so I don't think the rent is as high as it would be if it were privately owned.

Anonymous said...

Landlord has zero obligation to offer a renewal. It's called a free market.

Anonymous said...

Landlords have zero obligation to their neighborhood, they might as well rape it for as much money as they can, right?

Anonymous said...

Ya sure, they have no obligation to renew, but they also clearly have no moral obligation to be decent, thoughtful humans about it, instead of money hungry gluttons with no respect for independent industry or the character of the neighborhood they are decimating.

Anonymous said...

Landlord has zero obligation to offer a renewal. It's called a free market.

Thank god, Captain Obvious is finally here! Pray tell: If we don't like puking bros taking over the neighborhood on Friday nights, to where should we move?

Anonymous said...

Re HPD owned buildings - my friend had a storefront in one and was charged the same as in a privately owned property - and HPD doesn't even pay property taxes.

Anonymous said...

It's a free market til it happens to you, 9:04. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Anonymous said...

greed personified in the East Village..

Anonymous said...

Those 2 storefronts on 11th have been empty for some time, maybe 2 years? I know someone that tried to rent one but he told be the building dragged things out for months, he gave up and found another place nearby.

The Libertarian statement about "free market" is nothing more than "dog eat dog" which may be how things work in the wild but in civilized places we all benefit when all can contribute.

Gojira said...

Anon. 1.59, more like 5, after AAA Glass moved out. Sorry to hear the story about how they procrastinated, maybe they're better now that they've lost so many months of income?

Anonymous said...

Thanks everyone for the concern to my buisness and others in the neighborhood Toledano alone has pushed out over 2 dozen buisnesses.I would love more info on the 11th street space if there is a inside connection.I have tried to contact the broker for the space a bunch of times with no response . Email for Artikal Millinery info@artikal.com

sarah said...

This sucks so hard. Holly Slayton is one of the hardest working people I know.

Anonymous said...

Landlords jacking rents up to insanely high prices proves capitalism is short-sighted and needs regulating. You'd think given how much people spend online and the fact that online sales keep growing and growing that landlords would realize they're going to price everyone out and people will buy and sell more online as a result. The number of empty retails space around the city is astounding and it's 100% based on short-sightedness and greed.

blue glass said...

there are many variations and regulations for HPD buildings - once the tenants take title HPD has little to say other than insuring the building follows the various restrictions (some do not). even the tax benefits vary.
ALL former HPD buildings pay real estate tax under the various HPD programs.

some years ago the "80/20" rule (the formula that limited what ALL CO-OP buildings could charge for commercial space) was revoked. some HPD program buildings charge market rate for stores, some do not.

Anonymous said...
Re HPD owned buildings - my friend had a storefront in one and was charged the same as in a privately owned property - and HPD doesn't even pay property taxes.
June 14, 2016 at 10:22 AM

Bonnie Slotnick said...

Holly, don't forget my offer of my shop space for "trunk shows," parties, or anything else!
Bonnie